Latest news with #DaveWatson
The National
5 days ago
- Business
- The National
Campaigners demand Council Tax reform in 2026 manifestos
Tax Justice Scotland – a movement supported by more than 50 organisations, economists, academics and trade unions – has published new analysis demanding action on the issue. The group says the current Council Tax system is outdated, financially unsustainable and unfair. READ MORE: Scottish council to pay nearly £50,000 to lease its own offices They argue that it puts pressure on vital local services such as schools, social care and libraries. Despite broad political agreement that the tax is not fit for purpose, campaigners say progress has stalled. In June, Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee said a revaluation of properties is 'absolutely needed'. However, the Scottish Government has confirmed that current discussions with local authorities are only meant to inform a longer-term public debate, with no substantial changes expected this decade. Tax Justice Scotland has warned that continued delays risk repeating a pattern of inaction that has gone on for more than 20 years. The campaign group also says rising bills are hitting low-income households – a large number of which are headed by women, including single parent households – the hardest, and that the time for consultations and vague promises is over. Dave Watson, director of the Jimmy Reid Foundation, said: 'We've had consultations, commissions and countless commitments, but little has changed. 'Decades of delay on Council Tax reform have deepened the crisis facing local services and locked in inequality. 'The 2026 election is the moment for Scotland's leaders to move beyond words and commit to the fair, modern and proportionate tax system our communities deserve.' Tax Justice Scotland are calling for clear manifesto commitments to abolishing Council Tax and replacing it with a fair, modern property tax and launching a national re-evaluation of property as "the first step in the next Parliament". The group are also demanding any new systems are local, proportional and protect those on low or fixed incomes whilst ensuring effective transition support is in place. Campaigners say that replacing Council Tax is vital for a fairer system which helps close the wealth gap. Property is a major source of wealth in Scotland – and one of the few the Scottish Parliament can currently tax. The group also point to findings from the Accounts Commission, which warns that councils are using reserves and one-off savings to stay afloat, while public demand continues to grow. They highlight that Council Tax is still based on 1991 property values and that many homes are in the wrong band. By 2014, the most expensive homes were paying only 3.5 times more than the cheapest, despite being worth 15 times as much on average. READ MORE: 'Made up': Scottish Labour disown fake Anas Sarwar quote on lawyer's website Tax Justice Scotland also said that "bold, detailed commitments from party leaders" are now needed to break the cycle of delay and deliver lasting reform. Sara Cowan, director of the Scottish Women's Budget Group, said: 'The broken system of Council Tax hits women hardest, especially those holding up households, holding down low-paid jobs, and holding communities together. 'The evidence has been sitting on a shelf for years, and the consensus for what comes next is clear. 'We're calling on every party leader to show courage and leadership by putting Council Tax replacement front and centre in their manifestos.'
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Charlie Hurley number one by a distance' - fans on best CBs debate
We asked for your views on Danny Collins' list of the top five Sunderland centre-backs of the past 50 years (scroll to 12:26 BST on 4 July to see his choices).Here are some of your comments:Paul: How could any Sunderland supporter leave out Charlie Hurley? Number one by a Dave Watson and Charley Hurley were both phenomenal centre-backs. None of the others could compare - apart from Steve Bould (who was there with them), but there were not enough games under his Absolutely agree. Watson was not the biggest player, but for timing, athleticism and a sheer will to win every header and tackle, I've never seen a better one. Hurley may win it by the number of goals scored. You should have been at the matches to hear the whole crowd chanting "Charlie, Charlie, Charlie" for him to come up for a Really depends on how old you are, but Hurley was the best centre-half to play for Sunderland that I saw. Watson was great King Charlie wasn't someone you would like to experience too often in a Shaun Elliott and Jeff Clarke?
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is converted striker Watson Sunderland's best centre-back?
We have been revealing former Sunderland defender Danny Collins' top-five Black Cats central defenders of the past 50 years. Taking top spot is Dave Watson, who played for the club between 1970 and 1975 after a £100,000 move from Rotherham United. Advertisement Watson began his career as a striker but was converted into a centre-back while at Sunderland in 1972 by manager Bob Stokoe, before winning the FA Cup in 1973. "It's difficult but one of them was part of a trophy-winning team," Collins told BBC Radio Newcastle. "Watson got converted from an attacking player to a centre-back and a year later was winning the FA Cup against a Leeds side who were right up there at the time," said Collins. "He's gone in there and learned his new position within a season and it shows how good he was that he went on to make 65 appearances for England." Advertisement Watson did not miss a Three Lions match between 1976 and 1980 and featured in all matches at Euro 1980. Here's a recap of Collins' five best centre-backs to play for Sunderland: Dave Watson Gary Bennett Steve Bould Jonny Evans Dan Ballard Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds Now it's over to you... what do you make of Collins' choices? Who is missing from the list? Let us know here
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Is converted striker Watson Sunderland's best centre-back?
