Show them the book: why politicians need to read more novels February 26, 2026 Leading historian Dominic Sandbrook has said declining reading habits of our politicians tells you everything you need to know about why they’re so inadequate. William Atkinson couldn’t agree more… Would Keir Starmer be a better Prime Minister if he went to bed with a good Trollope? That was the suggestion of Dominic Sandbrook – Britain’s [...]
James Reed: Youth unemployment crisis will have decades-long impact February 25, 2026 Those not working in their twenties are unlikely to start in their thirties. The youth unemployment crisis needs action, writes James Reed.
The Debate: Should AI be used to make hiring decisions? February 25, 2026 Would you trust AI to pick out your CV, or should hiring be left to humans? We hear the case for and against in this week's Debate.
Small business minister: we will unlock £1bn of local lending February 25, 2026 Community Development Finance gives small local business the funding and confidence they need to grow. That’s why this Labour government is launching a taskforce to expand the sector, say Blair McDougall and Bob Annibale The UK has long been home to an entrepreneurial spirit of creativity and innovation, from household names to neighbourhood heroes. Despite [...]
£40bn to restore Parliament? Maybe Guy Fawkes had the right idea… February 25, 2026 The reported £40bn cost of refurbishing the Palace of Westminster is not a serious proposal – it’s a distraction designed to outrage, writes James Ford We are all familiar with the Goldilocks principle of restaurant wine lists. Every wine list is part marketing ploy, part social gauntlet and pure psychological trickery. It is designed to [...]
Politicians and voters must wake up to reality of a zero growth economy February 25, 2026 The past six years have been the worst period for growth in normal peace time since the start of the Industrial Revolution over 200 years ago, says Paul Ormerod The latest estimates from the Office of National Statistics show virtually no growth in the size of the economy in the period October to December 2025. [...]
If defence is a priority, government must be honest about who pays February 24, 2026 America has made clear that Europe must stand on its own two feet when it comes to national security. But defence ambitions must be reconciled with balance sheets already stretched to their limits, says Helen Thomas The largest build-up of American military assets in the Middle East for two decades alongside last week’s Munich Security [...]
Why US tech firms are circling Wales for AI investment February 24, 2026 With land, connectivity and an enabling regulatory ecosystem, Wales is now on the radar of AI investors, writes Phil Pugh.
Schroders: Mega mergers test tech more than balance sheets February 24, 2026 The real test of most recent mega mergers like Schroders’ takeover by Nuveen lies far from the dealing desks and investment committees – rather It sits inside the nooks and crannies of technology engine rooms that keeps the pulse of modern-day investing pumping, says Gus Sekhon The City loves nothing more than a takeover tale [...]
The era of cheap money is coming to an end – markets aren’t ready February 24, 2026 The era of historically cheap money is ending, forcing a potentially permanent adjustment to higher equilibrium interest rates that will challenge financial markets and government finances built on past assumptions, says Damian Pudner For almost a decade until the pandemic, financial markets priced money as if it would remain cheap indefinitely. Governments borrowed freely, financial [...]