Tuesday newspaper round-up: Tesla, Thorntons, Screwfix

Yorkshire Building Society will become the first lender to relaunch 95% mortgages in the mainstream market, nearly a year after the pandemic spooked lenders into withdrawing low-deposit home loans. However, the deal will only be available to first-time buyers and the society will apply strict conditions on lending, including ruling out flats and new-build homes. - Guardian

Elon Musk’s Tesla lobbied the UK government to raise taxes on petrol and diesel cars in order to fund bigger subsidies for electric vehicles, alongside a ban on hybrids. The US electric car pioneer called for a rise in fuel duty and a charge on petrol and diesel car purchases to pay for grants and tax breaks such as a VAT exemption for battery-powered cars, according to submissions to the government seen by the Guardian. - Guardian

Broadband providers have lashed out at the communications watchdog over data-sharing proposals that could force them to cede more power to Silicon Valley tech giants. Ofcom faces a backlash over its Open Communications scheme, which is designed to help customers switch providers and boost innovation by making providers share data with third parties. - Telegraph

Chocolate seller Thorntons is the latest retailer to disappear from the high street, more than a century after it started life, putting 600 jobs at risk. The firm’s retreat could lead to all 61 UK stores being closed permanently after sales were hammered by the pandemic. - Telegraph

Screwfix plans to open 50 more shops in the UK and Ireland, creating 600 jobs because of the surge in demand for home improvements during lockdowns. The trade retailer, part of the FTSE 100-listed Kingfisher group, said that roles would be available in retail management, service assistants and supervisors as of January next year. - The Times