Politics
Interview – Simon Douglas: the attraction of AA Insurance
Simon Douglas, director of AA insurance, previously worked in the life & pensions and private medical markets. He talks to Mairi Macdonald about what attracted him to the debt-laden business and the challenges it faces.
Kidnap & ransom policy rise likely in Middle East
Insurers will see an uptake of kidnap & ransom policies that contain repatriation costs if the civil unrest in the Middle East and North Africa continues, Chubb has claimed.
Hiscox targets political unrest for opportunities
Hiscox is looking for underwriting opportunities arising from the political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.
New rating factors needed after European gender ban
Insurers will have to look at additional rating factors now that gender is not an option, following the European Court of Justice ruling that a person's sex can no longer be used to calculate insurance premiums or annuity rates.
Post history – 15 years ago: Bomb blast buildings uninsured
Looking through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 15 years ago reveals.
Career development & CSR: Davies report pushes for increase in female directors
Lord Davies’ report Women on boards has recommended that FTSE-100 companies increase their proportion of female board directors to 25% by 2015.
IUA warns of regulatory threat to London’s competitiveness
The International Underwriting Association has revealed its fears that a revamp of the UK regulatory structure could cost London its place as a worldwide financial services hub.
LMA backs ban on referral fees
The Lloyd’s Market Association has backed government proposas to end recovery of conditional fee arrangements success fees and after-the-event premiums in its bid to reduce civil litigation costs.
Editor's comment: Spot the difference
As rebrandings go it will hardly go down among the most talked about in the history of financial services, but the end of the Consumer Protection and Markets Authority has at least proved that maybe the government is listening.
Minister admits insurers were right
Government plans to cut motor insurance fraud by allowing underwriters access to DVLA records are unlikely to be implemented until mid-2012, road safety minister Mike Penning MP has admitted.
News analysis - regulation: Questions over reform
The latest consultation paper over regulation reform has left many questions unanswered. Amy Ellis talks to industry figures to find out more.
Penny Black's insurance week
Penny was uncertain as to how her colleagues would fare when they turned their hands to cocktail-making at an Ace Europe masterclass in the City.
Insurers warn SMEs of new legal consequences
The insurance industry has urged small business owners to ensure they are covered in the event an investigation under the Corporate Manslaughter Act.
Fees hike will trigger job losses, Biba warns
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has called for its members to write to their MPs regarding the escalating costs of Financial Services Compensation Scheme fees.
Lord Sheikh confirms broker launch
Lord Sheikh has launched insurance broker and underwriting agent Macmillan Sheikh.
Post Europe: After the Cancun climate summit: Will global action follow?
At the recent United Nations’ climate conference in Cancun, nations came together to discuss environmental plans. David Bresch explains what happened in Cancun and what the new consensus means for the insurance industry.
Lloyd's welcomes regulatory clarity
Lloyd's has welcomed clarity on the future of its regulatory structure following publication of a government report today.
Lloyd's to be dual-regulated by PRA and FCA under new financial regime
The Government today outlined its view that Lloyd’s and Lloyd’s managing agents should be dual-regulated firms with the Prudential Regulatory Authority responsible for prudential regulation (including the activities of ensuring the adequacy of members’…
More details published on regulatory regime
A new approach to financial regulation: building a stronger system provides further detail on the government’s proposals to reform the framework of financial regulation in the UK.
Government rebrands broker regulator before launch
The government is to rename the Consumer Protection and Markets Authority as the Financial Conduct Authority and give it the power to ban products or limit their distribution for up to 12 months.
Parliament debates mutual model
Labour MP Gareth Thomas has called for the government to honour pledges to support the development of the mutual financial model in the UK in a debate in Parliament today.
Motor Claims 2011: Adderson clashes with Smale over motor claims collaboration
Brit Insurance claims manager Paul Adderson has spoken out against Rob Smale, claims and operations director at Ageas, and his view that the motor claims industry should not collaborate.
Motor Claims 2011: Smale warns of tipping point for policyholders over motor prices
The insurance industry should take steps to tackle the rising cost of motor policies before the government intervenes, Ageas claims and operations director Rob Smale has warned.
Ex-flood chief warns UK could face Oz-type disaster
Investment in defences needs to be ongoing or the UK could face a situation as devastating as the recent flooding in Australia.