The Works shares soar as families look for ‘screen-free’ fun May 21, 2026 Shares in The Works soared on Thursday morning after the retailer said growing demand for “screen-free” entertainment is driving up revenue. The Aim-listed stock jumped 11 per cent on early trading, to 60p, after it reported revenue growth of more than three per cent to £260m in the year to May. The retailer saw like-for-like [...]
UNPACK ’26 SUMMER TRAVEL TRENDS: DOMESTIC DEMAND RISES AND HOTEL PRICES DROP IN POPULAR INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS May 21, 2026 Hotel hopping boom: travellers double up stays to chase live events and make the most of bleisure escapes this summer Kick Off or Take Off? Football fever sends fans to host cities as savvy travellers head elsewhere for deals Lights, camera… getaway: film and TV hits spark a summer surge in screen‑inspired travel
‘Manchesterism’ is a myth and you can’t trust Andy Burnham May 21, 2026 Andy Burnham says he wants to “roll back the 80s” but the growth of Manchester is down to the rolling back of socialism that began before he became Mayor, says Ayushma Maharjan Britain’s most popular politician is running on a myth, is not credible, and might out-do Starmer in U-turns. A recent Yougov poll found [...]
John Lewis, Debenhams censored over Black Friday ads May 20, 2026 John Lewis, Debenhams and Boots have been censored over “misleading” Black Friday ads after being accused of overstating the discounts on offer to shoppers. The three retail giants have had their adverts banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which monitors ads using an AI-powered tool. The watchdog has been cracking down on retailers’ pricing claims [...]
‘Lost for words’ – Treasury sparks uproar with push to cap supermarket food prices May 19, 2026 The Treasury is putting pressure on supermarkets to cap prices on staple groceries as a quid pro quo for axing taxes and red tape amid fears the Iran war is set to unleash a painful bout of food inflation. According to leaked negotiations between major retailers and the government, the Chancellor’s officials have been pushing [...]
City analysts brand SNP food price cap ‘hair brained’ May 19, 2026 Top city analysts have slammed the SNP’s pledge to cap food prices as “hair brained,” as the party’s leader refuses to walk back from the policy. City broker Shore Capital said the SNP’s proposals to cap the prices of some foods would risk diminishing choice, hampering investment in Scotland’s food industry and could even threaten [...]
Labour selects Burnham and Reform UK picks plumber for by-election battle May 19, 2026 Both Labour and Reform UK have announced their candidates for the upcoming by-election in Makerfield, with the Manchester mayor set to go up against a plumber who narrowly lost in 2024. The Labour Party announced that local members accepted Burnham as its candidate, hours after the so-called ‘King in the North’ published a campaign video [...]
OBR chiefs warn jostling Labour MPs against fiscal rules change May 19, 2026 Office for Budget Responsibility chiefs have warned Labour activists against changing the fiscal rules and overall framework to account for longer term impacts of government investment. The OBR’s David Miles and Tom Josephs said a ten-year forecast horizon would make for a “less credible” economic report and may not have any impact on bond investors. [...]
Monzo’s profit rockets as customer base grows by a quarter May 19, 2026 UK fintech darling Monzo posted a mammoth profit jump in the last financial year as its customer base swelled. The neobank’s pre-tax profit came in at £87.3m, 44 per cent higher than the £60m scored in 2024. The increase came as revenue stormed 40 per cent higher to £1.7bn. Monzo’s total users ballooned 25 per [...]
Markets have entered negative gamma – buckle up May 19, 2026 Dealers are forced being to buy rallies and sell dips, increasing volatility. That should serve as a warning. Although markets currently appear calm and resilient, beneath the surface they are becoming more fragile, says Helen Thomas Markets are entering a profoundly unstable moment for the global price of risk. The supply shock emanating from the [...]