Apple gears up for fresh legal fight with government August 4, 2026 Whitehall’s pursuit of a backdoor into Apple’s encrypted data could trigger yet another transatlantic bust-up after the US tech giant launched a new legal challenge against the UK government. The tech giant has launched fresh legal action against the UK government at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which specialises in surveillance complaints, after the Home Office [...]
What are we to make of John Healey? Time will tell. August 4, 2026 Who exactly is in charge of this government’s economic policy? In a bid to find out, I’ve tasked two of our journalists to hit the phones, mooch around the bars of Whitehall and track down Westminster’s new power brokers. I’ll let you know what we find out, but he fact that the answer to this [...]
UK founders cast doubt on Burnham’s pro-business push August 4, 2026 The majority of Britain’s top scale-up founders believe business conditions will not improve under Andy Burnham as just one in 20 entrepreneurs feel the new PM backs the private sector. New research by Helm, a membership group of over 400 scale-up founders, suggested that a substantial number of its members were pessimistic about Burnham’s premiership. [...]
Reform’s Richard Tice under parliamentary investigation August 3, 2026 Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice is facing a probe from the parliamentary standards watchdog for failing to declare an interest in a debate. Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary standards commissioner, confirmed a probe was opened on the 28th July but did not share further details about the scope of the investigation. Tice claimed it relates [...]
Healey revives ‘price-gouging’ threat as cost of living options narrow August 2, 2026 Chancellor John Healey has revived threats against retailers over profiteering as his cost of living options have narrowed due to problems facing the country’s public finances. Healey warned supermarkets that they would not be able to take Britons “for a ride” as the Treasury would closely monitor “any suggestion” that shoppers were suffering from large [...]
Trump suspends strikes amid new peace hopes August 2, 2026 President Trump has said the “perimeters of a deal” have been agreed with Iran, prompting him to call off strikes in the Middle East. The US president said that Iran and Gulf region countries had “asked” the US to suspend strikes due to the workings of a new peace deal. In a Truth Social post, [...]
Burnham says Infantino ‘wrong man’ to lead Fifa as Brits back World Cup boycott plans July 31, 2026 Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Gianni Infantino is the “wrong man” to lead Fifa as Brits back Uefa plans to boycott the next World Cup. The football-loving Prime Minister told reporters in Sheffield on Friday that Fifa’s plans to sell of stakes in the World Cup to private investors, spearheaded by Infantino, “was an [...]
China’s mega London embassy to go ahead after High Court blocks challenge July 31, 2026 Plans for a new Chinese super embassy in central London will go ahead after the High Court blocked a challenge to the controversial site. The Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association (RMCRA) had initiated legal action against the government’s housing department and Tower Hamlets council over concerns the embassy could enforce “draconian” Chinese laws in the [...]
Burnham accused of imposing ‘top–down’ devolution July 30, 2026 Andy Burnham’s devolution agenda has been slammed over its “top down” approach after the Prime Minister unveiled new plans to share income tax revenue with local leaders. Burnham, himself a former Manchester mayor, said regional leaders in England will begin receiving a “greater share of locally generated revenues” next spring as part of his push [...]
BAE Systems raises guidance yet Burnham wavers on defence July 30, 2026 BAE Systems raised its guidance after a series of contract wins yet optimism over spending top-ups may have faded after Prime Minister Andy Burnham refused to commit to lifting expenditure. The aerospace and arms company said profit for the first half of the year amounted to more than £1bn while sales also improved on the [...]