We have been revealing former Sunderland defender Danny Collins' top-five Black Cats central defenders of the past 50 top spot is Dave Watson, who played for the club between 1970 and 1975 after a £100,000 move from Rotherham began his career as a striker but was converted into a centre-back while at Sunderland in 1972 by manager Bob Stokoe, before winning the FA Cup in 1973."It's difficult but one of them was part of a trophy-winning team," Collins told BBC Radio Newcastle."Watson got converted from an attacking player to a centre-back and a year later was winning the FA Cup against a Leeds side who were right up there at the time," said Collins."He's gone in there and learned his new position within a season and it shows how good he was that he went on to make 65 appearances for England."Watson did not miss a Three Lions match between 1976 and 1980 and featured in all matches at Euro a recap of Collins' five best centre-backs to play for Sunderland:Dave WatsonGary BennettSteve BouldJonny EvansDan BallardListen to the full chat on BBC SoundsNow it's over to you... what do you make of Collins' choices? Who is missing from the list?Let us know here
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Comcast stock sinks as Peacock fails to add more subscribers, broadband losses disappoint
Comcast (CMCSA) stock fell over 10% Thursday morning after the company reported a bigger-than-expected drop in broadband customers in the fourth quarter and failed to add more subscribers to its Peacock streaming service. The company reported a decline of 131,000 broadband users, more than the 100,000 loss Comcast Cable CEO Dave Watson estimated in December. The escalating losses reflect competitive challenges as mobile providers like Verizon (VZ), T-Mobile (TMUS), and AT&T (T) have been able to attract lower-income consumers with more flexible offerings. Still, the company said it remains committed to its connectivity business and announced strategic changes to "play to [its] strengths" as internet traffic rapidly expands amid the streaming boom. "Wireless is a meaningful differentiator as our converged offers provide great savings to the consumer," Comcast president Michael Cavanagh said on the earnings call. "And so you will see us shift our strategy to package mobile with more of our higher-tier broadband products, both for new and many of our existing customers." Comcast's broadband struggles come as the company also reported a decline of 311,000 TV consumers as more consumers cut the cable cord in favor of less expensive streaming services. The company recently announced a new sports and news TV package, which includes Peacock, for a price of $70 a month. To note, that's less than virtual competitor YouTube TV (GOOGL, GOOG). On the earnings call, the company continued to stress the importance of Peacock, although it did not add or lose any subscribers in the quarter, with total paying users remaining at 36 million. Comcast did improve profitability, reporting an adjusted EBITDA loss of $372 million compared to a loss of $825 million in the same period last year. Losses are expected to improve throughout the course of the year, according to management. And as MoffettNathanson analyst Craig Moffett pointed out, "There was no fall-off in subscribers after the end of Summer Olympics. That's a win." Still, others on Wall Street have remained cautious about the streamer's bumpy path relative to other streaming giants. "Peacock is finding out that it's expensive to compete in the streaming wars and gains are becoming more difficult to come by," Ross Benes, senior analyst at Emarketer, wrote in reaction to the report. "As cord-cutting continues unabated, the decision to sell off TV networks continues to make sense, but buyer prospects of these assets will be limited." The company said late last year it would spin off its cable properties, with the exception of Bravo, after teasing the possibility just a few weeks prior. At the time, the company said it wanted to "play offense" in order to combat an industry burdened by increased cord-cutting. The spun-off company, dubbed SpinCo for now, will house most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and the Golf Channel. On the earnings call, the company reiterated optimism over the venture. "As a well-capitalized independent company with a focused management team and strong portfolio of news, sports and genre-based entertainment, SpinCo will be well positioned to lead in the changing cable and digital media landscape," Cavanagh said. Alexandra Canal is a Senior Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X @allie_canal, LinkedIn, and email her at Sign in to access your portfolio
