British manufacturing’s long decline could be about to end March 11, 2014 ROSS Perot, as a US presidential candidate in 1992, infamously decried “the giant sucking sound” of jobs being exported abroad as a result of free trade. It was populist nonsense, of course. Trade creates far more jobs than it destroys – and London’s high value added economy wouldn’t exist without it. That so many low [...]
Obituary: RMT union boss Bob Crow passes away aged just 52 March 11, 2014 Outspoken union leader dies after suffering sudden heart attack UNION boss Bob Crow died yesterday at the age of 52 after a sudden heart attack. Crow was rushed to hospital in London on Monday night, where he later died. Doctors at Whipps Cross hospital battled for over an hour to save the Rail, Maritime and [...]
Obituary: The firebrand who led London’s transport staff March 11, 2014 WHEN BOB Crow was challenged last month about sunbathing in Brazil while his union headed towards a series of strikes on the London Underground, he replied in his typically brusque manner: “What do you want me to do, sit under a tree and read Karl Marx every day?” Crow’s fight for rail workers since winning [...]
David Cameron’s onshoring dream is unlikely to become a reality says top economist March 11, 2014 A recent report by PwC predicted that as many as 200,000 new roles could be created over the next decade, thanks to companies that had relocated their operations outside of the UK returning, a process commonly known as onshoring. The trend of companies bringing jobs back to the UK could boost the nation's wealth by [...]
Union leader Bob Crow passes away March 11, 2014 The 52 year old leader of the Rail Maritime Transport (RMT) union Bob Crow has passed away. He died at Whipps Cross hospital from an aneurysm and heart attack according to initial reports. Geoff Martin of the RMT said in a statement: It is with the deepest regret that RMT has to confirm that our [...]
Brown: Keep Scotland in by ceding power March 10, 2014 FORMER Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for greater devolution for Scotland, in a bid to prevent the break-up of the United Kingdom later this year. The MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath said in a speech yesterday that the Scottish parliament should be given more power over employment, health, transport and the economy; with [...]
Costain wins £150m Crossrail contract to upgrade stations March 10, 2014 BRITISH engineering firm Costain yesterday said it had been awarded a £150m contract to provide infrastructure for suburban Crossrail stations in east London. Costain will deliver major infrastructure improvements, including upgrading the tracks and overhead electrification equipment at stations between Stratford in east London and Shenfield in Essex. The contract starts immediately, with the main [...]
Fight sells out in an hour March 10, 2014 ORGANISERS of the super-middleweight world title rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves plan an imminent release of 20,000 extra tickets, after an initial 60,000 seats sold out inside an hour yesterday. The biggest ever post-war crowd for a British fight will witness the bout on 31 May and seats priced at £30 and £40 [...]
Stanlow refinery faces uncertain future despite Essar’s denial over closure March 10, 2014 Essar Energy yesterday denied plans to close the Stanlow refinery in north west England, after City A.M. reported the plant’s long-term future was under threat due to weak margins. “Essar Energy and the entire transport fuel supply industry are working together with the UK government to improve the resilience of UK refineries and importers,” said [...]
Sorry greenbelt: London has a housing crisis and needs to build out and up March 10, 2014 IF YOU think London’s housing crisis is bad, house prices are too high, or rents are extortionate, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The capital’s population is forecast to increase by a further 1m by 2021, yet only 18,380 new homes were built in 2012-13. This is not just a social problem, with increasing numbers struggling [...]