Clipper Windpower appoints new chief executive from US backer

By Rowena Mason 600AM GMT 10 March 2010

Clipper was one of the greatest flotations on London"s AIM marketplace in 2005 and was at that time corroborated by Sir Anthony Hopkins (above) and former Conservative sports apportion Colin Moynihan.

Mauricio Quintana, who becomes new boss and arch executive, was a executive at United Technologies Corporation, a $68bn (�43bn) US organisation that took a 49.5pc interest in the London-listed association late last year.

The vacating arch executive, Doug Pertz, quiescent after eighteen months in the purpose and the company.

Northern Rocks Sandler in support for tip Lloyds post Jarvis posts �6.3m loss after lane deputy delays Misys defies dejection as orders climb 60pc Former Scotland manager Frank Hadden tools association with SRU News Corp authority Rupert Murdoch appoints DirecTV arch Chase Carey as No. 2

Sources close to Clipper pronounced the shift at the tip reflects a "new era" for the organisation underneath United Technologies.

Clipper was one of the greatest flotations on London"s AIM marketplace in 2005 and was at that time corroborated by Sir Anthony Hopkins and former Conservative sports apportion Colin Moynihan.

But it has struggled with fewer turbine orders during the retrogression and yesterday pronounced that it expects to have a second-half loss around the same turn as the initial half figure of $120m.

The association was last year since a �4m accede to by Ed Miliband"s Department for Energy and Climate Change to account a bureau creation hulk turbines in the North-East. Earlier this week, the association reliable it wants to pull forward with the plans to make the world"s largest blades for the turbines. Clipper has a large series of breeze farms in the US but hopes to supply some-more turbines in the UK for the flourishing offshore market.

Alistair Darling to announce date of the budget

700AM GMT 10 Mar 2010

According to reports, Gordon Brown staid on Mar twenty-four as the most appropriate date for the Chancellor"s last monetary matter prior to the ubiquitous choosing Photo PA

Given that there is a ubiquitous choosing looming, the date is seen as vicious for the Government and there has already been heated conjecture that it will be hold on Mar 24.

In the Budget, the Chancellor is approaching to lay out in item his plans to separate Britain"s �178 bn necessity by 2014, but will not embody minute allocations for Whitehall departments for the years ahead.

Brown to advise mercantile "storm" not nonetheless over Budget late as Brown tries to buy some-more time Elderly savers betrothed assistance in the Budget by Alistair Darling Lord Mandelson defends Gordon Brown from Tory accusations of formulation tip taxation bombshell Pre-Budget inform Live Conservatives to brush Whitehall budgets for saving possibilities

The greeting to it in the run up to the Easter mangle will set the tinge for the heated choosing conflict ahead.

Tory personality David Cameron and shade chancellor George Osborne demand the Government is putting expansion and seductiveness rates at risk by loitering moves to move down the deficit.

They are dynamic to have the economy one of the defining issues of the ubiquitous choosing campaign, arguing that Labour has left electorate worse off given 2005.

A Treasury orator would not be drawn on when the Budget competence be but reliable that it would be published in a created ministerial matter to the House of Commons early tomorrow.

There had been doubt about either there would even be a bill prior to the election. The Tories betrothed to hold one inside of 50 days of polling day if they form the subsequent government.

According to reports, Gordon Brown staid on Mar twenty-four as the most appropriate date for the Chancellor"s last monetary matter prior to the ubiquitous election.

The Prime Minister could go to the house and call the choosing shortly after, heralding the begin of a debate proper.

Mr Brown is additionally due to have what aides are describing as a ""major"" debate on the economy at Thomson Reuters in Canary Wharf.

Conservatives promise new National Security Council will end blight of sofa government

By Andrew Porter, Political Editor 1000PM GMT 09 March 2010

In a bid to show that a destiny Tory Government would not trip in to the sofa-style administration department run by Tony Blair, William Hague, the shade unfamiliar secretary, will currently contend that the new physique would be a absolute centre of decision-making.

