Ben Chapman
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Ranked-choice voting nerd. Boardgame creator @CrowsNestBGames. Record Holder for sharing a name with 2.5 Star Wars Characters.
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Articles by Ben Chapman
‘Lives are at stake’
Rishi Sunak’s American XL Bully ban has been scrutinised by Britons in Aldridge, a short distance from where a 52-year-old was mauled to death by two dogs. Ian Price, 52, was attacked in Main Street, Stonnall, at around 3.15pm on Thursday, and died in hospital that evening. Further tests are being carried out to determine the exact breed of the two dogs, but they are believed to be XL bullies.
Nigel Farage issues dire warning over Dorset migrant barge
A leading Jewish group has criticised a prominent GB News presenter for spreading “a dangerous conspiracy theory” after she tweeted that the Covid virus appeared to have been bioengineered to be less dangerous to some Jewish people. In a tweet sent on Tuesday afternoon, Beverley Turner supported the idea first popularised by the controversial Democratic presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy Jr that the coronavirus was engineered to target some ethnic groups and spare others.
Expert says do THIS one thing now
Motoring expert Amanda Stretton believes she has discovered the best way to save “significant” amounts of money on your car insurance policy, and has shared her top tips with GB News viewers. It comes as drivers face shock car insurance hikes as the average policy surpassed £1,000 for the first time in six years. Under 25s can expect to shell out £2,145, while the average policy is now £1,082.
Households told take action TODAY to save £400
More than 500,000 Brits have just weeks left to reapply for 'vital' tax credits or risk them being stopped. Parents who receive the benefit have until July 31 to check if the information in their renewal pack is correct and respond to HMRC - or risk losing up to £3685 per year. More than 500,000 tax credit customers will need to reply to HMRC by the deadline for the 2023 to 2024 tax credits.
Households told take action TODAY to save £400
Ofgem’s price cap drop will see the average household energy bill reduced by £426. A reduction in wholesale prices could help stave off suppliers looking to “grasp your money”. GB News political reporter Katherine Forster has offered one simple tip that ensures households will be able to reap the financial benefits of the ploy. “Submit a meter reading today if you haven’t already done it”, Forster told Martin Daubney. “The average family will save around £400 over the next year.
Torrential rain crashes through Waitrose ceiling in shocking moment
Houses 'shook' after a thunderstorm appeared 'in the blink of an eye', causing heavy rainfall and flooding across Manchester on Sunday (June 11). It was the first time the region had seen any rain in 23 days, with temperatures reaching as high as 30C before the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms across the north west.
Stolen bike leaves Como man heartbroken
A Como resident has been left reeling after his electric bicycle, containing a pouch with his late uncle’s ashes, was stolen. Gerry Clifford was on his way to a nearby lockbox to leave the pouch for safekeeping, before the bike was snatched. The incident occurred on April 20 at around 11am in front of Better Choice petrol station in Como. Mr Clifford says left his bike for a moment, to get help with an air pumping station that wasn’t working.
Lawsuit filed against San Juan County after 4 Charter Amendments blocked from ballot
On August 2, 2022, San Juan County Council unilaterally blocked four Charter Amendments from going to the voters. This decision was made behind closed doors without the input of the public. They acted in direct contradiction to the Charter Commission’s mission and direction - namely to ask the residents of San Juan County how they would choose to change the government. Now, a lawsuit has been filed to put power back in the hands of the voters by placing the four Charter Amendments on the ballot.
GameStop shares surge 40% before dropping sharply as Reddit-fuelled rollercoaster continues
© Provided by The Independent GameStop shares surged a further 40 per cent in pre-market trading before dropping sharply on Thursday after a public battle between Reddit users and Wall Street hedge funds. The company’s stock was trading 15 per cent below the price at Wednesday’s close, ending an astonishing five-day rally that saw the loss-making retailer’s valuation surge ninefold, inflicting huge losses on large funds that had bet against the struggling firm.
Will small firms be able to claim on business interruption insurance for coronavirus lockdown?
RFI Ethiopia army advances in Tigray as conflict mediation efforts ramp up Ethiopia’s army captured the town of Alamata, in southern Tigray, 115 kilometres from the regional capital Mekelle, according to a statement on Monday by the Ethiopian government, as a conflict between the federal government and Tigray region continues to escalate.
