Businesses can’t keep waiting for political stability July 7, 2026 We’ve created a hidden economy of underemployment. Thousands of highly skilled, self-employed professionals don’t appear in the unemployment figures because, technically, they have work. But many are quietly living off savings while they wait for businesses to regain the confidence to make decisions, says Aceil Haddad I was so annoyed watching the political drama unfold [...]
Non-compete clauses are restraining Britain’s talent market July 7, 2026 In the US, you can hire someone for a senior role and have them at their desk in a matter of weeks. Britain should ban non-compete clauses to enable the same.
I’m 60, please don’t give me a Freedom Pass July 7, 2026 Free travel for the over 60s is a perverse incentive for older people to lead more sedentary lifestyles and it’s paid for by people who need the money more, says Guto Harri I’m not in denial. I know today is a big birthday and I’m getting on a bit, but I’m happy and grateful to [...]
SailGP: The $100m-per-team sailing league looking to join British summer of sport July 7, 2026 With SailGP back on these shores later this month, how is the league going about becoming a staple of the British summer? The British summer of sport is an extraordinary thing; Henley, Wimbledon, the Boat Race, Queen’s, Test cricket, The Open, Prem Rugby’s final, the British Grand Prix and more. But there is another sport [...]
‘Too much tax, too much regulation’: Fintech chief sounds alarm on UK economy and IPO market July 7, 2026 The boss of one of the UK’s fastest-growing fintech unicorns has warned the country risks “putting founders off” with overregulation and heavy taxation as speculation rises that the Labour government could make a major lurch to the left. Paul Taylor, who founded banking software firm Thought Machine in 2014, told City AM he feared UK [...]
How Swatch and Audemars Piguet pulled off the ultimate high-low watch collab July 7, 2026 Audemars Piguet and Swatch have teamed up to create a plastic pocket watch that riffs on the Royal Oak, turning an untouchable status symbol into something playful, divisive and irresistibly collectible. Sam Kessler asks: ‘What’s going on?’ On 16 May every Swatch Store in London closed for the day as hundreds of people queued outside, [...]
Everyman to open at Elephant & Castle as £500m regeneration gains pace July 7, 2026 Everyman is set to expand its presence in the capital with a new five-screen cinema at the £500m regeneration of Elephant and Castle. The up-market cinema chain has faced tough trading conditions in recent years but hopes to take a boost from the footfall expected at The Elephant, the redevelopment of the south London area. [...]
Patent cliff fuels Novartis’ $1.5bn swoop for London biotech July 6, 2026 Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has agreed to buy London-based biotech Myricx Bio for up to $1.5bn (£1.1bn) as global drugmakers continue deploying billions into promising biotech firms ahead of an estimated $450bn wave of patent expiries over the next decade. The deal will see Novartis pay $1.1bn upfront, with a further $400m tied to development [...]
M&S to face shareholder grilling over cyber attack recovery July 6, 2026 Marks and Spencer is set to take a grilling from shareholders over whether it has made a meaningful recovery from the cyber attack which wiped out nearly a third of its profit. The FTSE 100 retailer will face investors at its annual general meeting on Tuesday, where it will expect to be quizzed on whether [...]
London Lions in EuroLeague franchise bid – but may have to quit Super League Basketball July 6, 2026 London Lions are in talks to buy an expansion franchise in EuroLeague basketball when the continent’s premier competition adds four new teams next year. London is a priority market for EuroLeague as it advances its plans to grow to 24 teams for the 2027-28 season – part of a comprehensive rearguard action against the NBA’s [...]