Why are so many London buses crashing? October 1, 2026 The number of buses crashing in London is up by a fifth in seven years, but City Hall seems unconcerned. James Ford is worried Something is going badly wrong with London’s buses. On average, every day a staggering 44 London buses crash. That is an increase of nearly 20 per cent on 2019 (which is [...]
The good news nobody will tell you: the Great Barrier Reef is refusing to die on schedule October 1, 2026 Despite the efforts of an entire PR industry built to predict its demise, the Great Barrier Reef is actually flourishing, says Bjorn Lomborg Australia’s marine scientists recently released their annual audit of the Great Barrier Reef, and it contains news you almost certainly haven’t heard: coral cover held steady or increased across most of the [...]
With Brexit on the ballot the next election will be box office October 1, 2026 Whatever else Andy Burnham’s conference speech achieves, it has certainly opened up some major dividing lines in British politics – and some old wounds. The next election, when it comes, could well have Brexit on the ballot after the PM said he’s open to looking at everything from joining the customs union or entering the [...]
The huge costs facing Andy Burnham – and the financial tightrope he must walk October 1, 2026 Andy Burnham said he didn’t set out to deliver a “tub-thumping conference speech” but it was packed with huge pledges to take control over utilities and expand the state. Maurício Alencar considers just how costly his promises are in the long term – and in the next month. Andy Burnham had all the goodies for [...]
Disinformation wars: The digital mafia weaponising online news October 1, 2026 In part two of our investigation into the disinformation barons, Steve Dinneen dives into a world where hostile factions run smear campaigns for cash and victims have nowhere to hide. To catch up on the first part, follow this link “A fool may ask more questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in [...]
Poundland owner weighs break-up of retailer it bought for £1 September 30, 2026 A flurry of bids for just some of Poundland’s 600 shops could prompt Poundland to consider a break up of the retailer, City AM understands. US investment firm Gordon Brothers initially sought offers for the entirety of the business, but may instead opt to sell Poundland’s stores to a number of different buyers, sources told [...]
AI voice firm Elevenlabs hits $22bn valuation in fresh boost for UK tech September 30, 2026 London-based ElevenLabs has hit a $22bn (£16bn) valuation after completing a $300m employee share sale, marking another sharp jump in value for one of Britain’s fastest-growing AI firms. The voice AI group’s valuation has doubled since its $11bn Series D in February, when it raised $500m, and is now more than 2,000 times the $9m [...]
Britain’s oldest brewery mulls future as cost pressures bite September 30, 2026 The family-run company behind Britain’s oldest brewery is exploring its future after wrestling with soaring costs and sliding sales. Shepherd Neame, which was founded in 1698 in Faversham, Kent and is the firm behind classic British beers Spitfire, Bishop’s Finger and Whitstable Bay, said it had begun a strategic review into its brewing operations “to [...]
Burnham to ‘keep distance’ from Manchester City case – yet thanks Abu Dhabi September 30, 2026 Andy Burnham has vowed to not interfere in the Premier League’s battle with Manchester City but admitted he hopes it will not harm relations with Abu Dhabi. The Prime Minister said he would not get “directly involved” in the long-running case that has seen the club found guilty of more than 100 charges by an [...]
‘Not sustainable’ – French borrowing costs soar amid Budget and election uncertainty September 30, 2026 France is facing a period of acute bond market stress that could last several years unless the presidential frontrunners for next year’s election commit to tackling its gaping deficit, analysts have warned. The difference between French and German government borrowing costs – a key metric used to determine French debt risk – widened beyond 120 [...]