Ashley Armstrong
@AArmstrong_says
Chief UK Business Correspondent at The FT. Former Business Editor of The Sun & ex Retail Editor at The Times and The Daily Telegraph.
Centrica statement this morning confirms our @FT scoop that Sizewell nuclear projectnow has capital cost of £38bn. British energy firm to take 15% stake worth initial £1.3bn as previously reported alongside EDF 12.5% La Caisse (20%) Amber Infra 10% after options .
New - @LOS_Fisher back on the pod to tell the extraordinary inside story of the Afghan files. Plus @AArmstrong_ from inside Mansion House and @PickardJE on Labour whip cracking on.ft.com/4kMJKPq
EXCL: Ministers set to admit Sizewell C nuclear plant pricetag has soared to £38bn. Final investment decision terms should be unveiled by Tuesday &will include £9bn of equity provided by Brookfield, Centrica and EDF with customer bills to fund building on.ft.com/3Iuq8Cf
Excl: Former Goldman banker Simon Dingemans on shortlist to chair Channel 4 via @FT List gone into Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy on.ft.com/4eU3Hm5
In the Egyptian Hall of Mansion House last night around 300 City leaders charged their glasses to the health of the Chancellor after revealing her Leeds reforms. But many were underwhelmed after promises of a new Big Bang. What reforms? on.ft.com/4nQ2lg3
Chancellor Rachel Reeves gives her second Mansion House speech. Talks of a young girl asking about her dream job “Given the events of recent weeks you can understand why I might say any job but this one…but I am very proud to stand here as Chancellor”
As fresh figures show millionaires and billionaires are already taking flight City leaders call for ‘tax certainty’ from Rachel Reeves and urge against a wealth tax on.ft.com/3TFdjXV
Lord Mayor criticises UK companies for choosing low-fee pension schemes via @FT Come for the article, stay for the FT reader comments.. on.ft.com/4lQQMmW
☀️A scorcher for sports day. Egg and spoon race lives on. And yes, there was a mums race 🥵.
Wimbledon. It’s lovely isn’t it. I like how the whole area goes nuts for tennis every year. But this 🥎 in the clouds was just charming, for a bank ad.
London needs more “vroom vroom” and to drop the “snobbishness” says CBI chair Rupert Soames as stock exchange revival hopes may lie in attracting more secondary listings .@FT on.ft.com/44EemN1
Excl: Brookfield set to take over 20% stake in Sizewell C as France’s EDF confirms 12.5% in nuclear project. Centrica to take around 15% as previously reported via @FT on.ft.com/4eDN1yP
Government urged to help private sector help fund defence rearmament targets by giving longer term contracts while pension giants and banks urged to review ESG diligence to boost and catalyse capital for sector. Taskforce gathers today via @FT on.ft.com/4nTSxBZ
Excl: Seraphine, the maternity brand worn by the Princess of Wales during her pregnancies,has filed for administration. Seraphine adds to disastrous reputation of 2021 London stock market listings (it was bought back by PE at 90% discount 2 years later) on.ft.com/44k6nFX l
Exclusive interview with Lloyds boss Charlie Nunn who says mandating pension funds into British assets would be like capital controls, highlights a bank levy would constrain growth & lending,and urges fixing housing crisis as a way to boost economy @FT on.ft.com/44DDRhq
Excl: Chancellor to trail launch of commission into pensions adequacy (how much workers and employers put aside for retirement) alongside Mansions House in two weeks on.ft.com/46roMlr