London Tech Week day one: AI talk has come back down to earth June 8, 2026 AI conversations are no longer about possibility, but infrastructure, writes Russ Shaw in day one of his London Tech Week diary.
‘We’ve got lots of things going for us America doesn’t’: Sadiq Khan on competing with Silicon Valley June 8, 2026 Sadiq Khan has claimed that shifting political dynamics in the US are actively driving tech talent and venture capital to the UK, arguing that London possesses structural and cultural advantages that “America doesn’t” as he seeks to position the capital against Silicon Valley. The Mayor of London announced a new £12m investment programme on Monday [...]
Saudi Arabia’s PIF sign Queen’s deal despite wider sporting retreat June 8, 2026 Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has announced a new partnership with the HSBC Championships despite a wider retreat from sport. The agreement, described by the Lawn Tennis Association as a multi-year deal, will see the sovereign wealth giant, a partner of both the ATP and WTA Tours, link up with the London tournament. It follows [...]
Jeremy Hunt: Pension triple lock is an ‘anchor drag’ on economic growth June 8, 2026 Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt has warned that the triple lock on the state pension is acting as “an anchor drag on economic growth.” In an interview with City AM, Hunt said that above-inflation rises to the state pension are being funded “by more debt” on future generations and called for every major party to pledge [...]
Pat McFadden: I have not apologised to Rachel Reeves over ‘tax to pay benefits’ text June 8, 2026 Welfare secretary Pat McFadden has doubled down on his remarks unearthed in the Mandelson files that “every meeting [he has] is ‘who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others’”. The Cabinet minister was among numerous top officials to have his private messages released in documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s stint as the [...]
Starmer: Britain must ‘not stick its head in the sand’ on AI June 8, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has said Britain must not “stick its head in the sand” on artificial intelligence, with the technology set to fundamentally reshape the UK economy. The Prime Minister used his speech at London Tech Week to unveil a major sovereign computing push, new AI skills programmes and a vision for keeping Britain’s fastest-growing [...]
Raise your glasses to City Beerfest in Square Mile’s Yard of ale June 8, 2026 Returning for its 12th year, the hugely popular City Beerfest will be held in the City ofLondon’s historic Guildhall Yard on Thursday 2 July from 12.30pm to 9pm. City’s ever-popular Beerfest returns to Guildhall Yard to raise funds for TheLord Mayor’s Appeal Festival welcomes 13 brewers – between them, offering 55 beers – to the [...]
Does trouble lie ahead for South Korea’s star tech stocks? June 8, 2026 Over the past 18 months, South Korea’s main stock market has burst back onto the global investment scene, led by a staggering recovery for the Kospi index. The country’s blue chip index had been plagued by the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol and companies trading at significantly lower valuations compared to emerging market peers [...]
Labour bets £1.1bn on Britain’s AI chip race June 8, 2026 Keir Starmer’s government has unveiled a £1.1bn package aimed at turning Britain into a global AI hardware powerhouse, with ministers backing domestic chipmakers and pouring capital into training the next generation of engineers. The new AI Hardware Plan, announced at London Tech Week by tech secretary Liz Kendall, includes £750m for a new national AI [...]
Government warned ‘unworkable’ new healthy food rules will backfire June 8, 2026 The food and drink industry has warned Labour its new healthy food red tape will backfire, as manufacturers insist they are already investing millions in making products healthier. Food and drink manufacturers are racing to prove to the government that they are cutting salt, sugar and calories from their products – as Labour plans to [...]