Public service reform is pro-business, pensions minister argues February 20, 2025 Reforming Britain’s public services is a pro-growth and pro-business policy, the pensions minister has argued. Torsten Bell, who was appointed in the mini-reshuffle following City minister Tulip Siddiq’s departure from government, has said it’s not possible to have a “failing state and a growing economy”, in an interview with the Guardian. The former Resolution Foundation [...]
Octopus sees ‘electric’ demand for shares in green energy projects February 20, 2025 A new investment platform allowing consumers to purchase shares in green energy projects has sold out within its first week. Octopus Energy had initially offered investors the chance to buy holdings in two wind turbines via the platform, which is known ‘the Collective’. Such has been the level of demand for the scheme that the [...]
Rachel Reeves must act now to save pubs, City broker warns February 20, 2025 Peel Hunt has become the latest broker to issue a warning that British pub culture is at risk due to structural pressures and tax hikes. Hospitality was the biggest driver of economic growth in both November and December, according to the latest government figures. But tax rises in the October budget “halted and reversed a [...]
Burberry set to re-enter the FTSE 100 in March reshuffle February 20, 2025 Burberry looks set to re-enter the FTSE 100 in March after its shares doubled since their lows in September. The luxury brand fell out of the FTSE 100 in its September quarterly reshuffle last year after its share price dropped nearly 75 per cent in 16 months. However, glimmers of hope for a luxury rebound, [...]
Centrica shares surge as British Gas owner hikes dividend February 20, 2025 Shares in Centrica jumped nearly 10 per cent in early deals this morning after the owner of British Gas beat earnings estimates and hiked its dividend. The FTSE 100 energy firm reported earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of £2.3bn for the 12 months ended 31 December. While this was down from last [...]
Hays: Profit cut in half at recruiter February 20, 2025 Hays has reported another drop in profit as it struggles amid a long-running in the recruitment sector. Group net fees, a key performance indicator in the recruitment sector, dropped 13 per cent in the six months ending 31 December. Operating profit fell 56 per cent to £25.5m, while profit before tax fell 66 per cent [...]
Consumers’ outlook on the economy drops for fifth month in a row February 20, 2025 Consumer confidence has dipped again in the UK, with Brits’ outlook on the state of the economy dropping for the fifth month in a row. Public expectations for the economy over the next three months worsened to -37 in February, down from -34 in January. Brits’ personal financial outlook dropped to -11 in February, down [...]
Healey urges ‘maximum pressure’ on Putin, as Trump blames war on Ukraine February 19, 2025 The defence secretary John Healey has warned that forgetting about the war in Ukraine while talks take place between the US and Russia risks “jeopardising the peace”. It came as Healey countered US President Donald Trump’s claim that Kyiv started the conflict amid a visit to Norway, near its border with Russia. The cabinet minister [...]
Criticising ‘wealth hoarding boomers’ is ageist stereotype, MPs warn February 19, 2025 Criticism of older people as “wealth hoarding boomers” is a form of ageist stereotyping, a report by MPs has warned. Ageism is “widespread and culturally embedded” in the UK and discrimination laws are currently “failing” older people, the MPs have said. The Women and Equalities Committee of MPs concluded the UK has a “pervasively ageist [...]
Reynolds urged to quit over accusations he falsely claimed to be solicitor February 19, 2025 Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds is being urged to resign as a minister over accusations he falsely claimed to be a solicitor, despite only being a trainee. The cabinet minister – who is responsible for the UK’s businesses and international trade – has been criticised for describing himself as a solicitor before becoming an MP, despite [...]
