The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, has denied that details of a £9m taxpayer-funded pro-EU publicity blitz were released to deflect attention from the prime minister’s financial affairs. Downing Street has announced it will spend 34p per household on 14-page booklets which are to be sent to every home in England before the EU referendum on 23 June. Vote Leave campaigners accused No 10 of attempting to distract the public from revelations in the Panama Papers about Cameron’s late father Ian’s offshore wealth. The data leak revealed that Cameron Sr’s Bahamas-based investment fund Blairmore never paid tax in Britain. No 10 has insisted that the prime minister, his wife, Samantha, and their children do not benefit from offshore funds or trusts and will not do so in future. The Labour MP Graham Stringer, who supports the leave campaign, claimed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that news of the leaflet’s publication was an attempt to “divert … [Read more...] about No 10 defends timing of pro-EU leaflets announcement amid pressure on PM
Why panama papers
Winds of change in the global toilet paper market
They are a drop in the ocean, admittedly, at this stage. But small firms like Who Gives a Crap, Tushy, Cheeky Monkey and No. 2 are pushing the boundaries of how we think about buy and use toilet paper. The global toilet paper market is growing at a rapid pace, a Transparency Market report states, noting that there is a general westernization of toilet culture. "As the developing world continues to take the lion's share of sales, multinational manufacturers are witnessing increased competition from emerging regional players." Revenue in the sector is expected to be $15.5 billion (€13.8 billion) in 2019 and the market is expected to grow annually by 1%, with most revenue generated in China, according to German statistics portal Statista. It also takes a lot of water to process trees into toilet paper An issue that won't flush Apparently, we flush 27,000 trees down the toilet each day. A report titled "The Issue With Tissue" … [Read more...] about Winds of change in the global toilet paper market
Wetherspoon pubs have stopped automatically handing out receipts to customers in a bid to save on waste paper
Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has stopped automatically giving receipts to customers to save paper. Boss Tim Martin said pubgoers can still request them but they will not be given out as a matter of course. The company, which has 900 UK pubs, said receipts generated mess and most customers did not want them. Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has stopped automatically giving receipts to customers to save paper. Boss Tim Martin, pictured, said pubgoers can still request them but they will not be given out as a matter of course RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Wetherspoon is to serve more UK drinks and axe European... The Wetherspoons effect: How price of houses within walking... Share this article Share A spokesman explained: ‘We stopped because it created a mess at the bar, was a hassle for the pub teams – plus it was a waste of paper and money as the customers didn’t really want them either.’ Dozens of other leading firms have also … [Read more...] about Wetherspoon pubs have stopped automatically handing out receipts to customers in a bid to save on waste paper
Scotland’s papers: Bug forces parents to ‘stay away in a manger’
As voters go to the polls in the general election, the papers take the opportunity to give their opinions on the front pages. However, the BBC - like other broadcasters - is restricted to reporting only factual accounts of the vote in line with polling day rules. With the election understandably hogging the headlines, we take a look at the other stories featuring in Thursday's papers.The Scottish Sun runs a story headlined "Stay away in a manger" after a winter vomiting bug struck a primary school in Aberdeen.Brimmond School in Bucksburn has made arrangements to livestream its nativity play in a bid to keep families away from the school and halt the spread of the bug after almost 100 teachers and pupils were affected.The Press and Journal highlights a story about the Dounreay nuclear plant.It says the site's operators have been "rapped" after a radioactive leak from the Caithness site.The gaseous emission in February triggered an in-house investigation followed by a probe by the … [Read more...] about Scotland’s papers: Bug forces parents to ‘stay away in a manger’
John Major was told to impress Murdoch with his confidence, papers show
John Major was urged to show “supreme confidence and clear vision” in his doomed bid to secure media tycoon Rupert Murdoch’s support in the 1997 general election, government documents reveal. Murdoch had a half-hour meeting in 1995 with Major at No 10 at a time when his newspapers had been calling for a Conservative party leadership change and giving generous coverage to the opposition leader, Tony Blair. Blair would go on to win the 1997 election with the Sun’s support. Before the 1995 meeting, Major’s press secretary, Christopher Meyer, urged the prime minister to be bold, the newly released documents at the National Archives show. Meyer said: “[Murdoch] does not have much more than half an hour because of another appointment.” He continued: “The signal I am picking up, mainly from the Sun, is that Murdoch has given one of his touches to the tiller. His papers, having campaigned for a change in Conservative party leadership and given … [Read more...] about John Major was told to impress Murdoch with his confidence, papers show