Mega-city London will fall behind New York without a radical plan for growth March 11, 2015 At last, a real sense of urgency is starting to define the debate surrounding the future of London. As chancellor George Osborne and mayor Boris Johnson warned in their recent Long Term Economic Plan for London, the capital risks losing its leading status as a pre-eminent global city unless action is taken to plan for [...]
Budget 2015: We need a second wave of the consumer revolution to restore faith in capitalism March 17, 2015 Today, the chancellor presents his last Budget before the General Election. With limited room for tax giveaways, and a need to show that the Tories are on the side of the “little guy”, it’s time for the second wave of the British competition revolution – to arm consumers to take on big business. Ed Miliband’s [...]
Anti-business? The Labour Party’s real problem is that it’s anti-market February 9, 2015 The war of words between Boots and the Labour Party has led to much political soul-searching. The salient question seems to be: “is Labour anti-business?” This is not particularly interesting. “Business”, after all, is not some homogenous entity. Many claim to be the “voice of business,” but the loudest tend to be those representing the [...]
Rocky Creek can give Nicholls a second Grand National win April 9, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE CRABBIE’S GRAND NATIONAL THIS is the most eagerly awaited Crabbie’s Grand National in years as it is the last time we will see the greatest ever jumps jockey ride in the world’s greatest steeplechase. Never again will a rider come along like AP McCoy. His guts, determination and sheer addiction to [...]
Ferrari recalls 3,000 F458 Italia and F458 Spider sports cars – for the most action movie reason imaginable September 25, 2014 By now, we're used to the likes of Toyota recalling vehicles in their thousands – but when you've paid the price of a two-bed semi for a sports car, we'd imagine you expect to be able to keep hold of it. Not always. Italian luxury car manufacturer Ferrari has just recalled 3,000 of its F458 [...]
Lord Stanley Fink: The Godfather of the hedge fund industry February 12, 2015 Despite being labelled a tax avoider by Ed Miliband, there’s more to Lord Fink than meets the eye. Lord (Stanley) Fink came under fire from Ed Miliband in Parliament this week, who accused the Tory donor and former party treasurer of tax avoidance. But as the spat continued through yesterday, a number of high-profile tweeters [...]
Davos 2015 World Economic Forum: In search of a safe haven – CNBC Comment January 19, 2015 The annual World Economic Forum (WEF) kicks off in Davos this week and, if you’re actually making your way to the mountain resort, it’s time to put on your snow boots and weather the freezing Alpine conditions. But even if you’re staying put like most of us, you still won’t be able to escape the [...]
Considered for Fifty Shades of Grey, Christian Cooke is one of the UK’s hottest new actors March 5, 2015 There’s handsome, and there’s “that guy should star in a soft-core BDSM blockbuster” handsome. Christian Cooke is the latter, to the extent that he was in the running to bag the lead role in Fifty Shades of Grey, before it was given to fellow Brit Jamie Dornan. In person Cooke seems far too nice for [...]
B&B Investment Partners flexes muscles with PhD Nutrition deal November 16, 2014 London-based investment fund B&B Investment Partners yesterday announced the acquisition of PhD Nutrition, a leading producer of protein powder and nutrition bars. The deal is worth approximately £20m, a source close the negotiations told City A.M.. PhD has become a recognised brand in the fast-growing sports nutrition market since it was co-founded by Jason Rickaby [...]
Mulberry bags Johnny Coca for its creative lead November 27, 2014 MULBERRY has hired Celine designer Johnny Coca to be its new creative director, ending a year-long search for the crucial post and sending shares two per cent higher yesterday. Coca will leave his post at Celine, where he is head design director of leather, shoes and accessories, in January. However, he will not join Mulberry [...]