6:53 am, September 1, 2022
Liz Truss: No energy rationing or new taxes if I become prime minister
Liz Truss has claimed there would be no new taxes or energy rationing if she became prime minister, as she dropped hints about further cost-of-living support.
The Tory leadership frontrunner reiterated her two priorities are to cut taxes and to secure the UK’s energy supply as people across the country battle soaring costs.
She added a third priority would be to address costs in the form of a budget or a ‘fiscal event’, telling the audience: ‘In a fiscal event, the chancellor would address the issue of household support.’
Rail workers to stage fresh strikes
Train drivers and other railway workers are to stage a fresh wave of strikes in the long-running dispute which has crippled services in recent weeks.
Members of the train drivers’ union Aslef will walk out at 12 train companies on September 15, threatening travel chaos across the country.
The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) also announced that its members at nine train operating companies as well as Network Rail (NR) will walk out from midday on September 26.
Co-op offloads petrol forecourt business to Asda in £600m deal
The Co-operative Group has agreed to sell its 129-strong petrol forecourt chain to supermarket giant Asda in a deal worth around £600m.
The sale will see five per cent of Co-op’s entire retail estate – including 129 petrol stations and three development sites – handed over to Asda, which already runs 323 petrol stations across the UK.
Co-op, known for its supermarket chains and funeral care operations, said that offloading its petrol forecourts will allow it to focus on its convenience business as well as raising important cash for the business.
Cycling and walking transport alternatives fall to pre-pandemic levels
Active travel has fallen to pre-coronavirus levels after surging in 2020, according to new figures.
A cycling charity and motoring organisation accused the Government and local authorities of failing to encourage people to keep using cleaner travel methods.
Department for Transport (DfT) data shows the average distance covered by people cycling in England in 2021 was 55 miles.
Pound slide continues as energy and oil firms weigh on FTSE
The pound drifted further to finish August with its worst month since 2016 amid continued worries over the UK’s economic prospects.
The FTSE 100 ended the day down 74.48 points, or 1.05 per cent, at 7,284.15 amid pressure from energy suppliers and producers.
Meanwhile, the German Dax declined 0.97 per cent by the end of the session and the French Cac finished 1.37 per cent lower.
Wednesday’s Car Dealer headlines you might have missed
- Jaguar dealers express concern as JLR admits it will open small number of ‘owned stores’
- Mechanic banned for five years by DVSA for issuing false MOT certificates but judge decides against jail term
- Today’s the last day for Car Dealer Power 2022 voting so make sure you get your nominations in!
- ‘Frustrated’ buyers waiting for new cars say they wouldn’t mind paying more to jump queue
- TrustFord donates almost £5,000 to RNLI after charity event raises funds for lifeboat organisation
- Family-run dealerships Delgarth and Autorama are bought by Allen Motor Group
- Fuel economy now top priority for nearly quarter of car buyers, new data shows
- Used car prices stabilise in August but volumes of stock continue to fall
- Expert tells Car Dealer five mistakes to avoid when installing a charging station
BrewDog criticises ‘clueless government’ as it closes six pubs over energy bills
The boss of BrewDog has said the craft brewer will shut six of its pubs after being hammered by soaring energy costs ‘with no prospect of any help from a clueless government’.
James Watt, founder and chief executive of the company, said it took the decision as it believed it would ‘be simply impossible to get these bars even close to financial viability’ in the foreseeable future.
BrewDog will shut the Hop and Anchor in Aberdeen, Smithfield Market Arms in London, Hop Hub in Motherwell and its BrewDog bars in Dalston, east London; Old Street, east London; and Peterhead.
Read how rising energy bills are affecting car dealers here.
Ryan Giggs facing possible retrial as jury fails to reach verdicts
Ryan Giggs is facing a possible retrial after a jury failed to reach verdicts in his domestic violence trial.
The former Manchester United footballer had been on trial for four weeks but following more than 20 hours of deliberations, the jury of seven women and four men, having lost one juror to illness, failed to reach any verdicts.
Lawyers will now have to consider the public interest of a retrial but any further trial would only take place many months from now.
Polestar’s 6 LA Concept edition sells out one week after first public appearance
Polestar has filled all 500 build slots for its new 6 LA Concept edition just a week after its first public appearance.
Offered initially in LA Concept edition – which is an exclusive early version of the Polestar 6 that will go into full production – the new model was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event in California.
Expected to launch in 2026, the Polestar 6 LA Concept edition will be available with a distinctive Sky Blue exterior paint that was used on the initial ‘O2’ concept.
Weather outlook
Most areas can expect plenty of sunny spells through the day. A few showers are likely across parts of northern and eastern England. Cloud will thicken across southern areas later in the day, the BBC reports.
Tonight, clear spells will develop across many areas, along with a few patches of cloud. A few showers will move in from the south, these scattered and heavy in places.
Tomorrow will turn rather cloudy and breezy for many areas through the day. Showers are likely to develop across many areas, and some heavy rain will move into the north-west later in the day.
