UK petrochemicals group Ineos is expanding its oil and gas operations in the North Sea with another big move. The energy giant has agreed to buy a two-thirds stake in two exploration licenses in areas north of the Shetland Islands from Siccar Point Energy for an undisclosed sum. The move follows the completion of a […]
Month: November 2017
Chancellor Philip Hammond could turn CMA drug price gouging probe into a big political win
Drug company Concordia uses for its name a Latin word that translates as ‘of one heart’ and its website is splattered with smiling patients from around the world. “More than 200 products reaching a diverse population in over 90 countries. We are Concordia International,” the Canadian outfit declares in one of those mission statement things […]
‘Outsourced workers’ file landmark legal case that could revolutionise employment rights in UK
Support staff at the University of London are launching a landmark legal challenge over pay and the conditions under which they work, in a case that could change the lives of outsourced workers across a slew of industries nationwide. On behalf of receptionists, security officers and porters, who work at the University of London but […]
UK deficit in October wider than expected ahead of the Autumn Budget
The deficit in October came in wider than expected, in a piece of disappointing news for Philip Hammond on the eve of his Autumn Budget. The Office for National Statistics reported on Tuesday that public borrowing was £8bn in the month, higher than the £7bn pencilled in by City of London analysts and up on […]
easyJet blames profits slump on Brexit
The slump in sterling after the EU referendum wiped over £100m from easyJet’s profits in the year to the end of September. Britain’s biggest budget airline saw pre-tax profits fall by one-sixth to £408m, blamed on the devaluation of the pound after the Brexit vote. Over the year, easyJet flew 80 million passengers. All but […]
Bitcoin crashes after $31m hack of rival cryptocurrency Tether
Bitcoin fell the most in a week after the company behind cryptocurrency tether reported a $31m theft. The amount was taken from the Tether Treasury wallet on 19 November and sent to an unauthorised bitcoin address, according to an announcement on the company’s website posted on Tuesday. The stolen tokens will not be redeemed, and […]
Canadian company may have overcharged NHS by millions for essential thyroid drug
A drugs firm may have overcharged the NHS by millions of pounds for an essential thyroid drug, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has said. The CMA on Tuesday said that it had investigated Canadian company Concordia and found that in 2016, the NHS had spent more than £34m on liothyronine tablets, which marks an […]
Brexit: UK workers willing to accept lower wages as deadline to leave EU approaches, says Bank of England policymaker
British workers may be willing to accept lower wages in the wake of the Brexit vote, according to the newest member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee. Sir Dave Ramsden joined the MPC in September and was in a minority of two on the nine person committee in voting to keep interest rates […]
Gig economy: MPs draft bill to end ‘mass exploitation’ of workers by companies
The law must change to end the “mass exploitation” of workers by companies who use bogus self-employment to avoid granting basic rights like holiday pay and the minimum wage, MPs have said. In a draft bill published on Monday the Work and Pensions select committee and the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) committee said […]
Brexit: Business leaders concerned over what the Budget means for them want more Government support
Millions of business owners across the UK are worried that the Budget will do little to address their concerns and are calling for more support from the Government during the Brexit process, a new survey has revealed. According to the research by challenger bank Aldermore, 68 per cent of small business bosses – representing 3.74 […]