ECB ‘working on lending scheme’ for small businesses hit by coronavirus March 3, 2020 The European Central Bank is reportedly working on measures to provide liquidity to businesses hit by the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Measures being considered by the ECB include a targeted longer-term refinancing operation directed at small and medium-sized firms, which could be hardest hit by a virus-related downturn, sources familiar with the discussion [...]
Activist investor demands removal of Barclays boss Jes Staley over Epstein links March 2, 2020 Barclays should remove chief executive Jes Staley from its board over his ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, according to activist investor Sherborne. In a letter to shareholders, Sherbone, which is led by Edward Bramson, said the decision by Barclays’ board to nominate Staley for reelection amid an ongoing regulatory investigation was “ill advised”. Sherborne, [...]
BoE governor Mark Carney urges the City to step up on climate change February 27, 2020 Outgoing Bank of England governor Mark Carney has demanded the City answer “calls to action” on climate change and help speed up the transition to a low-carbon economy. In a speech given in the City this morning, Carney is expected to call on money managers to “ensure that every financial decision takes climate change into [...]
Exclusive: MPs warn over scrutiny as Downing Street prepares to ‘anoint’ friendly face in key role February 26, 2020 Downing Street is considering a controversial move to appoint its own chair of a powerful parliamentary committee – subverting parliamentary convention. The move would be seen as the latest attempt by Number 10 to avoid scrutiny after recent brouhahas over journalists’ access to key briefings. The chair of the Liaison Committee – the only committee [...]
The Democrats face a beating if they choose Bernie Sanders as their presidential nominee February 26, 2020 In December 2019, a peculiar experiment in British politics hit the buffers in a most brutal manner. One of our great political parties — Labour — had gambled that it could swing radically leftwards away from the ideological centre ground. Its expectation was that it would win a sweeping victory with an enhanced coalition of [...]
Barclays prepares to begin hunt for Jes Staley’s replacement February 24, 2020 Barclays is preparing to begin the search for a new chief executive to replace Jes Staley, making it the latest European bank to hunt for new leadership. Staley, who has led the banking giant since 2015, has told colleagues he expects to leave Barclays by the end of next year, according to the Financial Times. [...]
Like a boss: Cherie Blair on helping women start their own business February 24, 2020 We tend to associate entrepreneurship with opportunistic founders operating out of bustling Silicon Valley hubs — or perhaps more specifically the five American tech giants whose combined market value, it was reported recently, has increased by $1.3 trillion in the past year. In fact, entrepreneurship exists wherever you are. The sharing economy is producing millions [...]
Dominic Cummings’ war on conventions is just getting going February 19, 2020 Much is being made of Dominic Cummings’ supposed overreach this week. His attack on the BBC proved so brutal that even Auntie-sceptic John Whittingdale blanched, while one of Number 10’s newly-hired “weirdos and misfits” had voiced his support for marital rape and sympathy for eugenics in online forums. Andrew Sabinsky’s Downing Street career lasted just [...]
Trump’s tweets ‘make it impossible for me to do my job’, says William Barr February 14, 2020 US attorney general William Barr has said President Donald Trump’s use of Twitter “make it impossible for me to do my job” amid a high profile court case. His comments came in response to claims Trump pressured the Department of Justice (DoJ) into recommending a reduced jail sentence for the President’s former adviser, Roger Stone. [...]
Mark Zuckerberg ‘accepts’ Facebook may have to pay more tax in Europe February 14, 2020 Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg says he recognises that tech giants may to have pay more tax in Europe in future. The social media giant’s founder said he understood the “frustration” surrounding the issue and backed plans from think tank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, to find a global solution. Facebook and other tech giants [...]