Car sales ‘strong’

Vertu Motors, which has 99 sales and aftersales outlets in the UK, including the Bradford, Guiseley and Leeds Farnell Land Rover business, which it bought for £31million in June, said “very strong momentum” in the new car market and a period of stability in used cars helped its revenues improve by a third to £837.2 million in the six months to August 31. Adjusted profits rose 80 per cent to £8.8 million.

Call to back HS2

Britain should learn from China’s high-speed rail project which took just two years to complete, Boris Johnson said as he urged businesses along the route of the UK’s own HS2 project to help fund it. The Mayor of London urged the UK to harness some of China’s “spirit” as he sat on the “stunning” 190mph high-speed train between Beijing and Shanghai.