Starmer calls for ‘moment to unite’ as Nato agrees defence pledge June 25, 2025 Keir Starmer said the latest Nato summit represented a “moment to unite” as 32 member countries committed to ramp up spending on defence to 3.5 per cent by 2035, with a further 1.5 per cent allocated towards security and infrastructure. The Prime Minister said investment will go towards cyber security and protecting key infrastructure while [...]
HomeServe: Checkatrade owner in the red despite sales passing £1bn June 23, 2025 HomeServe, the domestic repair and emergency services giant, fell into the red despite its sales surging to more than £1bn last year, it has been revealed. The Walsall-headquartered business has posted a revenue of £1.1bn for 2024 while it reported a pre-tax loss of £31.7m. The figures compare to the revenue of £774m and pre-tax [...]
The Menorca country manor that will blow you away June 3, 2025 We’re not short of country estates in the UK, and perhaps for that reason, they’re not something we look for when plotting a Euro vacation. But Vestige Son Vell, a newly established boutique hotel in southwestern Menorca, is a stately home that challenges that instinct. It ticks all the boxes for a week in the [...]
David Beckham and Spain’s tax shake-down May 14, 2025 Spain’s socialist prime minister is waging a vicious campaign against law-abiding people who’ve benefited from the country’s David Beckham tax – and the Spanish economy will suffer as a result, says John O’Connell There aren’t many people more famous than David Beckham. He’s so famous, in fact, that he even has a tax law named [...]
Could Britain survive a blackout? April 30, 2025 Blackouts across the Iberian Peninsula have exposed the fragility of our highly-connected infrastructure – and Britain is uniquely ill-equipped for a similar incident, says James Price In Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, society comes crashing down because the most talented people are not respected or rewarded for their endeavours, so they go on strike. Quickly, things [...]
Small firm owners are leaving the UK en masse, survey finds April 15, 2025 Small business owners up and down the country are packing their bags to escape a flurry of higher taxes, soaring costs and red tape, fresh data has found. Nearly two in five owners of small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) have either left the UK or are considering an imminent departure, according to a new survey, [...]
Spain’s low-tax dream has become a nightmare for trusting Brits March 5, 2025 Spain's Beckham Law lured Brits with the promise of tax incentives. Now it is punishing them, writes Robert Amsterdam.
Finca Cortesin in the Costa del Sol: Golf meets five star luxury February 24, 2025 Anyone who has visited southern Spain will know there is much more to the region than the tackier excesses of the Costa del Sol. For culture there is Moorish-steeped Malaga; Mijas and Estepona retain traditional white-washed Andalusian charm; while even Marbella has an enchanting old town a world away from the beach clubs. Like the [...]
Eurozone grows twice as fast as expected as Germany dodges recession October 30, 2024 New 'flash' figures released by Eurostat showed that the bloc grew 0.4 per cent between July and September, accelerating from 0.2 per cent in the second quarter.
Liquid gold? Olive oil fraud cases hit record high in EU July 29, 2024 The number of cases of fraudulent olive oil referred to the EU hit a record high this year after inflationary pressures fuelled black market activity. The price of olive oil has more than doubled in the last five years on climate-related supply pressures and environmental shocks. There were 50 reports to the European Union of [...]