Rachel Reeves criticises deputy for ‘clumsy’ pocket money comments March 27, 2025 Rachel Reeves has criticised her deputy – Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones – for “clumsy” comments in which he compared slashing disability benefits to taking away a child’s pocket money. The Chancellor told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “No, he was clumsy in his analogy, and he’s apologised for that.” She added: “Of [...]
Trump slaps 25 per cent tariffs on all car imports March 27, 2025 President Trump announced late on Wednesday that he will impose a universal 25 per cent tariff on all car imports into the US, just hours after the Office for Budget Responsibility warned that fresh tariffs would erase Reeves’ newfound fiscal headroom. These new levies are part of a package of anti-trade measures from 2 April, [...]
Bellway’s profit jumps amid soaring output March 25, 2025 Bellway has reported a 12 per cent rise in profit, alongside a significant boost in its output – in an indication that the housebuilding sector is seeing a rebound. Profit before taxation has risen to £150.2m, from £134.2m last year. The firm reported 4,577 housing completions in the half-year to January – up from 4,092 [...]
Heathrow Airport to restart some flights following fire March 21, 2025 Heathrow Airport has announced it is able to “begin some flights later today” following a day of heavy disruption. The West London airport has been shut for the whole of Friday following a nearby electrical fire at a substation. According to the National Grid, an “interim solution” has been put in place to resupply Heathrow. [...]
PM’s spokesperson cannot confirm Heathrow will reopen by Saturday March 21, 2025 In a multi-agency call convened by the government on the ongoing Heathrow closure, Downing Street could not say with confidence that the airport will reopen at midnight – though power has reportedly been restored to Terminal 4. The West London airport has been shut for the whole of Friday following a nearby electrical fire at [...]
Passengers urged to stay home as Heathrow closed following electrical fire March 21, 2025 Heathrow airport will be closed for all of Friday, after a large electrical fire at a nearby substation. Passengers are being urged not to travel to Europe’s busiest airport, with the website FlightRadar24 reporting that at least 1,300 flights will be cancelled. In the surrounding area in West London, around 150 people have been evacuated [...]
Yorkshire Water forced to pay out £40m after ‘serious failures’ March 20, 2025 Yorkshire Water will have to pay out a £40m “enforcement package” to address a series of “serious failures” in its maintenance of sewage networks. The water supplier will pay out £36.6m over the next five years after the water watchdog Ofwat found repeated failures to properly invest in infrastructure. Environmentally sensitive areas will be targeted [...]
Indian billionaire mulls expanding BT stake March 18, 2025 Indian telecoms billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal is reportedly considering boosting his stake in BT, according to a report in the Financial Times. Mittal already holds a 24.5 per cent stake in BT, which he bought from Luxembourg-based telecoms giant Altice – previously owned by Patrick Drahi. The expanded stake would continue to be held through [...]
What was the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies? March 17, 2025 The Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies is the latest (and perhaps the most obscure) victim piled upon the government’s bonfire of quangos. First there was the Payment Systems Regulator, which was rolled into the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Then, Sir Keir Starmer announced his most radical health reform yet by shuttering NHS [...]
OECD slashes UK economic forecasts amid global slowdown March 17, 2025 The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has cut the UK’s economic growth forecasts due to stubborn inflation and an escalating trade war. The OECD’s new interim report scaled back UK growth to 1.4 per cent in 2025 and 1.2 per cent in 2026 – down from previous projections of 1.7 and 1.3 per [...]
