Council finances in dire straits, MPs say June 18, 2025 Councils could run out of money in 2026 due to unsustainable book balancing methods, according to parliamentarians. The hike in national insurance contributions (NIC), combined with spending on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), has squeezed local council finances, a new report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has found. Despite Reform’s DOGE campaign, they [...]
Tax hikes dragging investment to worst level since pandemic, CBI says June 18, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ dramatic tax hike on employment has helped push firms’ investment plans down to the worst level in five years, contributing to a downgrade in the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)’s latest economic outlook. The CBI now believe that the UK economy will only grow 1.2 per cent this year and slow down [...]
Non-dom U-turn would keep South African billionaire in UK June 18, 2025 South Africa’s richest self-made woman would cancel her plans to leave Britain if Rachel Reeves goes ahead with a change to non-dom inheritance tax rules said to be under consideration by the Treasury. Magda Wierzycka, the billionaire entrepreneur behind UK venture capital fund Braavos, had intended to join the wave of rich foreigners departing Britain, [...]
Deal fever: Banking giants plot takeovers to ramp up market share June 18, 2025 British banking is poised for a major shake-up as top names go on the hunt for fresh acquisitions. Lenders have been scouting new deals that would send shockwaves across the industry. Much of the prospective dealmaking involves London lender Shawbrook, whose private equity owners have been circling high street bank Metro. Ahead of this, Shawbrook [...]
We’ve been building since 1886 – the planning system is the worst it’s ever been June 18, 2025 Delays in the UK planning system – down to brick colour and tile choices – are stalling housing delivery. We need 3,000 new planners and faster approvals to meet national housing goals and boost economic growth, says Tim Roberts When Britain is in the midst of a housing crisis you don’t, as a house builder, [...]
Elio review: Pixar is back with spectacular space adventure June 17, 2025 Whisper it: Pixar is back. After a disastrous pandemic period, where quality films like Soul and Turning Red were buried on streaming, followed by the epic failure of 2022’s Lightyear, the iconic animation studio has got back to something like its best. After Elemental became a sleeper hit in 2023, the masterful Inside Out 2 [...]
23andMe handed huge fine days after rescue June 17, 2025 Testing firm 23andMe has been fined more than £2m for failing to protect the sensitive personal and genetic data of more than 155,000 UK customers, in what regulators described as a “profoundly damaging” breach. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Officer (ICO) has fined the company £2.31m following a joint investigation with its Canadian counterpart, the Office [...]
Knights Templar-inspired office building gets green light June 17, 2025 Plans to build a mixed-use office scheme in Holborn on the site of the former Knights Templar Church have been approved by the City of London Corporation. The new building will replace the existing Holborn Gate, Heron House and 44 Southampton Buildings on Chancery Lane. It will include a 300-person capacity immersive auditorium as well [...]
Why the Bank of England will hold interest rates June 17, 2025 At every other meeting, the Bank of England publishes its monetary policy report alongside its interest rate decision. Each lengthy report includes fresh details on revisions to central forecasts, which are poured over with glee by economists and investors.. But this Thursday’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting will offer few statistical goodies. Officials will meet [...]
Oxford Street plan to ban taxis and buses gets green light June 17, 2025 Plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street have received a green light after a consultation found seven in 10 Londoners supported the move. Buses and taxis will be banned between Orchard Street and Oxford Circus up to Great Portland Street – almost a mile of London. “This is a hugely significant development for central London,” Leader of [...]