FCA to increase scrutiny of home and travel insurers following ‘super complaint’ December 18, 2025 The UK financial watchdog is to increase scrutiny of home and travel insurers following a “super complaint” by consumer champion Which?. Following a year of campaigning against falling standards affecting tens of millions of customers, Which? used its statutory powers to make a super-complaint to the industry regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), back in [...]
Wild by Tart launch limited edition gin in national supermarkets December 17, 2025 The founders behind Wild by Tart have launched a limited edition gin in national supermarkets as they look to expand from their restaurateur roots. The duo, who started their culinary careers as food columnists for the Evening Standard Magazine, launched Wild by Tart in October 2019 in London Victoria. They have now collaborated with Bathtub [...]
Christmas attractions face sharp rise in property taxes after Budget December 15, 2025 London’s Winter Wonderland and Hamleys are set to be hit by sharp jumps in their property taxes from next year as UK Christmas attractions come under pressure from next year’s business rates overhaul. Analysis of official figures has shown that a raft of Christmas attractions, markets and destination-led retail will face increases in business rates [...]
Armed forces chief to warn ‘whole nation must step up’ amid Russian threat December 15, 2025 Growing threats faced by the UK will require “our whole nation stepping up” to ensure the country can continue to function in a crisis, the head of the British armed forces will warn. Chief of the defence staff Sir Richard Knighton will say the situation is “more dangerous than I have known during my career” [...]
Mahmood urges Labour figures to ‘focus on day job’ amid Burnham speculation December 14, 2025 Labour figures should “focus on the day job” of delivering for the public and Sir Keir Starmer is “not going”, Shabana Mahmood has said amid fresh speculation about Andy Burnham’s ambitions. The Home Secretary said everyone within the party had their “role to play” in backing the Government after reports the Greater Manchester Mayor is [...]
Bank of England expected to cut interest rates to nearly three-year low December 14, 2025 The Bank of England is readying to cut interest rates to the lowest level in nearly three years, delivering a bout of “festive news” to borrowers, economists think. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is widely expected to reduce interest rates from 4% to 3.75% on Thursday. This would bring borrowing costs down to the [...]
‘Petrified’ publicans call on government for urgent support December 12, 2025 Pub chiefs have used an emergency meeting to call on the government to provide urgent tax relief in order to stave off closures and job losses. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has urged Labour to introduce 30 per cent business rates relief for pubs to help protect the future of the beleaguered sector. [...]
Janine Hirt: Brits network differently to Americans December 11, 2025 Each week, we dig into the memory bank of the City’s great and good. Today, Janine Hirt, CEO of Innovate Finance takes us through her career in Square Mile and Me What was your first job? I held down several odd jobs while working my way through university, including being a librarian, legal assistant, and a [...]
Momentum 25 and the reality of Saudi Arabia’s mega-projects December 11, 2025 The ‘Momentum 25’ conference is taking place in Riyadh this week, at a definitive juncture for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The midpoint of the Vision 2030 timeline, launched in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to diversify the nation’s economy away from hydrocarbon dependence. For nearly a decade, the global business community has [...]
Deloitte’s big Christmas quiz 2025 December 9, 2025 The 2025 Deloitte Christmas Economics Quiz by chief economist, Ian Stewart and team The Christmas quiz offers a test of your knowledge of the festive season, economics and politics, in 12 questions. The answers and a brief explanation of the factors at work are provided at the end. 1) Which British politician (past and present) [...]
