The real reason young Albanians like me are coming to the UK illegally June 4, 2025 Growing up in Kukes in northern Albania, one of the poorest places in Europe, Gezim Hilaj watched as most of the young people he knew crossed to the UK in small boats. Here he argues that Keir Starmer’s return hubs won’t stop more Albanians doing the same In 2019, while I was studying hard to [...]
Why the UK investment system needs a complete overhaul June 4, 2025 Nick Saunders, CEO of Webull UK, an online investment platform, says the UK must completely overhaul its investment system if it wants to drive growth. Like a rickety Edwardian chair with a broken leg, the retail investment infrastructure in the UK is so badly damaged that not even the most optimistic Bargain Hunt contestant would [...]
The Debate: Should the UK decriminalise cannabis? June 4, 2025 Sadiq Khan says yes, but is the UK really ready for looser rules around cannabis? We get two experts to argue for and against.
Thames Water mess could soon swamp ministers – and taxpayers June 4, 2025 Water takes the path of least resistance, and so – on this occasion as least – does private equity. Apparently deterred by the increasingly hostile political and regulatory environment KKR, the US giant which secured ‘preferred bidder status’ for a takeover of Thames Water, pulled the plug on its £4bn investment over the weekend. They [...]
Westminster is dancing to Nigel Farage’s tune June 4, 2025 Whether it’s Keir Starmer’s welfare U-turns or Robert Jenrick’s viral videos, parties of the left and right are scrabbling to respond to Farage’s Reform onslaught, says Emma Revell Spending time away from the office when you work in Westminster is a strange experience. Either you keep watching the news and doomscrolling on social media, in [...]
Britain’s trade deals mean nothing if we neglect our own industries June 4, 2025 Trade deals and global ambitions will mean nothing if Britain neglects its domestic industries, writes Shevaun Haviland.
Britain’s biggest growth threat is giving into doomsterism June 4, 2025 As the Spending Review looms over Westminster, Britain must not just lie down and accept decline, writes Simon Clarke.
Ticket resale price cap will be a champagne supernova for fraudsters June 4, 2025 Cracking down on regulated ticket resale platforms will push touts into riskier corners of the internet, says Tony Neate As we head into a jam-packed concert season, with a star-studded line-up including Oasis, Coldplay, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, ticket demand is soaring. But with extraordinary demand comes extraordinary risk – and a perfect storm for [...]
Don’t rely on the FCA to stamp out toxic workplace culture June 3, 2025 City bosses shouldn't wait for the FCA to stamp out toxic workplace behaviour, writes Lucy McNulty in today's Notebook.
Starmer’s defence pledges will trigger a tax bombshell June 3, 2025 Here’s a cracker of a pub quiz question for you: what links mega-rich non-doms, nuclear-powered submarines, congestion in Wigan and the Bank of England’s former chief economist? The answer, as so often appears to be the case, is tax. On the day that Keir Starmer unveiled a Strategic Defence Review that calls for nearly £70bn [...]