WH Smith to close 25 stores and cut 200 jobs after pandemic causes hefty losses
Five years ago it was seen as another Woolies, but a new chief began a new chapter ... WH Smith is to close another 25 stores after recording a £280m annual loss, after sales were hammered at its sites in train stations and airports. The closures will result in around 200 job losses in addition to 1,500 that could go as part of plans announced earlier this year.
Pints of beer to be thrown down the drain thanks to ‘baffling’ ban on takeaway alcohol, pubs warn
PUbs and brwers are calling for urgent clarification of rules banning takeaway alcohol sales (PA) Pubs and independent brewers have warned they may not survive past Christmas because of a "baffling and damaging" government policy that means they will be forced to throw away millions of pints of good beer.
Taxpayers lost billions to fraud thanks to ‘astonishing’ lack of pandemic planning, MPs say
HMRC estimated it paid out £3.5bn in fraudulent or erroneous furlough scheme claims ( ) Billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money may have been lost to fraud thanks to an “astonishing” lack of planning for the economic fallout from a pandemic, MPs have said. The Commons Public Accounts Committee said hastily designed loan schemes and job-support measures allowed fraudsters to take advantage of weaknesses and resulted in higher rates of error than if the government had been more prepared.
Home and car insurance companies to be banned from hiking prices for loyal customers
The Financial Conduct Authority calculates that 6 million people are paying about £200 too much per year fro their home and car insurance (PA) Home and car owners are set to save hundreds of pounds on their insurance policies under proposals to ban companies from overcharging loyal customers. The City watchdog criticised insurers that use "complex and opaque" pricing and told them that existing customers who renew their home or motor cover should pay the same as new customers.
Gangstalking: A New Type of Internet Conspiracy Cult
You wake up, rub your eyes, and get out of bed. You pull aside your window shades to see your neighbor outside, weeding his garden. He’s started early today. He’s doing it to taunt you. He wants to prove that he’s better than you, to make you look bad. He acts like he ignores you, but his passive aggression is blatant. You know he wants your attention, so you do your best not to give it to him. You eat breakfast, shower, and head to work. On the freeway, two dark SUVs pull up beside you.
Big plastic polluters accused of ‘hypocrisy’ over pledges to reduce waste while lobbying to block reforms
Coca-Cola is the top plastic polluter in the world and has missed a number of targets to boost recycled plastic use and reduce waste (Reuters) The world’s biggest plastic producers including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Nestlé have been accused of “hypocrisy” after a report claimed that they have made public pledges to cut plastic use while undermining sustainability reforms through lobbying groups and trade associations.
Small businesses handed lifeline as court rules insurers should pay out on some Covid-19 claims
Businesses including thousands of pubs claimed for trade lost during lockdown but were told by insurers that they weren't covered (PA) Thousands of small businesses celebrated on Tuesday after a court ruled that insurers should pay out on some business interuption claims related to the coronavirus pandemic A number of insurance firms had rejected almost all claims for lost trade relating to Covid-19, arguing that policies did not cover unprecedented restrictions imposed during lockdown.
RBS altered customers' files ahead of independent review into swaps mis-selling, documents show
Royal Bank of Scotland employees altered customers’ files ahead of an independent review into mis-selling of toxic interest-rate hedging products – potentially helping the bank to avoid paying millions in compensation, documents reveal. The files related to interest-rate swaps which the bank said would protect clients against rising rates. Instead, the bank generated huge profits and then, as rates plummeted, customers were saddled with crippling debts that in many cases led to bankruptcy.
New York business leaders warn de Blasio of risk posed by city’s perceived decline
The Wall Street Journal Published: Sept. 11, 2020 at 8:05 a.m. ET By The pandemic has devastated the city’s economy, executives tell mayor Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during a May media availability at City Hall. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office More than 160 business leaders, including executives at Citigroup Inc. C, -0.87%, Mastercard Inc. MA, -1.99% and Nasdaq Inc.
