Driverless taxis will make black cabs extinct – and that’s no bad thing June 25, 2025 The imminent advent of ‘robo taxis’ may well be the final nail in the coffin of the London cab trade, suggests James Ford By all accounts, a London cabbie’s lot is not a happy one. You may get to drive around the capital in one of the great transport icons (the black cab is up [...]
My Way could be set to make Chau’s Day at the Valley June 24, 2025 IT WAS good to see young jockey Jerry Chau with a smile on his face after partnering Fun Together to victory at Sha Tin last Sunday. It has not been easy for the 25-year-old this season with just 21 winners on the board – he collected 33 victories last term – and it seems many [...]
Slim pickings: grocery sales down as Brits turn to weight-loss jabs June 24, 2025 The growing use of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic could be having an impact on supermarkets’ bottom lines as Brits shy away from more than just unhealthy food. Four per cent of households in the UK now have at least one member using GLP-1, the active ingredient in weight-loss drugs. The share of UK households with [...]
High street stalwart Claire’s explores a sale as cost pressures mount June 24, 2025 The accessories and piercings company Claire’s is exploring the possibility of a sale as it battles rising costs and competition. Claire’s, which is owned by US investors JP Morgan, Elliott Management and Monarch Alternative Capital, operates 2,750 shops worldwide and 281 shops on UK high streets and retail parks. Julie Palmer, partner at financial advisory [...]
Scrapping al fresco dining in Northcote Rd proves Labour hates fun June 24, 2025 Labour-run Wandsworth council has scrapped a popular pedestrianisation scheme, and Conservatives are fighting back.
Why are Gen Z embracing Catholicism? June 24, 2025 As Gen Z embrace Catholicism, Anna Moloney wonders why her nominal religion is suddenly so chic. Could the answer be ‘accessories’?
UK-India film: Nandy’s cultural agreement starts to show green shoots June 24, 2025 While the UK and India have a strong history of collaborating on film productions, the 2020s has seen a boom in co-operation between the two countries. Helped since 2008 by a series of film co-production deals, a new cultural deal this May promised to “open the door” more for UK creative exports to India. “The [...]
London won’t come close to 88,000 homes a year by 2029 June 24, 2025 London’s housing crisis exists on a spectrum, from the weary resignation of young professionals, first-time buyers and university students – to an acute, impossible state of affairs for those stuck in mouldy homes or unable to pay rent. Few disagree that a housing crisis exists, and few can find good reasons to lament the government’s [...]
Apprenticeships can benefit the City – but only if we choose to use them June 24, 2025 Higher apprenticeships are transforming financial and professional services by offering debt-free, practical pathways into well-paid jobs – yet their full potential remains underutilised, says Robert Halfon When I began my career in Parliament 14 years ago, many viewed apprenticeships as a route into traditional crafts such as manufacturing, construction and electricals. Since then, our understanding [...]
Winter fuel payments: there is a better way to help with energy bills June 24, 2025 Instead of subsidising bills according to age, we should make sure no one is spending more than 10 per cent of their household income on keeping warm, says Eon CEO Chris Norbury Despite recent improvements, energy bills remain around 60 per cent higher than before the crisis, with typical households still paying £1,720 annually. At [...]