Hopes rise for decision on Heathrow’s third runway plan June 18, 2026 Hopes for full government backing this summer for Heathrow’s expansion plans were rising on Thursday, with London’s main airport operating on the brink of full capacity. A report in The Times said Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is moving to clear the plans before any challenge to his leadership from Andy Burnham, with voting underway in [...]
Interest rates next change ‘far more likely down than up’ June 18, 2026 Interest rates are set to be held on Thursday in what some analysts believe could be a split decision as two Bank of England officials could back a 25 basis point hike. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 3.75 per cent, though some members could back a [...]
Starmer: I would make Andy Burnham a Cabinet minister June 17, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has said he would offer Andy Burnham a “big role in government” if he is elected as an MP in the Makerfield by-election this week. The Prime Minister indicated that the current Manchester mayor would be given a Cabinet role as he said he had “spoken to him many times in recent [...]
Inflation stays below three per cent despite price warning June 17, 2026 Inflation has stayed below three per cent although economists are predicting further price increases later this year. The Office for National Statistics said inflation in the year to May was lower than economists expected with the consumer prices index (CPI) showing a reading of 2.8 per cent. Core inflation, which strips volatile energy and food [...]
Belu Water CEO: What does business as a force for good actually look like? June 17, 2026 Social enterprises prove that a morally good economy is also a prosperous one, says Charlotte Harrington What does “business as a force for good actually look like? The phrase is thrown around all the time. Is it about growing the economy? Helping vulnerable communities? Making sustainable choices in the middle of an environmental crisis? I’ve [...]
My ride in a helicopter over London as Leonardo expands its UK presence June 17, 2026 Helicopter travel is the preserve of London’s elite: Celebrities, billionaires and high flying – if you’ll pardon the pun – City chief executives. Leonardo attracted headlines earlier this year when it secured a £1bn contract to build helicopters for the Ministry of Defence. The company had warned it could shut its UK helicopter manufacturing facility [...]
UK manufacturers facing ‘steel quota cliff edge’ June 16, 2026 Manufacturers are facing a cliff-edge from the government’s incoming steel tariffs that are likely to inflict “huge damage” on the UK economy, Britain’s largest industry body has warned. In a fresh statement, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) sounded the alarm on the impact that that new duties on foreign-produced steel will have on importers, [...]
Two-tier taxes are not the way to get Britain back to work June 16, 2026 Reform’s plan to cut employer National Insurance for Brits but not immigrants is not the way to fix unemployment. Lower jobs taxes for everyone would be better, says Joanna Marchong Reform’s pitch has been consistent from the start. Brits first. Patriotism is a universal solvent for problems that are, on inspection, structural rather than national. [...]
Government departments will look at cutting budgets to fund defence, minister says June 14, 2026 Government departments are looking at cutting their budgets further in order to help fund defence, a cabinet minister has said. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy insisted the country’s national security remains minister’s “highest priority” adding departments are looking to shift their budgets to fund defence. She said to Sky News: “There’s a clear picture emerging from [...]
Elon Musk becomes world’s first trillionaire after SpaceX mega float June 13, 2026 Elon Musk is never far from the headlines and now the Tesla and X owner is making history once again after the blockbuster float of his SpaceX company has made him the world’s first ever paper trillionaire. The 54-year-old’s net worth was estimated at 982.6bn US dollars (£733bn) before the float, according to Forbes, which has swelled [...]