From Brexit to Berne: Financial services enter a new era of global cooperation Opinion 2026 will be a year for collaborating with international partners to tackle shared challenges, reduce cross-border financing barriers, and promote investment, says Dame Susan Langley Henry Ford once said that “coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, but working together is success”. As global ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services sector, my goal for 2026 is [...]
Got an oyster card? Then you’d better get used to paying more for less Opinion If freezing rail fares is vital for cutting the cost of living, why are transport costs in London rising sharply? Asks James Ford As part of his latest, desperate relaunch, beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to focus on cutting the cost of living for Britons this year. One of the key planks of [...]
CCC Digital Key™ Certifications Surged in 2025, Reinforcing the Global Standard for Secure Vehicle Access 115 vehicle and module products achieved CCC Digital Key™ certification, including the first certified vehicles in China
Electric vehicle sales set to experience slowest growth since the pandemic January 3, 2026 Electric vehicle sales are set for their slowest annual growth since the pandemic damaged sales in 2020, as demand for the vehicles weaken. First reported by the Financial Times, electric vehicle (EV) sales are expected to reach just 13 per cent to 24m in 2026, down from an estimated 22 per cent increase last year, [...]
It’ll be stonely this Christmas December 25, 2025 On Christmas day in 1950, Scottish nationalists stole the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey, recalls Eliot Wilson The winter of 1950-51 was cold and savage for Britain, still tending its wounds from the Second World War. At the general election in February 1950, Clement Attlee’s reforming Labour government had remained in office – but [...]
Why are people pooping on the pavements of the Square Mile? December 23, 2025 Why is the City of London running an advertising campaign reminding people not to despoil the streets at Christmas? Asks James Ford The City of London has many ancient and arcane traditions. The City Corporation, the Square Mile’s local council, can trace its roots back to Anglo-Saxon times. Not only is the Corporation led by [...]
Last minute gift guide: Top presents from tech to games and books December 18, 2025 Whoever you’re buying for, we have the perfect present ideas in our guide to the best Christmas gifts 2025. Whether you want cutting edge tech for the nerd in your life or fancy socks to keep dad happy until Boxing day, we have you covered. Christmas gifts 2025: Books Always Remember the Boy, the Mole, [...]
‘If we’re serious about growth this is the lever to pull’, says Treasury adviser December 17, 2025 UK founders are launching businesses faster than ever, yet many still feel undervalued, underfunded, and overlooked. The 2025 UK StartUp Report showed that only 29 per cent of founders believe entrepreneurship is seen as a desirable career while just 27 per cent feel successful founders are celebrated. And, perhaps worst of all, only around a [...]
Could Zack Polanski be the Conservatives’ useful idiot? December 15, 2025 Rather than being scared of Zack Polanski, perhaps those on the centre right should learn to stop worrying and embrace the Green Party leader’s potential to unseat Labour, argues James Ford Zack Polanski is many things: failed actor, dodgy hypnotist, one-time chorister, former Liberal Democrat and Rizzle Kicks fan. He is also extremely popular with [...]
How Formula 1 is reengineering car branding December 14, 2025 It’s an old adage, but one particularly true for automotive brands, that where you show up as a brand really matters. Staples for car marketing are high-quality environments such as cinema, peak TV, eye-catching billboards and the like. Especially for cars – a category in which long-range priming is key – these quality touchpoints shape [...]