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From: Paula Vennells[/O=MMS/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=PAULA. VENNELLS8C63D283-A5 1 1-46C3-A93E-
DC6F2AE7A78D]
Sent: Sat 23/05/2015 11:35:40 AM (UTC)
To: Kevin Gillilandf,
Ce: Mark R DaviesI Tom .
avin Lambertf_
Subject: Re: Media coverage for The Post Office: The Post Office, 23052015 (05:
Kevin, I agree. This is all unhelpful but our message is still there loud and clear.
Mark, I did drop you a line. If you want to brief me and get me more into the loop even this weekend, pls do.
Otherwise, let's pick up on Tuesday - I'd like hear what Brunswick had to say as well on Sparrow.
Enjoy your weekends.
Paula
Paula Vennells
Chief Executive
Post Office Ltd
Sent from my iPad
On 23 May 2015, at 11:52, Kevin Gilliland < > wrote:
Hi mark,
Thanks for the update. As you say there are some v misleading and inaccurate statements in the
piece. However, it's reassuring that you have got our response included that helps to provide a bit
a balance to the article - thank you.
I'm sure the noise will increase as we implement the cliff and announce the first few crown
closures/mergers next month.
Regards,
K
Kevin Gilliland
Network & Sales Director
On 23 May 2015, at 07:04, Mark R Davies
wrote:
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All
You will note a very misleading piece in the Express today. This leads from my note
on Thursday about a raised level of PR risk due to a concerted CWU media
campaign to destabilise the business and undermine our strategy. As you know this is
not the first time we have faced this kind of challenge, but we are taking it very
seriously and taking all steps at our disposal to challenge and seek to handle.
We may get similar coverage in the Mail on Sunday tomorrow: we have been
engaging with the paper this week.
In relation to this Express piece, we have been challenging the newspaper very hard
on the assumptions it has made and particularly the misleading headline. We have
escalated to editorial level and will continue to work on pressing for a more balanced
approach.
We have good relationships with all the national media, but it is also the case that
faced with the offer from the CWU of what for the papers are attractive propositions
in newspaper terms - perceived risk to postmasters - we are fighting from a defensive
position. I have discussed with the team throughout the week and we plan to step up
our proactive campaigning with the media, including communications to all editors to
set out the facts and to offer further briefings.
I wanted to alert you to this, building on my Thursday note, to reassure you that we
are working hard and - in my team - with great professionalism and determination to
challenge inaccuracies and push journalists hard. There is, of course, a risk to brand
from a concerted campaign and I will discuss with Pete how we might take proactive
steps to challenge this. We will consider all possibilities, including whether we should
take space in media to put our story (as we did last year with the successful 'we're
changing’ campaign). I also plan to ask the team to develop cost effective social
media campaign we can use as a separate rebuttal to the CWU scaremongering.
Thope this is helpful (and apologies for starting the weekend with this). Please don't
hesitate to call or email if I can help.
Best wishes
Mark
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: Precise <Precise¢~
Date: 23 May 2015 0.
To: <PreciseMediaE:
Subject: Media coverage for The Post Office: The Post Office,
23052015 (05:26)
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THE POST OFFICE - 23/05/2015
Media Platform and mobile access
mediaplatformplus.precise.co.uk
ALL COVERAGE
All Articles
POST OFFICE - NATIONALS.
All Articles
People in this city get better deals on holiday money than anyone else - the secrets to the best rates
Mirror.co.uk (Web), 23/05/2015, Adam Williams
From travel agents to supermarkets, foreign exchange is available at more places than ever. National firms
don't always have the same rate in every outlet. The Post Office is one of the most popular places to change
cash but around 300 of its 10,000 branches offer better rates than the rest.It told Mirror Money these are
mostly in towns and cities and are chosen based on a number local factors, such as rivals in the area.
Article I Link
Cheap booze? Here is where to head on the continent
Telegraph (Web), 22/05/2015, Unattributed
A survey by Post Office Travel Money looked at the cost of alcoholic drinks in ten popular European
destinations. The drinks proved the least expensive in Budapest, followed by Prague and Riga in Latvia.
Dublin proved the priciest destination. Andrew Brown, of Post Office Travel Money, said: "The city break is
now the king of holidays, especially among under-35s. Around half of them took a city break last year and
one of the key reasons is the surging value of sterling, which is making European cities very cheap.”
