The Debate: Should we ban smartphones in schools? April 2, 2025 As Keir Starmer calls for schools to pay screen Adolescence, could a smartphone ban be next? We get two writers to argue for and against.
Wage growth falling for low-paid workers despite minimum wage hike April 2, 2025 Wage increases among low-paid workers are at their lowest level in three years, according to the jobs website Indeed, as economists fear high inflation will erode incomes. Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said on Tuesday that an increase to the national minimum wage would mean that low-paid workers could help drive growth across the UK. But [...]
British Basketball Federation hands 15-year licence to Glickman April 2, 2025 The British Basketball Federation (BBF) has defied Super League Basketball (SLB) clubs by signing a 15-year deal with Marshall Glickman’s GBB League Ltd (GBBL) to operate the men’s professional league from 2026. SLB clubs warned last week that they would take legal action to block the sale of the licence, which they say is illegal. [...]
Theo Paphitis: Losses slashed in half at Ryman despite falling sales April 2, 2025 The group behind Ryman, the stationery retailer owned by former Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis, has slashed its loss almost in half despite falling sales. The Cheshire-headquartered group has reported a pre-tax loss of £1.49m for the year to 30 March, 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The figure comes after Ryman Group posted [...]
ECB facing pressure to drop prices in Hundred franchise sale April 2, 2025 The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could be asked to accept less than the £520m offered by new investors for 49 per cent of the eight Hundred franchises if they refuse to hand over control of the competition’s next television contract, which will begin in 2028. The ECB wants to continue its successful policy [...]
Reeves should be honest: income tax is going up April 2, 2025 Income tax threshold freezes are a de facto tax rise but the revenue won’t be fully realised until the end of the parliament. She should adjust rates now while there’s still time to improve public services before the next election? And fix distortive cliff edges while she’s at it, says Will Cooling Rachel Reeves has [...]
It’s Rayner to the rescue but who will build Labour’s 1.3m homes? April 2, 2025 Labour’s only hope for growth is new housebuilding – but Britain doesn’t have the workforce to deliver even the newly downgraded targets. There is an obvious solution, says Jamila Robertson In the Spring Statement, Rachel Reeves acknowledged that she will no longer be able to meet the government’s manifesto pledge to build 1.5m homes by [...]
FTSE 100 close: Rolls Royce leads rebound as US markets bounce back ahead of new tariffs April 1, 2025 European and US markets welcomed calmer waters on Tuesday after swimming in a sea of red on Monday. The FTSE 100 sharply rose in early trading before consolidating gains. The index closed up 0.6 per cent, led by Rolls Royce, which surged over four per cent and over 2.5 per cent rise in insurance provider [...]
SEN children at the heart of legal fight over VAT on private school fees April 1, 2025 Children with SEN are at the heart of one group challenging the government's VAT policy on private schools today
The Phantom of the Opera closure slashes profit at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s empire April 1, 2025 The closure of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway led to sales and profit at the entertainment empire owned by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber being slashed during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. London-headquartered The Really Useful Group has reported a turnover of £36.5m for the year to 30 June, 2024, down [...]