Big banks SME lending comeback slowed down by Budget jitters December 11, 2025 High street banks’ return to small business lending slowed in the third quarter of 2025 after the chaos on the road to the Autumn Budget dampened activity in the economy. Big banks dished out nearly £4.2bn in total loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the three months to 30 September – a level [...]
UK exports forecast downgraded as Labour fails to kickstart trade December 11, 2025 British export growth will fall by almost half next year, a business forecaster has said, with Labour’s string of deals failing to improve hopes of a revival in international trade. The Labour government has made trade a key lever to boost growth prospects, using new deals with the likes of the EU and India to [...]
Landlords bar Labour MPs from pubs as hospitality backlash mounts December 11, 2025 Hundreds of landlords have barred Labour MPs from their pubs as the hospitality sector stepped up its condemnation of a controversial business rates overhaul announced at last month’s Budget. Publicans across the country have locked their doors to Labour politicians, claiming the tax changes will disproportionately harm hospitality and push more boozers to the wall. [...]
On this day: the arrest of Bernie Madoff December 11, 2025 On 11th December 2008, financier Bernie Madoff was arrested for the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, writes Eliot Wilson The 1990s had been an economic boom time for much of the West, with America growing at more than three per cent a year. It seemed as if the post-Cold War world might be one of [...]
Shabana Mahmood should seize control of the Met police from failing Khan December 11, 2025 The Metropolitan Police’s inability to effectively fight crime is down to dysfunctional accountability system under the Mayor of London. The Home Secretary should step in to get the force back to fighting crime and keeping Londoners safe, says David Spencer “In London, the Met rules the streets”. That’s what I was told over 20 years [...]
William Hill-owner Evoke mulls sale after Budget raid December 10, 2025 William Hill-owner Evoke is considering whether to sell itself or break up parts of its business in response to the government’s multibillion pound raid on gambling firms at last month’s Budget. The betting giant, which also owns the 888 brands and Mr Green online casino, told investors that it had kicked off a strategic review [...]
Owlet Launches Owlet360™ in the UK and Ireland, Bringing Data-Driven Reassurance to More Families December 10, 2025 A new subscription service for Owlet users turns baby health and sleep trends into clear, personalised guidance, while core health tracking and notification features remain free.
FTSE 100 Live: Reeves scrutinised, Fed interest rates decision, stocks suffer December 10, 2025 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog covering the FTSE 100 and other big market moves. Rachel Reeves is set for a showdown with MPs on the Treasury Select Committee later today while the Federal Reserve is expected to slash interest rates by 25 basis points by the evening. Reeves will begin [...]
Labour believes success is something to be ashamed of December 10, 2025 Two successive Budgets have done unspeakable damage to small and medium sized firms across the country, but the government does not seem keen to reserve the punishment for set piece fiscal events, says John O’Connell After the relentless pre-Budget leaks was the catastrophic event itself. Then came the forensic analysis of who knew what when [...]
Will Andrew Bailey be Santa or Scrooge this Christmas? December 10, 2025 The Notebook, where the City’s movers and shakers have their say, Today it’s Susannah Streeter with the pen Christmas spirit seems to have spread a lot faster this year. I’ve never seen so many trees up in windows quite so early and there seem to be more lights twinkling in the streets. After months of [...]