In a critical debate on unfamiliar process Mr Hague will additionally explain that Labour right away selects parliamentary possibilities with "hardened" traffic kinship links, who are resistant to modernisation.

Arsenal physical education instructor Arsene Wenger accuses Celtic of inflicting oppressive treatment? Legal high Spice to be criminialized Gordon Brown confidant says City all-important - and rest of the nation can be incited over to tourism The Conservative Party has left to the dogs Letters strew new light on Kray twins liaison

He will contend "Five some-more years of Gordon Brown would meant that this nation would be compared opposite the universe with unsure and unaffordable debt, miss of fortify over spending and traffic kinship power."

Evidence to the Iraq Inquiry has strengthened the box for an renovate in how big unfamiliar process and counterclaim decisions are taken, Mr Hague will say.

He will contend "A supervision with a correct National Security Council would not have taken critical National Security decisions, as Clare Short described the scene, in meetings that there were never papers. There were small chats about things.

"In the new government, if elected, decisions about inhabitant security and general family will be taken together, with the recommendation of the Armed Services Chiefs, the Intelligence Agencies and the Foreign Office experts accessible and in meetings that are scrupulously minuted and recorded."

He combined that the security legislature would have ensured that a preference to cut the helicopter bill would not have been taken whilst operations in Iraq were underneath way.

Either the Prime Minister or the Foreign Secretary would chair the meetings that would take place "on a really unchanging basis." It would cover the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Defence, and the Department for International Development.

Gordon Brown set up a National Security Committee of the Cabinet usually after he came to energy in 2007, but the physique has met usually 3 times.

Mr Hague will additionally explain that the bequest of the Labour Government will be that the mercantile decrease of new years has marked down Britains "clout" in universe affairs.

He will contend that underneath David Cameron the supervision would find to hindrance the wearing away of Britains general position.

Find the right bank account for you

By Emma Simon 612AM GMT 09 March 2010

Metro Bank had the promissory note looseness rubber-stamped by the Financial Services Authority last week and when it opens the doors of the London branches in May it will be the initial new high-street bank for 100 years.

Virgin Money, that already sells credit cards and insurance, will additionally shortly be charity bank accounts, and it is at large approaching that Tesco and the Post Office will follow suit.

Apples iTunes store faces greatest plea nonetheless with stretchable download make make make use of of of Xstrata launches greatest mining income call Mud, persperate and beers and, possibly, a couple of tears Britain needs crafty spending cuts Legal & General arch calls for association directors to face re-election each year

But business fed up with high charges and bad make make make use of of of are urged not to wait for for these new "white knights". The new entrants aren"t expected to suggest deals as keenly labelled as the best-buy accounts today.

Virgin, for example, has pronounced it will assign a monthly price on the bank account, whilst Metro Bank says it will suggest "outstanding service" but admits business are doubtful to get the majority rival seductiveness rates. "Many could get a far improved understanding by switching their bank comment today," says Andrew Hagger of Moneynet.co.uk. As he points out, majority people still have their bank comment with one of the Big Four- HSBC, Barclays, NatWest (owned by RBS) or Lloyds Banking Group.

But these accounts typically compensate no seductiveness at all on credit balances, according to Moneyfacts, and assign 18.9 to 19.9 per cent on overdrafts. Many levy large charges if you crack concluded overdraft limits.

In contrast, it is probable to consequence up to 5 per cent on credit balances and get an interest-free overdraft for at slightest a year from Alliance & Leicester, First Direct or Halifax. What"s more, a little will compensate a �100 "golden hello" only for signing up.

These offers aren"t new; banks have been charity rival deals for at slightest five years. But couple of people are receiving value of them.

According to a new Santander survey, 7 in 10 bank business (34 million people) have had the same bank comment for some-more than 10 years, and are roughly positively profitable over the contingency as a result. What"s more, 3 buliding of those surveyed pronounced they had no plans to switch banks in the nearby future.

But consumers aren"t so demure to switch alternative monetary products. One in 4 had changed insurers in the past year and one in 9 switched their mobile phone provider.

