MPs hit out at Department for Transport over delayed response to May timetable chaos review February 18, 2019 MPs have hit out at the government for its delay in responding to a report into last year's May timetable chaos, which found that transport secretary Chris Grayling could have done more to avert the troubles. The Transport Select Committee said it was "disappointing" that the Department for Transport (DfT) had decided to delay its response [...]
Netflix in advanced talks to make Pinewood Studios its UK production hub December 1, 2018 Netflix is in advanced talks to make Pinewood Studios its UK production hub following months of discussions over a long lease deal. The studios are based in Slough, just outside of London, and have a central role in UK film production as Netflix continue to expand their operation. The move will see Netflix use the same [...]
Coltrane Asset Management: What do we know about the hedge fund ruffling Interserve’s feathers? March 12, 2019 Outsourcing giant Interserve has taken a hammering in recent weeks from a very rowdy shareholder: Coltrane Asset Management. The New York hedge fund has done its utmost to derail a rescue deal designed to save the outsourcer from administration, even threatening to sue Interserve’s board last month. Coltrane may have caused a ruckus, but what [...]
Victoria & Abdul star: More TV shows should be set in London November 12, 2018 Streaming giants Amazon Prime Video and Netflix should explore producing more shows set against the backdrop of London, said Victoria & Abdul star Ali Fazal. Fazal, who starred as the companion of Queen Victoria, played by Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench in the 2017 film, told City A.M.: “London is one of the greatest cities in [...]
Rail review head Keith Williams hints at compensation role for regulator March 12, 2019 The former British Airways chief executive tasked with a full-scale review of the railways has hinted that the industry regulator could be tasked with handling compensation claims. Keith Williams, who was appointed by the government to carry out the review in the wake of last year's May timetable chaos, suggested the rail industry could learn from the [...]
The tangled Huawei web isn’t just about Gavin Williamson May 3, 2019 To say that Gavin Williamson was neither widely liked nor widely respected in Westminster would be an understatement. Often a figure of ridicule for the pet tarantula kept on his desk when he was chief whip, his former life as a fireplace salesman, and gaffes like saying Russia should “go away and shut up”, he [...]
The tangled Huawei web isn’t just about Gavin Williamson May 3, 2019 To say that Gavin Williamson was neither widely liked nor widely respected in Westminster would be an understatement. Often a figure of ridicule for the pet tarantula kept on his desk when he was chief whip, his former life as a fireplace salesman, and gaffes like saying Russia should “go away and shut up”, he [...]
Want to break the Brexit deadlock? Change the negotiating terms March 18, 2019 Who knows, Theresa May’s deal may yet get through parliament at the third attempt. It seems unlikely given the scale of previous defeats. But making predictions about what will happen next in the Brexit saga is a mug’s game. If the deal fails again, the UK will request a long extension to the Article 50 [...]
Christmas shoppers shunned the high street, but attacking Amazon won’t help January 11, 2019 Between the fierce renewal of the Brexit saga, parliamentary shenanigans, and a particularly chilling cold front (interpret that literally or metaphorically, as you will), the merriness of Christmas feels like a thing of the past. But for the high street, it feels like Christmas never came at all. Reports of retail sales, released yesterday by [...]
RBS GRG scandal: The baggage that could drag down Andrew Bailey’s quest to lead the Bank of England June 2, 2019 This summer, the Bank of England is expected to announce a successor to Mark Carney as governor. Among the runners in the contested race is Andrew Bailey, the financial watchdog chief who stands a solid chance of taking Carney's crown. While the boss of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) certainly has the credentials for the [...]