Tories brace for heavy losses as Badenoch outpolls rivals April 4, 2026 Five years ago, the Conservatives were polling at around 40 per cent, buoyed by the vaccine rollout and post-Brexit momentum, and went on to gain 235 seats in the 2021 local elections. But ahead of May’s vote, that position seems to have shifted. Political scientist Stephen Fisher has suggested the party could lose as many [...]
Labour to curb jail terms for shoplifters as retail crime fears grow April 4, 2026 Labour’s plans to scrap most prison sentences of under a year will see thousands of prolific shoplifters avoid jail, in a move that risks intensifying pressure on retailers already warning of rising violence and disorder. The changes, introduced under the Sentencing Act, mean around 98 per cent of shoplifters currently in custody would instead qualify [...]
Labour must reform biodiversity laws to boost housebuilding, trade body says April 3, 2026 Housebuilders are calling on the government to reform its biodiversity quotas for developers to lessen the costs and delays they say it causes to businesses. The Home Builders Federation (HBF), which represents the housebuilding industry, welcomed recent changes to biodiversity laws but said they do not go far enough in lifting the burden on housebuilders. [...]
Mansion tax to hit 165,000 homeowners April 3, 2026 The mansion tax is expected to hit 165,000 homeowners in its first year, more than the 120,000 that was previously thought. The levy will hit 45,000 more properties than had been initially forecast, according to the fiscal watchdog, and thousands could successfully appeal the tax. The mansion tax, introduced at last year’s Budget, will not [...]
M&S boss: Sadiq Khan is soft on crime April 3, 2026 Marks and Spencer has hit out at the Mayor of London for being soft on crime, after crowds of young people have targeted London shops in the past week. Thinus Keeve, the supermarket’s retail director, has called on Sadiq Khan to crack down on violent disorder against retailers, after a Marks and Spencer (M&S) shop [...]
Robotaxis are coming to London, but will they make money? April 3, 2026 The arrival of driverless ride-hailing would not simply mark a technological milestone. It could also test whether autonomous mobility can ever become a profitable business, says Michael Lenox A black Jaguar SUV with no one behind the wheel pulls up on a London street. It’s electric and equipped with Waymo’s autonomous driving system. A passenger [...]
Options Technology Enhances APAC Connectivity with Direct Access to Japan Alternative Market (JAX) via AtlasFabric April 2, 2026 Options Technology, a leading provider of mission-critical infrastructure and connectivity solutions for global financial markets, has strengthened its presence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region by adding direct connectivity to the Japan Alternative Market (JAX), a Proprietary Trading System (PTS). The integration marked a strategic expansion of Options’ market access offerings across Japan and APAC. JAX’s [...]
Barbican Centre: the brutalist landmark weaving art into everyday London life. April 2, 2026 For many people, the Barbican is a place to visit, to catch a show, enjoy some food or just hang out. For others, like Jo Davis (Head of Retail) and Oluwatoyin Odunsi (Senior Producer for Learning & Participation), it’s a place of work – as seen in the video below. And for a fortunate few, [...]
NBA and EuroLeague line up fresh talks over compromise deal April 2, 2026 The NBA and EuroLeague are set for further meetings, perhaps as soon as next week, amid growing hopes of a resolution to their rift over a new European basketball league. The US giant and its European counterpart had been at loggerheads for months over the plans for NBA Europe to launch in 2027 and potentially [...]
JMW head of real estate: Despite the challenges, I’m optimistic about the housing market April 2, 2026 Sophie Maryan, head of residential real estate at JMW Solicitors, tells us about life as a City lawyer in Square Mile and Me.