FCA’s diversity requirements go ‘far beyond remit’, report warns October 21, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and other public sector diversity initiatives go “far beyond” remits set by legal requirements, a report has warned, prompting Reform UK to vow to reset systems to reward “talent and merit alone”. Analysis in a paper by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has suggested that diversity policies advanced by [...]
Labour’s alarmed by the Green surge? So am I. October 21, 2025 Spare a thought for Keir Starmer; he seems to have been so busy fighting a monster on the right, in the form of Nigel Farage, that he hasn’t noticed another deadly enemy emerging on the left. At least, that’s the concern expressed by some Labour MPs alarmed by the rise of the Greens and, specifically, [...]
City chiefs sound alarm on China embassy October 21, 2025 Senior figures within the City of London Corporation have told City AM of their concerns regarding China’s controversial plans for a new super-embassy on the edge of the Square Mile. The proposed embassy development on the edge of the City of London has triggered alarms over possible threats to the security of sensitive cables passing [...]
Labour urged to block Chinese embassy amid spy row October 20, 2025 The Labour government has been urged to shut down China’s application for its new embassy at the Royal Mint Court site amid fears the country poses a threat to UK national security. Senior Tory MPs Alicia Kearns and Tom Tugendhat, who allege they were spied on by China, called on the government to block an [...]
Government must increase financial education in order to boost investment, think tank warns October 20, 2025 The government must do more to encourage wealth building and increase financial knowledge as Brits continue to turn away from retail investing, a think tank has warned. According to the latest report from the Startup Coalition, only 50 per cent of adults invest in the stock market, leaving billions in low-yield accounts and cash ISAs, [...]
Business leaders ramp up pre-Budget lobby efforts amid tax fears October 20, 2025 Business chiefs are ramping up efforts to sway Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of this year’s Budget as fears are mounting that fresh tax hikes could squeeze profits at firms up and down the UK. A series of letters written by heads of trade bodies have landed on the Chancellor’s desk over the last week, with [...]
Betfred founder: Tax rises are “biggest threat” to the industry October 19, 2025 Betfred shops could vanish from UK high streets if Chancellor Rachel Reeves carries out a potential tax raid in the November budget, the company’s co-founder and chairman has warned. Fred Done, who founded the business in 1967 with his brother, hailed tax rises as the “biggest threat” to the industry he has seen in his [...]
Net zero targets “are not helping” claims shadow energy secretary October 19, 2025 Shadow energy secretary, Claire Coutinho, has claimed that Labour’s net zero targets” are not helping” the UK’s economy. In an interview with Sky News’ Trevor Phillips, Countinho linked the government’s climate targets to the ongoing cost of living crisis. She said: “We’ve said we would repeal the climate change target, and we actually think the [...]
Spy case suspect was stopped with suitcase full of cash on return from China October 19, 2025 A suspect in the China spy case was carrying a “suitcase full of cash” upon being stopped by police under terrorism laws after flying into Heathrow from China. Academic Christopher Berry, was discovered with £4,000 when he was intercepted at the airport in February 2023, almost six weeks before he was formally arrested on suspicion [...]
Thousands march through London to protest digital ID plans October 18, 2025 Thousands of protesters have marched through central London to show their opposition to digital ID plans. Under strict police conditions, demonstrators chanted and waved banners along a route from Marble Arch to Whitehall on Saturday afternoon. The Prime Minister announced in September that a digital ID system would be introduced in 2029 and would be [...]