Downing Street refuses to rule out breaking Labour tax pledges October 15, 2025 Downing Street has refused to rule out breaking Labour manifesto tax pledges not to raise income tax, national insurance for workers or VAT, in a further indication that the government could look to raise revenue through one of the three big taxes. The Labour Party vowed not to raise national insurance, VAT or income tax [...]
Starmer attempts to defuse China spy fiasco as tempers flare October 15, 2025 Keir Starmer is looking to defuse a fiasco surrounding the collapse of an alleged Chinese spy case in parliament in the face of ongoing questions over whether national security advisers discussed the details of the case in private meetings. Starmer told MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday that the government would release witness statements [...]
Cicoria, Angela Hartnett restaurant review: Jamie Oliver vibes October 15, 2025 Cicoria, Angela Hartnett restaurant review: great cocktails and panoramas, but the food and vibe feel more functional than fancy I felt an arm on my shoulder at Wilderness festival this past summer, and it was Angela Hartnett. The Michelin-starred chef was doing a royal walkabout after her ‘banquet feast’, a gout-inducing three-hour scoff-fest so indulgent [...]
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 [...]
‘Exceptional’ M&S chair Archie Norman cleared for three more years in role October 14, 2025 Marks and Spencer’s board has unanimously extended Archie Norman’s tenure as chair in light of his “exceptional” performance over the last nine years. While it is uncommon for chairs to stay longer than nine years, the board of M&S agreed that Norman’s “deep knowledge of the business, drive and unique experience” were invaluable to the [...]
Legal & General’s City of London office hit with suspected vandalism October 14, 2025 The Legal & General headquarters in the City of London has been hit with an apparent act of vandalism this morning. Workers heading to the office of the financial services giant, which sits in the heart of the City, witnessed security guards cornering off the building and red paint splattered across windows. Superintendent Jesse Wynne, [...]
Jonathan Powell urged to answer questions on Chinese spy case in public October 13, 2025 National security adviser Jonathan Powell has been urged to answer questions on the collapse of a Chinese spy case in public, with the government doubling down on its defence that it did not subvert the trial to maintain diplomatic ties with Beijing. Powell is set to appear before a private committee in parliament to answer [...]
Margate House: A super-stylish long weekend away October 13, 2025 Margate is a place of contradictions, gentrified yet still infused with an unmistakable sense of character. Wandering its blustery streets reveals a town that’s at once affluent and deprived, sometimes on the same street. It’s now more famous for its robust arts scene than it is for penny arcades and fish and chips, with a [...]
Why The Inbetweeners comeback is perfectly timed for Millennials October 13, 2025 Expect more dad dancing, car stomping and general cringe-inducing telly: The Inbetweeners comeback means the foursome is returning after more than ten years away. And yes, it looks like the original cast is returning too. This is great news, and I’d argue that there couldn’t be a better time to unite the four unlikely friends. [...]
Don’t raise a glass to Starmer’s plan for pubs October 13, 2025 Keir Starmer claims he has a plan to save the struggling hospitality sector, but the detail is thin and all his other actions – like banning vapes and junkfood advertising – suggest his every impulse is to control people’s behaviour, says Eliot Wilson “Pubs and bars are the beating heart of our communities. Under our [...]