Article I Link
We're heading to Hungary: Budapest has the cheapest booze in Europe
Daily Star (Web), 22/05/2015, lan Proctor
A survey by Post Office Travel Money found that the Hungarian capital Budapest was the cheapest place to
buy alcoholic drinks. Andrew Brown, of Post Office Travel Money, said: "The city break is now the king of
holidays, especially among under-35s. Fifty per cent of them took a city break last year and one of the key
reasons is the surging value of sterling, which is making European cities very cheap."
Article I Link
Cheap booze? Head for Budapest
AOL UK (Web), 22/05/2015, Unattributed
Budapest is best for booze for Britons looking for good-value drinks on city breaks abroad. But those downing
them in Dublin will find their alcohol bill on the high side, a poll by Post Office Travel Money found.
Article I Link
Cheap booze? Head for Budapest
MSN UK (Web), 22/05/2015, Unattributed
Budapest is best for booze for Britons looking for good-value drinks on city breaks abroad. But those downing
them in Dublin will find their alcohol bill on the high side, a poll by Post Office Travel Money found.
Article I Link
Bank holiday opening times for Argos, Meadowhall, Post Office, Trafford Centre, Halfords, Thorpe
Park, Boots and Pets at Home
Telegraph (Web), 22/05/2015, Isabelle Fraser
A partly sunny bank holiday is forecast for this Monday - so what better way to spend it than shopping? The
Post Office There will be no collections or deliveries on the bank holiday about 2,000 shops will be open.
Check with your local store by visiting their branch finder.
Article I Link
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Thousands of Post Offices face closure as part of modernisation plans
Daily Express (Web), 22/05/2015, Lana Clements
Amid a reduction in public funding, Post Office bosses have sought to get a grip on the loss-making network.
The government-owned business is now looking to modernise or relocate 8,000 of its 11,500 branches, as
part of a programme started in 2012. But it means that many sub postmasters are set to be faced with a
stark option: either take a pay cut of almost two-thirds and make up the rest through retail sales and
commissions or leave the business. The former option means a revamped store, which is paid for by the Post
Office.
Article I Link
Savings accounts
The Times, 23/05/2015, p.67, Unattributed
The Post Office Online Saver, Post Office Instant Saver and Post Office Online ISA all appear in a best buy
table
Article
_Birthdays tomorrow
Avoid any pre-flight frights - follow our holiday checklist
The Guardian, 23/05/2015, p.50, Jill Papworth; Patrick Collinson
A lot of non-EU countries require your passport to be valid for six months beyond your date of entry, so check
the immigration requirements of the country you are travelling to. You can renew a passport online at
jov.uk/apply-renewpassport, though you have to print out a form to send off with the required documents and
photographs. Allow at least three weeks for processing. A standard adult passport renewal costs £72.50, or
£82.25 if you use the Post Office's Passport Check and Send service. Child passports cost £46, or £55.75 via
Check and Send.
Article
Justback
The Daily Telegraph, 23/05/2015, p.21, Unattributed
The Post Office is the Uk's largest travel money provider. It offers more than 70 currencies with 0%
commission. Customers can buy selected currencies over the counter at 8,000 branches and all currencies
can be ordered for next-day delivery at 11,500 branches. Orders can also be placed online at postoffice.co.uk
Article
NETWORK TRANSFORMATION
All Articles
Post office move makes it easier for me
Hinckley Times, 21/05/2015, p.11, Unattributed
In a letter, a disabled reader praises the post office in the Spar shop in Enderby and welcomed news it is to
transfer to the villages Co-op.
Article
Penperlleni Post Office to shut its doors ‘temporarily’ in June
Abergavenny Chronicle, 21/05/2015, p.1, Unattributed
Penperlleni's post office is expected to be temporarily closed after its operator gave notice to quit. The Post
Office is currently investigating options available which would enable the venue to be reinstated - but is has
stressed that any future service would need to be sustainable both for the replacement operator and for the
employer. Monmouth Assembly Member Nick Ramsay said: "So many rural communities have lost their Post
Offices in recent years and it would be sad if this were to happen at Penperllenia€Ia€/4€!. Let's hope that the
Post Office can come up with a proposal that is acceptable to the local community."
Article
Office move a wine of the times
The Argus, 22/05/2015, p.19, Unattributed
Goldstone Valley Post Office is moving 300 metres from Queen Victoria Avenue in Hove to Woodland
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Parade. The current branch at Goldstone Valley News off licence will close on Saturday, June 6 but
customers will be able to use an alternative nearby branch in The Parade, Hangleton Road, during the
handover.
