Firms are needlessly ‘gold plating’ Consumer Duty rules, FCA policy director says September 9, 2025 Scores of wholesale financial services firms are needlessly “gold plating” their compliance with Consumer Duty rules, the financial watchdog’s policy chief has claimed, as the regulator pushes back over concerns the rules have become too burdensome for businesses. Charlotte Clark, director of cross-cutting policy and strategy at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), admonished companies who [...]
UK insurers face ‘data quality’ obstacles in AI adoption September 9, 2025 British insurers are facing a bigger AI obstacle than expected, as poor quality data is preventing underwriters from accelerating adoption. A new report by tech firm CI&T, in collaboration with Reuters Events, revealed that nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of underwriters identified fragmented and unstructured data as the primary barrier to AI transformation. The next top [...]
Reform promise to scrap ‘insane’ Northern Powerhouse Rail September 8, 2025 Reform UK has pledged to scrap Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), labelling the project “insane” ahead of a major announcement by the Labour government in the coming weeks. Richard Tice, in a forward to a report by centre-right think tank Policy Exchange, told companies considering bidding for contracts to build NPR that they should “not bother” [...]
Fallout from ‘frustratingly simple’ Jaguar Land Rover attack to last for weeks September 8, 2025 A cyber attack at Jaguar Land Rover, which forced the company to halt production and retail operations on September 2, is set to continue for weeks in a huge headache for the firm. The incident prompted the UK’s biggest carmaker to take its systems offline as a precaution, while emails sent to staff at its plant [...]
Tom Tugendhat backs calls to marshal financial services to boost defence September 8, 2025 Tom Tugendhat has backed a report calling for greater involvement from the financial services sector to boost defence spending in the UK. The MP for Tonbridge, who served as security minister from September 2022 to July 2024, said the City of London has a “vital role to play” in the country’s national resilience. “From Taiwan [...]
Manchester City and Premier League settle legal row ahead of trial September 8, 2025 Manchester City and the Premier League have agreed a settlement that brings to an end their long-running dispute over associated party transaction (APT) rules. The dispute was set to go to trial as part of an arbitration process next month, following a legal challenge to revised APT rules launched by the club in January. As [...]
No 10 backs ‘fed up’ Londoners in tube strikes row – as pressure grows on Khan September 8, 2025 No 10 has backed “fed up” Londoners hit by tube strikes on Monday as Mayor Sadiq Khan was urged to find a solution with the trade union RMT to end industrial action. People across the capital have been hit by strikes stopping services on the London Underground, with disruption to last until Friday. The prime [...]
Modella and HMV owner compete for Claire’s Accessories September 8, 2025 Modella Capital, the investor behind WH Smith’s UK acquisition the man responsible for rescuing HMV are locked in a battle to buy struggling high street chain Claire’s. Claire’s appointed administrators for its UK arm in August, just a week after it filed for bankruptcy in the US and entered administration in France. The company had been considering [...]
UK infrastructure funding set to break record highs September 8, 2025 UK infrastructure financing deals are on track to reach a record high this year as investors compete to secure assets while the government signs off on a number of major new projects. According to analysis from data provider Infralogic, roughly $38bn (£28.13bn) of debt was issued in the first eight months of this year on [...]
Great North Run chiefs sorry for putting Sunderland not Newcastle on medals September 8, 2025 It wasn’t just the competitors left with red faces at yesterday’s Great North Run after organisers were forced to apologise for depicting Sunderland instead of Newcastle on medals. Many of the 60,000 entrants were quick to point out the mistake, which also appeared on finishers’ T-shirts at the popular half-marathon, and Great Run Company chiefs [...]