Lawyers say fee hikes punishes profession for regulator blunders May 21, 2026 The legal watchdog plans to raise its funding by increasing lawyer fees to address past shortfalls, but the legal profession is frustrated, arguing they are being forced to pay for the regulator’s own failures and legacy issues, writes Maria Ward-Brennan. Lawyers are not chuffed at the regulator’s plan to increase its fees in the upcoming [...]
Peckham could do with some Del Boy graft May 21, 2026 Peckham’s most famous son, Del Boy, once observed that “He who dares, wins” – adding “He who hesitates, don’t.” It’s a motto on which Southwark Council would do well to reflect, considering there are more than 22,000 people on the borough’s social housing waiting list. Southwark’s Liberal Democrats point out it will take the council [...]
‘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 [...]
SCC UK boss: I’ve returned to London after 10 years. Locals forget how good they have it May 21, 2026 Russell Brown, CEO at IT giant SCC UK, tells us about returning to London after a decade away, and navigating a career in tech.
You don’t have to be a chav to lead the Labour Party, but it helps! May 21, 2026 Rather than a grand battle of big ideas or a serious debate about why this government has blundered so much, Labour’s looming leadership contest looks set to be a depressing competition to see who had the grimmest childhood, laments James Ford Did your dad have a blue-collar job? Did you live in social housing? Did [...]
Burnham’s ‘neoliberalism’ critique is just Thatcher karaoke May 21, 2026 The British economy today is a million miles away from “neoliberalism”, even if we lack a catchy name to describe what has replaced it, says Kristian Niemietz For some countries, we have well-developed national stereotypes and associations. Everyone has an idea in their mind of what counts as “typically French”, “typically Italian” or “typically German”. [...]
Office foodies, the working lunch needs YOU! May 21, 2026 Amid a hospitality crisis, it's up to workers to take longer, boozier lunches and power the economy, says Nicole Gordon.
New HS2 budget to blow £33bn hole in public finances May 21, 2026 The government will need to find as much as £33bn in additional cash from tax and spending measures or from other departments to fund its revamped plans to deliver HS2. According to a City AM analysis, the Department for Transport’s updated proposals for the rail line require between £18bn and £33bn of additional public money [...]
Britain’s fastest man Zharnel Hughes backs home Olympics bid May 21, 2026 Britain’s fastest man Zharnel Hughes has backed a plan to bring the Olympics back to the UK in the 2040s. The government is exploring a potential pathway towards an Olympics in the North of England in what would be the first version of the event in Britain since London 2012 over a decade ago. Anguilla-born [...]
Over half of house moves fall through after an offer is accepted – costing £2bn per year May 21, 2026 More than half of UK house moves fall through after an offer has been accepted, costing the UK £2bn every year in wasted time and fees. Failed house moves could cost the economy £1.97bn per year because around 1.2m residential transactions occur each year and the average fall-through costs buyers and sellers £2,830 in legal [...]