Investors ‘reluctant’ to splash cash on UK banks amid crisis in Number 10 June 15, 2026 UK banks’ stock prices are being slapped with a political risk premium, City analysts have warned, as turmoil in Downing Street threatens to rock the sector. The FTSE 350 bank index has had a choppy start to the year with financial stocks facing a hammering from the Iran war as investors trimmed their equities exposure. [...]
BBC News faces hundreds of job cuts in major downsizing drive June 15, 2026 The BBC is expected to announce hundreds of job cuts across its core news division next week, as the broadcaster begins a sweeping cost-cutting programme ahead of crunch talks with ministers over its future funding. The corporation’s news operation is set to be the first part of the BBC to reveal detailed redundancy plans, according [...]
Andy Burnham commits to triple lock despite backlash over ‘unsustainable’ policy June 15, 2026 Andy Burnham has committed to keeping the triple lock pension and allowing pensioners to escape paying income taxes despite the policy being opposed by swathes of economists and MPs. Burnham said he would keep the triple lock pension, the mechanism that ensures the taxpayer-funded state pension rises by whichever is highest out of wage growth, [...]
UK social media ban blow to sports rights holders using TikTok and YouTube June 15, 2026 The UK’s incoming social media ban for under-16s will be a blow to sports rights holders and wider marketing strategies, experts have warned. The government on Monday announced that there will be a ban on social media for those aged 16 and under from next year – covering the likes of X, TikTok, Twitch and [...]
VPN demand rockets as UK prepares for under-16 social media ban June 15, 2026 Searches for VPNs jumped 165 per cent overnight after the government confirmed plans to ban under-16s from social media, fuelling demand for digital workarounds. The rush came within hours of Keir Starmer unveiling one of the world’s toughest online safety regimes, which will block social media platforms from offering services to under-16s and introduce wider [...]
Ditched by clients and Australian government: What is happening down under at KPMG? June 15, 2026 KPMG’s Australian arm has been ditched by the country’s government for audit work until September, following the fallout of allegations that the firm mishandled client information, in the latest nightmare for the Big Four firm down under. The Big Four giant will be unable to bid for any Australian government contracts until September 2026, as [...]
Bank of England’s Bailey defends bond sale programme June 15, 2026 Andrew Bailey has launched a robust defence of the Bank of England’s controversial bond sale programme, arguing it will provide the firepower for another round of quantitative easing in a market downturn. Writing in The Times, Bailey argued the central bank’s move to hoover up UK government bonds, known as gilts, in the wake of [...]
Jenrick vows to partly undo Reeves’ £25bn employer NICs rise – for Britons June 15, 2026 Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick has said the party would undo Rachel Reeves’ £25bn tax rise on employers’ national insurance contributions – but only when employers hire British workers. Jenrick said Reform was set to put “British workers first, migrant workers second” by reforming tax to treat Britons differently to workers taken from overseas.” Reform’s Treasury [...]
‘Poorly designed’ policies threatening London’s grip on global tourism June 15, 2026 London’s competitiveness as a leading culture and tourism destination is being undermined by “poorly designed” policies, the West End’s leading business advocate has warned. Dee Corsi, chief executive of the New West End Company (NWEC), has said that London is “competing with one hand tied behind its back” compared to global rivals whose policymakers are [...]
People named Mark called upon to raise money at London charity golf day June 15, 2026 Some of the UK’s estimated 600,000 people called Mark have been called upon to take part in a world record attempt at Royal Blackheath Golf Club to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. The On Your Marks golf day will take 88 people called Mark and aim to raise £88,000 for charity just a stone’s [...]