Bigotgate overshadows fiscal crisis April 28, 2010 SO FAR during this election campaign, only two events, both televised, have had a real effect, capturing the public’s imagination. The first leaders’ debate triggered the vertiginous rise of Nick Clegg, whose LibDem party gained over ten percentage points in the polls in just 90 minutes without him needing to say anything new; and then [...]
How to learn from Capello’s mistakes June 30, 2010 POOR defending, non-existent marking, a lack of passion – there are numerous reasons for England’s horrible World Cup performance. Interestingly, though, many have argued that all the problems on the field were symptoms of troubles off it. The team, it appears, didn’t get on with the manager. Capello’s boot-camp culture clashed with the laid-back attitude [...]
AA workers back strike action over pensions cap April 7, 2010 Workers at the private equity-owned AA breakdown service have voted to hold the first strike in the company’s 105-year history in a row over pensions, their union said yesterday. The Independent Democratic Union (IDU) said 57 per cent of thoseballoted supported the strike to protest against plans to limit theirpensions. The turnout was 87 per [...]
Pinewood strikes upbeat tone despite profit slump March 31, 2010 PINEWOOD Shepperton, whose studios provided the backdrop for films such as the Bond saga and recent release The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus yesterday insisted its prospects are strong despite posting a 24 per cent fall in profits for the year. The firm saw its pre-tax profit slip to £4.5m for the year to December, compared [...]
Picoult strikes gold again June 16, 2010 HOUSE RULES BY JODI PICOULT Hodder, £16.99 For an easy-reading, best-selling author, Picoult tackles some pretty serious issues. Fans will recognise her favoured theme of troubled or ill children, written through the perspectives of those nearest to them, in House Rules. But with this, her 16th novel, Picoult seems to be stepping her writing up [...]
Picoult strikes gold again June 16, 2010 HOUSE RULES BY JODI PICOULT Hodder, £16.99 For an easy-reading, best-selling author, Picoult tackles some pretty serious issues. Fans will recognise her favoured theme of troubled or ill children, written through the perspectives of those nearest to them, in House Rules. But with this, her 16th novel, Picoult seems to be stepping her writing up [...]
Arsenal ownership takes fresh twist as Kroenke takes control of NFL side April 13, 2010 MYSTERY surrounding the future of Arsenal has deepened after the club’s largest investor Stan Kroenke decided to snap up the remaining shares in his American football franchise St Louis Rams. The US billionaire’s move casts doubt on his ability to launch a takeover of the Gunners, just hours after it seemed the Premier League outfit’s [...]
Entertainment One to move to LSE’s main list March 31, 2010 ENTERTAINMENT One, the distributor of the blockbuster Twilight vampire movies, yesterday announced plans to move to the main list of the London Stock Exchange, as it cheered investors by confirming full-year results will be at the top end of its forecast range. Entertainment One, which is currently listed on the Alternative Investment Market (Aim), said [...]
Brussels is about to clobber the City May 16, 2010 HOW absurd. A successful British industry, one which even banker-bashers admit wasn’t responsible for the financial crisis, will this week be hammered by the European Union, marking the new government’s first foreign policy defeat and the latest blow to London’s prosperity. I’m of course referring to the EU’s attack on alternative investment managers, including hedge [...]
Losing Soane is a blessing in disguise April 15, 2010 THE long, drawn-out Soane Tonga’uiha transfer saga finally reached its conclusion yesterday, and I have to say it’s turned out to be a bit of a blessing in disguise for us. Although I had nothing to do with the agreement between CEO’s to allow Tonga’uiha to remain at Northampton, I was entirely happy with the [...]