Rocco Forte Hotels’ Russian outpost pays out bumper dividend September 15, 2026 The ring-fenced Russian arm of Rocco Forte Hotels has paid its shareholders a dividend worth more than £3m, despite the luxury hospitality chain being accused of bankrolling Putin’s war machine in Ukraine by maintaining operations in Russia. Astoria Hotel Joint Stock Company – the holding group for Rocco Forte Hotels’ Russian portfolio – distributed £3.2m [...]
Burnham bounce? Business confidence tells a different story September 9, 2026 Labour may be improving in the polls under Andy Burnham, but overall support for the party is still very low. Economic confidence tells a similar story, says Paul Ormerod Both in the opinion polls and in local authority by-elections, there is clear evidence of a “Burnham bounce” for Labour. But in historical terms, support for [...]
Food inflation set to surge next year as Iran war ramps up supply costs September 9, 2026 Food inflation could top six per cent next year as rising fuel prices triggered by the war in Iran ramp up supply chain costs, a top food industry body has warned. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents the UK’s food manufacturers, has urged the government to help the industry keep its costs down, [...]
Tax crackdowns means high net worth Brits continue to mull UK exit September 9, 2026 UK millionaires continue to keep their options open with a high percentage having considered leaving the UK over high taxes, according to a survey, deepening fears that the government has relied too heavily on the wealthy to boost receipts and fund higher expenditure. An in-house survey by the Wealth Club, which provides advice to rich [...]
Healey launches £150m northern scale-up fund September 7, 2026 Chancellor John Healey is to pile £150m into start-ups in the North of England as part of the government’s bid to use devolution to drive economic growth. Healey will announce a new fund designed to back university spin outs and other start-ups in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle. The Chancellor will announce the fund, [...]
Bank of England’s Pill warns against ‘wait and see’ interest rates approach September 3, 2026 The Bank of England’s chief economist has warned that a “wait and see approach” to setting interest rates amid the ongoing Iran war could unleash a fresh wave of inflation that the central bank will find hard to contain if left unchecked. Huw Pill, who has long been one of the most hawkish rate-setters on [...]
Badenoch: Cut benefits to fund £10bn defence spending package September 2, 2026 Kemi Badenoch has urged the government to cut housing benefits, child benefits and re-route public investment in order to fund a £10bn boost on defence spending every year. The Tory leader, who had previously called for an increase in defence expenditure without laying out full funding plans, said that Chancellor John Healey “should adopt” plans [...]
Citi hit with £5m fine for violating UK sanctions on Russia September 2, 2026 Citi has been hit with a fine of nearly £5m after regulators found it violated the UK’s sanctions regime on Russia. The Wall Street giant’s London branch was found to have processed £19.7m in illicit transactions spanning 970 payments. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) ruled that, in one instance, Citi failed to freeze [...]
Burnham says the government is central to his ‘triple helix’ plan for growth September 1, 2026 Andy Burnham has said the state will be central to his “theory of growth” in his first statement in the House of Commons as Prime Minister. Addressing MPs, Burnham said his ideas for the UK economy centres on a “triple helix approach to economic development” in which universities, businesses and the government foster economic growth. The ‘triple [...]
IGI Announces the Launch of Cipher, A Specialty Treaty Reinsurance Platform Focused on Cyber September 1, 2026 International General Insurance Holdings Ltd. (“IGI” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: IGIC), the international specialty insurance and reinsurance group, today announced the launch of Bermuda-based Cipher Underwriting Ltd. (“Cipher”), a specialty treaty reinsurance managing general agent (MGA) established to provide dedicated cyber treaty underwriting expertise and solutions on a global basis. The commencement of Cipher’s operations [...]