Financial services set for hiring spree for AI experts in 2026 January 26, 2026 British banks and finance firms are hunting for behavioural science and psychology experts for ethical AI jobs, as worries about misusing the technology build, experts have said. A desire to accelerate recruitment in 2026 comes after one of the worst years for hiring in the financial services sector since the 2008 financial crisis. Some 55 [...]
Trump threatens 100 per cent tariffs on Canada over China deal January 24, 2026 US president Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on goods imported from Canada if America’s northern neighbour goes ahead with its trade deal with China. Trump said in a social media post that if Canadian prime minister Mark Carney “thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ [...]
Rayner to back Burnham’s Westminster bid January 24, 2026 Labour MPs will gather amid speculation that Andy Burnham could seek to stand for a Westminster by-election and challenge the Prime Minister’s authority, with former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner expected to support the Manchester Mayor’s potential bid to become an MP. The conference of Labour’s north-west England MPs will see former deputy prime minister [...]
Wetherspoon to reveal Christmas trading amid challenging backdrop for pubs January 18, 2026 Pub giant JD Wetherspoon is set to shed light on how its customers fared over the key Christmas period amid a backdrop of rising costs for the sector. The value pub chain, which runs around 800 venues across the UK, will become the latest firm to reveal its latest trading performance when it updates shareholders [...]
Kemi Badenoch joins protesters calling for Government to stop China mega-embassy January 17, 2026 Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called for the Government to stop China’s proposed central London “mega-embassy” when she spoke at a protest on Saturday. The Government is facing mounting calls to reject Beijing’s plans for the embassy at Royal Mint Court over security concerns. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the site on Saturday afternoon, some [...]
Musk hits out at ‘fascist’ UK as row over X and its Grok AI escalates January 10, 2026 Elon Musk has accused Keir Starmer’s Government of being “fascist” after ministers stepped up threats to ban social media site X over AI-generated sexualised images. The tech tycoon claimed critics of his X platform “want any excuse for censorship” as he appeared defiant despite the outcry over the use of the Grok artificial intelligence feature [...]
Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop collapse into administration, risking thousands of jobs January 6, 2026 High street chains Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) are being put into administration, after their owner said “last-ditch” measures had fallen through, putting about 2,500 UK staff at risk of redundancy. The two retailers had already undergone restructuring and were bought by investment firm Modella Capital last year. Modella said it had made [...]
UK investors plan to boost portfolios in 2026 December 29, 2025 Nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) of investors with at least £100,000 in assets plan to increase the amounts they put away in 2026 despite market uncertainties, a survey indicates. More than a fifth (23 per cent) said they will look to bolster their portfolio significantly, according to the research for Scottish Widows. Despite market challenges, [...]
Flight prices set to jump as regional airports set for rocketing tax bills December 29, 2025 Air passengers are being warned to brace for flight prices to jump as regional airports across the UK face “unprecedented” rises in property tax next year. Analysis of official Government data for the Press Association has revealed regional airports are among those facing the steepest increases in business rates of any sector in the UK [...]
Pizza Hut, Poundland and WH Smith: The high street brands that closed stores in 2025 December 29, 2025 A raft of major UK retail and hospitality brands shut down stores across the UK this year, with other high street mainstays closing their doors for good. It came amid a backdrop of pressure on consumer finances, rising inflation for most of the year and increased costs for businesses. As a result, numerous businesses launched [...]
