Lead generation business

Mike Ashley's Frasers Group has branded the chancellor's new business rates holiday "near worthless" for larger firms and is an obstacle to it taking on old Debenhams shops. The Sports Direct and House of Fraser owner said the £2m limit on the amount of relief a company can claim means it will have to review all its stores to find any that may no longer be viable, due to the "unrealistic" levy. In his budget on Wednesday Rishi Sunak extended the holiday on business rates, a tax which all shops and pubs must pay, until the end of June. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sunak's tax announcements The original assistance package was due to run out at the end of March. Advertisement The chancellor said that for the rest of the financial year after June rates would remain discounted by two thirds, up to a value of £2m if businesses are closed. … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group warns business rates relief cap threatens stores

Mike Ashley and Newcastle United have instructed leading lawyers in an ongoing battle with the Premier League after they claimed the sale of the club to a Saudi-led consortium was unfairly blocked. Ashley, the billionaire owner of Sports Direct, has appointed Blackstone Chambers law firm in a bid to prove the Premier League's owners and directors test was not properly applied to the proposed buyers. Such buyers included Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which would have received an 80% stake of the club, and Amanda Staveley's PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben brothers, of which both would have split the remaining 20%. It also represents an escalation in the war of words between Newcastle United and the Premier League over the takeover, which failed when the consortium publicly withdrew their offer in July. Last week, Newcastle United released a statement accusing the Premier League's chief executive Richard Masters of not acting "appropriately" during the … [Read more...] about Mike Ashley hires leading lawyers for battle over failed Newcastle United takeover

The government has launched a taskforce to accelerate the search for a coronavirus vaccine in the UK. Downing Street's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, and deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van Tam have been tasked with leading the operation. Business Secretary Alok Sharma announced the taskforce at Number 10's daily coronavirus news briefing on Friday, adding that the goal was to "make sure a vaccine is made available to the public as quickly as possible". Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 'We may need more than one vaccine' "It comprises representatives from government, industry, academia and regulators," he said. "We are looking forward, so, when we do make a breakthrough we are ready to manufacture by the millions. Advertisement "One tool in this fight will be the UK's first vaccines manufacturing innovation centre based in Harwell. "The government will be accelerating the … [Read more...] about Coronavirus vaccine taskforce launched by government

The Pope has arrived in Iraq for an historic weekend visit which carries both symbolism and risk. With a message of inter-faith tolerance, Francis will spend four days in Iraq in what is his first foreign trip in more than a year and the first-ever papal pilgrimage to the war-hit nation. Francis, who wore a facemask during the flight, took it off before descending the stairs to the tarmac and was greeted by two masked children in traditional dress. A red carpet was rolled out at Baghdad International Airport with prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on hand to greet the pontiff. A largely unmasked choir sang songs as the Pope and Mr al-Kadhimi made their way to a welcome area in the airport. Advertisement The Pope has since been welcomed to Iraq's presidential palace by the country's president Barham Salih. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player A motorcade escorts Pope Francis during his historic tour in … [Read more...] about Pope arrives in Iraq for historic first-ever papal trip to nation despite fears over security and coronavirus

The European Parliament has declined to set a date to ratify the Brexit trade deal following a row over the UK's action in relation to arrangements for Northern Ireland. Tensions over the Northern Ireland protocol, a key part of Britain's divorce deal with the EU , have flared again this week. It comes after the UK took unilateral action to extend grace periods for businesses such as supermarkets and parcel operators, before they have to comply with new post- Brexit rules. Light-touch regulation schemes on goods from the rest of the UK transiting to Northern Ireland had been due to expire at the end of March, but now they won't end until October. Amid the threat of legal action against London, the European Commission has accused the UK of seeking to breach international law and condemned Britain's "clear departure from the constructive approach that has prevailed up until now". Advertisement The Irish government accused the UK … [Read more...] about Brexit: European Parliament declines to fix date of EU-UK trade deal vote amid new row over Northern Ireland Protocol