Business rates to hammer the West End: ‘This whole policy is nuts’ June 16, 2025 A rise in business rates for more expensive properties is set to hammer valuable areas like London’s West End, a leading investment firm has warned. The policy, which aims to bring down business rates for small properties by raising them for large properties, has been slammed as “unlikely to save the high street” and likely [...]
Reeves’ tax hikes lead to spike in pubs going bust June 16, 2025 The series of tax hikes introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Autumn Budget last year has contributed to a spike in pubs going bust across the UK in April, according to new figures. A total of 67 pubs closed down during the month – the highest number since July 2024 when 75 entered insolvency [...]
Dunelm’s ‘market-beating’ potential hailed as shares rocket June 16, 2025 Dunelm has been hailed as a “coiled spring” by London broker Peel Hunt amid rising sales and its shares rocketing in recent weeks. The Leicester-headquartered retailer, which is a member of the FTSE 250 index, a “clear moat” compared to its competitors due to a combination of more products, more active customers and a much [...]
UK house prices drop as motivated sellers slash asking prices June 16, 2025 UK house prices dipped in June amid a jump in the number of homes coming to the market. New asking prices fell by 0.3 per cent to £378,240 in June amid a “decade-high” competition to secure buyers, according to Rightmove’s latest house price index. Prices are now 0.8 per cent ahead of this time last [...]
Grenade: We invented ‘good’ protein bars June 16, 2025 It is difficult to walk around a supermarket without being screamed at by a collection of very similar labels on very different aisles: High-protein yogurt! Protein powder bread! All natural high-protein ketchup! As the final social-media-endorsed macronutrient standing, protein’s stock has soared from a good-to-have to a must-buy in the last decade. Somewhat inexplicably, Marks [...]
Water sector needs ‘root-and-branch’ reform, MPs say June 16, 2025 The water sector is in need of “root-and-branch reform”, a committee of MPs has said as it called for “much more regulated management” of bonuses for senior bosses. The cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee has said that the industry is “failing”, but that water companies are “deaf to the crisis” that it is [...]
UK government advises against all travel to Israel amid Iran conflict June 15, 2025 Britons are being told not to travel to Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated travel advice on Sunday to advise “against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories”. David Lammy has said that the safety of British nationals “remains our top priority”. Israel and Iran [...]
‘You’ll have to wait and see’: Reeves’ deputy can’t rule out autumn tax rises June 15, 2025 Treasury chief secretary Darren Jones refused to rule out further tax hikes in the autumn budget on Sunday. Asked on GB News whether he would rule out tax rises later this year, Jones said “that will be subject to the OBR forecasts… it’s right that we take these types of decision in an orderly way.” [...]
Macquarie nears deal for slice of London City, Birmingham and Bristol Airport June 15, 2025 Macquarie is close to a multibillion pound deal for stakes in London City, Birmingham and Bristol Airport. The Australian infrastructure investor is this weekend finalising terms with the Canadian pension fund Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), according to the Sunday Times. OTPP owns 25 per cent stake of London City, 27 per cent of Birmingham [...]
Starmer accused of U-turn after ordering inquiry into grooming gangs June 15, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of a U-turn after committing to a statutory inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal. After resisting pressure for months to implement a full probe, the Prime Minister said he had read “every single word” of an independent report into child sexual exploitation by Baroness Louise Casey and would accept her recommendation [...]
