Mike Ashley’s investments double to £1bn thanks to Hugo Boss shares July 17, 2025 The total value of the stakes Mike Ashley’s empire holds in the likes of Hugo Boss, AO World and Boohoo have doubled to £1bn in just over a year, it has been revealed. According to the group’s latest financial results, which have been filed with the London Stock Exchange, the value of its investments in [...]
Government must ‘take its head out of the sand’ after jobs plunge July 17, 2025 Small businesses have urged the government to “take its head out of the sand” over tax hikes and a flurry of fresh employment regulations after the Office for National Statistics reported another consecutive month of jobs losses. Responding to Thursday’s unemployment figures, the Federation for Small Businesses said the jobs plunge was “disturbing” and that [...]
Government to lower voting age to 16 and tighten donation rules July 17, 2025 The government will lower the voting age to 16 at the next election and tighten checks on political donations in sweeping reforms aimed at “restoring trust” in democracy and elections. In democratic changes led by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, the government said it would tighten rules on foreign donations to political parties, which it [...]
Manchester United and City top football arrests league table July 17, 2025 Manchester United had more supporters arrested last season than any other team in England and Wales, ahead of neighbours Manchester City and West Ham United. Home Office figures released today show there were 121 arrests of Manchester United fans, 34 of which were for public or violent disorder, during the 2024-25 campaign. That was by [...]
Rolls-Royce’s FTSE 100 shares pass £10 for the first time July 17, 2025 Shares in FTSE 100 giant Rolls-Royce have reached the £10 for the first time in its history. The Derby-headquartered behemoth started the day with its shares priced at 988p – giving it a valuation of £83.5bn. But after a 1.3 per cent rise so far today, Rolls-Royce’s shares are now changing hands for 1,001p. The [...]
Lunchtime Tourism: The secrets of the Gherkin at St Mary Axe July 17, 2025 St Mary Axe is a five-minute walk from the commemorative plaque dedicated to the Aldgate Station 7/7 victims. There, in the shadow of one of London’s most famous buildings, is another monument to the innocent, an echo from our ancient past. The Gherkin, designed by starchitect Sir Norman Foster, changed the way we think [...]
Great Britain reaches 1,000 padel courts as sport booms July 17, 2025 Great Britain now has over 1,000 padel courts as the racket sport booms in popularity across the capital and beyond. The news comes as the sport looks to make a case for Olympic inclusion, while a Ryder Cup of padel is scheduled for 2026. London and the south east enjoy nearly a third of the [...]
Non-dom tax take jumped to £12bn before Labour crackdown July 17, 2025 The overall tax take from wealthy foreigners who once claimed the now obsolete non-dom status rose to £12bn the year before Labour and the Conservatives announced their respective crackdowns against the regime. Data from HMRC released on Thursday showed the amount of capital gains tax, income tax and national insurance contributions paid by the cohort [...]
UK SMEs paralysed by fear despite ‘sitting on piles of cash’ July 17, 2025 Small-to-medium sized companies in the UK (SMEs) are “paralysed by fear” because of geopolitical uncertainty and a lack of clear economic policy, according to new research. Accounting and advisory group Azets said a large number of SMEs are “sitting on significant piles of cash” but are nevertheless holding back on investment. The warning, issued by [...]
Bank of England urged to hold interest rates despite jobs drop July 17, 2025 A leading City forecaster has advised Bank of England policymakers to vote to hold interest rates at its next meeting in August to help battle rising inflation. Robert Wood, UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, warned the Bank of England not to read too much into the drop in jobs numbers, with initial estimates by the [...]