Housebuilders threatened with court action over leasehold scandal after watchdog finds ‘troubling evidence’ of misselling
Four of the UK’s biggest house builders could face court action by the competition watchdog over “troubling evidence” that they mistreated buyers of leasehold properties. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched enforcement action against into Barratt Developments, Countryside Properties, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey.
UK house prices surge to all-time high after biggest monthly jump since 2004
UK house prices surged to an all-time high after their biggest monthly rise in 16 years, as buyers rushed to take advantage of a stamp-duty holiday. The average sale price of a home jumped £3,188 to £224,123 in August, according to Nationwide’s figures. Not since February 2004 has the building society registered such a large gain. Prices have risen 3.7 per cent in the past year as the UK economy has floundered and mortgage borrowing rates have dropped to record lows.
City of London Corporation asks public whether slave-owners’ statues should be removed from Square Mile
Workers take down a statue of slave owner Robert Milligan at West India Quay, in east London's Docklands: PA The City of London Corporation is asking the public for their views on whether statues of slave-owners should be removed from the Square Mile.
Japan's economy shrinks at fastest pace on record, despite no coronavirus lockdown
Japan's economy shrank at its fastest pace on record between April and June as trade and consumer spending dropped off sharply in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The world's third largest economy saw output drop 7.8 per cent in the second quarter, official data released on Monday showed. At an annualised rate, the fall was 27.8 per cent, the worst ever recorded in Japan. However, it is not as severe as the economic hit taken in a number of other countries.
Recession: Why has UK been so badly hit and what must government do now to restore confidence?
The UK has gone through a significantly worse recession than any of the other wealthy nations that make up the G7, new data confirmed on Wednesday. While there were clear signs of a rebound in June as workers returned to factories, construction sites and high streets, the UK finds itself attempting to drag itself up from a worse position than other comparable countries. We must ask ourselves why. It would be foolish to ascribe certainty to theories at this point.
Eat out to help out: Diners enjoy more than 10 million half-price meals in a week
Diners ticked into more than 10 million meals under the government's restaurant meals scheme last week, after the Treasury promised to cover up to 50 per cent of the bill. Restaurants claimed for 10,540,394 individual meals in the first week of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, the Treasury said. If two people eat out together, that counts as two individual meals in the statistics.
UK employment falls at fastest rate in more than a decade as 220,000 people drop off company payrolls
UK employment dropped by 220,000 between May and July, the largest quarterly fall since the aftermath of the financial crisis more than a decade ago. A further 81,000 people dropped of company payrolls in July, taking the total to 730,000 since March, official figures show.
Wetherspoons cuts third of head office jobs as it deals with pub downturn during pandemic
JD Wetherspoon is to cut around a third of jobs at its head office as it seeks to cut costs amid falling pub and restaurant sales during the coronavirus pandemic. The pub chain said between 110 and 130 of the 417 people employed at its office locations throughout the UK could lose their jobs, although no firm decisions have yet been taken. Pub workers will not be affected by the changes, Wetherspoons said.
WH Smith to cut up to 1,500 jobs as coronavirus pandemic hammers sales
WH Smith has said it could cut as many as 1,500 jobs as the coronavirus pandemic had a "significant impact" on its business. The newsagent, which traces its history back more than 200 years, unveiled restructure plans on Wednesday after taking a huge hit to sales as less people visited high streets and train stations where most of its shops are located. Revenues at WH Smith's stores dropped more than 80 per cent during the height of lockdown and remained 57 per cent down in July.
Dixons Carphone to slash 800 jobs in management overhaul
Dixons Carphone said last month it believed only 1.2 million customers' personal data had been accessed: PA Dixons Carphone is to cut 800 management jobs as part of a plan to streamline the company. The electronics chain, which owns Currys PC World, becomes the latest high street name to shed staff in a brutal year for UK retailers.
HSBC to speed up 35,000 job cuts after profits plunge 65 per cent
HSBC will accelerate plans to cut 35,000 jobs after profits plunged 65 per cent in the first half of the year. Europe's biggest bank said it had been hit by falling interest rates disruption caused by the coronavirus and political tensions between the US and China. Profits for the half year to 30 June were $4.3bn (£3.2bn), down from £12.4bn in the same period last year. HSBC's shares fell 6 per cent on Monday after the report and are down more than 40 per cent in 2020 so far.
