‘Disastrous’: London airports slam UK Government’s tourist tax August 16, 2023 Bosses at three leading UK airports have warned the government that its so-called ‘tourist tax’ is already making Britain a less appealing tourist destination. Senior figures at London City, Heathrow and Gatwick argued that the return of airside VAT-free shopping would be critical for the sector to finally shake-off Covid-19 and keep pace with international [...]
Yet more rail strikes have been announced – here’s all you need to know August 15, 2023 Commuters are to face yet more misery from rail strikes this August after the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) announced fresh industrial action last week. 20,000 RMT members from a host of train operators nationwide will walk out, disrupting the UK’s rail network on dates that coincide with the August Bank holiday weekend. The [...]
Maybe Sunak was right – we should change how we invest in poor rural areas August 15, 2023 The government's approach to investment focuses too much on poverty and not enough on opportunities. Rishi Sunak must find a way of making social mobility accessible, writes Adam Hawksbee
London losing out due to ‘tourist tax’ as US and Gulf visitors opt for Paris and Milan instead August 14, 2023 London is losing out on wealthy foreign visitors splashing their cash in Oxford Street due to the so-called ‘tourist tax’, amid renewed calls to scrap it and make the capital more competitive. The removal of VAT free shopping for international tourists continues to hurt London retailers, with visitors from the US and the Gulf cutting [...]
FTSE 100 close: London subdued on quiet earnings day as YouGov mulls US listing August 14, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 started the week in subdued fashion, as a quiet earnings day was overshadowed by reports that YouGov is mulling a US listing. The capital’s premier blue chip index closed the day on 7,495.24 points, down 0.88 per cent, while the FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the domestic economy, was [...]
Shaftesbury secures £200m loan as property giant juggles debt arrangements August 14, 2023 Newly formed London property giant Shaftesbury Capital has launched a new 10-year loan of £200m secured against a portfolio of assets within the Carnaby estate. The major London landlord said the financing highlights the “attractiveness” of the company’s mainly retail and leisure portfolio to a “broad range of institutional capital”. The loan will sit alongside [...]
More strikes: 20,000 train workers to walk out later this month bringing UK to a halt August 11, 2023 Members of the biggest rail workers union are to stage fresh strikes in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said 20,000 of its members in 14 train operators would walk out on August 26 and September 2. The union said it had been left with “little [...]
North and West London faces ‘bus standstill’ as workers vote on strike action August 10, 2023 North and West London’s bus network could grind to a halt this autumn, the Unite Union has warned, as hundreds of workers are to be balloted for strikes in an ongoing dispute over pay. 500 employees French-owned operator RATP in London will vote over the next month on whether to launch a campaign of industrial [...]
Red White and Royal Blue director Matthew Lopez on filming ‘tender’ gay sex scenes August 10, 2023 You’re no doubt sick of reading about Barbie and Oppenheimer by now, so we’ve got good news: a new duo of releases are here for you to get excited about. TV series Heartstopper has just dropped its second season on Netflix and so has new Amazon film Red, White & Royal Blue. Unlike Barbenheimer, what [...]
West End faces office supply crunch as back to work demand picks up August 10, 2023 Central London, particularly the West-End, is facing an office space supply crunch as demand for in person working picks up, property investment trust Derwent London has said. According to reports in its half year results, the listed business described the West-End as “very tight” with only 3.8 per cent of vacancy levels on office space. [...]