Article
MP pushes plans for a Post Office in the town
Lancashire Telegraph , 22/05/2015, p.5, Unattributed
Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson has welcomed progress towards the re-opening of the Post Office in
Barrowford. The post office closed temporarily in February this year, leaving residents to use the one in
Nelson. However, the Post Office has confirmed that they have appointed a new agent to re-open a branch in
the town and are now negotiating a lease.
Article
Have your say on Post Office move
Swindon Star, 21/05/2015, p.2, Unattributed
Rodbourne Cheney Post Office could be moved under new plans to extend its opening times for an extra 47
hours a week. A six-week consultation has now opened asking residents for their thoughts on the plans,
which would see the Post Office leave its current home in Whitworth Road and move to the nearby Co-op,
where it would open as a modern main-style branch with longer opening hours
Article
New Post Office service launch
Folkestone Herald Dover Express , 21/05/2015, p.9, Unattributed
Post Office services will be available in Lyminge for 59 hours a week after the facility was refurbished. The
new ‘local plus’ service was launched at Quick Check in Station Road last week and offers a combination
counter, where the Post Office terminal will sit alongside the retail till.
Article
HOPING TO ADD MAIL TO THE ALE
Keighley News, 21/05/2015, p.14, Alistair Shand
A village post office could be run from a local pub in plans backed by an MP. Miguel Schreck, who runs the
New Inn in Wilsden, suggested the idea after the sudden closure of Wilsden Post Office last month, "I'm a
pub in the heart of the village and I want to help the village, which I hope will then help me," Mr Schreck said,
"If providing a post office keeps people happy and in good spirits, then that's good for me too. "
Article
Postbox follow-up
Westmorland Gazette, 21/05/2015, p.21, Unattributed
Delays in locating a new postbox in The Square at Milnthorpe are to be followed up by clerk John Scargill
The post office recently moved from Park Road to McColl's newsagents in The Square
Article
Owner is disgusted by ‘hate campaign’
Craven Herald And Pioneer, 21/05/2015, p.5, Daryl Ames
The derogatory racist remark, which Mr Singh said had initially had been on the page, has since been
removed and the page has been taken down altogether. "Somebody started this race hate page on
Facebook," explained Mr Singh. "When I saw the comment, I posted how disgusted I was. "When you get
somebody who starts a hate campaign you want to stop it in its tracks." Mr Singh, who has been at the
Londis shop since Mr Place retired in September, is in the process of renovating his store to accommodate
post office services, which will be transferred from the village's current post office later this year.
Article
Post Office is to move to store
Cornish Times, 22/05/2015, p.10, Unattributed
CALLINGTON'S Post Office branch will relocate to the town's Spar store in Fore Street in a move that will
bring significantly longer opening hours, including Sunday opening. The Post Office's relocation is being
accompanied by refurbishment at the Spar, and while the store itself is now open, the new services will be
formally launched on Monday, June 1. Post Office customers will be able to access three main counters from
Monday to Saturday from 9am-5.30pm.
Article
Revamp for Post Office
North Norfolk News, 21/05/2015, p.20, Unattributed
Cromer's main Post Office in the Budgens store is set for a modernisation. It will close at 12.30pm on
Saturday May 30 and reopen at 1pm on Wednesday June 3. The revamp will see six modern serving
positions - four screened, one open plan, and a serving point at the retail counter which will provide selected
services during the longer opening hours of the main shop. The Post Office says it means an extra 44 hours
of service a week including all day Sunday and Saturday afternoon.
Article
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Stamp of approval for new post office
Buxton Advertiser, 21/05/2015, p.12, Unattributed
High Peak's Hayfield Post Office has been given the go-ahead to move into its new home at The Village
Store, Church Street. The service will be provided at two combination counters in the store. The store layout
will be redesigned to ensure that there is adequate space provided for customers using a wheelchair to move
around the store. Post Office services will be available during the store's much longer opening hours, 8am to
9pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 8pm on Sunday
Article
Have your say on Stanley Common Post Office move
likeston Advertiser (Web), 22/05/2015, Unattributed
The Post Office is proposing to relocate Stanley Common Post Office to a new location where it will open as
a modern open-plan local-style branch with extended opening hours.