Boris Johnson accused of ‘failure of leadership’ after announcing work-from-home rule will end
Amer Ghazzal/Cover Images Boris Johnson has been accused of a “failure of leadership” after he scrapped work-from-home guidance and told employers they must decide whether employees should return to workplaces. The prime minister announced on Friday that, from 1 August, the government will no longer be telling people to work from home if they can from 1 August. Employers will be given “discretion” to decide working arrangements.
Coronavirus: No help for workers excluded from government support, says chancellor
Up to 3 million people who have been excluded from coronavirus financial support will get no help beyond what is already available and the government must now “look forward”, the chancellor has said. Asked whether he would look again at support schemes which have excluded millions of freelancers, the recently self-employed and company directors, Rishi Sunak confirmed that no new measures would be introduced.
UK house prices in longest decline since 2010 after four consecutive monthly falls
UK house prices have fallen for four months in a row, the longest sustained decline in a decade, according to Halifax. The mortgage lender said average sold prices slipped 0.1 per cent in June, extending falls in March, April and May when the housing market was mostly shut down due to coronavirus restrictions. Recent figures from the Bank of England showed that May was the slowest month on record for house sales with less than 10,000 mortgages approved.
UK’s economic capacity 5% lower until Covid-19 vaccine available, report suggests
The various coronavirus vaccines under development may ultimately not include a successful candidate: Reuters The capacity of Britain’s economy will be reduced by 5 per cent until a coronavirus vaccine is found, according to a report.
UK house prices fall for first time in eight years, as coronavirus hits property market
UK house prices fell 0.1 per cent in June compared with a year ago, the first annual decline since 2012, according to Nationwide. Average sold prices fell 1.4 per cent month to month following a 1.7 per cent fall in May. The government reopened the property market in mid-May after halting most sales in March as part of coronavirus lockdown measures. But early indications suggest the market has remained slow with buyers wary of an uncertain economic situation and the impact it will have on prices.
Bank of England announces £100bn stimulus to help UK economy through coronavirus pandemic
The Bank of England has kept interest rates at 0.1 per cent and pumped an extra £100bn into the economy in a bid to help the UK out of what is expected to be its deepest recession in more than 300 years. Analysts had forecast that rates would remain unchanged and the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee would expand its bond-buying programme, or quantitative easing, by £100-£150bn.
Nationwide triples minimum mortgage deposits amid fears of house price slump
Nationwide, the UK's largest mortgage lender, has introduced new limits on home loans over fears that coronavirus could cause house prices to fall, leaving owners in negative equity. The building society announced on that, from Thursday, it has tripled the minimum deposit it will ask for from first-time buyers to 15 per cent of the value of their home. Nationwide said the move was in response to “these unprecedented times and an uncertain mortgage market”.
UK inflation rate falls to 0.5 per cent as fuel prices fall during lockdown
Inflation fell to a four-year low of 0.5 per cent in May from 0.8 per cent in April as the cost of fuel continued to tumble during the coronavirus pandemic, the latest official figures show. Prices for toys and games also fell. The Consumer Price Index, which measures the cost of a hypothetical basket of goods and services, dropped further below the Bank of England's target of 2 per cent.
Coronavirus: BP to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide due to pandemic
BP is to cut around 10,000 jobs as part of plans to deal plunging demand for fuel caused by Covid-19. The move will affect around 15 per cent of the company's workforce including 2,000 UK staff. Frontline jobs in oil production will not be affected by the cuts which will largely fall on office workers. In an email to staff, BP chief executive Bernard Looney said: "The oil price has plunged well below the level we need to turn a profit.
Commentary: Don’t Fear Vote by Mail. It’s Pretty Great.
By Ben Chapman It wasn’t the first time that one of President Trump’s tweets left me scratching my head. He was ranting about vote by mail, an election administration topic that had, in recent years, been a subject of relatively tame discussion. “Republicans should fight very hard when it comes to statewide mail-in voting. Democrats are clamoring for it. Tremendous potential for voter fraud, and for whatever reason, doesn’t work out well for Republicans,” Trump tweeted.
