Peter Mandelson handed back £1.3m from consulting firm he founded January 8, 2026 A consulting firm founded by Peter Mandelson handed back £1.3m to the House of Lords peer prior to his departure from the business, the firm’s latest accounts reveal. Global Counsel, a London-based public policy consultancy launched by Mandelson in 2016, had been lent £1m by the disgraced politician with interest paid “at commercial rates,” white [...]
Labour urged to ramp up defence spending January 7, 2026 The Labour government is being urged to ramp up defence spending at a faster pace as opposition party leaders warned threats to Greenland, Ukraine and Nato required Keir Starmer to take swift action. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey were among those demanding the government to bring forward a 2034 deadline [...]
Construction marks full year of decline in blow to Labour January 7, 2026 The construction sector has now marked one full year of a decline in output, according to a leading survey, blowing a hole in Labour’s ambitious housebuilding targets. S&P Global’s monthly survey showed the sector had fallen under a threshold for neutrality in output for the twelfth successive month. The reading for December was also the [...]
London Luton Airport says investment at risk due to Labour’s taxes January 7, 2026 A £2.5bn proposal to expand one of London’s top airports is facing fresh challenges amid rising tax burdens, as the aviation sector feels the pain of Rachel Reeves’ business rates raid. The owner of Luton Airport, Labour-run Luton Council, had put together plans to build a new terminal and increase capacity from 18m to 32m [...]
Starmer risks killing the great British pub January 7, 2026 Everyone has a favourite pub. It might be one you go back to on holiday or it could be at the end of your road. It could be a stone’s throw from the office (City AM is blessed in this regard) or one that’s still going from your uni years. The City AM Toast Awards [...]
Angela Rayner in Downing Street tops banker fears January 7, 2026 Angela Rayner taking to Downing Street poses one of the top risks to the banking sector heading into 2026, top analysts have warned. The former Deputy Prime Minister and darling of the Labour left is among names tipped to take the top job as Sir Keir Starmer fights to save his premiership amid all-time favourability [...]
Starmer sends Trump warning on Greenland in sign of icy relations January 6, 2026 Keir Starmer has joined EU countries in sending President Trump a warning to back off Greenland in another sign of tensions emerging between between the US and Western allies. In a statement on Tuesday, European leaders defended Nato member Denmark’s claim over the islands in the Atlantic Ocean, adding that the issue of control was [...]
Brexit division to return to parliament in bill for EU deal January 6, 2026 New dividing lines are set to open up in parliament over the coming months as the government prepares to lay out a bill to get its EU “reset” deal signed off by MPs. Keir Starmer has signalled his intention to build closer trade ties with the world’s largest economic bloc in a bid to boost [...]
Employers brace for more layoffs as headcount expectations drop January 6, 2026 Employers are preparing to lay off more staff as higher payroll costs from taxes and red tape are hitting headcount expectations, an industry survey has found. The Institute of Directors’ monthly business confidence survey showed that headcount expectations dropped in December after Rachel Reeves’ Budget unveiled a salary sacrifice cap and higher taxes on airports [...]
Industry boss slams Labour for lack of tech sector support January 5, 2026 The boss of the world’s biggest tech trade show yesterday took aim at the UK government’s support for tech startups, following a disappointing show of Brits at the annual tech conference. “The British presence has been spotty, which is surprising to me” compared to European rivals, announced Gary Shapiro, who has been with the CTA [...]