We want growth. So why lumber small firms with this unfair tax?
The Port of Middlesbrough on the River Tees is a busy old place, handling steel shipments, minerals and cables for windfarms in the North Sea. In summary, it's a pretty useful hub for many of the UK's key industrial ambitions. The port's owner is AV Dawson Ltd, a family business since Arthur Vernon Dawson bought a horse and cart in 1938 and decided to sell coal on the streets of Middlesbrough.
Ports are cash-hungry places. AV Dawson (the firm, not the man) wants to spend £25 million updating the quayside and dredging the river. But there's a catch. Since the budget, that £25 million investment is under review because the firm's owner, the grandson of the founder, is facing the prospect of a massive inheritance
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The Guardian
10 minutes ago
- The Guardian
UK government signals it will not force tech firms to disclose how they train AI
Campaigners have accused ministers of lying to parliament and the creative industries after the government signalled it would not force AI companies to disclose how they train their models. Ministers are holding firm in a standoff with the House of Lords, which has called for artists to be offered immediate copyright protection against artificial intelligence companies. Peers voted by 221 to 116 on Wednesday to insist on an amendment to the data bill that would force AI firms to be transparent about what copyrighted material they use to train their models. In an amendment tabled on Friday, the government dismissed the Lords' request and reiterated its promise to publish an economic impact assessment and technical reports on the future of AI and copyright regulation. Beeban Kidron, the cross-bench peer and film director who has campaigned on behalf of the industry, said during Wednesday's debate that she would 'accept anything that the Commons does' after this week. 'I will not stand in front of your Lordships again and press our case,' she said. But the News Media Association (NMA), which represents publishers including the Guardian, said peers could table further amendments to the data bill when it returns to the Lords next Wednesday. Industry figures said the government was acting in bad faith by not addressing the Lords' concerns and called for it to make further amendments of its own before MPs vote on it on Tuesday. Kidron said: 'The government has repeatedly taken all protections for UK copyrights holders out of the data bill. In doing so they have shafted the creative industries, and they have proved willing to decimate the UK's second biggest industrial sector. They have lied to parliament, and they are lying to the sector.' She said the government's action 'adds another sector to the growing number that have an unbridgeable gap of trust with the government'. Owen Meredith, chief executive of the NMA, said: 'the government's refusal to listen to the strong view of the Lords … risks undermining the legislative process. 'There is still time for the government to do the right thing, and take transparency powers in this bill. This would be a key step towards rebuilding trust with a £126bn industry.' Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion The government's approach to copyright has drawn the ire of major creative artists and organisations including Paul McCartney, Kate Bush and the National Theatre, with Elton John describing the situation as an 'existential issue' this week. Opponents of the plans have warned that even if the attempts to insert clauses into the data bill fail, the government could be challenged in the courts over the proposed changes. The consultation on copyright changes, which is due to produce its findings before the end of the year, contains four options: to let AI companies use copyrighted work without permission, alongside an option for artists to 'opt out' of the process; to leave the situation unchanged; to require AI companies to seek licences for using copyrighted work; and to allow AI firms to use copyrighted work with no opt-out for creative companies and individuals. Kyle has said the copyright-waiver-plus-opt-out scenario is no longer the government's preferred option, but Kidron's amendments have attempted to head off that option by effectively requiring tech companies to seek licensing deals for any content that they use to train their AI models.