Article I Link
POST OFFICE - REGIONALS
All Articles
Get the best card deals for holiday cash
The Herald, 23/05/2015, p.21, Alexandra Morgan
For those who want time to pay off their spending but do not want a Nationwide account, Mr Mann likes the
Post Office's Platinum MasterCard. He said: "It also offers no mark-up on foreign currency transactions
worldwide. For anyone not wanting different cards for home and away, this also offers zero per cent on
balance transfers for 18 months with a reasonable 0.79 per cent transfer fee. "However, it won't give you an
introductory interest-free period on purchases and it has a slightly higher APR (17.8 per cent)."
Article
Appeal after handgun robbery at post office
Wharfedale Observer (Wharfedale), 21/05/2015, p.4, Unattributed
Armed police descended on Wharfedale after a robber thought to be armed with a handgun stole cash from
the village post office. The man struck at Burley-in- Wharfedale Post Office, Station Road, at about 9.20am
on Tuesday.
Article
AWARD Postmaster celebrates 30 years of service in Horsham
West Sussex County Times, 21/05/2015, p.32, Staff Reporter
A Horsham postmaster has been celebrating this week after he was presented with an award to mark an
amazing 30 years in the job. Philip Shelley owns the national award winning Shelly's News in Coltsfoot Drive
and received a Long Service Award for his commitments to the Post Office which is located within the store
Article
Bank store closure pain
Gazette Gloucestershire, 21/05/2015, p.25, Unattributed
I WRITE to say how shocked I was to learn of the impending closure of the Berkeley branch of the NatWest
Bank. I have been advised that I use the Post Office as an alternative to going into the branch. One counter
inside a shop does not to me define a Post Office. Gill Badsey, Berkeley
Article
Bank to close branch
Tavistock Times Gazette (East Cornwall), 21/05/2015, p.56, Unattributed
PEOPLE In Callington and the surrounding areas who bank with NatWest will have to look at other ways of
banking as the Callington branch is set to close. A spokesperson for NatWest said: 'We have reached an
agreement with the local post office, which is close to the branch, so that our customers can check their
balance, deposit and withdraw funds and business customers can get coinage.’
Article
Banking giant set to close Burgh branch
Helensburgh Advertiser, 21/05/2015, p.11, Tamsin Tyeson
A MAJOR bank has announced it will close its Helensburgh branch later this year. Clydesdale Bank has
blamed dwindling customer numbers following a review of its network. Steve Fletcher, head of branch
network for Clydesdale Bank, said: "We understand customers will be disappointed by this news, but hope
that the proximity of the post office, and the ever-increasing range of alternative ways they can bank with us
will minimise any impacts.”
Article
bid to claw back half of fraudster's gains
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The Courier (Main Edition), 22/05/2015, p.7, Gordon Currie
A postmistress who embezzled more than GBP100,000 has agreed a deal with prosecutors to pay back less
than half the money she took. 'frittered the money on internet betting and claimed she kept
going to try and win back money to pay for the losses the bu: is racking up. As well as embezzling
money from her work and a community environmental charity; jalso stole more than £8,000 from the
elderly woman who trusted her to run the Post Office.
Article
Bottled! Thief is foiled
Harrogate Advertiser Series (Wetherby), 21/05/2015, p.1, James Metcalf
This attempted burglary, carried out about 20 minutes before closingtime on May 16, is the second incident in
less than two months on Boston Spa High Street. In March, two men dressed as women and wearing wigs
and hats were caught on camera allegedly demanding cash at the Post Office, just across the road from
Costcutter. Armed with a shotgun, the pair made off with money later found by police outside the Post Office,
and a male member of staff was hit on the head with a crowbar trying to stop them.
Article
Budapest best place for cheap booze says survey
Aberdeen Evening Express, 22/05/2015, p.9, Unattributed
BUDAPEST is best for booze for Britons looking for good-value drinks on city breaks abroad. But those
downing them in Dublin will find their alcohol bill on the high side, a poll by Post Office Travel Money found.
The survey looked at the cost of 10 drinks, including beer, wine, a glass of champagne and a cocktail in 10
popular European destinations.
Article
Crime cracking duo tackle raider
Harrogate Advertiser Series (Wetherby), 21/05/2015, p.28, Unattributed
The tables were turned in Boston Spa this week when two victims of crime turned hero to fight off a would-be
thief. Whatever your opinion, the worrying question is that why, just months after a raid on the village post
office, has a Boston Spa shop been targeted again by this kind of crime?
