All I want for Christmas is economic growth December 23, 2025 Keir Starmer has quietly abandoned his “five missions”, now he should dispense with all policies that are standing in the way of growth, starting with the Employment Rights Bill, says Joe Hill As we ring out 2025 and ring in 2026, it’s good to reflect on what we’re leaving behind as well as looking to [...]
The Punter Podcast Episode 63: Christmas Racing Special December 22, 2025 Tom Marriott is joined by Bill Esdaile for his best bets of the busy Christmas racing schedule, highlighted by the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. Plus, Wally Pyrah dials in to preview the racing at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Tuesday 23 December. Merry Christmas! The Punter ‘The Punter’ has been City [...]
Christmas can come early for Size and Purton with Enthralled December 22, 2025 BANK on the formidable partnership of trainer John Size and jockey Zac Purton to serve up a pre-Christmas treat for racegoers, when racing gets underway with a nine-race programme at Happy Valley on Tuesday. The pair team up with strong stayer ENTHRALLED, who comes to the Valley for the first time in the competitive Saturn [...]
Judge Dredd and the peculiarly British tradition of the Christmas special December 22, 2025 The sci-fi Christmas special is a unique window into British culture – where the joy of the season always meet despair and decline, says Will Cooling In his unofficial role as Donald Trump’s lead cheerleader-cum-adviser, Elon Musk welcomed the now withdrawn nomination of Matt Gaetz to be America’s next Attorney General by calling him the [...]
The history of Christmas dinner, from steamed sheep’s head to traditional turkey December 22, 2025 For me, Christmas is always about indulging, with a slap-up dinner at the heart of things. When most people think Christmas dinner, they think turkey, roast potatoes, Brussel sprouts, parsnips, pigs in blankets, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. For many, turkey is the centrepiece. December’s favourite dish has come a long way from humble origins [...]
What I have learned from eight years of sober Christmas December 22, 2025 The last time I had alcohol on Christmas Day was 2017, at the age of 40. This year will mark—excuse me while I count on my fingers—my eighth sober Christmas, enough to make a statistically valid sample. So I thought I would distill any wisdom I’ve gathered from the two slopes of the mountain into [...]
First Equity sets sights on Northwest expansion December 22, 2025 Historic London-based stockbroker First Equity is set to expand into the Northwest of the UK with a fresh presence in Liverpool. The firm, an independent broking boutique dating back to the 1980s, offers investment services to companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, AIM, Aquis Exchange, and JP Jenkins Private Markets. Senior Investment Manager Neil Blankstone, [...]
Private sector slump to drag on to Spring 2026, businesses say December 22, 2025 UK business leaders have warned that the sharp downturn in the private sector is likely to continue until Spring 2026, after firms put plans for future investment on ice in the run-up to the Labour government’s Autumn Budget. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) anticipates private sector output to fall in the fourth quarter after [...]
Smithfield Christmas Meat Auction: London’s oldest festive tradition returns December 19, 2025 One of London’s oldest festive trading traditions returns this Christmas Eve, as the gates at Smithfield Market’s Grade II listed Grand Avenue are set to open at 09:30, for the iconic Smithfield Christmas Meat Auction. The Auction began around a century ago, as traders prepared for their well-earned festive break and sold off excess supplies [...]
The Wolf is Coming to Win for Shum December 19, 2025 RACING in Hong Kong reverts to Saturday from Sunday this weekend for an 11-race programme at Sha Tin and features the Class Two Ivy Handicap (9.05am) over six furlongs. With the Christmas festivities fast approaching, it will be paramount for many racegoers to top up their balances to pay for the turkey and presents under [...]