This year, the process is more overtly political than usual. It may not be the last Budget before the election, but it is certainly the penultimate one, and there are two powerful practical reasons for wanting to run the two Budgets in tandem. Thus, although the Budget itself in not until 28 November, the broad [...]

TEN years ago, when the United Nations reached its 40th birthday, there was an “omen”. In the public sector, where neither exists in any abundance, high performance can only be maintained by constant vigilance and constant supervision, an “audit culture”, as Simon Jenkins calls it in a book published last week Short on carrots, the [...]

City forecasts range from pounds 135m to pounds 139m, up from last year’s pounds 117m.Most of the advances are expected to come in medical technology, with earnings in the aerospace division flat. Wait for proof of Mr Moore’s impact before buying again, she recommends.SMITHS Industries announces full-year figures on Wednesday. That may be so at [...]

Young people were more favourable to Leakey than the older generation.”. ON 4 FEBRUARY this year, Adrian Palmer, the managing director of Group Lotus, had a meal with South Korean visitors costing pounds 314.34. On 27 March, his finance director, Andrew Tempest, paid pounds 120 for a meal at the Hilton, and on 5 April [...]

While it is saying publicly that each application will be dealt with individually and that funding both projects has not been ruled out, the Welsh Rugby Union says it has been advised that the two projects can not both go ahead.Plans for a stadium were put forward by the WRU and South Glamorgan County Council, [...]

That prospect faded, and last month Bugatti Automobili was put into liquidation by a magistrate. Pressure from creditors continues: it is possible that Mr Artioli will be ordered to sell Lotus to pay Bugatti’s debts, in which ca se a raft of buyers will reappear. Meanwhile there is plenty of talk of “rescuers”, mainly from [...]

How often have I had to stamp on one or another eminent man of letters who is guilty of misusing the words “disinterested”, “hopefully” and – most painful of all! – “jamboree”. “Why only quite?””You have me there,” he said.”Where?””Here.””When?””Can we move on?””‘Move on?’” said I, the twinkle still aflame in my eye, “But where [...]

Operators are losing sales, and contractors are facing negotiated compensation or potential lawsuits Some estimates put the total cost at more than pounds 200m. Perhaps more significantly, competition in the pool, the daily spot-market for electricity, has been reduced. The problem with the new 9F and 9FA series CCGTs is that they have a tendency [...]

MAKING boxing illegal will only send it underground, a former bareknuckle fighter warned yesterday, writes Ray Mgadzah. For seven years, smashed jaws, broken ribs and swollen black eyes were an occupational hazard for Dave, 27. Mr Wilkins tried to obtain the station duty manager’s permission for her to sell him a cup of tea but, [...]