This time there can be no way back for Peter Mandelson February 3, 2026 On 9 June 2009 Mandelson told the House of Lords that, as Business Secretary and First Secretary of State, he was focused on helping Britain to emerge from recession “stronger, more competitive and able to grow in the future,” adding that government policies will “enrich our society.” Days later he appeared to be more focused [...]
Why has no one in the Cabinet run a business? February 3, 2026 It is in all our interests that politics remains an attractive proposition for people who have worked in business writes Kiki McDonough.
The ugly truth: Business rates are bad for the beauty industry February 3, 2026 Salons are grappling with the simultaneous rise of the National Living Wage, increased Employer National Insurance contributions, and skyrocketing utility costs. They should be given the same consideration as pubs, says Victoria Brownlie The British high street is often described as the heartbeat of our communities, and for years, the hair and beauty sector has [...]
Badenoch: Starmer put UK in ‘weaker position’ through deals with China February 3, 2026 Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has said Keir Starmer’s trip to China put the UK in a “weaker position”, underlining the different approaches taken by the two main parties in dealing with the world’s second largest economy. Badenoch, who previously said she would not travel to China under the current circumstances, said Starmer had “been played” [...]
Disney streaming gains momentum as Hollywood pressure builds February 2, 2026 Disney beat Wall Street expectations in its latest quarter, buoyed by an unexpected improvement in its streaming business, despite rising costs hitting the entertainment industry. The media giant reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.63 for its first fiscal quarter, ahead of estimates of around $1.56. Revenue rose five per cent year on year to [...]
‘Well done Petey’: Epstein advised Mandelson on $6m Deutsche Bank role February 2, 2026 Peter Mandelson sought advice from convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein on a possible job offer worth up to $6m from Deutsche Bank as part of a joint campaign to land the former business secretary lucrative roles in finance after Labour lost the 2010 election, newly released emails show. According to messages published by the US Department [...]
Salons could ‘pull down shutters for good’ as business rates bite February 2, 2026 The British Beauty Council has urged the government to extend support on business rates to hair and beauty salons, or watch firms up and down the country “pull down their shutters for good”. Victoria Brownlie, chief policy and sustainability officer at the British Beauty Council, warned that the profitability of beauty salons has been “hollowed [...]
Keir Starmer is scared to death of Andy Burnham February 2, 2026 Blocking Andy Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election shows Starmer is a weak leader whose time in Downing Street will soon be over, says Sacha Lord We are witnessing the beginning of the end of Starmer’s short stint as PM. How is it possible, that someone with such a stomping majority, has [...]
Starmer’s Chinese takeaway leaves a nasty taste February 2, 2026 The Prime Minister returns from China a rather diminished figure. His vaunted commitment to human rights and international law rings very false when he kowtows to the regime in Beijing, and even the likely modest economic impact of his visit cannot offset that, says Eliot Wilson We need to talk about Sir Keir Starmer. The [...]
The City is leading the charge against fraud February 2, 2026 Fraud now accounting for 44 per cent of all UK crime, but the City is fighting back, says Chris Hayward Last week marked a generational milestone for policing – and one we must get right. In publishing her long-awaited White Paper, home secretary Shabana Mahmood set out a blueprint to modernise policing in England and [...]