Business Diary: Ryanair boss doesn't always get it wrong

Much fury at the Unite trade union about Ryanair's suggestion that it might abolish checking in luggage. Unite seems to have the idea that the Irish airline's boss, Michael O'Leary, wants passengers to stick their bags in overhead lockers (in fact, he proposed that people carry them to the boarding steps, where staff would stick them in the hold). While the union thinks most passengers would hate the idea, the real victims of such a scheme would be the heavily unionised baggage handlers. We reckon many people would be delighted to avoid baggage check-in queues – for once, Ryanair might have had a bright idea.

Thomson Reuters hosts a party

More on the plan by Tom Glocer, chief executive of Thomson Reuters, to drop its listing on the London Stock Exchange (the British institution Reuters is now owned by the Canadian company Thomson). What do the folk at the British Museum, keepers of our traditions, think of the move? Glocer had the chance to find out on Tuesday night, a day after announcing the delisting, when he attended his company's summer party at that very venue.

Business heroes with an axe to grind

It was good of Gordon Brown to host a Downing Street party this week for guests he described as "business heroes". The Prime Minister told the gathering of entrepreneurs and small business owners that his aim was to "support you in the efforts that you make, to make for a stronger economy". More than one guest wondered how that squared with Bank of England statistics published on the day of the party, which revealed that lending from the partly-nationalised banking sector to businesses is continuing to fall.

Some dragons in real need of a handout

Calling Welsh millionaires. The nation's expat rugby club, London Welsh, has called in Tenon Recovery as an administrator, warning that it has only enough cash to survive for the next month. With a string of famous ex-players – think JPR Williams and Co – the club ought to be able to organise a whip-round. Sadly, its glory days came during the amateur era when players, in theory at least, turned out for free.

Number of the day: £130k

The size of the bonus that Hector Sants, chief executive of the Financial Services Authority has waived.