Primark owner says larger stores to come under pressure from rates changes September 15, 2025 The boss of Primark’s parent firm has warned the Government that proposed business rates changes are “mistaken” and heap pressure on big stores on UK high streets. George Weston, the billionaire boss of Associated British Foods (ABF), told the PA new agency that the Labour Government “should not increase taxes on businesses any more” in [...]
Food inflation to spike as suppliers can ‘no longer absorb’ costs, FDF warns September 15, 2025 Food and drink inflation could climb to 5.7% by the end of the year thanks to cost pressures on manufacturers “trickling down” to supermarket shelves, a leading industry body has warned. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said current prices were “steeper than anything in recent decades”. The group – whose members make a quarter [...]
US financial firms pledge investment into the UK before Trump visit September 13, 2025 US financial firms have announced investments in the UK worth £1.25 billion before Donald Trump’s state visit next week. Citi Group has confirmed it will invest £1.1 billion across its UK operations, while S&P Global will put £4 million into their Manchester offices. PayPal has confirmed a £150 million investment in product innovations and growth [...]
Chinese retail giant in talks to buy Argos September 13, 2025 UK supermarket group Sainsbury’s has confirmed that it is in discussions for a potential sale of struggling retail chain Argos to a leading Chinese e-commerce giant. Retailer JD.com is looking to buy Argos, as it seeks to position itself in the UK market. The bid comes following JD.com’s failure to purchase electrical retailer Currys last [...]
Astrazeneca pauses £200m Cambridge investment September 13, 2025 British drug giant Astrazeneca has paused a planned £200 million expansion of its research site in Cambridge in a fresh blow to the UK pharmaceutical industry. It comes after the pharmaceutical firm abandoned plans to invest £450 million in a vaccine plant in Merseyside earlier this year in a blow to the Government as it [...]
Thousands gather in London as police brace for protests September 13, 2025 Thousands of people have gathered in London for a rally organised by activist Tommy Robinson. The “Unite the Kingdom” event takes place in Whitehall on Saturday afternoon but huge crowds have already massed near Waterloo Station with people wearing and waving union flags and the St George cross. Meanwhile, a counter-protest, dubbed March Against Fascism, [...]
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 [...]
Klarna’s IPO success could lure fintechs away from London September 10, 2025 By Oscar McDonald Swedish buy-now-pay-later giant Klarna has teed up its second attempt at an IPO, with the eyes of the fintech world set on its New York debut. The company’s valuation has been on a rollercoaster ride over the past three years, peaking at £33.6bn in July 2021 before plummeting to £4.95bn a year [...]
Healey says Rayner ‘not a victim’ amid Labour reshuffle discontent September 7, 2025 Angela Rayner is “not a victim” and “any government is stronger” with her, a Cabinet minister has said after a reshuffle following her resignation saw tensions flare within Labour. Defence Secretary John Healey defended Sir Keir Starmer’s “clear, swift, fair action” following his former deputy’s admission that she mistakenly underpaid stamp duty on a seaside [...]
PM ‘to move asylum seekers into barracks’ after Home Office shake-up September 7, 2025 Shabana Mahmood is expected to unveil plans to move asylum seekers from hotels into military barracks as the Government seeks to harden its immigration policy amid rising numbers of crossings in the Channel. The newly appointed Home Secretary is reportedly set to announce the use of Ministry of Defence sites to house people after a [...]
