‘Nothing is straightforward’: Market analysts warn of US-Iran deal complications June 15, 2026 Top market analysts warned on Monday that “nothing is straight forward” as euphoria spread across European equities after a confirmed peace deal between the US and Iran. Stock markets opened in the green as investors returned to a risk-on mentality after Pakistan announced an agreement between the two nations and Donald Trump declared the oil [...]
Government should fix ‘stubbornly weak’ growth with policy test, industry body argues June 15, 2026 The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling on the government to break decades of low economic growth by introducing a new delivery test, as businesses continue to slash investment under the burden of mounting costs. In the BCC diagnoses, the UK’s growth problem is not a lack of potential but a failure to turn [...]
Late payments costing UK economy £11bn as SMEs struggle to invest June 15, 2026 Late payments are costing the UK economy an estimated £11bn a year and leaving small businesses (SMEs) waiting almost a month to be paid, amid growing concerns over blocked cashflow across the economy. Research from Sage shared with City AM found that 49 per cent of SME invoices are paid late, with businesses waiting an [...]
Government departments will look at cutting budgets to fund defence, minister says June 14, 2026 Government departments are looking at cutting their budgets further in order to help fund defence, a cabinet minister has said. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy insisted the country’s national security remains minister’s “highest priority” adding departments are looking to shift their budgets to fund defence. She said to Sky News: “There’s a clear picture emerging from [...]
Starmer overrules Miliband on electric car sales targets as he looks to appease automotive industry June 14, 2026 Keir Starmer will water down the UK’s electric vehicle sales, in a significant blow to energy secretary Ed Miliband’s net-zero agenda, in a bid to quash fears in the automotive industry. According to reports in The Sunday Times, the prime minister is understood to have overruled Miliband following pressure from the industry, the Unite union [...]
Starmer agrees investment deal with Japan as EU deal questioned June 13, 2026 The UK government has agreed an £18bn investment deal with Japan in a bid to boost post-Brexit international ties but questions are now looming over Sir Keir Starmer’s “reset” deal with the EU. Starmer said “landmark agreements” with Japan on technology and life sciences would lift the UK economy and improve trade with the fourth [...]
Thames Water, energy grid, rent prices: Burnham drums up public control agenda June 13, 2026 Andy Burnham will press for an agenda of public control over water companies, the national energy grid and government procurement regulation if he becomes Prime Minister. Reports on Saturday indicated that the Manchester mayor, who is standing as Labour’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election before a likely bid to become the party’s leader, would push [...]
Starmer clings on as defence spending plan in disarray after resignations June 12, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership has been dealt another major blow as defence ministers quit the government over a lack of funding for security. It was confirmed on Friday that the Defence Investment Plan had still not yet been completed after months of wrangling and delays. But on Thursday, John Healey resigned as defence secretary in [...]
Liz Kendall ramps up push to funnel pension cash into UK startups June 12, 2026 The government is stepping up efforts to channel more institutional money into British tech firms as ministers look to stop promising startups heading overseas for funding. Tech secretary Liz Kendall announced that Labour would pursue reforms to unlock pension fund investment into UK growth firms, adding Britain needs to become an “indispensable partner” in the [...]
‘Unsustainable’ – Iceland boss and Labour peer calls for end of triple lock pension June 12, 2026 Lord Walker, the influential Iceland boss who was made a Labour peer, has called for the triple lock pension to be scrapped as the mechanism was “profoundly unfair”. In a debate on welfare reform in the House of Lords, Walker added to a growing number of economists and political figures calling for the state pension [...]