BDO picks US audit leader for senior partner role May 20, 2026 Mid-tier advisory firm BDO’s equity partners have voted to name Iain Henderson as the firm’s next senior partner. Henderson will take office on 1 October 2026, succeeding Matthew White, who will have completed his maximum of two four-year terms in the senior leadership role. Unlike the role of managing partner, the senior partner oversees the [...]
Taxpayers on the hook over ‘dangerously outdated’ government IT systems May 20, 2026 One in four government computer systems are running on outdated technology, a new report has found, with taxpayers having to pay more for failures across Whitehall. The findings, published by Westminster think tank Re:State and supported by Ark Data Centres, reveal that nearly a quarter of the 319 central government systems assessed as of January [...]
Starmer scrambles to limit fuel shortage hit May 20, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has spelt out a number of policies to address fuel shortages, signalling the government’s fears that the Iran war could hit motorists and households. During Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer defended an announcement last year to “phase” new sanctions on Russia, while also trailing a policy to freeze a 5p fuel duty cut [...]
New Married At First Sight series still in edit despite ‘troubling’ allegations May 20, 2026 Channel 4’s new chief executive, Priya Dogra, has said allegations surrounding Married at First Sight (MAFS) UK were “really hard to watch”, as the broadcaster weighs the future of the hit reality show while the next series remains in edit. Dogra confirmed on Wednesday that no decision had yet been made on whether the upcoming [...]
Housebuilders on hook for mansion tax if they fail to sell property after a year May 20, 2026 Property developers will be forced to pay the Labour’s new mansion tax if they take more than a year to offload newly built luxury homes, raising fresh fears that housebuilders will be further disincentivised from building homes in the capital. As part of plans included in a Treasury consultation document, housing developers will be liable [...]
Uefa warns Kang and London City Lionesses over multi-club rules May 20, 2026 Uefa has warned Michele Kang and other investors that women’s football will not be granted an exception to its rules on multi-club ownership. It means US billionaire Kang may have to sell or place into a blind trust either French side OL Lyonnes or London City Lionesses if they both qualify for European competition in [...]
Vattenfall energy portfolio poised to be snapped up by private equity firm May 20, 2026 Swedish energy giant Vattenfall is poised to offload a portfolio of its British assets to private equity firm Reinova in the latest step in its retreat from the UK, City AM understands. The conglomerate, owned by the government of Sweden, is set to sell three of its heat network businesses to London-based Reinova Capital for [...]
Curve swings to £9m loss as Lloyds takeover remains incomplete May 20, 2026 Curve has swung to a loss as the Apple Pay rival’s future faces uncertainty ahead of its takeover by Lloyds Banking Group. The digital wallet provider suffered a £9.5m loss in the 2024 financial year, a major drawback from its £3m profit the 12 months prior. The tide turned on Curve’s balance sheet as revenue [...]
House prices slump again in London’s wealthiest areas May 20, 2026 London house prices fell again in March, as the capital’s wealthiest areas continued to see significant drop-offs in house values. House prices in London fell by 2.1 per cent in the year to March, though this drop was slightly softer than the 3.1 per cent in the year to February, according to the Office for [...]
Former Tory MP set to call Sunak in libel spat with Hancock May 20, 2026 The Court of Appeal is set to hear the latest chapter in a libel claim brought by expelled Tory MP Andrew Bridgen against former ex-health minister Matt Hancock MP. The legal battle between the ex-politicians erupted in January 2023, when Hancock posted on social media about Bridgen after the Tories suspended him over a “disgraceful” [...]