UK trading partners: China returns to top 10 as EU trade slumps May 12, 2025 China has returned to become a top 10 UK trading partner for the first time since 2022 after a slump in trade activity with the European Union. China is now the eighth largest trading partner for the UK, after countries like Ireland and Italy have declined significantly in popularity, data from Santander’s latest Trade Barometer [...]
UK-US deal is welcome, but Starmer must get on with the EU May 12, 2025 Our deals with the US and India reaffirm the UK's role as a trading superpower, but it's the EU we need to focus on, writes Chris Hayward.
Government wants to ‘go further’ with US trading relationship May 11, 2025 The government wants “to go further in terms of the trading relationship with the US”, the Home Secretary has said, as an American economist warned the deal struck with Donald Trump this week “isn’t worth the paper it’s written on”. Joseph Stiglitz told Sky News that had the UK worked with the EU on a [...]
Historically sunny spring to set UK retailers up for a bumper quarter May 10, 2025 The UK’s sunniest spring on record has encouraged Brits into brick and mortar stores in a much-needed boost for Britain’s struggling retailers. Britain experienced its sunniest April ever in 2025, while Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland each recorded their second sunniest. The effect has been to loosen wallets and “encourage shoppers to head out to [...]
Spurred by hate, doomed by love – Sean Holmes’ impressive new take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet May 9, 2025 Article written by guest writer, Emily Doherty “For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo”. The final line to one of the most famous love stories ever written of course, but certainly not the case for Shakespeare’s Globe’s new production of Romeo and Juliet. A mix of joyous [...]
Santander rejected £11bn Natwest bid for UK business May 9, 2025 Santander rebuffed an £11bn bid for its UK retail banking division from Natwest earlier this year because it was was too low. The two lenders are no longer in negotiations, according to people familliar with the matter cited by the Financial Times, despite consistent speculation about the fate of the Spanish financial juggernaut’s UK business. [...]
Shield to prove himself Invincible in classy Sha Tin sprint May 9, 2025 SHA TIN racegoers have a treat in store when some of the top four-year-old sprinters in the territory line-up in the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road Handicap (10.45am) over six furlongs. This mouth-watering encounter includes the likes of the John Size-trained Wunderbar, the only horse to beat world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising, highly-progressive Fast [...]
Kogan set for football regulator role after CMS committee endorsement May 9, 2025 David Kogan looks set to be confirmed as chair of the football regulator after a Culture, Media and Sport committee gave him a qualified endorsement for the role. In a report following his grilling by MPs on Wednesday, the committee said it was “content to endorse David Kogan OBE’s appointment as Chair of the Independent [...]
IPL suspended as PSL moved to UAE over India-Pakistan ‘war’ May 9, 2025 The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been suspended while the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been shifted to the UAE over tensions between Pakistan and India. The two nuclear powers have been at odds of late with a recent air strike killing 31 in Pakistan, according to Islamabad officials. It has led to each nation’s [...]
Travis Perkins: New CEO named after torrid year and FTSE 250 shares slump May 9, 2025 The man chosen to lead an almighty rebuilding project at construction supplies giant Travis Perkins has been named. Gavin Slark has been picked as the Northamptonshire-headquartered company’s new chief executive and is set to take up his role no later than 1 January, 2026. Slark has held the same position at SIG since 2023 and [...]