Changing the leader won’t save Labour – or the country May 12, 2026 The well-intentioned but hapless Labour backbencher, Catherine West, spent the weekend warning that if she didn’t like Keir Starmer’s speech she’d launch a leadership challenge in a bid to flush out more serious candidates. In the end, she backed down, but has called for a transition of power to a leader in September. She has [...]
Labour’s London wall has fallen. What now? May 12, 2026 Labour's London stronghold has finally broken. But what does that mean for the city and the next general election, asks John Dickie.
The Festival of Words: From Gyles Brandreth to Anthony Scaramucci – all you need to know about the Fleet Street Quarter festival May 12, 2026 The Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words covers everything from politics to culture, literature, storytelling, broadcasting and public life. It features a fascinating line-up of speakers and panel guests, from political heavyweights to stars of stage and screen. We’re pretty sure it will be a front-running for the Best Arts or Culture Experience category of [...]
How high-net-worth individuals can rival private equity in sport May 12, 2026 Sport has been dominated by private equity, but high-net-worth individuals and family offices are coming becoming more common. At the end of April, Andrea Agnelli, the former chairman of Juventus, launched Gamma Waves Partners, a sport-focused investment platform targeting opportunities in innovative sports competitions, teams and athletes. Co-founded with former Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini and [...]
Bond market rounds on Rayner’s economic platform May 12, 2026 Angela Rayner’s economic response to the Labour party’s bruising local elections defeat would trigger a sell-off in UK governments debt at a time when Britain’s borrowing costs are already at multi-decade highs, bond investors and analysts have warned. The former deputy Prime Minister laid out a detailed proposal for how her party to respond to [...]
Barclays consumer spending drops for first time since 2024 May 12, 2026 Consumers using Barclays credit and debit cards cut their spending for the first time in 17 months in the latest sign of turmoil facing the global economy. Total spending was down 0.1 per cent year-on-year marking the first drop since November 2024, where Brits were feeling the pinch of Labour’s first Budget. Consumers mainly drew [...]
UK ministers tell UK businesses to ‘step up’ cyber defences May 12, 2026 Ministers have announced a new push to force firms to strengthen their cyber defences against AI-powered attacks, as Britain’s cyber industry has swelled to £14.7bn. According to new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) figures, Britain’s cyber sector saw a 11 per cent rise in the past twelve months, while the number of companies [...]
Cabinet ministers urge Starmer to set path for succession May 11, 2026 Keir Starmer’s Downing Street operation was plunged into a full-blown crisis on Monday, after three cabinet ministers urged him to set a timeline for his resignation despite the robust defence of his premiership he launched in a make-or-break stump speech earlier in the day. Speculation over the future of his government reached fever pitch into [...]
Enhanced Games NYSE firm opens down on Friday close May 11, 2026 Enhanced Group Inc, the firm behind the pro-doping Enhanced Games, opened more than 10 per cent down on its previous close on its first full week on the New York Stock Exchange. The inaugural Enhanced Games, due to take place this month, encourages competitors to take performance enhancing drugs – in stark contrast with mainstream [...]
‘Twenty years of caution’: Banking industry ramps up efforts to fix ‘anaemic’ UK growth May 11, 2026 The UK’s industry body for banking has stepped up its lobbying efforts for the government to improve “anaemic” growth figures and bolster the financial services sector. A new report published by UK Finance – the body representing around 300 firms that provide UK banking services – has issued a nine-point plan, which calls for “clear [...]