London Tech Week was ‘complacency in conference form’ Tech London Tech Week has been accused of masking some of the biggest structural problems facing Britain’s tech sector and of offering “complacency in conference form”. Adam French, partner at global venture capital firm Antler, said the flagship event highlighted a widening gap between the public narrative around UK tech and the realities facing founders trying [...]
‘Unsustainable’ – Iceland boss and Labour peer calls for end of triple lock pension Economics 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 [...]
UK economy falters as deeper damage to growth to come Economics The UK economy lost momentum in April, official data has revealed, as the energy price shock from the Iran war took its toll on businesses and consumers. The Office for National Statistics said GDP declined by 0.1 per cent in April. The services sector contracted by 0.2 per cent while manufacturing output did not post [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 rises as easing Iran tensions offset GDP blow; SpaceX set for blast off June 12, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Global equity investors are bracing for Musk’s record-breaking market debut SpaceX is set to begin trading on Nasdaq today after Elon Musk’s rocket, satellite and AI empire pulled off the largest IPO in market history. The company raised $75bn after pricing shares at $135, giving it a $1.77 [...]
Oil prices rise as Trump warns of ‘very hard’ strikes against Iran June 11, 2026 President Trump has escalated his threats against the Iranian regime, announcing on social media that the US will hit Iran “very hard” tonight if a peace deal cannot be reached. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US President suggested that American forces could take Kharg Island, a crucial oil export artery for [...]
Burnham rows back on £10bn Waspi women offer June 11, 2026 Andy Burnham has rowed back on an apparent offer to consider a £10.5bn payout for Waspi women, a group of female pensioners who argue that they were not told about a rise in the state pension age. Burnham had told activists that he would “stick by the Waspi women – Women Against State Pension Inequality [...]
Reeves aims to lure US workers through tax reform June 11, 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering a tax break for US workers by introducing fresh reform, reflecting her drive to lure more wealthy migrants despite a wider crackdown on immigration. The government has launched a consultation on the double taxation for investors who may be based in the UK but who work for US firms that [...]
What should we make of Makerfield? June 11, 2026 Much analysis of the Makerfield by-election focuses on what it means for Keir Starmer and the Labour party’s national fortunes – but how should we assess it on its own terms? Asks Steve Akehurst It can be stated without much hyperbole that when the people of Makerfield go to the polls next week it will [...]
Starmer dodges questions on funding for defence spending June 10, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer dodged several questions over funding for an uplift in defence spending as he appeared to suggest that the full defence investment plan will take weeks to be published. Starmer refused to confirm the publication date for a 10-year blueprint on defence spending as he stuck to a commitment that it would be [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 see-saws amid global jitters as market outlook turns ‘risky and dangerous’ June 10, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Markets were not getting too excited at the beginning of this week when Donald Trump said a peace deal with Iran was “very close”. And last night’s exchange of strikes might explain why. The US has said it completed a series of strikes against Iran [...]