TfL saw London Underground thefts rise 25 per cent in 2018 March 12, 2019 Transport for London (TfL) rail services account for almost half of all thefts on trains nationwide, according to data out this week. A total of 4,448 Tube thefts occurred in 2018, up 25 per cent on 2017's 3,500 incidents, while all TfL services together saw a 27 per cent rise to 4,877 thefts. Read more: Buying [...]
The Conservative party needs to rediscover its economic way March 12, 2019 For most people, the Conservative’s 2015 “long-term economic plan” is now a distant memory. But as someone who was deeply immersed in that election campaign, I still sometimes wake up at night reciting its contents. Though much mocked for its repetition, the plan was more than just a catchphrase. From deficit reduction and tax cuts [...]
Deal or no deal, let’s make the UK the most attractive place for business March 12, 2019 What happens if there’s no Brexit deal? Over the past year, we’ve had various answers to this question – most ranging from the alarming to the apocalyptic. But while we’ve heard an awful lot about the problems, we haven’t heard much about solutions. That’s why our think tank, the Centre for Policy Studies, has just [...]
Women should not have to change the City alone March 12, 2019 Last Friday we celebrated International Women’s Day, which provides a terrific opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come towards an equal and fair society, but also how far we have to go. I appreciate that some may disregard an Oxbridge-educated, white, male Conservative politician talking about gender equality. But it is beholden on all [...]
Theresa May secures legally binding changes to Brexit deal after rushing to Strasbourg March 11, 2019 Theresa May has secured “legally binding assurances” over the Irish backstop and urged MPs to vote through her improved Brexit deal. The Prime Minister rushed to Strasbourg to secure last-minute changes to her deal ahead of tomorrow’s vote. In a joint press conference with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, she said the legally binding instrument [...]
Greystar, PSP and Allianz buy Shoreditch student housing scheme for £160m March 11, 2019 Property giant Greystar has led a consortium of buyers that has snapped up a student accommodation project in Shoreditch from investment firm Apache Capital for £160m. Greystar, alongside partners Public Sector Pension (PSP) Investments and Allianz Real Estate, has exchanged contracts to acquire the Paul St. East development. Read more: Greystar and Henderson Park snap [...]
Theresa May faces ‘inevitable’ defeat in parliament unless her deal changes, Brexiters warn March 10, 2019 Two leading Brexiters have warned Theresa May that she faces an "inevitable" defeat in the parliament unless she wins significant changes to the withdrawal agreement. Nigel Dodds, the Westminster leader of the DUP which props up Theresa May's minority government, and Tory MP Steve Baker also warned that a delay to UK's departure from the EU [...]
Stockwatch: A recovery play and takeover target March 8, 2019 By Edmond Jackson from interactive investor Persistent director buying implies long-term value at this well-known firm, argues our shares analyst. Have shares in £260 million price comparison website Gocompare.com (LSE:GOCO) finally bottomed out? Four non-executive directors appear to think so, buying nearly £44,000 worth of stock at around 65p once the company was out of [...]
How climate change claimed its first corporate casualty and the lesson for income investors March 8, 2019 The last few decades have seen the perception gain ground in markets that a combination of cash generation and state backing makes utility companies pretty much shockproof as income-yielding investments. The fate of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), which last week filed for bankruptcy protection in the US, should serve as a stark reminder no [...]
Should the rich be taxed more? March 8, 2019 Compared with other developed countries, the UK has a very high level of income inequality, something which many of us feel uncomfortable about. According to the Equality Trust, UK households in the bottom 10 per cent of the population have, on average, a disposable (or net) income of £9,644, with the top 10 per cent [...]