6:49 am, July 9, 2022
Race for PM’s job heats up as Tories rush to take sides
Tories are rushing to take sides in the race to become the new prime minister after Rishi Sunak declared he had set his sights on the top job.
Former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch is said to be the latest to throw her hat into the ring, with a plan for a smaller state and a government ‘focused on the essentials’.
Meanwhile former minister Steve Baker has backed attorney general Suella Braverman’s campaign – despite previously saying he was seriously considering putting himself forward for the top job. Foreign secretary Liz Truss is also widely expected to run for leader.
Heinz and Tesco bury the hatchet after pricing row
Tesco’s shelves will be brimming with Heinz beans again as the two sides reached a truce in their dispute.
In a joint statement, the firms said they had got ‘back together’ after gaps opened in the aisles of the UK’s biggest supermarket.
According to reports, bosses at Tesco had been displeased by the rising prices for Heinz products, as they try to compete with discount retailers. It led to shortages of some products, including some types of baked beans and chicken noodle soup, as Heinz suspended deliveries to the supermarket chain.
Queen offers condolences to Japan’s emperor after fatal shooting of Shinzo Abe
The Queen has offered her condolences to the people of Japan following the fatal shooting of their former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
She said in a statement to Emperor Naruhito that she had ‘fond memories’ of meeting the politician during his visit to the UK in 2016, and paid tribute to his wish to ‘forge ever-closer bonds with the United Kingdom’.
Abe, 67, was shot from behind during a campaign speech in western Japan yesterday and later died in hospital.
Campaigners to stage Wimbledon dress code protest over period concerns
A group of campaigners will stage a protest at Wimbledon today over the dress code because of concerns over periods for female players.
Recreational tennis player Gabriella Holmes, 26, and footballer Holly Gordon, 28, started the Address The Dress Code campaign to highlight the anxiety that females face competing in traditional whites.
The pair are due to lead a protest outside the gates of the SW19 site at midday ahead of the ladies’ singles final with the hope of getting Wimbledon to respond to the issue.
Ukrainian soldiers arrive in UK to be trained up by British forces
Ukrainian soldiers being trained by British forces to help them in their fight against Russia have arrived in the UK.
The first cohort in the UK-led military programme met with defence secretary Ben Wallace on Thursday as they started their several weeks-long training, the Ministry of Defence said.
The programme will train up to 10,000 Ukrainians over the coming months.
Vistry lifts profit outlook as strong demand offsets higher costs
Housebuilder Vistry said it had exceeded expectations over the first half of 2022 but warned that planning delays were causing longer lead times for new properties.
The company saw shares nudge higher after it said adjusted profit will be at the top of market expectations following strong demand.
Vistry said housebuilding completions increased to 3,219 over the first six months of the year, from 3,126 in the same period in 2021.
Vehicle thefts in England and Wales see insurers pay out nearly £1.5bn a year
Insurers are having to pay out close to £1.5bn a year over vehicle thefts in England and Wales, a new study has found.
A Freedom of Information request by Kent-based Claims Management and Adjusting also found that although vehicle theft numbers have fallen – down to 100,000 per year in 2021 from 180,000 in 2006 – the recovery of stolen vehicles has dropped considerably, falling from 80 per cent in 2006 to just 28 per cent in 2021.
Friday Car Dealer headlines you might have missed
- Nissan to cut dealers as part of new ‘reshaping plans’
- Motor trade has ‘institutional problems’ with sexism and ‘cars are for boys’ attitude, says leading female dealer
- Motorpoint a ‘good company, relatively overvalued’, say financial experts
- Car industry colleagues welcome to attend funeral for senior executive Jim Tyrrell
- Volkswagen reveals new Amarok pick-up in full after weeks of teasers
- Peugeot UK appoints new sales director
- Warranty First launches new Ignition cover
First subsea cables laid in £660m project to connect Shetland to energy grid
A £660m project that will connect Shetland to the main British energy system for the first time has passed a major milestone.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks announced that the first phase of cable-laying as part of the Shetland High-Voltage Direct Current Link is now under way off the coast of Caithness.
When completed, the subsea cable will connect Shetland to the UK energy system in a move that will provide security of supply for islanders but will also benefit renewable energy projects in and around the islands.
Market movements
The FTSE 100 ended the week up 7.16 points on 7,196.24. Meanwhile, the Cac 40 rose by 26.43 points to end on 6,033.13, the Dax gained 172.01 points, closing on 13,015.23, but the Dow Jones dipped by 46.40 points to finish on 31,338.15.
Weather outlook
England, Wales and southern Scotland will enjoy sunshine today, says BBC Weather, with cloud in Northern Ireland and northern Scotland, and the far north experiencing the occasional shower.
Sunday will also be fine and dry in the UK, with sunshine spreading during the afternoon, although it’ll stay cloudy over the Northern and Western Isles. which will have rain during the morning.
