Outlook The Treasury this week hailed the fact that data from the Office for National Statistics showed that "underlying borrowing" is now falling. But did it? If you strip out factors such as gilt coupon payments from the Bank of England and transfers from the Royal Mail pension fund, borrowing in April 2013 was £10.2bn, up £1.3bn on the £8.9bn borrowed in April 2012. Ah, but what about the £2.3bn profits from the Bank of England's wound-down Special Liquidity Scheme (SLS)? They were paid over to the Treasury in April 2012 and thus flattered that month's borrowing figures. So disregard those profits for April 2012 and the comparison with April 2013 looks better, showing a £1bn fall in borrowing.
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Bank employee who posted advice on websites is fired
Sunday 15 February 2009
He is the rarest of creatures: a decent, likeable banker. For more than two years Tim Keirman was the mystery guardian angel of the bank charges campaign. While still working for NatWest he helped thousands of customers get their money back by posting anonymous guidance on consumer forum websites, much to the chagrin of his employers. Last week, his identity was finally discovered by the bank. Its revenge was swift, and savage.
Album: Jeff Buckley, So Real: Songs From.., (Sony BMG)
Sunday 25 January 2009
First released to mark the 10th anniversary of Jeff Buckley's death in 2007 and now dusted down in the light of "Hallelujah", the question is: does anyone need this?
Canada geese caused plane to ditch in Hudson
Sunday 18 January 2009
Canada geese were the cause of the near-disaster that struck Flight 1459 seconds after it took off from New York's La Guardia to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday afternoon, interviews conducted with the pilots and cabin crew this weekend have all but confirmed.
Great escape: Miracle on the Hudson river
Friday 16 January 2009
Passengers and crew rescued from jet crippled by bird strike after take-off
A partridge and a pear treat: Mark Hix's no-fuss alternative Christmas feast
Saturday 20 December 2008
I'm all for an alternative to turkey on Christmas Day and this year once again I will be cooking a selection of small game birds. A couple of my guests from last year – the artist Anya Gallaccio and her partner Kelly, who now live in San Diego – booked their places months ago for this year's feast!
Brian Viner: 'My Delia dish was ruined and there was only one explanation – sabotage'
Thursday 18 December 2008
Home And Away
Shannon's mother 'lied and lied and lied again'
Monday 01 December 2008
The mother of Shannon Matthews "lied and lied and lied again" as she told five different versions regarding her daughter's disappearance, a jury was told today.
Mother went shopping on night Shannon disappeared
Friday 28 November 2008
The mother of Shannon Matthews told a jury today she went shopping at a supermarket on the night her daughter went missing.
Shannon's mother denies telling 'blatant lies'
Friday 28 November 2008
The mother of Shannon Matthews today denied telling "blatant lies" to a jury as she resumed giving evidence at her trial.
Trade secrets: Top chefs reveal their guilty pleasures
Saturday 15 November 2008
What is Valentine Warner's guiltiest pleasure? What was Angela Hartnett's real-life kitchen nightmare? And what does Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall want for Christmas?
Mother 'showed no interest in Shannon welfare'
Thursday 13 November 2008
Karen Matthews did not ask about the welfare of her daughter when police told her she had been found but made a "glib comment" about an officer's mobile ringtone, a court heard today.
The 5-minute Interview: Christine Bleakley, TV presenter
Wednesday 09 July 2008
'A flock of geese on my granny's farm decided to sample me for lunch'
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