Tech entrepreneur Sir Ken Olisa, the first British-born black director of a FTSE 100 company, has said new pledges from top companies to make their boards more diverse will lead to a “competitive advantage” over rivals.

Accountancy firm PwC’s UK chairman has said the office will “remain a key part of working life”, despite scores of people in London still doing their jobs from home.

London’s biggest business groups today launched a direct challenge to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps amid fears the Government could impose damaging hikes in fares and the congestion charge to fill the financial hole caused by Covid-19.

EXC: Business leaders expressed alarm that the Government appears to be keeping secret an independent report by accountants KPMG into the state of Transport for London’s finances and the causes