Furloughed workers worry for their jobs as government lays out plan to remove wage support
Some aspects of being on furlough have been pretty good for Charlie Curley, a 61-year-old chauffeur who was put on the government’s Job Retention Scheme by his employer six weeks ago. He certainly doesn’t miss the 4am starts; he can have a beer or two in the evening with no danger of feeling guilty about it; and, thanks to all that extra time on his hands, the lawn is immaculately mowed and his patio is — he reckons — now among the cleanest in the country.
U.S. states move to expand coronavirus testing
The Wall Street Journal Published: May 9, 2020 at 5:06 p.m. ET By New York is opening 22 new sites in low-income areas, while Delaware, Connecticut announce testing expansions AP State leaders across the U.S. are moving to expand testing for the new coronavirus, while lifting some restrictions on travel and business that have crippled the nation’s economy. Nearly 1.3 million Americans have been infected and over 77,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
UK faces deepest recession on record with economy to shrink 14% in 2020, Bank of England warns
The Bank of England has warned the UK economy could contract by close to 30 per cent this summer in its first official outlook since the coronavirus pandemic began. The BoE cautioned over a “very sharp” fall in GDP over the first half and a “substantial” rise in unemployment as it left interest rates at a record low of 0.1 per cent. The Bank said it expects economic output to fall by around 3 per cent in the first three months of 2020 and a further 25 per cent in the second quarter.
UK manufacturing hits lowest level on record, says survey
UK manufacturing collapsed in April, hitting levels lower than during the height of the 2008 financial crisis, according to a closely watched survey. The IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index recorded a score of 32.6 for February with anything below 50 indicating contraction. It is the lowest level since the survey began 28 years ago, in the first significant sign of the impact of Covid-19 on the economy. Manufacturers have been severely hampered by the lockdown which began on 23 March.
‘I’d lose everything’: Pub and restaurant owners join forces to demand payouts from insurers
Pub and restaurant owners who face losing their livelihoods have joined forces to take legal action against insurers who are refusing to pay out for losses related to the coronavirus lockdown. They say insurers are using unfair means to get out of paying claims, and that thousands of hospitality businesses are at risk of disappearing because of it.
Coronavirus: As companies put workers back to work, how can they keep them safe?
Hardware shops like B&Q, Homebase and Wickes might have shut their doors, but will you can still get the things you need online: Getty Aston Martin, B&Q and housebuilder Taylor Wimpey are among a number of UK companies making plans to get staff back to work after halting their operations because of safety concerns. Retail, construction and manufacturing each face their own challenges when trying to work during a pandemic.
Primark sales fall from £650m a month to zero and Cath Kidston permanently closes all stores
Cath Kidston permanently closed all of its stores with the loss of 900 jobs, while Primark's owner said sales had fallen to zero and it had furloughed 68,000 staff on another ominous day for British retailers, who have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, pubs, bars and restaurants warned MPs that they face a “bloodbath” as lockdown conditions are eased, with up to a third of the sector at risk of going out of business.
Coronavirus: Carluccio's and BrightHouse fall into administration as Covid-19 hits economy
Carluccio's has fallen into administration, blaming tough trading conditions made worse by the coronavirus outbreak which has seen restaurants shut their doors. The decision casts doubt over the restaurant chain's 71 UK restaurants and 2,000 employees. It came moments after rent-to-own company Brighthouse announced it was going into administration putting 2,500 jobs at risk.
Coronavirus: Video conferencing apps and remote GP services thrive as world adapts to realities of Covid-19 pandemic
Across the country officials are urging people to adopt 'social distancing': Getty As cities are locked down, flights grounded, restaurants closed due to lack of trade and millions of workers are cooped up at home, it is rapidly becoming clear that the economic damage from coronavirus will be severe.
Greggs staff share £7m bonus after vegan sausage rolls boost baker’s sales
Employees at Greggs will receive bonuses of £300 each after the launch of vegan sausage rolls helped to boost the baker’s sales. Greggs will pay out a £7m windfall to 25,000 staff at the end of this month after a “phenomenal year” that included the highly publicised launch of the new plant-based snack. Around 19,000 employees who joined Greggs before last April will get £300 each, while the remaining 6,000 will be paid £75 per quarter they have worked for the company.
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