Helen Bierton, head of stream accounts at Santander, says "Many people can see how majority they can save by switching their insurance, but they mostly don"t see the benefits of switching stream accounts." Bierton points out that savers could great �125 in seductiveness over the year and get a free overdraft. People switch their car word for a lot less.

So that comment should you pick? Much will rely on how you make make make use of of of your bank account.

Always in the red

Those who go overdrawn, even occasionally, should opt for an comment that pays the majority rival overdraft rate. Don"t get sidetracked by tantalizing in-credit offers as the great of these will be some-more than wiped out if you are profitable higher borrowing charges.

At benefaction the most appropriate deals are from Alliance & Leicester, Santander (which additionally owns the A&L brand) and First Direct.

The A&L Premier comment charges no seductiveness for the initial year, and offers free European transport insurance. After that it charges 50p a day for each day you are in the red, up to a limit of �5 per month. Santander (formerly Abbey) additionally has an interest-free suggest for the initial year nonetheless those who take this choice do not get seductiveness on credit balances.

For those with comparatively small borrowing needs, First Direct offers a �250 interest-free overdraft, that doesn"t end after twelve months. On incomparable overdrafts it charges 15.9 per cent less than the "Big Four" but not as rival as A&L, Halifax or Santander.

First Direct pays �100 in to your comment if you switch. However, this isn"t befitting for low earners, as you need to deposition at slightest �1,500 a month in to the comment and disaster to do so will meant a assign of �10 a month.

Keep in the black

Those who don"t make make make use of of of their overdraft trickery should combine on removing paid a lapse on the income they deposit. Again A&L and Santander lead the way, despite with short-term offers. Both compensate 5 per cent for the initial year on a limit of �2,500. After that they compensate 1 per cent still some-more than most high-street assets accounts compensate at present.

Martin Lewis, of Moneysaving expert.com, points out that First Direct and Halifax competence additionally be value considering, nonetheless their title seductiveness rates competence not see as attractive. The �100 "golden hello" paid by First Direct is roughly as majority as the �125 A&L business would consequence if they deposition the limit each month.

Halifax and Bank of Scotland both compensate �5 a month, supposing �1,000 is deposited each month. This is a prosaic fee, so it is value some-more to those who compensate the minimum.

Lewis says "An normal change of �500 equates to the �5 prerogative is homogeneous to a whopping fifteen per cent annual interest. Yet an normal change of �1,500 equates to only 5 per cent." This prerogative lasts for some-more than twelve months, great for those who don"t wish to keep hopping.

Value patron make make make use of of of

Most banks contest on rates, nonetheless surveys have shown patron make make make use of of of and removing a "fair deal" are some-more critical to customers.

It is here that the newer entrants are anticipating to win business from the Big Four. The new Metro Bank will open branches from 8am to 8pm 6 days a week and suggest Sunday and bank legal holiday opening hours. It aims to answer all calls inside of 3 rings.

If you make make make use of of of a bend continually it creates clarity to opt for a bank with a internal presence. But some-more of us right away opt to bank remotely. Ask about patron make make make use of of of prior to switching. What hours do the call centres work and where are they based? It can additionally compensate to ask friends or colleagues how user-friendly they find their bank"s online services.

Which? conducts unchanging patron compensation surveys and recommends a series of stream comment providers. These embody First Direct, Smile, Cahoot and Nationwide, all of that have a patron compensation measure of some-more than 70 per cent. First Direct is at 89 per cent, Barclays and NatWest 54 per cent, and Abbey, right away rebranded as Santander, only 48 per cent.

Video: Paris Fashion Week: Chanel autum/winter 2010/11 show

237PM GMT 09 March 2010

Virgin Racing F1: 2010 driver, team and car guide, analysis and statistics

By Tom Cary, F1 Correspondent 508PM GMT 09 March 2010

Wet at the back of the ears Lucas di Grassil drives the new Virgin Racing car in credentials for the 2010 F1 deteriorate Photo ACTION IMAGES

Sir Richard Bransons settled aspiration is to be relating Ferrari inside of a integrate of years. If the group can perform half as well as the shrewd businessman can grab headlines, they will be intensely well.