Article
Fall in use spells end for city bank
Southern Daily Echo, 22/05/2015, p.9, Patrick Knox
A bank is to close a city branch after reporting a big fall in the number of people using it. RBS has announced
it will be shutting its Southampton College Place branch - meaning customers will now have to walk more
than a mile to the nearest one. But RBS says after that there will be a number of alternative ways for people
in the area to continue to bank. This includes at the nearby Post Office where customers can check their
balance, deposit cheques, withdraw cash and get business coinage.
Article
Family-run shop voted best independent newsagent
Basingstoke Gazette, 21/05/2015, p.37, Richard Garfield
Kempshott Post Office and Stores has been voted as Newsagent of The Year. The family run shop, in Pack
Lane, won Newsquest Hampshire's Best Independent Newsagent for Weekly Titles at the National Federation
of Retail Newsagents Southern Region Awards, as voted by readers from Basingstoke, Andover, Romsey
and Winchester.
Article
‘Handgun’ robbery shock at post office
Wharfedale Observer, 21/05/2015, p.1, Amanda Greaves
Armed police descended on Wharfedale after a robber thought to be armed with a handgun stole cash from
the village post office. The man struck at Burley-in-Wharfedale Post Office, Station Road, at about 9.20am
on Tuesday.
Article
Kinghorn Post Office under fire after three week closure
Fife Free Press, 21/05/2015, p.3, Unattributed
A Kinghorn councillor has hit out at the "lack of service" being delivered by the post office in the village.
Kinghorn post office, within the Good News store in Rossland Place has been closed since the start of May
due to "computer problems". Councillor Susan Leslie says she has been in almost daily contact with officials
from the Post Office to find out why the Kinghorn branch remains closed three weeks after a computer
system problem forced it to shut - but she is no further forward
Article
Mortgage monitor
The Journal (Newcastle Upon Tyne), 23/05/2015, p.15, Unattributed
Remortgage four-year fixed rate: Rate: 2.68% (APR 3.8%) Variable rate for remaining term: 3.99%.
Arrangement fees: GBP195. Benefits: 75% Itv, low fees & low rate Early repayment charge: none (Post
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Office)
Article
Natwest will close three area branches due to footfall decline
Grimsby Telegraph, 22/05/2015, p.2, Unattributed
Three NatWest bank branches in our area are set to close due to declining footfall. The firm said it would
close branches in Caistor, Market Rasen and Barton. A spokesman said it had reached an agreement with
local Post Offices so customers can check their balance, deposit and withdraw funds, and businesses can
get change.
Article
On trial for robbery
Gainsborough Standard, 21/05/2015, p.4, Unattributed
Aman accused of staging an armed robbery at a village post office in Lincolnshire is to stand trial in front of
a jury later this year+ jdenied charges of robbery and possession of an
imitation firearm with intent
Article
Police adopt post offices in town
South Yorkshire Times, 21/05/2015, p.7, Unattributed
Police officers in Rotherham have ‘adopted' post offices and will hand out crime prevention advice to more
residents, alert them to services and make them feel safer. The scheme, backed by the Rotherham Older
People's Forum and Age UK Rotherham, could be rolled out to other areas if it proves a success. A dedicated
Police Community Support Officer is assigned to all franchised Post Office branches in Rotherham
Article
RBS and NatWest axing 10 branches
Manchester Evening News, 22/05/2015, p.5, Chris Slater
Ten high street banks in the region are to close. The Royal Bank of Scotland at Manchester University is
among the six RBS and four NatWest branches which will shut their doors for the final time this summer.
Royal Bank of Scotland, which runs both banks, say it has reached agreements with local Post Offices so
customers can check their balance, deposit cheques, withdraw cash and pick up change for business.
Article
RBS under fire over branch closure plan
Central Fife Times and Advertiser, 21/05/2015, p.3, Jim Stark
LOCHS councillor Alex Campbell this week pledged to fight the proposed closure of the RBS branch in
Kelty's Main Street. Said an RBS spokesperson, "We are working hard to ensure there are a number of
alternative ways for people in the area to continue to bank with us including the Post Office. "We have
reached an agreement with the local Post Office, which is close to the Kelty branch, so that our customers
can check their balance, deposit and withdraw funds, and business customers can get coinage."
