Healey’s grid pledge faces test as data centre pipeline stalls Tech John Healey’s Budget pledge to fast-track electricity connections for British data centres faces an immediate test, as new research shows only 13 per cent of planned capacity is under construction. The Chancellor announced a new Data Centre Covenant on Wednesday, offering strategically important projects priority access to Britain’s electricity grid in exchange for commitments on [...]
Millions face ID checks under UK social media ban as Ofcom warns of loopholes Tech Millions of British social media users could be forced to verify their age using passports or facial scans under new proposals from Ofcom, as the regulator prepares to enforce the government’s ban on under-16s. The watchdog on Thursday identified four methods it considers sufficiently reliable to determine whether users are aged 16 or over, ahead [...]
WPP sales return to growth as Cindy Rose’s turnaround gathers pace Media Advertising giant WPP returned to revenue growth in the third quarter as chief executive Cindy Rose’s turnaround plan began to show signs of progress, although its creative business continued to struggle. The London-listed group reported revenue of £3.27bn in the three months to September, up 0.5 per cent from a year earlier, following a prolonged [...]
Grosvenor Casinos owner warns of £9m tax hit after Healey’s gambling duty hike October 29, 2026 Casino operator Rank Group has warned that John Healey’s gambling tax hike will deliver a hit of around £9m a year, as the industry begins to count the cost of Wednesday’s Budget. The London-listed owner of Grosvenor Casinos and Mecca Bingo said the increase in Machine Games Duty (MGD) from 20 to 25 per cent, [...]
‘Sigh of relief’ as Healey woos British founders with £10m tax break October 29, 2026 Britain’s startup founders have welcomed a sweeping package of tax breaks in John Healey’s first Budget, but investors warned that the Chancellor’s attempt to keep the country’s most promising businesses at home will fall short without more capital to help them grow. At the centre of Wednesday’s announcement was a new Founders’ Relief, offering entrepreneurs [...]
Budget 2026: Healey bets £700m on AI to boost British tech firms October 28, 2026 John Healey has unveiled more than £700m in funding for AI safety and British tech firms, including a new £40m unit to tackle rogue AI systems. The package, much of which was trailed ahead of Wednesday’s Budget, includes £120m for the AI Security Institute and £165m for biosecurity, as ministers seek to strengthen Britain’s defences [...]
‘Jobs killer’: Gambling industry lashes out at Healey betting tax raid October 28, 2026 After the Chancellor announced a tax hike for the gambling and betting sector, Saskia Koopman dissected the industry reaction Machine Games Duty (MGD) will rise from 20 to 25 per cent in April 2027, below the 40 per cent demanded by campaigners and some Labour MPs. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) warned that almost [...]
Budget 2026: Healey unveils data centre deal in bid to keep Britain’s AI data in the UK October 28, 2026 John Healey has unveiled a new deal offering data centre developers priority access to Britain’s electricity grid in exchange for investment in jobs and environmental protections. Announcing the British Data Centre Covenant in Wednesday’s Budget, Healey said the government would impose strict conditions on developers while helping critical facilities secure the power needed to support [...]
Healey funds high street tax cuts with raid on gambling firms and online sellers October 28, 2026 The government will fund tax breaks for small high street shops by hiking taxes on gambling and cracking down on online sellers, John Healey said. In his first Budget, the Chancellor said he will slash taxes on the high street by raising the threshold at which small firms start paying business rates from £12,000 to [...]
Amazon and Tiktok accused of dodging MP scrutiny over online shopping safety October 28, 2026 Amazon and Tiktok have been accused of dodging parliamentary scrutiny over consumer safety, after MPs raised concerns about the tech giants’ reluctance to appear before a committee hearing next week. Liam Byrne, chair of the Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) Committee, wrote to senior executives at both companies on Tuesday, warning that their unwillingness [...]
