BBC radio stations under threat as No 10 vows to scrap licence fee February 16, 2020 The BBC could reportedly be forced to sell off the majority of its radio stations as the government looks to overhaul the broadcaster and “prune” back its services. Senior aides to the prime minister told the Sunday Times that they were “not bluffing” about plans to scrap the licence fee and make viewers pay a [...]
Business groups blast new Ofcom powers to police social media February 12, 2020 Business groups have hit out at Nicky Morgan’s plans to give Ofcom an expanded role in regulating the internet, calling the plan “unrealistic” and saying it would create “uncertainty”. The culture secretary announced that the broadcast regulator would be beefed up to tackle social media firms over “online harms”. Ofcom’s new role, first mooted in [...]
The local councils embarking on a shopping centre spending spree February 10, 2020 Bin collections, parking restrictions and filling ever-more-terrifying potholes are what most people associate with local councils. To that list, we might now add retail property speculators. Last year, Councils across the UK doubled down on recent trends and spent some £232.35m buying struggling shopping centres, accounting for some 36 per cent of all shopping centre [...]
BBC licence fee to increase by £3 from April February 3, 2020 The annual cost of the TV licence fee increase from £154.50 to £157.50 from 1 April, the BBC confirmed today. The fee is set by the government, which announced in 2016 that it would rise in line with inflation for five years from April 2017. The new charge equates to £3.02 per week or £13.13 [...]
Aston Martin shares leap as Lawrence Stroll leads rescue deal January 31, 2020 Shares in Aston Martin rose 20 per cent today as it was announced that Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll would take a 20 per cent stake in the ailing carmaker. Stroll’s stake, which will be worth £182m, is part of a £500m funding raise which will include a rights issue from major shareholders. Since floating in [...]
Square Mile police station to be transformed into five-star hotel January 30, 2020 The City’s Grade II* listed Wood Street Police Station is set to be transformed into a five-star hotel. The City of London Corporation has sold the building to Magnificent Hotels, after deciding the police station was “surplus to operational requirements”. The police force will be based at the Wood Street station until around December this [...]
HS2 is not just another transport project — it’s about the very bones of our economy. January 30, 2020 Over the coming weeks, the government will publish at last the Oakervee report into HS2. The review looks likely to give the green light to this massive investment in the infrastructure of the north and the Midlands — and it’s certain that there will be an almighty row about it. As always with any infrastructure [...]
SCS boss to step down after 32 years at sofa retailer January 29, 2020 The chief executive of sofa retailer SCS Group has announced plans to step down at the end of the year, after 32 years with the business. The company will launch a search for a new boss after David Knight revealed he will retire from the role. Knight gave 12 months notice but will stay in [...]
Exclusive: Beales auditor faces scrutiny after collapse of department store chain January 28, 2020 The firm responsible for auditing Beales department store’s financial accounts is expected to face scrutiny after it emerged that the retailer collapsed just over four months after being given a clean bill of health. City A.M. understands that the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has made early-stage enquiries into Nexia Smith [...]
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote review: Terry Gilliam goes balls-to-the-wall in this kaleidoscope of imagination January 24, 2020 Terry Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote begins with a title card: “After 25 years in the making… And unmaking”. He’s not kidding – Gilliam started work on the film in 1989, it entered full production almost a decade later with Johnny Depp starring, only to see illness and floods destroy the work and [...]