Conservative Party Conference: Tories gear up for bun fight in Brum September 30, 2024 The Tories are gearing up for a bun fight in Birmingham this week as the party gathers for its first conference since July’s catastrophic defeat. A so-called ‘beauty parade’ of the four remaining candidates vying to become Leader of the Opposition got underway this weekend with a flurry of receptions and rallies at the International [...]
Tory conference: What to expect from Birmingham and why does it matter? September 30, 2024 Battling through delayed and cancelled trains from London’s Euston, this weekend saw Tory and Westminster watchers embark on the journey to the Midlands. Rattling around the maze-like International Convention Centre (ICC), the party faithful are gathering for an event that promises to be a combination of a wake, for the past 14 years in government; [...]
Can Asos fight back against Shein and Temu in the market it once dominated? September 30, 2024 To say that investors have lost confidence in Asos may be something of an understatement: its share price has plummeted since April 2021, to the tune of about 90 per cent. The stock resembles a playground slide, dotted with small cliffs that correspond to profit warnings, news of a slump in sales, or lowered guidance. [...]
My Old Ass review: The big questions of early adulthood September 27, 2024 The premise for breezy coming-of-age comedy My Old Ass is familiar but under the direction of filmmaker Megan Park (The Fallout) there’s a lot that feels fresh. Maisy Stella plays Elliott, an 18-year-old girl on a camping trip with friends who decides to try mushrooms. While high, she is greeted by her 39-year-old self (Aubrey [...]
Sadiq Khan meets NBA chiefs with potential London return on cards September 26, 2024 London mayor Sadiq Khan today met the NBA Deputy Commissioner as hopes of a NBA return to London grew further. The pair spoke on Thursday “to discuss their shared ambition to expand the sport’s reach and influence in the capital, including through live NBA games”. “I want to do big events, whether it’s Wrestlemania, whether [...]
A Face in the Crowd at Young Vic: Elvis Costello musical hits a dud note September 26, 2024 How do you satirise populism, a system that seems beyond satire, that exists on a plane divorced from embarrassment, where no gaffe is too big or lie too outrageous? A Face in the Crowd just sort of muddles through, referencing events without dissecting them, pointing out problems but offering no hints at a solution. It’s [...]
Square Mile and Me: PPRO CEO Motie Bring on a career in fintech – and a plea for more office dogs September 26, 2024 We dig into the memory bank of the City’s great and good. Today, Motie Bring, CEO at London fintech PPRO, talks us through his career journey and City highlights What was your first job? An unforgettable summer gig as a waiter at a vibrant cafe called ‘London’ on the beach in Tel Aviv. What was [...]
More bad news for London’s AIM: Secondary funding tanks by a third September 25, 2024 Secondary funding on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) has dropped 33 per cent in the last year alone, as more bad news piles on the junior market. While IPOs have dried up on AIM, secondary funding hasn’t fared much better: Only £1.2bn was brought in through secondary fundraisings over the last year to 31 August, [...]
Asos to cut 200 jobs at head office as it battles cheaper fast fashion rivals September 25, 2024 Asos is planning to chop 200 roles from its head office as it looks to restructure its business in the face of mounting difficulties post-pandemic due to intense competition from cheaper rivals, according to reports. Asos said that current set-up was “no longer suitable for today’s business priorities and context… We need to move faster [...]
Moving out of the city? It might come with a penalty if you’re a woman September 24, 2024 We all know about the gender pay gap, but what about the urban-rural one? Dr Sabine D'Costa tells us about her latest research in today's Notebook.