Oil prices spike as UK base hit by Iranian missile Energy Oil prices spiked this morning as tensions continued to escalate in the Middle East, raising concerns that a key shipping route could be halted and an Iranian missile attack on an RAF base could drag the UK into a regional war. The cost of a barrel of brent crude – the international benchmark for oil [...]
Sunak pushes deregulation as North Sea pressure grows Energy Rishi Sunak has urged Rachel Reeves to go further and faster on deregulation to revive growth, as eight former UK energy ministers call on the government to rethink its stance on North Sea oil and gas. The former prime minister wrote in a Sunday Times column that Reeves deserved credit for delivering a Spring Statement [...]
Household energy prices to fall by 7 per cent from April 1 Energy The price most households pay for energy will fall by 7 per cent from April 1, driven by the Government’s promised £150 cut to the average bill, Ofgem said. The regulator’s price cap will drop from the current £1,758 to £1,641 – a reduction of around £10 a month for the average household using both [...]
Reform vow to create new ‘wealth fund’ using pension schemes February 23, 2026 Reform UK has pledged to create a new “British Sovereign Wealth Fund” using local government pension schemes as part of Richard Tice’s first policy package as the party’s spokesman for business, trade and energy. Reform has vowed to wrap various arms of government, including housing and energy, into one office that focuses on growth, job [...]
How to solve the energy crisis? Give power back to the markets February 23, 2026 Solving the energy crisis needs the dynamism of the private sector, not more government subsidies and central planning, writes Emma Revell.
British Gas owner shares tumble after buyback was paused February 19, 2026 London-listed energy giant Centrica shares plunged nine per cent on Thursday morning after the group paused its share buyback programme in the face of a major earnings hit. The owners of British Gas reported lower 2025 earnings than in the previous year, but the group says it was resilient in a challenging market. The group’s [...]
SFO drops former AIM London Mining bribery case after decade-long probe February 12, 2026 The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) officially dropped all charges against the former executives of London Mining, a decade after launching its probe into alleged bribery and corruption. The SFO launched an investigation in 2016 into London Mining Plc regarding alleged bribery to secure favourable treatment in Sierra Leone between 2009 and 2014. Former CEO Graeme Hossie, CFO Rachel [...]
BP shares slide as suspends share buybacks and increases cost-cutting goal February 10, 2026 Energy giant BP has suspended its share buyback programme and deepened its cost-cutting target, as it scrambles to bolster its balance sheet amid the anticipation of a weaker oil price. In its final results, the company said the decisions were taken to allow it invest in its oil production business and “fully allocate excess cash” [...]
Shell chief reportedly set for £4.5m pay boost February 4, 2026 The boss of Shell will reportedly receive a multimillion-pound remuneration incentive, with the firm poised to reveal a new boardroom pay policy. According to reports, the firm’s chief executive Wael Sawan would pocket at least £4.5m more each year. Sky News‘ Mark Kleinman has reported that investor sources have revealed a long-term incentive stock reward [...]
Britain’s growth slumps and the Business Secretary scratches his head February 4, 2026 Having spent another day wading through the Epstein-Mandelson email traffic I was going to write another column about how unbelievably grubby the revelations are, but it’s too depressing. So, I thought I’d focus on something more cheerful; the latest downgrades to the UK’s economic growth forecasts. On his visit to China alongside the PM, the [...]