Nationwide, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money probed over ‘measly’ savings rates May 10, 2023 An influential parliamentary body has expanded its inquiry into the low savings rates paid by the UK’s retail banks, describing the current rates on offer as “measly”. Having investigated the UK’s four largest retail banks, MPs at the Treasury Committee have now sent letters to Nationwide, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money. These lenders account for [...]
Virgin Money shares slide as profit falls by a quarter on higher provisions for bad loans May 4, 2023 Virgin Money’s pretax profit slipped by a quarter in the six months to March as the bank set aside more funds to cope with expected impairment losses. Richard Branson’s challenger bank recorded £144m in provisions for bad loans compared to just £21m in the same period last year. Its shares were trading over five per cent [...]
London Marathon: 45 Guinness World Records smashed including for runners dressed as a boxer and 3D dinosaur April 24, 2023 Tens of thousands of people braved the pouring rain to complete what is likely to have been the largest London Marathon in history and which also saw a new top time in the men’s elite race. Some 49,675 runners registered for this year’s race, up from the previous record of 43,199 in 2019 – and around 48,000 [...]
Kelvin Kiptum breaks London Marathon record as Mo Farah bows out April 23, 2023 Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum smashed the course record to win the elite men’s race at the London Marathon as Mo Farah bowed out of the 26-mile distance. Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion Sifan Hassan also provided fireworks in the women’s elite race, the Dutchwoman overscoming cramp to win in her first ever marathon. Kiptum’s time of [...]
Extinction Rebellion ‘expects up to 50,000 protesters’ on day of London Marathon April 21, 2023 Extinction Rebellion has promised to avoid disrupting the London Marathon as it prepares for “40,000 to 50,000” activists to protest in the capital while the race is on. The group is staging a four-day protest outside Parliament Square from Friday but has been in talks with the marathon race director to ensure minimal disruption. Earlier [...]
London Marathon director plays down fears of protestors disrupting Sunday April 19, 2023 The director of the London Marathon Hugh Brasher has played down the idea of the iconic 26.2-mile event being disrupted by protestors such as Extinction Rebellion. Brasher has said that Extinction Rebellion has assured the event – which will see elite athletes joined by 45,000 general participants run, walk and hop past some of the [...]
London Marathon: Where are spectators being to told AVOID due to Extinction Rebellion disruption? April 19, 2023 Spectators have been urged to avoid a famous part of the London Marathon route on Sunday amid a planned protest, as a minister said Extinction Rebellion “must be stopped”. The climate group’s scheduled four-day protest in central London from Friday to Monday could see some 30,000 of its supporters in the Westminster area for the [...]
Virgin Money has customer boom as higher interest rates benefit Branson’s bank February 1, 2023 Virgin Money’s customer base continued to grow in the first quarter of its financial year as the challenger bank said it expects to benefit from higher interest rates for the remainder of the year. There were around 27,000 new personal current accounts opened in the period, 44 per cent more than last year. This, the [...]
Virgin Money shares soar after handing staff 10 per cent pay rise November 21, 2022 Virgin Money shares have jumped today after the company handed out 10 per cent pay rises to most of its 7,500 staff. The pay bump comes on top of a £1,000 one-off payment in August to help combat the cost of living crisis. Staff will receive around nine and 11 per cent extra across two [...]
London Marathon: Yehualaw and Kipruto win in the capital October 2, 2022 Both the men’s and women’s London Marathon races were won by maiden victors today as Kenya’s Amos Kipruto and Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw claimed inaugural titles on the Mall this afternoon. In one of the biggest marathons on the circuit – which has seen 42,000 mass participants – the African duo managed to break away in [...]