Steve Hilton interview: Cameron’s former advisor on supporting Brexit, decentralising government and why Boris shouldn’t take over as PM June 6, 2016 Steve Hilton was so unconventional during his time as Tory party spin doctor that when they came to parody him in The Thick of It, they had to tone him down. “He wears something I would never wear,” complained actor Vincent Franklin, “these ridiculous half-shorts, half-trousers.” Amid the charcoal suits of the Tory cabinet, Hilton [...]
Mike Ashley has finally agreed to appear in front of MPs to answer questions about Sports Direct June 5, 2016 The boss of Sports Direct, Mike Ashley, said today he will now appear in front of MPs on the business, innovation and skills (BIS) select committee to defend his company. The Sports Direct boss has been summoned due to allegations about working practices at the company's Shirebrook warehouse in Derbyshire. Ashley has been refusing to meet MPs since [...]
The beautiful Caribbean island of Anguilla is the shimmering blue epitome of tropical fun times June 3, 2016 Far out in the well charted waters of the east Caribbean lies the Leeward Island chain, and at its northern tip is an utterly charming little strip of limestone called Anguilla. Its interior is arid, scrubby and overrun with semi-domesticated goats and chickens, but it is frilled with some of the most incredible beaches in [...]
Back of the net: Goals Soccer Centres to raise £16.75m and completes strategic review June 3, 2016 Goals Soccer Centres will kick off a share placing to raise £16.75m this summer, as part of a new plan for the group after completing an in-depth business review. The company, which operates more than 40 five-a-side football centres across the UK, will place 16.75m shares at a price of £1 per share, and said the proceeds [...]
Timeline: A blow-by-blow account of how BHS’ demise unfolded June 2, 2016 One of the biggest names on the UK's high street could be about to disappear, after its administrators began the process of winding it down. The news comes after a tumultuous few months for the retailer, which announced in April that it was entering administration – just over a year after it was sold for £1 by Arcadia [...]
MPs reject Ashley’s Sports Direct warehouse visit demand May 26, 2016 An influential committee of MPs has declined a request from Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley to visit one of his warehouses. Ashley asked the Business Innovation and Skills committee to attend his Shirebrook warehouse as a precondition for his attendence to a Parliamentary hearing on 7 June. However, the MPs have rejected the suggestion, while [...]
William Hill joins Ladbrokes and other major bookmakers on social media sports betting site Betfect May 23, 2016 William Hill has become the latest major bookmaker to join Betfect, a social network for sports betting. The London-based tech startup allows users to compare, make and share sports bets from the UK's leading bookmakers, and the site went live last year with Ladbrokes. Betfect has said it aims to bring the "social element" back [...]
Ferrari California T Handling Speciale review with price and specs: a £150,000 delight, but better suited to the Tuscan Hills than the Tooting school run May 23, 2016 Everyone should have a ‘bucket list’ – a checklist of things to do before kicking the bucket. Yours might include a meal in a Michelin-starred restaurant, a bungee jump or running a marathon dressed as a rhino. Mine was driving a Ferrari. Now, I should explain that, in eight years as a journalist, I’ve been [...]
Barack Obama must nail down his free trade deals before the protectionist takeover May 23, 2016 Washington – A few years ago, in a predictably thorough fashion, the Chinese government commissioned a study of the documented historical cases where rising powers had challenged dominant powers for leadership of the international system. The currently-rising Chinese (who went all the way back in time to mine valuable lessons from Thucydides about Athens and [...]
Crunch week as BHS seeks a fresh start May 23, 2016 BHS hopes to enter a new era this week with the business set to be sold while its administrators prepare a high court complaint against the retailer’s former boss Dominic Chappell. Administrators plan to announce BHS’ new owner in the coming days, with bids understood to have come from Matalan founder John Hargreaves, Poundstretcher, and an [...]