London Tech Week was ‘complacency in conference form’ June 12, 2026 London Tech Week has been accused of masking some of the biggest structural problems facing Britain’s tech sector and of offering “complacency in conference form”. Adam French, partner at global venture capital firm Antler, said the flagship event highlighted a widening gap between the public narrative around UK tech and the realities facing founders trying [...]
Starmer clings on as defence spending plan in disarray after resignations June 12, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership has been dealt another major blow as defence ministers quit the government over a lack of funding for security. It was confirmed on Friday that the Defence Investment Plan had still not yet been completed after months of wrangling and delays. But on Thursday, John Healey resigned as defence secretary in [...]
Flying at Heathrow will cost ‘significantly more’ due to third runway bid June 12, 2026 Heathrow’s bid for a third runway will “significantly” push up the cost of flying from the UK’s biggest airport, a leading aviation expert has warned. The airport’s expansion will “inevitably” push up ticket fares because it is set to be allowed to hike the fees it charges to airports, Alton Aviation’s Ronan Murphy told City [...]
BGC boss warns tech giants over black market ads ahead of World Cup betting surge June 12, 2026 The boss of Britain’s gambling trade body has urged major tech platforms to crack down on illegal betting adverts ahead of what is expected to be the biggest World Cup for gambling in history. In an open letter seen by City AM, Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) chief executive Grainne Hurst warned that black market [...]
2026 World Cup: Why YouTube and TikTok could re-write Fifa’s revenue playbook June 12, 2026 The 2026 World Cup could erode the price that Fifa can command for its media rights as YouTube and TikTok compete directly with traditional broadcasters, analysts have warned. This World Cup, which kicked off last night, is the first in which YouTube and TikTok will both stream the first 10 minutes of every game and [...]
London Tech Week sums up everything wrong with UK tech June 12, 2026 London Tech Week is complacency in conference form. We wheel out the same statistics about unicorns and call it a job well done.
Nearly half of retail workers considering quitting over mental health June 12, 2026 Nearly half of the UK’s millions of retail workers are considering quitting the sector over concerns for their mental health, as the majority report facing abuse at work. Retail is the sector in which the most workers (52 per cent) have faced verbal abuse in the past year, as 44 per cent mull quitting the [...]
Liz Kendall ramps up push to funnel pension cash into UK startups June 12, 2026 The government is stepping up efforts to channel more institutional money into British tech firms as ministers look to stop promising startups heading overseas for funding. Tech secretary Liz Kendall announced that Labour would pursue reforms to unlock pension fund investment into UK growth firms, adding Britain needs to become an “indispensable partner” in the [...]
When AI’s taken all the work, what will we all do? June 12, 2026 The possible abundances of the AI-powered future mean that our lives won't be nasty, brutish and short – but will they be devoid of meaning?
‘Unsustainable’ – Iceland boss and Labour peer calls for end of triple lock pension June 12, 2026 Lord Walker, the influential Iceland boss who was made a Labour peer, has called for the triple lock pension to be scrapped as the mechanism was “profoundly unfair”. In a debate on welfare reform in the House of Lords, Walker added to a growing number of economists and political figures calling for the state pension [...]