Former BT boss Gavin Patterson approached over Super League top job April 19, 2021 The former chief executive of BT is said to have been approached about heading up a controversial new football competition dubbed the European Super League (ESL). Organisers made an informal overture to Gavin Patterson, who left the telecoms giant in 2019, over becoming the inaugural boss of the venture, Sky News reported. His name is [...]
Fan fury as JP Morgan and biggest football clubs team up on European Super League April 19, 2021 The football world has been plunged into chaos after it was announced that six English football teams will join a new breakaway European Super League in what would be the biggest shake-up of the game in recent years. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham are among the clubs that are set to [...]
All living Prime Ministers out of politics set to give evidence at lobbying inquiry April 18, 2021 Every living former Prime Minister that is not still involved in Westminster politics will be asked to give evidence at a major parliamentary inquiry into lobbying and anti-corruption. The probe is set to be announced tomorrow and it will be ran by Westminster’s Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs committee (PACAC). David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair [...]
Cabinet minister says David Cameron did nothing wrong in Greensill lobbying scandal April 18, 2021 Environment secretary George Eustice has defended David Cameron for his role in the Greensill Capital lobbying scandal, saying the former Prime Minister did nothing wrong. Eustice said today that Cameron “meticulously observed the rules” around lobbying, but that he perhaps should have written instead of texted ministers when working for the failed finance firm Greensill [...]
Revolut targets $10bn valuation in upcoming funding round April 17, 2021 Revolut is eyeing a new fundraising round which would see the challenger bank’s valuation soar to more than $10bn. Last summer the neobank raised a further $80m to close out its series D funding round from private equity firm TSG, valuing the company at $5.5bn. Now Revolut has enlisted the help of US-based investment bank [...]
Blood clot risk from Covid infection ‘eight times higher’ than from Astrazeneca vaccine April 15, 2021 The risk of developing a blood clot from catching coronavirus is eight times higher than after being given the Astrazeneca vaccine, according to a new study by the University of Oxford. Scientists found that cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) occurred in 39 per million coronavirus patients, compared with around 5 per million people given the Astrazeneca jab. In the [...]
Apollo circles Stanlow refinery owner Essar amid cash crunch – report April 15, 2021 Private equity giant Apollo Global Management is in talks with the owners of the struggling Stanlow oil refinery over a £400m refinancing deal, it was revealed today. Sky News reported that Apollo had had been in talks with Essar UK for several weeks over a deal that would involve it taking a significant position in [...]
The best of wine tourism within day-trip distance of London April 15, 2021 The warm sun on my back, I sip a delicious glass of wine looking across a sweeping vista of vines with the rolling green countryside stretched out before me towards – yes, could that possibly be? – the distant sparkle of the sea and a blue-sky horizon. Have I thrown lockdown travel precautions to the [...]
Promising Young Woman is a dark, brilliant Oscar contender April 14, 2021 Tearing its way through awards season is Promising Young Woman, the drama that has had film fans abuzz ever since the trailer first appeared in 2019. Just over a year and a pandemic later, the film has picked up two BAFTAs (Outstanding British Film and Best Original Screenplay), and is vying for five Oscars at [...]
Competition watchdog clears £31bn O2-Virgin Media merger April 14, 2021 The competition watchdog has provisionally cleared the £31bn merger between O2 and Virgin Media following an in-depth investigation. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a probe into the tie-up amid concerns it would harm competition in the wholesale market. Virgin Media provides leased lines to mobile operators such as Vodafone and Three, while O2’s [...]