Mark Kleinman: Healey unlikely to resist clamour for bank windfall tax September 3, 2026 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City editor and the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his City AM column. The sense of déjà vu among Britain’s bank chiefs is palpable. Eight weeks ahead of new Chancellor John Healey’s inaugural fiscal statement and the industry is engaged in another frantic round of lobbying against tax rises. This [...]
Poundland owners rush to sell discount retailer before Christmas September 2, 2026 The owners of Poundland are racing to find a buyer for the discount retailer ahead of the all-important Christmas trading period, having already received interest from suitors. Gordon Brothers, who bought Poundland only a year ago, have appointed advisors Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) to sound out interest in the company after several parties approached the [...]
Stealth taxes intensify London first time buyer struggle September 1, 2026 A raft of government stealth taxes is driving the London property market even further into unaffordability for first time buyers, fresh research has found. Freezes in tax bands and thresholds means the average home in the capital now accounts for an eye-watering 14.7 times average earnings after accounting for stamp duty, national insurance and income [...]
Lexus ES 2026 review: Easygoing electric saloon goes its own way August 27, 2026 Lexus has built some superb saloon cars during its 37-year lifetime, from the original LS 400, which bested the benchmark Mercedes-Benz S-Class, to the stylish and dynamic IS 300: a worthy rival for the contemporary BMW 3 Series. Today, however, Lexus is almost exclusively an SUV company. Its UK range stretches from the compact LBX [...]
Asda turnaround king Allan Leighton hopes for summer boost August 27, 2026 Allan Leighton, the turnaround expert charged with leading Asda’s resurgence, has been known for his showmanship. During his first stint at Asda in the 90s, he kicked off an annual managers’ conference by revving into the auditorium on a Harley-Davidson motorbike. It was this reputation for bold, eye-catching leadership which prompted struggling discount retailer Asda [...]
Mortgage rate hikes cost London homebuyers £35,000 August 27, 2026 The surging mortgage rates caused by the Iran war have forced the average London homebuyer to fork out an extra £35,500 for their deposit. The rising cost of borrowing caused by the Middle East conflict has meant that the average deposit in the UK is £18,400 higher than in January – though costs have risen [...]
Housebuilder shares soar on Burnham council housing plans August 25, 2026 Shares in the UK’s biggest housebuilders rose sharply on Tuesday morning after Andy Burnham revealed plans to spend an initial £10bn on affordable housing. In an announcement on Monday evening, the Prime Minister said the initial funding package would be used to build “thousands more quality council, social and affordable homes”. The funding would be [...]
Burnham shelves Thames Water administration plans over costs August 25, 2026 Andy Burnham has paused plans to take public control of Thames Water over fears that it could saddle the taxpayer with a bill running into the billions of pounds. The Prime Minister had been considering putting the struggling utility into a special administration regime (SAR), which would allow the government to take partial control of [...]
Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo Review: 550hp, 199mph and Nearly £200k – Is It Worth It? August 24, 2026 The Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo has the looks, soundtrack and blistering performance to turn heads across London, but does its £191,820 price tag justify a cabin that doesn’t quite match the glamour? There’s always something rather alluring about the Maserati line-up, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it’s that effortless Italian chic [...]
In defence of The Hundred, by co-chair of Welsh Fire August 20, 2026 Welsh Fire co-chair Mark Rhydderch-Roberts dissects The Hundred season, and urges doubters to give it a go. After a frenetic 27 days and a gripping and sold out Finals Day last Sunday at Lord’s, the 2026 Hundred tournament has concluded. Despite the best efforts of some to focus on a marginal decline in total attendances, [...]