THE international division of life insurer Clerical Medical, which is in the process of being taken over by the Halifax Building Society, is to shed more than 90 jobs from operations in Britain. A total of 53 are to go from its Bristol office this year and 40 are to be axed in the Isle of Man before the end of next year.

A spokesman for Clerical Medical International said it was likely most of the 93 people would be made redundant.

The cuts are part of a six-month profitability review by CMI, which emphasised the moves were unrelated to the forthcoming £800 million Halifax takeover. CMI hopes to reduce costs by 50 per cent.