I think I know the answer but you will recall, Thabo, that we Africans are not supposed to be very clever at democracy.If you asked me to sum up this country, I would say it was suffering from a kind of infantilism. You and FW would take a 20 per cent cut and you were [...]

One of the remaining 18 would also have to sacrifice his or her place to Mr Dewar, who would probably become Leader of the House. It would certainly be a waste of his abilities if he remained Chief Whip, a post traditionally outside the Cabinet.The Shadow Cabinet has risen to 18 because of the rule [...]

But much of the return will also be in the form of lots of fiddly dividend cheques for just a few pounds and pence, a pain to cash and easily lost (although it is normally possible to have dividends paid straight into your bank account).Furthermore those profits could be vulnerable. The stock market is close [...]

Even if they do get the mortgage, the resale value may be poor if mortgage lenders continue to shy away from the property. However, sellers of properties despised by lenders but structurally sound may take heart from the continuing recovery in the housing market. They found the lending institutions would only come to a decision [...]

“ITV has a tradition of adopting a brasher approach – more personality-led. They are taking over a success but are likely to try harder, which is bound to be a benefit.”Jim Wright, the Williams team’s senior acquisitions manager, sponsorship and marketing, adds: “There are two possibilities – ITV could either offer an opportunity to existing [...]