Scotland’s tax hike may have backfired as receipt falls July 26, 2026 The Scottish government’s decision to raise the top rate of income tax may have backfired, according to analysis by the lawyer Dan Neidle. Neidle’s research on tax data suggested that a decision to increase the top income tax rate to 48 per cent led to lower receipts. HMRC data from 2024-25 suggested that the Scottish [...]
Bank of England to hold interest rates as oil price surge threatens UK economy July 26, 2026 The Bank of England is expected to hold interest rates in a split vote on Thursday yet a surge in oil prices could complicate the crucial decision. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 3.75 per cent. Analysts believe that two members, Huw Pill and Megan Greene, could [...]
Burnham ‘aware’ of Healey’s extra £9bn spending demands July 26, 2026 Andy Burnham has said he was “very aware” of John Healey’s demand to spend at least £9bn more a year on defence when he appointed him as Chancellor. The Prime Minister has said he would ensure Sir Keir Starmer’s Defence Investment Plan (Dip) was “fully funded” in an interview with the BBC as his “first [...]
Inside the untapped commercial potential of the Tour de France July 26, 2026 The Tour de France is the most attended annual sporting event with over 12m people attending roadside every year for the historic three-week race. Its UK audience is growing too, with the 2026 broadcast attaining 41 per cent more viewers than the previous year. Despite that scale, many brands still underestimate the breadth of commercial [...]
Exclusive: Saudi ship struck by Houthis had insurance from Lloyd’s insurance giant July 25, 2026 Insurance giant Gallagher had insured one of two ships that were attacked by the Houthis in the Red Sea, which caused a fire to break out on board and made the ship return to port. The Lloyd’s of London broker had organised cover for the affected vessel, which was one of a pair of tankers [...]
BP eyes finalising sale of solar arm to Kuwait-backed wealth fund July 25, 2026 Oil giant BP is in advanced talks to sell its solar power business to an investor backed by Kuwait’s sovereign wealth fund as it moves away from pushing net zero. Private equity firm Qualitas Energy, and Wren House, the infrastructure arm of Kuwait Investment Authority, have joined forces to bid for Lighthouse, BP’s solar business. [...]
Top-end priced UK properties may take four times longer to leave market July 25, 2026 Property sellers in Britain asking for too high a price who have to reduce it to make a sale take four times as long to sell than those listing an accurate initial asking price. According to new research from estate agent Savills, 33 per cent of sales required the asking price to be slashed to [...]
Energy operator ‘flying blind’ as net zero push threatens hiked bills and blackouts July 25, 2026 The UK’s net zero push risks leaving the country with higher electricity bills and more susceptible to blackouts, according to a leaked report commissioned by the national grid system. The report, produced by energy consultancy firm Cornwall Insight for the National Energy System Operator (Neso) and shared with The Times by a whistleblower, revealed that [...]
Commonwealth Games: How ‘Commy G Lite’ is opportunity for smaller brands July 25, 2026 Is the smaller scale Commonwealth Games a chance for smaller brands to step up and take a bite out of the multi-sport flagship event action, asks sponsorship expert Sarah Niblock. A reduced price tag might look like they can, but more importantly, it’s essential that they consider if they actually should. The 23rd Commonwealth Games [...]
‘Extremely dangerous’: AI warfare much bigger threat than LLM model advances, experts warn July 25, 2026 The growing use of AI in warfare poses a much bigger threat to the future of the UK than the latest advances in frontier AI models, experts have told City AM. Nicholas Fairfax and Max Rangeley, co-editors of The Artificial Intelligence Revolution, said the ability of small actors to use AI to develop immensely powerful [...]