Thames Water asks watchdog to let it charge even higher bills February 14, 2025 Thames Water is asking the competition regulator to allow it to charge customers even more over the coming years than had previously been granted. The company has already been allowed a 35 per cent rise in consumer bills over the next five years by water regulator Ofwat, after Thames had previously lobbied for a 59 per cent hike. Now, it wants [...]
Honda and Nissan merger talks collapse February 13, 2025 Japanese carmakers Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi have said they are dropping their talks to integrate their businesses. They agreed to end their consideration of how to build a structure for the three brands to collaborate, their joint statement said. Honda Motor Co and Nissan Motor Corp announced in December they would hold talks to set up a [...]
Premier League clubs may vote on new financial rules despite PFA threat February 12, 2025 Premier League clubs will have the option to vote through new financial rules on Thursday despite the threat of legal action from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) if they do so. The 20 top-flight teams will gather for a meeting in central London to discuss, and potentially vote on, a new system to replace the [...]
Call for UK regions to bid to become AI Growth Zones February 10, 2025 Regions across the UK have been encouraged to put themselves forward to become new economic centres for AI development, as the Government opened bidding for new AI Growth Zones. Growth Zones were announced as part of the Government’s AI Action Plan last month, designed to be new centres of development for AI technology and infrastructure. [...]
Thousands of illegal workers arrested in government border security crackdown February 10, 2025 Thousands of migrants working illegally in nail bars, car washes and restaurants have been arrested as part of the government’s efforts to tighten UK border security. Some 3,930 arrests have been made across 5,424 visits by immigration enforcement officers since July 5 when labour took power to January 31, in what is understood to be [...]
Angela Rayner denies being ‘aggressive’ in meeting with Grenfell survivors February 9, 2025 Angela Rayner has denied being “aggressive” during a meeting of the Grenfell bereaved and survivors when informing them about the decision to dismantle the tower. The deputy prime minister said it is “not a possibility” for Grenfell tower to remain in its current state. The tower will be brought down to ground level, with some parts returned where possible [...]
Bank shareholders eye returns as Barclays and Natwest report February 9, 2025 Shareholders in two of the UK’s biggest banks will be hoping for further returns next week as they shed light on recent trading amid an uncertain economic backdrop. Barclays and NatWest will lead a raft of annual results updates by UK banks, after a recent positive period for the sector. Shares in both firms have [...]
Delays to local elections not a ‘stitch-up’, says Angela Rayner February 9, 2025 Angela Rayner has denied that delays to local elections are a “stitch-up” after votes in nine council areas due to be held in May were postponed. The deputy prime minister, was asked about the perception that labour could be delaying elections due to a fear of reform UK making gains, after Nigel Farage accused the [...]
Health minister Andrew Gwynne sacked by Keir Starmer over WhatsApp messages February 9, 2025 A Labour MP who was sacked as a minister by Keir Starmer over comments made in a WhatsApp group has said he regrets the “badly misjudged” remarks. Andrew Gwynne, the MP for gorton and denton, has been sacked as health minister and suspended from the labour party. He reportedly posted sexist comments about Angela Rayner, [...]
Hamas releases three more Israeli hostages for dozens of Palestinian prisoners February 8, 2025 Hamas-led militants released three gaunt, frail-looking Israeli civilian men they held for the past 16 months on Saturday, and Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners, as part of an agreement that has paused the war in the Gaza Strip. Before a crowd of hundreds, armed Hamas fighters led Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and [...]
