Business Secretary can’t commit to lower energy costs in industrial strategy May 14, 2025 Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds was unable to confirm whether the government’s upcoming industrial strategy will include a roadmap to lower industrial energy costs and help for businesses wrestling with high prices. Reynolds faced questions from MPs on the Business and Trade committee yesterday over whether he could guarantee lower costs for industry. He told the [...]
Home Secretary defends PM’s immigration speech after backlash May 13, 2025 The Home Secretary has defended the Prime Minister’s choice of language after he received criticism for claiming that the UK risked becoming “an island of strangers” without major reform to the immigration system. Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who was suspended from Labour after voting against welfare reforms, posted on X: “Talk of an “island [...]
Wetherspoon, Marston’s and Young’s manage to fend off UK pubs crisis – for now May 13, 2025 Some of the UK’s biggest pub chains – JD Wetherspoon, Marston’s and Young’s – have all proved surprisingly resilient in avoiding the hospitality crisis predicted last Autumn. The London-listed companies have all reported better-than-expected trading over the last year, despite very low business and consumer confidence. In an update to markets this morning, Marston’s reported [...]
Starmer’s trade deal triumphs fail to impress UK voters May 13, 2025 With Sir Keir Starmer’s approval ratings languishing below those of both the Reform UK and Conservative leaders, Downing Street would have hoped that signing trade deals with India and the US last week could have turned the dial on the PM’s unpopularity. However, despite the diplomatic coups voters appeared unmoved by Starmer’s success on the world [...]
Bosses insist bonuses are justified for running ‘hair raising’ Thames Water May 13, 2025 Bosses at Thames Water have defended taking hefty bonus payouts as Thames Water battles to stay afloat and pollution incidents soar. Chief executive Chris Weston and Chair Sir Adrian Montague are spearheading a turnaround at the crisis-hit utility, which narrowly avoided bankruptcy earlier this year via a £3bn emergency loan from creditors. It was revealed [...]
M&S: FTSE 100 shares rise after major cyber attack update May 13, 2025 Marks and Spencer’s (M&S) share price has risen as investors breathed a sigh of relief that hackers haven’t accessed ring-fenced bank details, although the cyber attack remains ongoing. The FTSE 100 retail giant told markets this morning that some customer data was stolen during the attack, but that the data does not include useable payment [...]
Future of UK Nissan factory uncertain amid global plant closures May 13, 2025 Nissan is addressing the future of its Sunderland factory after confirming plans to slash 20,000 jobs worldwide and cease operations at nearly half of its production facilities. The Japanese carmaker on Tuesday said it would consolidate its vehicle production plants from 17 to 10 by fiscal year 2027. Nissan currently employs around 6,000 workers at [...]
M&S admits hackers stole personal customer data in cyber attack May 13, 2025 M&S has told customers that some of their personal data was stolen during the serious cyber attack the company has been battling for three weeks. The retail giant said that the data does not include useable payment or card details, nor does it include account passwords. It said there is no need for customers to [...]
Marston’s: Pub chain swings back into the black May 13, 2025 British pub chain Marstons has reported a significant uptick in profit amid higher demand and cost savings. The hospitality giant told markets this morning that underlying profit before tax increased to £19m in the first half of the year, up from a loss of £0.2m last year. Operating profit increased by 20.1 per cent to [...]
On The Beach: Demand for city breaks boosts travel group May 13, 2025 On The Beach has reported a double-digit profit increase in another market-outperforming trading update. The online package holiday specialists told markets this morning that adjusted revenue grew 12 per cent year on year in the first half of 2025. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 19 per cent year on year. [...]