Article
The price of change
The Journal (Newcastle Upon Tyne), 23/05/2015, p.68, Vicky Shaw
There are now around 58 million contactless cards in circulation in the UK, which is 52 per cent more than
there were in December 2013. The current limit for a single contactless transaction is £20, but from
September 1, people making contactless payments will be able to buy goods worth up to £30 with a simple
swipe of their card. The growing list of places that accept contactless payments includes Aldi, Barnardo's,
Boots, Greggs, Ikea, JD Wetherspoon, London Tubes, M6 Toll, Marks and Spencer, McDonald's, the Post
Office, Stagecoach and WH Smith.
Article
Towns are ‘let down’ by RBS axing branches
Fife Herald and Citizen, 22/05/2015, p.12, Unattributed
North east Fife's MP and MSP have both expressed their disappointment at the decision by the Royal Bank of
Scotland to close three branches in the constituency. The bank has also reached agreement with the Post
Office so customers can check their balances and make transactions. Fellow SNP member and newly-
elected MP Stephen Gethins accused RBS of "tearing valuable assets out of communities across this
constituency." "Post Office services and online banking don't work for everyone, and many people in rural
areas rely on their local services."
Article
POST OFFICE - ONLINE & WIRES.
All Articles
Time to shuffle the cards if you want to save holiday cash
Herald Scotland (Web), 23/05/2015, Unattributed
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For those who want time to pay off their spending but do not want a Nationwide account, Mr Mann likes the
Post Office's Platinum MasterCard. He said: "It also offers no mark-up on foreign currency transactions
worldwide. For anyone not wanting different cards for home and away, this also offers zero per cent on
balance transfers for 18 months with a reasonable 0.79 per cent transfer fee. "However, it won't give you an
introductory interest-free period on purchases and it has a slightly higher APR (17.8 per cent)."
Article I Link
New British banks seeing better returns and lending more - KPMG
Consultant-News.com (Web), 23/05/2015, Unattributed
KPMG noted, however, that the combined loans of the five largest challenger banks are still equivalent to just
5 percent of lending provided by the 'Big Five’ and it is therefore easier for them to achieve higher levels of
growth. The research found that smaller ‘challenger banks’, such as Metro Bank, OneSavings Bank
(OSBO.L) and the UK business of Sweden's Handlesbanken (SHBa.ST) were growing at the most rapid rate,
with larger challengers such as Virgin Money (VM.L), TSB (TSB.L) and the Post Office showing slower
growth.
Article I Link
Letham post office manager jailed for #100,000 fraud
DailyRecord.co.uk (Web), 23/05/2015, Alison Lowson
A Perth Post Office manager embezzled more than £100,000 from her employers - and a housing estate
charity five-year period to fund her on-line gambling habit. Perth Sheriff Court was told that hard-
hearted also helped herself to more than £8,000 from an elderly widow's bank account. The
offences, y Sheriff Lindsay Foulis as a “very significant and clear breach of trust’, led to the 54-
year-old being jailed for 40 months when she appeared for sentence this week.
Article I Link
Woman due to appear in court charged with attempted robbery at Britannia post office
Rossendale Free Press (Web), 23/05/2015, Jon Macpherson
A woman is due to aI i rt this morning in ti
Britannia Post Office
and possession of an
Article I Link
with an alleged attempted robbery at the
thas been charged with attempted robbery
High Street bank to be closed
Shepton Mallet Journal (Web), 22/05/2015, Unattributed
The Shepton Mallet branch of NatWest will stop trading on August 5. Aternatives include an agreement
reached with the Post Office, located inside Martin McColl's.
Article I Link
CHEAP BOOZE? HEAD FOR BUDAPEST
Press Association, 22/05/2015, Unattributed
Budapest is best for booze for Britons looking for good-value drinks on city breaks abroad. But those downing
them in Dublin will find their alcohol bill on the high side, a poll by Post Office Travel Money found.
Article
Southampton bank to close as customers flock elsewhere
Southern Daily Echo (Web), 22/05/2015, Unattributed
RBS has announced it will be shutting its Southampton College Place branch - meaning customers will now
have to walk more than a mile to the nearest one. But RBS says after that there will be a number of
alternative ways for people in the area to continue to bank. This includes at the nearby Post Office where
customers can check their balance, deposit cheques, withdraw cash and get business coinage.
