David Attenborough and the Queen remain British public’s most admired figures July 18, 2019 The people have spoken, and they remain unmoved: David Attenborough and the Queen have emerged as Britain’s most admired public figures for the second year running. According to an annual Yougov poll, the documentary maker is far-and-away the most admired man in the UK, romping to victory with the backing of a quarter of voters. [...]
Army fire-fighting service handed to outsourcer Capita in £525m deal July 18, 2019 The Army has tasked outsourcer Capita with running its firefighting service at bases across the UK for the next 12 years. Defence minister Tobias Elwood said the £525m contract award would deliver “significant financial savings”. The army would invest this money into other areas of Britain’s defence budget, he added. Read more: Capita takes on [...]
Construction market ‘patience wearing thin’ with Brexit uncertainty July 18, 2019 London’s construction market appears to be losing patience with Brexit uncertainty, as output growth gains speed and workload expectations gather pace for the year ahead. According to a quarterly industry survey by RICS, 14 per cent more respondents reported an increase in construction workloads across London in the second three months of 2019. This is [...]
Daily Mirror owner Reach ‘joins race to buy JPI Media’ July 17, 2019 Reach, the owner of the Daily Mirror and Daily Express, is said to have thrown its hat into the ring to buy JPI Media, which owns the i newspaper. The firm, formerly known as Trinity Mirror, has reportedly sent an indicative offer for the company which owns hundreds of regional titles. The news was first [...]
Commuter chaos: Waterloo station line side fire expected to cause disruption on Thursday morning July 17, 2019 Commuters have been told to take alternative routes to work tomorrow after a line side fire at Waterloo station has closed nine platforms. The blaze damaged cables outside Britain’s largest and busiest station earlier today, meaning trains cannot run to platforms 16-24. Read more: How to find a happier commute: Walking, cycling and train travel [...]
NHS still running Windows XP on over 2,000 computers despite spate of cyber attacks July 17, 2019 The NHS has admitted it is still running Windows XP on over 2000 computers, even though the operating system stopped receiving security updates five years ago. In a written answer, health minister Jackie Doyle-Price said: “As of July 2019, approximately 2,300 National Health Service computers are using Windows XP from a total of around 1.4 [...]
Regulator investigates ‘shape-shifting’ firms who shirk duties on employee pensions July 17, 2019 The Pensions Regulator said today it will hunt down companies that change their names to dodge workplace pension obligations. Several small and medium-sized employers have tried to employ “shape-shifting” tactics to avoid paying their staff’s pensions, it said. Those breaching their auto-enrolment duties could be subject to “short-notice inspections”. Read more: Prudential UK property fund delays [...]
Google suspends Viagogo from advertising amid claims ticket site has not changed its ways July 17, 2019 Google has today dealt a blow to controversial second-hand ticketing company Viagogo by suspending its website as an advertiser. It is the second setback for the firm this month. Earlier in July, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it would take Viagogo to court. Read more: MPs warn consumers against using ticket reseller Viagogo [...]
Von der Leyen gets top job at European Commission, becoming first woman president July 16, 2019 The European Parliament yesterday voted German conservative Ursula von der Leyen as the first female EU Commission president. Von der Leyen, a close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, secured 383 votes, needing a minimum 374 votes to be confirmed. Read more: Ex-European Commission president says UK financial services should be higher on Brexit agenda [...]
Investor ‘threatens to oust chair’ at troubled printer De La Rue July 16, 2019 Banknote and passport producer De La Rue faces fresh boardroom disruption after a City investor is said to have threatened to force its chairman out. Crystal Amber activist fund has written to the company, informing the board that it plans to force an EGM unless chairman Philip Rogerson resigns by its annual shareholder meeting later [...]
