Free Thinking: Can Trump’s trade deal turn the UK economy around? May 12, 2025 In this week’s edition of Free Thinking, City AM Opinion and Features Editor Alys Denby ask if Donald Trump’s free trade deal is the answer to Britain’s economic woes or a political gesture that leaves us worse off?
Brick Lane curry houses could ‘go bust’ due to net zero push May 12, 2025 The drive to reach net zero has transformed the way most Brits live. But when Brick Lane restaurant owner Guljar Khan opened his first curry house with his brother more than two decades ago, he never imagined that it might one day change the way tandoori chicken is cooked. Khan has seen his mini empire [...]
Immigration rules to be ‘tightened up’ in Labour white paper May 12, 2025 The prime minister has unveiled sweeping reforms to the UK’s immigration system in a bid to curb levels of net migration. In a speech on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer declared that securing indefinite leave to remain in Britain is “a privilege that must be earned, not a right” as he lays out a series of [...]
Quooker: Labour’s policies are hitting our growth May 12, 2025 The boss of instant hot water tap brand Quooker has branded the Labour government “less helpful than helpful” as its decisions are dampening confidence and curtailing investment. UK managing director Stephen Johnson has revealed that rising costs, low consumer confidence and a shrinking kitchen market are making expansion increasingly difficult despite Quooker seeing another 10 [...]
Elton John, Dua Lipa and Sir Ian McKellen among superstars urging Starmer to stop AI copyright threat May 10, 2025 Leading figures in the UK’s creative industry including Elton John, Dua Lipa, Paul McCartney and Sir Ian McKellen have urged the Prime Minister to strengthen copyright protections in the age of AI. Coldplay, Robbie Williams and Kate Bush are also among the more than 400 signatories of an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer, which [...]
US-UK trade announcement: “this isn’t a deal, it’s an amuse-bouche” May 9, 2025 The morning after the US-UK trade agreement was announced, experts are beginning to wrap their heads around what the deal entails, and reactions are trickling in. The overriding sense is that in the absence of any granular detail on what the deal means for several industries, there is still hope that the UK government can [...]
This is why the UK’s tech tax still riles Washington May 9, 2025 The UK and US have trumped a new trade framework aimed at unlocking growth between the two allies, but one key irritant remains notably unresolved: Britain’s tech tax or Digital Services Tax (DST). The two per cent levy, introduced in 2020 under Boris Johnson, continues to rankle American officials, particularly because it disproportionately affects the [...]
Bailey: Benefits of UK-US trade deal will depend on other agreements May 9, 2025 Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has heralded the trade deal struck between the UK and US as “good news”, but cautioned that the UK’s economic prospects will still depend on agreements the US reaches with other trading partners. Speaking at an event in Reykjavik, Bailey welcomed the partnership announced by Donald Trump and Keir [...]
Kogan set for football regulator role after CMS committee endorsement May 9, 2025 David Kogan looks set to be confirmed as chair of the football regulator after a Culture, Media and Sport committee gave him a qualified endorsement for the role. In a report following his grilling by MPs on Wednesday, the committee said it was “content to endorse David Kogan OBE’s appointment as Chair of the Independent [...]
Is the UK-US trade deal a win for Starmer? May 9, 2025 In what has been hailed by trade experts as “the biggest week for UK trade since Brexit,” the UK has struck the long-awaited trade deal with the US, just over a month after – so-called ‘Liberation Day’ – tariffs were announced. This is the US’ first bilateral deal since these tariffs were imposed. But it’s [...]