Author: INDEPENDENT

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsWhisky negotiations with the US are about “the hard yards” rather than “one-off photo opportunities”, the Prime Minister has said in a rebuke to First Minister John Swinney.Mr Swinney has made securing a deal to cut whisky tariffs with the US a key part of his premiership in recent months, meeting President Donald Trump on a number of occasions this year in the hopes of reducing the levies.The…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsGen Z workers are increasingly walking away from banking jobs in pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities or more flexible working, a new survey of senior bosses has found.Most financial firms are taking action in a bid to hold onto their younger members of staff.Nearly half of financial services leaders report an increase in Gen Z employees leaving their organisation over the past year, according to polling by KPMG.This rises to…

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture emailGet the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter It’s the greatest privilege to be asked to do this. But also, woe betide anyone who gets it wrong…” Jessica Swale laughs nervously as she says this. Tom Fletcher is smiling – or is it grimacing? Both creatives boast stellar credentials: Swale is an Olivier Award-winning playwright, filmmaker and director; Fletcher, the frontman of Noughties pop-rock band McFly, a coach on The Voice and a bestselling children’s…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThousands of young people in Scotland will benefit from skilled “clean energy jobs”, the UK Government has said, as it launched its plans to “train the next generation of energy workers”.Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the new plan places Scotland “at the very heart of the clean energy revolution”.The Government said Scotland will see up to 60,000 jobs in greener energy by 2030 – a 40,000 increase from…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThe FTSE 100 closed down sharply on Friday, although well above early lows, as investors weighed Thursday’s hefty falls on Wall Street sparked by fears surrounding US regional banks.The FTSE 100 index closed down 81.52 points, 0.9%, at 9,354.57. It had earlier traded as low as 9,276.91.The FTSE 250 ended 208.40 points lower, 1.0%, at 21,782.96 while the AIM All-Share shed 17.24 points, 2.2%, to 772.65.For the week,…

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discountsGet Simon Calder’s Travel emailGet Simon Calder’s Travel emailTransatlantic passengers on Aer Lingus from Manchester will be hit by a four-day cabin crew strike from 30 October to 2 November.Members of the Unite union who crew flights from the northwest hub will walk out in a dispute over pay and allowances. Most or all flights from the northwest hub to New York, Orlando and Barbados are expected to be grounded. The routes are all nonstop to and from Manchester.The 130 cabin crew have rejected a pay rise…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsRachel Reeves needs to be “bold” when she delivers her Budget or face “groundhog day” with more cuts or tax rises next year, a think tank has warned.The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said it expected the Chancellor would need to find at least £22 billion next month, thanks to rising borrowing costs, weaker growth forecasts and spending commitments made since the spring.That figure would restore the £10…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThe leading trade association for the UK’s offshore energy industry has said the situation in the industry has “deteriorated further” as it called on the UK Government to intervene.Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has released an open letter addressed to MP Chris McDonald, Minister for Industry, calling for the Government to work with the industry and implement a permanent tax regime from 2026.The letter is co-signed by more than…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThe new Government body tasked with clamping down on employers who fail to pay minimum wage and exploit workers has appointed its first chairman.Matthew Taylor, who currently leads the NHS Confederation, will chair the Fair Work Agency when it is launched next year.The agency was set up to enforce the package of measures introduced as part of the Employment Rights Bill.The Bill, which is set to become law…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsRachel Reeves could raise tens of billions from tax reforms without breaking Labour’s manifesto pledges but must avoid “half-baked fixes” to Britain’s economic woes at the Budget, leading economists have said.The Government is under pressure to balance the books ahead of November’s autumn statement amid warnings of a black hole estimated to be as much as £50 billion in the public finances.But in a wide-ranging report, the Institute…