Investment minister Jason Stockwood: I don’t want to be political Politics Jason Stockwood insists he hadn’t been angling for a plumb ministerial job before the call from Keir Starmer asking for him to be investment minister came six weeks ago. The serial entrepreneur – and Grimsby Town Football Club co-owner – had, instead, been “moaning” about the paucity of politicians with genuine business experience, when the [...]
Poppy Gustafsson resigns as investment minister Politics UK investment minister Baroness Poppy Gustafsson is stepping down less than a year after the former boss of cyber security firm Darktrace was appointed to the role by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Gustafsson is understood to be leaving to spend more time with her young family, with the announcement due in the next few days. [...]
Business Secretary can’t commit to lower energy costs in industrial strategy Politics Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds was unable to confirm whether the government’s upcoming industrial strategy will include a roadmap to lower industrial energy costs and help for businesses wrestling with high prices. Reynolds faced questions from MPs on the Business and Trade committee yesterday over whether he could guarantee lower costs for industry. He told the [...]
Poppy Gustafsson: UK can be ‘safe haven’ amid Trump turbulence March 20, 2025 The UK can be a beacon of stability to investors and businesses in a world where geopolitical tensions, and “populism and protectionism” are on the rise, the minister for investment has said. Citing the government’s large majority and internationalist outlook, Baroness Gustafsson trumpeted the UK’s offer of long-term certainty to investors, branding the country a [...]
Jonathan Reynolds relaunches trade deal talks with India February 24, 2025 The UK has relaunched talks on a free trade deal with India, with Jonathan Reynolds in New Delhi to resume negotiations. The business and trade secretary begins refreshed discussions with his Indian counterpart commerce minister Piyush Goyal in the South Asian capital today (Monday, February 24), marking a new phase of negotiations between the world’s [...]
Brent Hoberman: Fear of ‘media onslaught’ puts business people off joining government January 11, 2025 Serial entrepreneur Brent Hoberman and the investment minister Poppy Gustaffson have warned that business people are put off taking on government positions due to fear of a “media onslaught”. Writing on LinkedIn, Hoberman, the founder of Lastminute.com and failed furniture retailer Made.com, criticised coverage of business people entering government and claimed the media constantly “insinuates [...]
City grandees named in the New Year Honours list 2025 December 31, 2024 Former HSBC boss Noel Quinn, Babcock chair Ruth Cairnie and the Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines are among the big names from business and industry to be included in the New Year Honours list for 2025. The trio of heavyweights were given knighthoods and a damehood for their services to industry, transport and financial [...]
Non-dom lobby group to meet Business and Trade officials as Budget looms October 23, 2024 A newly formed non-dom lobby group is scrambling to arrange a crunch meeting with the new Minister for Investment, or her officials, as it seeks to make its case against the government’s plans to scrap the favourable tax status. City AM understands that Foreign Investors for Britain (FIFB) has been in contact with the newly appointed [...]
Government pledge to make UK “top destination for women’s sport investment” October 23, 2024 The government has today pledged to make the United Kingdom a “top destination for women’s sport investment”. Investment minister Poppy Gustafsson, formerly of Darktrace, has launched the Women’s Sport Investment Accelerator scheme to bring together 20 leagues and teams with investors to boost commercial activity in women’s sport. The participating sports include football, cricket, rugby, [...]
Starmer appoints former Darktrace boss as new investment minister in ‘scaled up’ department October 11, 2024 Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the government’s new investment minister after more than 100 days in office, amid criticism from City groups it took too long. Former Darktrace chief executive Poppy Gustafsson has been appointed to the role, taking charge of the ‘scaled up’ Office for Investment. The appointment is part of what the government [...]