Article I Link
New British banks seeing better returns and lending more - KPMG
Top Consultant (Web), 22/05/2015, Unattributed
Britain's new banks are achieving superior returns than larger rivals, picking up customers shunned by bigger
lenders since the 2007-9 financial crisis, says consultancy KPMG. The research found that smaller
‘challenger banks’, such as Metro Bank, OneSavings Bank and the UK business of Sweden's Handlesbanken
were growing at the most rapid rate, with larger challengers such as Virgin Money, TSB and the Post Office
showing slower growth.
Article I Link
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Small challenger banks outperform the ‘Big Five’
Fresh Business Thinking (Web), 22/05/2015, Unattributed
Challenger banks are outperforming the 'Big Five' High Street banks, but the larger ones need to do more to
stand out, according to a report by KPMG. The Large Challengers are Post Office, National Australia Bank,
TSB and Virgin Money. The Small Challengers are Aldermore Group, Handelsbanken, Metro Bank,
OneSavings Bank, Shawbrook Group and Secure Trust Bank.
Article I Link
Budapest best for cheap drinks
TTG Live (Web), 22/05/2015, Unattributed
Budapest is the cheapest city to buy a wide range of alcoholic drinks, new research has revealed. Post Office
Travel Money has released its City Costs Drinks Barometer which analysed the price of 10 popular drinks in
popular European city-break destinations. It found the round, which includes bottles of beer and lager, white
wine, champagne, Southern Comfort, cocktails and dry martinis, is cheapest in the Hungarian capital.
Article I Link
Small challenger banks outperform the ‘Big Five’
Fresh Business Thinking (Web), 22/05/2015, Unattributed
Challenger banks are outperforming the 'Big Five' High Street banks, but the larger ones need to do more to
stand out, according to a report by KPMG. The Large Challengers are Post Office, National Australia Bank,
TSB and Virgin Money. The Small Challengers are Aldermore Group, Handelsbanken, Metro Bank,
OneSavings Bank, Shawbrook Group and Secure Trust Bank.
Article I Link
End of the driving licence counterpart: advice for ADIs
Driving Instructors Association (Web), 22/05/2015, Unattributed
Change of address on licence driving examiners won't be able to offer the ADLI route if the pupil has a
change of address the examiner would mark the ‘licence not received box’ and give their licence back to them
the examiner will need to tell them to apply for their full licence using the form ‘D1 ‘Application for a driving
licence’ (available from the DVLA form ordering service and some Post Offices)
Article I Link
COMPETITORS.
All Articles
Mortgage deals on the rise as competition intensifies
The Guardian, 23/05/2015, p.46, Hilary Osborne
The number of mortgage deals on the market has jumped by nearly a fifth in a year to its highest level since
the financial crisis. This week Nationwide and TSB reduced the cost of fixed-rate loans, with some deals cut
by 0.3 percentage points, and yesterday Yorkshire building society launched the lowest ever two-year
fixedrate deal. At the same time, lenders have been offering cashback deals to attract first-time buyers.
Article
Mortgages Your home may be REPOSSESSED if you do not keep up REPAYMENTS on your
mortgage.
The Times, 23/05/2015, p.67, Unattributed
Mortgage best buy table
Article
Self-employed face long wait for mortgage approval
The Times, 23/05/2015, p.62, Melanie Wright
According to London & Country mortgage brokers, only a small number of lenders, such as Kensington and
Precise Mortgages, are prepared to lend if you've only been self-employed for a year. Most lenders require
two or three years' worth of accounts before they will consider your application. Mr Tyler says: "Certain
lenders, such as Santander and Leeds Building Society, regard consistently declining profits as unacceptable
and will not lend if this is the case, while others will consider it if the amounts in questions are relatively
small. Coventry Building Society, Nationwide and Woolwich tend to be more flexible."
Article
Should you fix? Finally, the answer could well be "Yes"
The Guardian, 23/05/2015, p.48, Patrick Collinson
The "best-ever" five-year fix, launched as recently as April and charging just 1.99%, has disappeared off the
shelves at HSBC. Meanwhile, the Coventry has repriced its 2.19% deal up to 2.39%. The general feeling
among mortgage brokers is that the exceptionally low rates on long-term fixes may be about to rise further.
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At Nationwide building society, for example, there are 700,000 people on the society's BMR (base mortgage
rate) of just 2.5%. They have taken the absolutely smart decision to carry on sitting on that rate for years.
