Rugby’s evangelist Brett Gosper sets sights on conquering new territories to grow sport’s appeal June 9, 2015 At the risk of taking hyperbole to new heights, it will be the biggest shock in the history of international sport if anyone other the usual suspects (you know who they are) find themselves in the final of this year’s Rugby World Cup. But the rugby playing field is changing and the likes of Samoa, [...]
Osborne gets last minute economic boost: UK service sector growth surges again while Europe hits 11-month low in latest PMI December 3, 2014 The UK’s service sector surged ahead of expectations in November as growth hit an 11-month low in the Eurozone, telling two very different stories of economic activity. The latest Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) came in at 58.6 for November, ahead of the 56.5 expected and 56.2 in October, in another boost for the UK economy [...]
Lord Myners’ report into Royal Mail mustn’t get lost in the post November 5, 2014 It's the privatisation row that won’t go away. Royal Mail’s shares may have performed limply since their post-flotation peak earlier this year, but their initial surge makes it a safe bet that the sell-off will feature heavily during next year’s general election campaign. Two reports – from the National Audit Office and the Business [...]
Public sector borrowing: Five charts that perfectly sum up what’s happening to the UK’s finances October 21, 2014 The Office for National Statistics' (ONS) latest public sector borrowing figures make for uncomfortable reading, particularly if you're in the business of running the country. Having entered government vowing to eliminate the budget deficit entirely by 2015, figures published this morning by the ONS showed the UK's budget deficit has risen since last year, from [...]
Derek Llambias, Sandy Easdale and Barry Leach suspended from Rangers as new board launches investigation March 10, 2015 Rangers Football Club has suspended former executives Derek Llambias, Sandy Easdale and Barry Leach pending an investigation. The trio – who were respectively chief executive, chairman and finance director until they were ousted by 85 per cent of shareholders on Friday – have been told to stay away from the club. Dave King [...]
Rail commuters get boost as Osborne caps fare rises September 7, 2014 Rail fare increases will be capped at 2.5 per cent for 2015 in a bid to help hard-pressed commuters, the government has announced. Chancellor George Osborne said the move, which limits price hikes of regulated rail fares to the rate of inflation, was a bid to help taxpayers, and was only possible because of other [...]
Cash strapped commuters brace for ticket price hike August 19, 2014 RAIL fares set by the government could rise by 3.5 per cent next year, pushing commuting costs up at much more than average earnings. Figures released yesterday showed that the retail prices index (RPI), a measure of inflation, rose by 2.5 per cent in the year to July. The government typically uses the measure plus [...]
Train fare rise 2015: Rail fares will go up by at least 3.5pc August 19, 2014 Rail fares are set to rise by at least 3.5 per cent next year pegged against July's inflation figures announced this morning. The 3.5 per cent increase is capped at one per cent above RPI which fell to 2.5 per cent in July- good news for travellers but bad news for train operators. However, commuters [...]
CBI director-general John Cridland: “Gosh, we really need to invest in infrastructure” November 6, 2014 In his fourth-floor office overlooking St Paul’s and the City of London, CBI director-general John Cridland seems at one with the world. The 49-year-old from Boston, Lincolnshire, is enjoying the relatively new offices and their proximity to the City and he is confident the economy is in good shape and that his members, who are [...]
Boris Johnson: Don’t savage London powerhouse – Tory party conference September 29, 2014 Boris Johnson will today launch a valiant defence of London’s dominant position in the UK, telling the Conservative party conference that the capital’s success is crucial for British economic growth. He will also seek to boost his party’s morale in the face of recent defections to Ukip, warning Conservatives against jumping ship. Johnson is expected [...]