Photograph leaked showing Boris Johnson at garden gathering in the midst of the first lockdown December 19, 2021 A photograph of Boris Johnson taken in May 2020 with more than a dozen people drinking wine in the garden of Downing Street has been published by The Guardian.
Let’s be honest, we don’t need to have bank holidays – no, not even for the football August 24, 2023 Want another bank holiday? You're killing the economy.
John Lewis posts £92m loss after ‘unprecedented cost inflation’ September 15, 2022 John Lewis Partnership has posted a £92m loss before tax, blaming shoppers spending less due to inflationary pressures in the first half of the year. This was versus a £69m profit compared to the same period last year, although the partnership said on Thursday it was “not unusual for us” to make a loss in [...]
London markets whipsaw on Omicron curbs uncertainty December 21, 2021 A whipsawing in the likelihood of fresh restrictions to curb the spread of Omicron being imposed in England is generating wild swings on London markets. The capital’s premier FTSE 100 index closed 1.38 per cent higher today to reach 7,297.41 points, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned to the health of [...]
Next lifts profit forecast to £822m as shareholders await New Year payday January 6, 2022 Next has told shareholders to expect a special dividend at the end of the month, after lifting its profit guidance for the full year. The high street retailer has raised in profit before tax guidance by £22m, to £822m – up nearly 10 per cent in comparison with pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, investors eye a £205m [...]
Posties reject Royal Mail’s ‘final and best offer’ as Black Friday strikes go ahead November 23, 2022 The UK postal service is facing an “Armageddon moment” as Royal Mail’s eleventh hour bid to call off Black Friday strikes fails. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) rejected Royal Mail’s “final and best” offer this afternoon, scuppering hopes that industrial action happening tomorrow and Black Friday – two of the biggest online shopping [...]
Rishi Sunak rules out help for homeowners as mortgage rates top six per cent June 19, 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today ruled out helping struggling mortgage holders despite rates breaching the six per cent mark for the first time since December. Amid surging mortgage rates, the Prime Minister said the government needed to “stick to the plan” to halve inflation rather than offer support to mortgage holders. Speaking on ITV’s Good [...]
Harrods brings forward Boxing Day sale as central London footfall drops December 16, 2021 Luxury department store Harrods has brought forward its usual Boxing Day sale as footfall in central London continues to drop amid rising Covid cases. The sale will start on Friday and run into next year, although further discounts will be introduced on Boxing Day. Shoppers have shied away from visiting central London shopping destinations over [...]
Business energy support scheme to be slashed today as Jeremy Hunt warns help can’t last forever January 9, 2023 A new scheme to support businesses with their energy bills will be announced later on Monday, but is expected to be significantly cut after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt warned existing spending is “unsustainably expensive”. The package will be announced to MPs, with the current cap on the unit cost of electricity and gas for firms set [...]
Two-pronged or two-punch? Boris’ Plan B closes in December 16, 2021 The Prime Minister doubled down on his Plan B approach yesterday evening after daily Covid-19 cases hit a record high with 78,610 new infections on Wednesday. Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned that more records would be broken, with the Government “throwing everything” at the new Omicron variant. While the exact ratios are not yet [...]