UK economy weathers Iran war shocks but slowdown incoming August 13, 2026 The UK economy grew 0.4 per cent between April and June, official data has revealed, in a sign that businesses and consumers have so far weathered the worst shocks of the war in Iran. The growth figure from the Office for National Statistics was in line with analysts’ expectations but came alongside a surprise boost [...]
Devolution should mean regions competing for investment August 13, 2026 The next phase of devolution should focus less on how funding is distributed and more on how growth is rewarded, says Gus Wiseman For more than 30 years, governments have tried to rebalance England’s economy by directing funding towards regions outside London and the South East. Many of those programmes have delivered worthwhile projects, but [...]
Martin Williams on his favourite Toast the City venues August 12, 2026 Ahead of Toast the City this October, our restaurant columnist on his favourite City spots Bank is almost unrecognisable from when I began my career in the area with Gaucho in 2004. I went on to become MD of the brand before leaving in 2014 to take an entrepreneurial journey, founding M on Threadneedle Street. [...]
Emergency government meeting held over high temperature amid ‘strain on public finances’ August 12, 2026 The government will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the country’s response to this summer’s high temperatures and drought amid fears that it will add a “strain” on the public finances. Prime Minister Andy Burnham will chair the ‘Cobra’ meeting of ministers overseeing health, water, housing and local government, as well as officials from agencies [...]
The European fintech American dream is being called into question August 12, 2026 A double US banking application blow has called into question the fintech dream of landing on Wall Street. In this week’s column, Samuel Norman takes a look at the expansion roadmap for Europe’s top fintechs as well as the latest response to the booming profits in UK banks half-year reports. Denied, denied, withdrawn. That is [...]
Can John Healey deliver Burnham’s make-or-break devolution agenda? August 11, 2026 Devolution is Andy Burnham’s preferred growth lever. Maurício Alencar explores how devolution under Chancellor John Healey could save Britain – or destroy it. In 1998, two of the closest aides of then-chancellor Gordon Brown produced a report into the regional economic divide in Britain. The report, called ‘Towards a new regional policy: Delivering growth and [...]
UK economy to ‘reverse gains’ as construction drags growth August 11, 2026 The UK economy’s modest gains from the first half of the year are set to be reversed as the flagging construction industry is set to hammer growth prospects, economists have said. A poll of economists, tracked by Bloomberg, believe GDP contracted by 0.1 per cent in June, partly unwinding previous gains. Pantheon Macroeconomics analysts said [...]
Top economists shun Burnham over wealth taxes August 10, 2026 Economic heavyweights who were reported to be advising Andy Burnham have opted not to join his government due to disagreements over potential wealth taxes, it has been reported. Lord Jim O’Neill, the former Goldman Sachs executive, is in ongoing talks with Burnham over a potential role, City AM reported last week. Fresh reports have suggested [...]
Ebru Koksal: ‘Women tend to ask difficult questions, and that’s not always liked’ August 10, 2026 Former investment banker turned CEO of Galatasaray, Turkish FA chief and advisor to Fifa and Uefa Ebru Koksal on the barriers faced by women in football, how it compares to the world of finance, and what England has got right. Ebru Koksal’s path to becoming a trailblazing female figure and one of the most respected [...]
Zilch, Clearscore among five UK scale-ups to get dedicated FCA support August 10, 2026 The UK’s financial watchdog is to offer extra regulatory support to five British scale-ups as it seeks to ease the burden on fast-growing firms. Zilch, Clearscore, Modulr, Teya and Urban Jungle have become the first companies regulated solely by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to join its Scale-up Unit, which gives each firm a dedicated [...]