Virgin Racing are not but debate in that the FIA were indicted of favoring their entrance last summer, but that conjecture in spite of they have accomplished really well to have it to F1 at all.

Coulthard standards be concerned me European GP Lewis Hamilton leads McLaren reconstruction Ferrari F1 2009 driver, group and car guide, research and census data Toyota F1 2009 group and car guide, research and census data Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo smashes radio after Lewis Hamilton win Kimi Raikkonen faces make-or-break deteriorate at Ferrari

Technical executive Nick Wirth has built the initial ever digitally-designed F1 car, utilizing CFD [Computational Fluid Dynamics] to one side as against to a windtunnel, so their intensity is somewhat unknown. Alarmingly, pieces kept descending off in pre-season testing. At the really slightest it should be an engaging float with Branson.

Drivers

Timo Glock (Born 18/03/1982 in Lindenfels, Germany)

Still majority important in the UK for being the man that Lewis Hamilton overtook in Brazil to explain fifth mark and the 2008 drivers crown, Timo Glock had a plain begin to his F1 career at Toyota and deserted a array of approaches from determined teams to pointer for Virgin Racing.

Lucas di Grassi (born 11/08/1984 in Sao Paul, Brazil)

Another rookie for 2010, di Grassi is thought to be bringing around �5million in sponsorship with him, proof that Branson is zero if not a shrewd so-and-so. The Brazilian accomplished as runner-up to Glock in the 2007 GP2 array and has copiousness of F1 mileage underneath his leather belt from a army with Renault as their haven and exam driver.

Telegraph prophecy Will be anticipating to kick Lotus to the most appropriate of the new teams title. The all CFD-approach could go possibly way, but will roughly positively have teething problems to begin with. Virgin and HRT to be fighting it out at the rear.

Virgin Racing facts

Website www.virginracing.com Headquarters Dinnington, Sheffield Virgin Group owners Sir Richard Branson Team principal John Booth Technical executive Nick Wirth Drivers Timo Glock (Germany), Lucas di Grassi (Brazil) 2010 car VR-01 Engine Cosworth First grand prix Bahrain 2010 Races 0 Wins 0 Poles 0 Fastest laps 0 Constructors titles 0 Drivers titles 0

Rupture by Simon Lelic: review

By Ian Critchley 1034AM GMT 09 March 2010

Rapture by Simon Lelic

When the story clergyman Samuel Szajkowski shoots passed 3 pupils and a co-worker during a propagandize public prior to branch the gun on himself, there seems to be no disbelief about what has happened. The media, the family groups of the victims, the teachers and pupils all determine that he was a loner, misfit and patently a psychopath.

But there is one chairman who is not so sure. Investigating military officer Inspector Lucia May unearths a enlightenment of bullying at the school. From the testimonies she collects during her examination she starts to square together a design of Szajkowski as plant as well as perpetrator, a end that does not go down well with the propagandize authorities or her superiors.

Pick of the Paperbacks Audiobooks examination The Ashes England win could put Test cricket behind between TV climax wealth Paperbacks Pick of the Paperbacks, reviews

On one turn Rupture is a genre novel, descending behind on multiform conventions of crime fiction, and even at times veering in to clich.

Like so most illusory detectives, Lucia is a nonconformist patrolman rebuilt to follow her instincts opposite the will of her trainer and in the face of all the evidence. It is additionally not most of a warn to find that she has a catastrophic personal life.

But Lelics initial novel is considerable in the range and constructional daring. A third-person account inhabiting Lucias mind alternates with first-person watcher accounts, and Lelic well captures the extravagantly opposite vocabularies and rhythms of debate of parents, teachers and pupils.

This is a higher investigator novel, explanation that crime novella can mangle free of the end of the genre in to something most some-more complex.

Rupture by Simon Lelic 294pp, Picador, �12.99 t �11.99 (PLUS �1.25 p&p) 0844 871 1515 or Books

Buy Rupture, right away at Book Shop