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Friday newspaper round-up: Centrica, water bills, BlackRock

Fri 09 May 2025 08:10 | A A A

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(Sharecast News) - The owner of British Gas has suffered a shareholder rebellion after handing its chief executive a multimillion pound pay packet while energy bill payers struggle with record levels of debt. Nearly 40% of Centrica's shareholders voted against the board's pay plans at the energy company's annual investor meeting in Manchester on Thursday, after rising criticism of boss Chris O'Shea's pay during the energy crisis. - Guardian

The average household water bill in England and Wales is likely to reach 2,000 a year by 2050 if supplies are to be maintained, the industry regulator has said. In its submission to the government-commissioned water inquiry, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, Ofwat said "significant investment" was needed to secure enough water and avoid the country running out, and that this would cause costs to be piled on to water bills in coming years. - Guardian

Donald Trump will slash US tariffs on Range Rovers and other UK-made cars to 10pc as part of a trade deal that also cuts levies on American beef to zero. The Telegraph revealed details of the trade deal on Thursday that will see British carmakers given a quota of 100,000 cars they will be able to send to American shores at lower tariffs. - Telegraph

The countryside on London's outskirts could soon be concreted over to make way for tower blocks as Sir Sadiq Khan throws his support behind building on the green belt. The Mayor of London will on Friday announce plans to release more of the capital's green spaces for housing as he launches a consultation on the city's development strategy for the next two decades. - Telegraph

The world's biggest investment firm has ordered its senior managers back into the office five days a week, in the latest sign that companies are tightening up their rules on working from home. BlackRock has told its 1,000 or so managing directors around the world, including those in London, that they will be expected to work from the office full-time in future. - The Times

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