Stockpiling helps manufacturing sector power through Iran war blows July 1, 2026 The manufacturing sector has powered through the turmoil brought by the Iran war as output grew at the fastest pace in 21 months, according to a business survey. S&P Global researchers said that output growth accelerated as firms rushed to stockpile goods ahead of further expected trade turmoil in the Middle East. The overall purchasing [...]
Starmer stumps up half the amount demanded by defence chiefs June 30, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has coughed up just half of the amount of funding military officials requested in the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan. During a speech led by defence secretary Dan Jarvis, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the outgoing Prime Minister, ministers said they made the “right choices” and defended plans to back investment on drones and [...]
Starmer to unveil hotly debated Defence Investment Plan in final act June 29, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer will unveil the highly-anticipated Defence Investment Plan in one of his final acts as Prime Minister. Starmer will publish full funding plans for the Defence Investment Plan (Dip), the government’s 10-year blueprint for armed forces, on Tuesday. He will say that more than £5bn over four years will be invested into drones, [...]
‘Anti-growth’: Labour blocks City of London skyscraper plans June 29, 2026 The government has been branded “anti-growth” by the City of London Corporation after a minister blocked plans to build tall buildings near the Tower of London. In a letter to planning chiefs, the housing minister Matthew Pennycock said the authority for the Square Mile should not be able to go ahead with its skyscraper plans [...]
Is Andy Burnham a left-wing Liz Truss? June 29, 2026 Say what you like about Andy Burnham (and I intend to say a lot) but he’s not short on ambition. Armed with a single by election victory he now intends to oversee “the biggest change in our lifetime to the way Britain is run.” The PM-in-waiting had popped down to London for some selfies before [...]
‘Biggest change in our lifetime’ – Burnham vows ‘greater public control’ over utilities June 29, 2026 Andy Burnham has vowed to empower local government to take “greater public control” over energy, housing, water and transport as councils are set to be handed greater powers as part of sweeping economic and political reform. In a speech on Monday setting out his 10-year vision to raise living standards, the likely next Prime Minister [...]
‘Corbyn was spot on’: The radical MP shaping Burnham’s economic agenda June 29, 2026 Miatta Fahnbulleh is one of Andy Burnham’s key confidants, spearheading his agenda on energy, devolution and the cost of living. Policies the MP for Peckham has previously endorsed suggest the country is in for a sharp leftward lurch, writes Ali Lyon. The red wall had been demolished. Boris Johnson, imperious. And Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour movement [...]
As it happened: Supreme Court blocks Trump sacking; Andy Burnham vows ‘greater public control’; Comcast spin-off June 29, 2026 Good afternoon from the City AM liveblog team. News of a major spin-off deal in the media sector is providing the main talking point during the New York trading day, helping lift stocks up after the tech sector weighed on the market over the previous session. Sky owner Comcast’s announcement that it will set up [...]
Burnham to unveil plans for devolution and ‘reindustrialisation’ June 28, 2026 Andy Burnham will unveil plans to devolve power away from London and shift some government operations to a “Number 10 in the North”, as the Prime Minister-to-be calls for a change in “how Britain is governed”. In a speech focused on growth on Monday morning, Burnham will say that a 10-year plan will focus on [...]
Mahmood unveils refugee sponsorship route as asylum bill faces Labour test June 27, 2026 Home secretary Shabana Mahmood has unveiled plans for businesses and universities to sponsor refugees to come to Britain, as she seeks to shore up support for a wider asylum overhaul expected to face resistance from parts of Labour. The Home Office said it would introduce new “capped safe and legal” routes from later this year, [...]