The Sun
16 minutes ago
- The Sun
Thomas Frank clear front-runner to become next Tottenham manager and could take charge as soon as next week
ANGE POSTECOGLOU was sacked by Tottenham just 16 days after ending their 17-year trophy drought - with Thomas Frank the front-runner to take over. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy made the call based on the dismal Premier League campaign where a record 22 defeats saw the club finish 17th. 4 4 Postecoglou was axed two years to the day since he was announced as Spurs chief back in 2023 - and just over a fortnight on from winning the Europa League in Bilbao. The North Londoners are expected to make a decision on the Aussie's successor next week and though there is yet to be any contact with Brentford, their boss Frank is the favourite for the role. Spurs said the decision to axe Postecoglou was one of the 'toughest' the board has had to make in a statement, which contained no comment from Levy. The statement read: 'We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the club. 'Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw. 'However, the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place. "Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. 'This culminated in our worst-ever Premier League finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club's greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph. 'It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. Postecoglou unrecognisable in amazing throwback video as first club share emotional 3-minute tribute after Europa League 'This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. 'We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.' The statement went on to wish Postecoglou all the best for the future and that he will always be welcome back in N17. It also claimed an appointment of a new head coach will be announced 'in due course'. Frank, who has worked wonders at Brentford, is in the box seat, though Marco Silva of Fulham is also in the frame. 4 There was interest in Simone Inzaghi before he joined Al-Hilal as well as FA Cup winner Oliver Glasner, who has said he is '99 per cent' sure he is staying with Crystal Palace. Spurs have been talking with managers for some time, with Fabio Paratici - expected to return in some capacity when his 30-month ban for malpractice at Juventus ends at the end of this month - understood to be having an influence. Firing Postecoglou and hiring Frank could prove a costly business, with the former's compensation in the millions and the latter's release clause believed to be around £10million. Postecoglou also walks away with £2m in a bonus for landing the Europa League - the club's first trophy since the League Cup in 2008. He becomes the 13th permanent manager to be sacked by Levy during his 25-year reign in charge of Spurs, during which the club have won just two trophies. Ange Breaks Silence On Tottenham Sacking ANGE Postecoglou issued a statement just moments after being axed. It read: "When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, my overriding emotion is one of pride. "The opportunity to lead one of England's historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime. "Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget. "That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream. "There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible. "We have also laid the foundations that means this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success. "I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them. I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters. "I know there were some difficult times, but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on. "It's important to acknowledge the hard working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis. "And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years. "A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special. 'We are forever connected. Audere est Facere.' Postecoglou said in a statement: 'When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride. 'The opportunity to lead one of England's historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime. "Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget. 'That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream. 'There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible. 'We have also laid foundations that meant this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success. "I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them."
The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
Kemi Badenoch refuses to kick Liz Truss out of Conservative Party
Kemi Badenoch has refused to kick former prime minister Liz Truss out of the Conservative Party. The Tory leader suggested such a move would be 'neither here nor there' for voters' perception of the party. In a speech on Thursday, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride sought to distance the Conservatives from Ms Truss's mini-budget, saying the party needed to show 'contrition' to restore its economic credibility. In a furious response, Ms Truss accused Sir Mel of having 'kowtowed to the failed Treasury orthodoxy' and being 'set on undermining my plan for growth'. Asked by the BBC on Friday whether she would consider throwing former prime minister Ms Truss out of the Conservatives in a symbolic break with her short-lived, turbulent time in No 10, Mrs Badenoch replied: 'Is she still in the party?' Ms Truss, the former Conservative MP for South West Norfolk, is understood to be a Tory party member still. Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Badenoch said: 'What is really important is what Mel was saying yesterday. What he was saying was that the mini-budget did not balance. It wasn't tax cuts, it was the … £150 billion of spending increases on energy bills that did not make sense.' Pressed whether she believed the mini-budget had damaged the Conservative brand, Mrs Badenoch said: 'Well, look at what happened, people didn't understand why we had done that, and so our reputation for economic competence was damaged.' When asked again why she would not consider kicking Ms Truss out of the party, the Tory leader said: 'It is not about any particular individual. I don't want to be commenting on previous prime ministers. 'They've had their time. What am I going to do now? Removing people from a political party is neither here nor there in terms of what it is your viewers want to see.' After insisting Ms Truss was not in Parliament anymore, Mrs Badenoch said her party needed to 'focus on how we're going to get this country back on track'. 'What we have right now is a Labour Government, it's Keir Starmer. We need to stop talking about several prime ministers ago and talk about the Prime Minister we've got now and what he's doing to the country,' the Tory leader said. Ms Truss this week appeared in a video to promote the Irish whiskey brand of bare-knuckle fighter Dougie Joyce, who was once jailed for attacking a 78-year-old man in a pub in 2022.
