British tycoons raise the alarm over state of UK economy September 20, 2026 Two of Britain’s wealthiest business chiefs have launched fierce criticism against government policies and the health of the UK economy. Billionaire energy boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe and gambling entrepreneur Fred Done have separately warned about the state of the economy and direction of policy in the past 48 hours. In particular, the business chiefs claimed [...]
Labour mansion tax raid to hit homes worth £1.5m September 20, 2026 The government is considering plans to lower the mansion tax threshold to properties worth over £1.5m, a move that would hit nearly 300,000 homes. Labour originally announced the tax on properties worth more than £2m in last year’s Autumn Budget by former chancellor Rachel Reeves. Properties over this valuation are set to pay a £2,500 [...]
Nationalise Thames Water and block private rescue deal, MPs tell Burnham September 18, 2026 Andy Burnham and his government are facing increasing pressure to take control of Thames Water after a group of MPs warned a rescue deal led by its creditors should be rejected. A group of the stricken utility’s lenders, known as London & Valley Water, is vying to seize control of the company in a £10bn [...]
Home secretary donor reprimanded by accountancy regulator September 16, 2026 An accountancy firm director was severely reprimanded by the regulator and handed a £14,000 fine for breaching accountancy standards. Andeep Mangal, director of Birmingham-based accountancy firm Thapers Chartered Accountants, received a severe reprimand and a £14,000 fine on Wednesday for two separate allegations, and was ordered to pay a further £11,455 in costs to the [...]
UK economy grew unexpectedly after Burnham took over as Prime Minister September 11, 2026 The UK economy had surprise growth in the month Andy Burnham became Prime Minister. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed GDP expanded 0.4 per cent in July, racing ahead of City economists’ forecast of zero growth. This was led by 0.4 per cent growth in the UK’s mammoth services sector, [...]
Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin attacks government’s ‘unfriendly’ attitude to business September 11, 2026 Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has said he is “very concerned” by the wealth exodus gripping the UK as he hit out at Labour’s “unfriendly” attitude towards entrepreneurs. The pub tycoon said it is “madness” to blame the number of ultra-rich businesspeople leaving the country on anything other than the business conditions created by the government. [...]
Nandy absence called out as MPs urge greater use of sport as soft power September 9, 2026 The government must do more to use sport and the wider culture sector to maximise global soft power, according to an influential MP. Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, has criticised the government for staging its Soft Power Council only four times, with the department’s Secretary of State Lisa [...]
Reform UK donations sting ‘looks bad,’ admits Farage September 6, 2026 Nigel Farage has admitted that an undercover investigation into Reform UK’s approach to foreign donations “looks bad”. The Reform leader appeared to soften his position on the donations row engulfing his party but denied it had ever breached electoral law by accepting overseas funding. Farage has been forced to defend his party against allegations that [...]
Lloyd’s boss warns of ‘man-made catastrophes’ as Iran war hits insurance industry September 4, 2026 Squeezed by inflation and rising geopolitical tensions, the historic insurance market Lloyd’s of London suffered a hit to its profit in the first half of the year. Nowhere was this impact more acute than in its marine business, which faced severe pressure at the height of the US war with Iran. Over the past six [...]
Green activists want to take Polanski down a dark road August 31, 2026 The Greens' absolutism is bad for politics, and Polanski too. Those who police dogma see heretics everywhere, even at the top.