Exclusive: FCA licence approvals slump September 15, 2025 As few as six e-money licence applications have been granted by the UK’s financial regulator over the past 9 months, City AM can reveal, underscoring the scale of the regulatory obstacles faced by Britain’s fintech startups. Data obtained by City AM via Freedom of Information request showed that not a single authorised electronic money institution (AEMI) licence [...]
Nuclear plants to be built faster in UK-US energy deal September 15, 2025 Nuclear plants could come online faster in a new deal between the UK and the US aimed at boosting growth in the sector and bolstering energy security. Under plans set to be signed off during US president Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK this week, the time for a nuclear project to get a [...]
Keir Starmer ‘has until May’ as polling sends warning shot September 15, 2025 Keir Starmer has been told he has until next May’s local elections to turn fortunes around as polling has sent the prime minister an ominous warning about his future. The Prime Minister is facing intense pressure from Labour MPs after new questions were raised about his appointment and judgment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to [...]
Foreign takeovers risk turning UK into an ‘incubator economy’ September 15, 2025 The UK is facing a time crunch to avoid becoming an “incubator economy” as foreign takeovers continue to sweep the London market. A collection of top venture capital investors and founders have called for crucial reforms to the markets ecosystem with a focus on pensions and the IPO environment. The reforms, as outlined in a [...]
Siddiq, Rayner, Mandelson: Starmer has proven himself a disastrous judge of character September 15, 2025 Angela Rayner and Lord Mandelson are just the latest examples of Starmer's erring judgement when it comes to character, writes Eliot Wilson.
No 10 aware of Mandelson emails before Starmer defended him September 13, 2025 Officials at No 10 and the Foreign Office were aware of the damning emails between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein before Starmer defended him at Prime Minister’s Questions. The Foreign Office was allegedly sent details of the emails between the pair on Tuesday and passed them on to Downing Street, two days before Starmer withdrew [...]
Barclays boss: UK banks are taxed too much September 12, 2025 Ahead of the Autumn Budget, Barclays’ chief executive has called on the government to curb pay rises for public sector workers and to avoid increasing taxes on banks. Speaking to the Financial Times, CS Venkatakrishnan said “we need to find a way to curb wage inflation,” and emphasised the need to curb expenditure at the [...]
UK economy sees zero growth amid Labour’s summer troubles September 12, 2025 The UK economy failed to grow in July, according to official data, with the Labour government struggling to drive growth despite its core commitment to do so. The Labour government has doubled down on its “growth mission” by making a string of new economics-focused appointments across ministerial and advisory roles, and establishing a business-friendly board [...]
Audit watchdog launches ‘bold new programme’ to support growth at smaller firms September 12, 2025 The audit regulator has unveiled a new initiative aimed at enhancing the presence of the UK’s small audit firms in the Public Interest Entity market. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has initiated a new and more proportionate supervisory approach, designed to enhance audit quality and reflect the unique needs of smaller firms. The body will [...]
Spotlight turns to FTSE 100 clients of Peter Mandelson’s advisory firm after government sacking September 12, 2025 After Peter Mandelson’s dramatic ousting from government over his close relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the firms that chose to partner with his consultancy Global Counsel have come under the spotlight. More than two dozen major corporations hired Global Counsel to conduct lobbying services over the past two years, disclosures from the Office of the [...]