How to keep the wheels on private rail? Bring back first class service December 4, 2025 The era of rail renationalisation is an opportunity for the remaining open access operators to compete with a luxury offering, says Simon Hunt Amid all the Budget chaos last week, one big government announcement was drowned out: the transport department is freezing rail fares. Most commuters would gladly favour a freeze over a repeat of [...]
Paddington musical review: the bear’s a bit clunky, but the show is warm and fuzzy November 30, 2025 Paddington musical review and star rating: ★★★★ It feels like a fairly strange point in history when The Guardian “exclusively reveal” Paddington bear, transplanted from Michael Bond’s novels to the Savoy Theatre. Such has been the enormous hype around this musical, which has been shrouded in secrecy for seven years during production but has finally [...]
Budget whiplash: How bank shares were hit by the Treasury’s ‘hokey cokey’ leaking November 25, 2025 Last week the House of Commons speaker reprimanded the Treasury for what he called a “hokey cokey” Budget. “Can I just say it isn’t normal for a Budget to be put in the press,” Sir Lindsay Hoyle said in his dressing down of ministers. “One minute it’s in, next minute it’s out.” Few sectors have [...]
Reeves delays Shein import clampdown to 2029 November 22, 2025 Rachel Reeves will wait four years before scrapping a controversial tax break that benefits low-cost foreign retailers such as Shein and Temu, hitting British high street chains who had pushed for immediate action in next week’s Budget. The chancellor has confirmed she will abolish the UK’s ‘de minimis’ rule, which exempts parcels worth under £135 [...]
The Bangkok hotel that finds perfect calm amid the chaos November 20, 2025 Bangkok is rarely quiet. The Thai capital barrels forward at full volume: Woks hiss and clang in open-air kitchens, tuk tuks chase traffic like motorised dragonflies, and scaffolding sprouts where centuries-old ruins once stood. The streets pulse with unfiltered life. Anthony Bourdain once likened it to “being inside an electronic rice cooker with the lid [...]
The Capitalist: The politicians who almost made it onto I’m a Celebrity November 20, 2025 Angela Rayner? Ed Balls? Michael Gove? We spill the beans on who almost made it into the I'm a Celebrity jungle in this week's The Capitalist.
Sartoria opens in Kensington, plus the best London restaurants to visit November 12, 2025 Last week, we at Evolv opened our new restaurant Sartoria at Launceston Place in Kensington. A Sir Terence Conran masterpiece and favourite of Princess Diana, I hope both would have been proud of my attempt to recreate this beloved local restaurant, which takes the style of Savile Row, injects some Milanese flair, and comes together [...]
Is Sadiq trying to gaslight Londoners about crime? October 16, 2025 The Mayor is desperate to convince Londoners that crime is falling, despite all the evidence to the contrary, writes James Ford London does not have a crime problem; it has a misinformation problem. That is the assertion of the capital’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan. Clearly wounded by President Trump’s recent claim that “crime in London is [...]
Starmer’s business adviser is ‘frontrunner’ to be US ambassador October 15, 2025 Keir Starmer’s business adviser is a frontrunner to replace Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US, according to reports. Varun Chandra, a former venture capital executive who has had to curry favour with business leaders and investors in a difficult year for the UK economy, is being considered for the important diplomatic role [...]
Finance chiefs fear UK is falling behind as Labour growth push falls flat October 13, 2025 UK finance chiefs believe the country is falling behind rivals as costs are stacking up and squeezing profit margins, a new survey has shown, with further alarm bells ringing that businesses are losing faith in Labour’s drive for growth. The government has moved to curry favour with top investment bosses as Rachel Reeves met the [...]