VAT-free shopping debacle has sent tourists packing January 13, 2026 Five years on from the demise of VAT-free shopping, retail and hospitality chiefs say the impact is still causing pain as the industry seeks change, writes Joanna Hodgson Five years ago this month a change came in that might, on the surface , have prompted the average British shopper to get their smallest violins out: [...]
Don’t believe what Sadiq Khan is telling you about crime in London January 13, 2026 Sadiq Khan has said that London is safe but he is wrong. Crimes are going unreported and Londoners have lost all faith in the Met Police, says Dr Lawrence Newport Yesterday, Sadiq Khan and Sir Mark Rowley argued that the facts show London is safe. Unfortunately, they are wrong. In fact, large swathes of crime [...]
Why the FTSE is enjoying a winter uptick January 13, 2026 Amid AI bubble worries, London's FTSE is luring in American investors seeking greater diversification, writes Susannah Streeter.
12 cost-effective ways to help the world’s poorest January 13, 2026 With global development goals falling short and resources dwindling, nations and philanthropists must abandon the comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals and instead focus their limited funds on a dozen proven, highly cost-effective policies, says Bjorn Lomborg The start of a new year is a time for reflection and resolve. Yet amid our personal goals for 2026, [...]
Labour talked big, but London housing starts are worst since WW2 January 13, 2026 Labour may have talked big on housing and planning reform, but the figures don't lie, writes Emma Revell.
Trump’s reckless assault on central bank independence January 13, 2026 Donald Trump once said he values loyalty “above everything else…more than brains, more than drive and more than energy.” If you’re wondering how he responds to perceived disloyalty, he’s also previously said “I love getting even with people.” With these two statements in mind, the Trump administration’s dramatic escalation of its war against the Chairman [...]
Big government is smothering SMEs January 13, 2026 The government’s Employment Rights Act will drive yet another nail in the coffin of SMEs, says Tim Dier According to the Department of Business and Trade (DBT), Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) employ around 16.9m of us, a whopping 60 per cent of total private sector jobs. That includes everyone from the white-van man through [...]
Labour can’t afford to stick with Starmer much longer January 12, 2026 When leaders lose control of events, they rarely recover it. The final blow is usually banal. It could be a ministerial resignation, a bacon sandwich style gaffe, or a symbolic vote defeat, but it is coming, says Helen Thomas A curious myth has taken hold at Westminster that Keir Starmer remains in post because removing [...]
Mark my words: Starmer is set to approve China’s ‘super embassy’ January 12, 2026 Keir Starmer is set to travel to China and has appealed for business leaders to accompany him. You don’t do that if you’re anticipating holding a foreign government to account, says Eliot Wilson At the end of this month, Sir Keir Starmer is due to travel to China for the first visit by a British [...]
How day one sick pay will change hiring behaviour January 12, 2026 Few employers disagree with the objectives of day one sick pay, but there could be adverse impacts on hiring behaviour, writes George Reed.