Critics circle under-fire watchdog November 27, 2024 What unites firebrand socialist MPs and stalwarts of the Tory establishment? The answer – somewhat unbelievably – is the state of our main financial regulator. The Financial Conduct Authority is heading into a cold winter with storms swirling on all sides. It faces fury from parts of both the Square Mile and Westminster for hamstringing [...]
Bond Street moves into third for world’s most expensive retail spot November 20, 2024 Bond Street has leaped-frogged Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong to take bronze in a list of the world’s most exclusive retail streets. The shift bucks bucks fears about the decline of brick-and-mortar retail on the high-street and the so-called tourist tax, which has faced campaigners’ calls for scrappage. The average rent on Bond Street [...]
Allison Pearson: The bar for criminality is rightly higher than ignorant tweets November 20, 2024 Like her or loathe her, the Allison Pearson row shows why we all have a stake in defending free speech, writes Silkie Carlo.
UK to relaunch trade talks with India and form new Japan partnership November 19, 2024 The UK is set to relaunch trade talks with India and form a new economic partnership with Japan, Downing Street has announced. It was confirmed that trade discussions with India will reopen at the start of next year, following a bilateral meeting between Sir Keir Starmer and Indian leader Narendra Modi at the G20 summit [...]
Budget will hurt UK wage growth, Goldman Sachs warns November 18, 2024 UK consumer spending is set to slump next year and dent UK growth, analysts at Goldman Sachs have warned, as the impact of the Budget ripples through the economy. The rise to employers’ national insurance (NI) contributions will lead to slower wage growth for staff and higher costs for consumers, the investment bank wrote in [...]
COP29: A missed opportunity to take the heat out of global warming November 18, 2024 Those who shout the loudest about climate change tend to have a disproportionate influence, but we’ll never solve this challenge without being realistic and practical, says Eliot Wilson There was a time when climate change – ”global warming” was the argot when I was young – was accepted by politicians as a major challenge. Margaret [...]
Ahead of the Game: Reading FC hero emerges as potential saviour November 13, 2024 Also in Ahead of the Game: Mendy's record payout; Badenoch to oppose football regulator; ICC chief to stay on.
Ministerial freebies rules tightened – but Starmer stops short of banning gifts November 6, 2024 Keir Starmer has tightened up the rules on ministers accepting freebies, according to new guidelines, but stopped short of banning gifts and hospitality. An update to the government’s ministerial code published today included new advice for ministers who accept freebies and hospitality, which took a tougher stance than the previous document. The new code states: [...]
Column: The challenges facing Kemi Badenoch… November 6, 2024 Politicians, the public often decry, lack real-world experience. Whether it be running a business, working in healthcare, serving in the armed forces, anything that demonstrates their ‘feet on the ground’ credentials is a plus. It covers parents too. Just look at Keir Starmer’s oft-touted “toolmaker father”; Rishi Sunak, the “son of a pharmacist; and even [...]
Kemi Badenoch appoints top team with Andrew Griffith to shadow business November 5, 2024 Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has appointed her full top team, with former City minister Andrew Griffith taking on the role of shadow business and trade secretary. The Conservative leader appointed her former rival candidates Mel Stride and Dame Priti Patel as her shadow Chancellor and shadow foreign secretary last night, as well as making Laura [...]