Labour tightens cyber rules after JLR and M&S breaches November 12, 2025 The government has introduced its long-awaited cyber security and resilience bill to parliament, promising to toughen the UK’s defences against the growing wave of cyberattacks on businesses and public services. Ministers say the new legislation represents a ‘step change’ in national security, with the aim of protecting vital services such as energy, water and healthcare [...]
Shawbrook’s private equity owner eyes another £3bn IPO November 12, 2025 The private equity owner of specialist lender Shawbrook is eyeing another blockbuster listing for one of its portfolio companies, fresh reports have suggested. Pollen Street Capital is understood to be laying the groundwork for an IPO for its UK insurer Markerstudy with conversations underway with investment bankers over a listing that could value the firm [...]
Calls for Prem Rugby franchising grow as clubs register debts of £340m November 12, 2025 The 10 Prem Rugby clubs registered combined debts of £340m in the 2023/24 season as calls for a radical franchising process grow louder. Despite encouraging signs of growth in commercial income, the clubs in England’s top flight made a combined loss of £34m, according to the Leonard Curtis Rugby Finance Report. It comes as City [...]
Private equity could soon own a piece of major US law firm November 12, 2025 US law firm McDermott Will & Schulte is reportedly exploring a complex restructuring to allow private equity firms to buy a stake in what could be a major move in the legal market. The proposed structure, as reported by the Financial Times, involves creating a managed service organisation (MSO), a separate entity in which outside [...]
Starmer under fire over No 10 briefings against Streeting November 12, 2025 Keir Starmer attempted to distance himself from anonymous attacks made by senior Downing Street officials against health secretary Wes Streeting on Tuesday night, though he defended his “united team” working at Number 10. In an awkward Prime Minister’s Questions for Starmer, the Prime Minister said briefings against Cabinet ministers were “unacceptable”. He said he backed [...]
ICO urges transparency as AI transforms UK recruitment November 12, 2025 AI is rapidly reshaping recruitment in the UK, yielding companies unprecedented efficiency gains; however, regulators are warning that these benefits must be balanced with fairness and transparency to maintain public trust. William Malcolm, executive director of regulatory risk and innovation at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), explained at Tuesday’s AI regulation summit: “We want organisations [...]
FTSE 100 closes in on 10,000 after outperforming US indices November 12, 2025 The FTSE 100 is inching a step closer to the magic 10,000 mark after almost a year of outperforming counterparts across the Atlantic. London’s blue-chip index rallied on the open before giving up some gains to settle on a broadly flat level. It follows two consecutive record closes with the City shrugging off bubbling tensions [...]
Motorpoint sold hundreds of cars using AI agent as profits jump November 12, 2025 Motorpoint has revealed it sold hundreds of cars using its new AI agent as the car dealer reported a jump in profits. Chief executive Mark Carpenter said the use of the agent allowed the London-listed firm to be more persistent with its sales strategy when human sales agents might have given up. “We’ve sold about [...]
Rachel Reeves mulls second booze tax hike November 12, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering an increase in taxes on alcohol in line with a higher reading of inflation in a repeat of last year’s Budget, according to reports. Reeves could hike duties by the retail prices index (RPI) inflation rate in a bid to raise more cash to fill an estimated £30bn fiscal hole [...]
Government to reconsider Waspi women compensation claim after new evidence November 12, 2025 The decision not to award compensation to women affected by the rise in state pension age will be reviewed, the Work and Pensions Secretary has said, after new evidence came to light. Pat McFadden confirmed the decision will be reconsidered and the government will withdraw from the judicial review brought by the Women Against State [...]