UK’s biggest pub firm probed over treatment of tenants Hospitality The UK’s biggest pub landlord is being probed by the industry watchdog over concerns that it is mistreating its tenants. Stonegate, whose 4,500 UK sites include the Cannick Taps on Cannon Street and the Cheshire Cheese on Tower Hill, is facing an investigation from the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA). The watchdog said it had “reasonable [...]
Barclays and Lloyds back calls to digitalise UK markets and unlock £33bn boost Markets Top financial institutions have rallied behind a new report calling for the government to accelerate the digitalisation of UK markets to deliver a £33bn annaul boost to the economy. The paper, backed by a 54-strong taskforce that includes the likes of Barclays, JP Morgan and Lloyds Banking Group, says the tokenisation of markets could add [...]
Rachel Reeves’ legacy of tinkering with the City is not enough, says Mel Stride Economics Sir Mel Stride has branded Rachel Reeves’ legacy in government as mere “tinkering” with City reform as the top Tory predicted her successor will create a “hostile” environment for the banking sector. In an interview with City AM, the shadow Chancellor branded Reeves’ two-years in the Treasury as “managerial incrementalism,” adding it was “not enough”. [...]
House prices rise as mortgage rates ease from Iran war highs July 7, 2026 House prices inched up in June as mortgage rates softened following a sharp spike in response to the Iran war. The average UK property price rose by 0.2 per cent in June to £299,330, compared to a 0.2 per cent fall in May, according to the Lloyds house price index. Inflationary fears and expectation of [...]
Halifax ends 173-year high street run as Lloyds ditches branding July 1, 2026 Lloyds Banking Group is set to ditch its Halifax brand in a move that will end the retail bank’s 173-year run on the high street. The FTSE 100 titan – whose subsidiaries also include Bank of Scotland and Scottish Widows – said on Wednesday it would rebrand Halifax under the central moniker of Lloyds. Lloyds [...]
Businesses confidence slumps as Burnham prepares for power July 1, 2026 Ministers must prioritise delivery over “changes in the machinery of government” if business confidence is to recover, one of Britain’s top lobby groups has said, in a warning to Andy Burnham as he prepares to shake-up Whitehall and shift power to the North of England. In its monthly business confidence survey, the Institute of Directors [...]
City launches new Digital ID framework against AI fraud June 30, 2026 The City of London Corporation has unveiled plans for a new digital identity framework it claims could unlock more than £5bn for the UK economy, as policymakers and the financial sector race to tackle increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled fraud. A blueprint published on Tuesday proposes a “Digital Verification Orchestrator”, or DVO – a system set to [...]
Nolana Named as Finalist and Runner-Up at ILC ClaimsTech – The Pitch 2026 in London June 30, 2026 Nolana AI, the developer of an agentic artificial intelligence operating system for insurance operations, was recognized as a finalist and runner-up at the annual ClaimsTech – The Pitch 2026 live final. The event took place at Kennedys in central London on June 18, 2026. Organised by ILC I Love Claims, the competition showcases emerging innovative [...]
Carbon Announces Signing of Significant Growth Equity Investment from FTV Capital June 30, 2026 The investment will accelerate Carbon's growth in delegated authority underwriting by helping to scale its market-leading data and analytics platform, Graphene, and supporting expansion into new markets, including across the US
Is football eating itself? Not before it eats other sports first June 25, 2026 The World Cup has become so big that it now puts all other sports in the shade, laments Ed Warner. I remember the summer of 1976 as a swathe of bleached playing fields, jumpers for goalposts and pick-up games of cricket. There happened to be an international football tournament that June, but I defy anyone [...]