Article
The £15,327 bill for long-term security
The Times, 23/05/2015, p.66, Francesca Steele
Another week, another rockbottom fixed rate. The Yorkshire Building Society undercut The Co-operative
Bank's record low two-year fix of 1.09 per cent by just a fraction yesterday, launching the UK's lowest ever
two-year fixed rate mortgage with a 1.07 per cent rate. Five-year fixed rates have fallen below 2 per cent for
those with a large deposit in recent months, although these 1.99 per cent rates, from HSBC and Woolwich,
have since been pulled. TSB now offers the lowest rate, according to Moneyfacts, fixed at 2.09 per cent at 60
per cent LTV, with a fee of £1,995. Leek United Building Society also offers a 90 per cent LTV fixed at 3.59
per cent for five years.
Article
Why staying loyal to your bank could cost you hundreds of pounds a year
The Daily Telegraph, 23/05/2015, p.1, Dan Hyde
The rates on some accounts are now so good that they beat even the best ordinary savings accounts.
Nationwide Building Society and TSB offer 5 per cent interest to customers and Santander pays 3 per cent.
By comparison, the best Isa rate in the UK is 2.5 per cent, offered by the State Bank of India. People who
prefer to store their cash in other accounts, such as Pensioner Bonds, paying up to 4 per cent, or Premium
Bonds, can also generate returns that were not available three years ago. Santander offers cashback of up to
3 per cent on regular bills
Article
INDUSTRY COVERAGE
All Articles
Cameron backs May in row over TV ‘censorship'
The Times, 23/05/2015, p.14, Laura Pitel
The prime minister has backed Theresa May, the home secretary, in a row over plans to vet TV programmes
for extremist content before they are shown. David Cameron declared his support after it emerged that Sajid
Javid, the former culture secretary, had warned him that the proposals would turn the broadcast watchdog,
Ofcom, into a censor. On a trip to Riga in Latvia, Mr Cameron said: "Our proposals on extremism are
extremely sensible and I think need to be put into place." He added: "Ofcom has got a role to make sure we
don't broadcast extremist messages through our media as well.”
Article
Cameron backs May over vetting ‘extremist’ broadcasts
The Daily Telegraph, 23/05/2015, p.2, Ben Riley-Smith
THE broadcast regulator should vet programmes for extremist content before they are shown on television,
David Cameron has indicated. The Prime Minister appeared to back Theresa May over her Cabinet colleague
Sajid Javid after a private row over antiterrorism proposals became public. Mr Cameron said Ofcom has a
"role" in ensuring extremist content is not broadcast during a press conference at a European summit
Article
Anger over plans to give watchdog ‘censor’ powers
i (The paper for today), 23/05/2015, p.7, Oliver Wright
A leaked letter written by the former Culture Secretary Sajid Javid in March reveals the Home Secretary tried
to give Ofcom the power to approve programmes as part of antiextremism measures. But the move was
resisted by ministers, including Mr Javid, who believe it would infringe freedom of expression. The Home
Office is working on legislation to combat what the Government calls non-violent extremism, and it is
understood that giving Ofcom powers to vet programmes is still on the table.
Article
PM backs powers to ban broadcasters from airing ‘extremist messages’
The Guardian, 23/05/2015, p.5, Rowena Mason; Alan Travis
David Cameron has backed plans to allow the media regulator Ofcom to prevent the broadcast of "extremist
messages" despite concerns from one of his own cabinet ministers that this could amount to state
censorship. The prime minister appeared to support Theresa May, the home secretary, after the Guardian
published a letter that revealed a split in the cabinet over her counter-extremism measures. Sajid Javid, who
was then culture secretary and is now business secretary, wrote to May before the election saying the plan
would move Ofcom from a regulator "into the role of a censor" and involve "a fundamental shift in the way UK
broadcasting is regulated" from post-transmission to pre-transmission monitoring.
Article
News '‘censorship' row over anti-extremism vetting
Evening Standard, 22/05/2015, p.2, Joe Murphy
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Theresa May sparked a storm today over moves to give an official "censor" powers to vet television news
items for extremist content before they are broadcast. Broadcasters were outraged by the plan, which
emerged with a leak of a letter dating from March, in which Mrs May was strongly opposed by then-Tory
culture secretary Sajid Javid, who warned of "a fundamental shift" that would turn broadcasting regulator
Ofcom from "a post-transmission regulator into the role of a censor".
Article
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