Reeves food tariffs policy will ‘barely touch the sides’ on supermarket prices May 21, 2026 Food manufacturers and retailers have slammed Rachel Reeves’ cost of living measures, claiming the government’s loosening of food tariffs will do little to help supermarkets to cut prices. The Chancellor urged supermarkets to pass on savings from the stripped tariffs to shoppers “in full,” but retailers fear this measure will “barely touch the sides,” City [...]
Reeves unveils ‘Great British Summer Savings’ at cost to energy giants May 21, 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveil edthe government’s “Great British Summer Savings” campaign, committing hundreds of millions of pounds to lower costs for families by taxing energy companies more. Under a new price adjustment set by the government, children aged five to 15 will be able to travel free on participating local bus services across England from [...]
Starmer scrambles to limit fuel shortage hit May 20, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has spelt out a number of policies to address fuel shortages, signalling the government’s fears that the Iran war could hit motorists and households. During Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer defended an announcement last year to “phase” new sanctions on Russia, while also trailing a policy to freeze a 5p fuel duty cut [...]
M&S boss says supermarket price caps ‘completely preposterous’ May 20, 2026 The boss of M&S has dubbed government proposals to urge supermarkets to cap the prices of foods as “completely preposterous”. Stuart Machin, chief executive of the retail giant, called on the government to cut red tape and taxes on grocers instead of pressuring supermarkets to cut prices. The Treasury has reportedly been asking supermarkets to [...]
Inflation drops as Labour subsidies delay price surge May 20, 2026 Inflation dropped slightly compared to the result in the month before as Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget policies stalled an expected surge in price growth. The Office for National Statistics revealed that the consumer price index (CPI) reading was 2.8 per cent, lower than expected by City forecasters. The data for price growth in the year [...]
Billionaire exodus should not be UK’s headline concern May 20, 2026 Billionaires are good for headlines, but it's what's happening lower down the corporate food chain that interests Susannah Streeter.
‘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 [...]
Sign of the Dimes: Harry Styles Wembley run to drive £1bn spending frenzy May 19, 2026 Harry Styles’ 12-night Wembley residency is set to rake in more than £1bn in spending in the capital, smashing previous records set by Taylor Swift concertgoers. The Mancunian popstar is expected to attract £88.3m in spending per night, far higher than the £66.5m recorded during Taylor Swift’s UK Eras Tour dates in 2024, according to [...]
Tesco boss Ken Murphy took £1m pay rise in grocer’s bumper year May 15, 2026 Ken Murphy, the boss of Tesco, took a more-than £1m pay rise this year, bringing his total pay packet to £10.8m in the year the grocer solidified its dominant position in the market. The chief executive of the supermarket giant’s total pay packet for the 2025/26 year included £1.5m in basic pay, a £3.4m bonus [...]