UK long-term borrowing costs hit highest level since 1998 January 7, 2025 The price of long-term government debt jumped to its highest level since 1998 on Tuesday as investors grew nervy about the UK’s economic prospects. The yield on the 30-year gilt, which reflects the price of government borrowing, hit 5.28 per cent on Tuesday in the wake of an gilt auction conducted by the Debt Management [...]
New Friends musical announces open casting call – it’s your chance to play Rachel or Ross January 7, 2025 A new Friends musical is urging Londoners to attend an open audition in front of casting directors looking to cast their new Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Ross and Chandler. Auditions for Friends: The Musical Parody will take place in July before the production tours the UK and Ireland through until May 2026. The show will [...]
How will the UK economy perform in 2025? January 7, 2025 The economy has shown few signs of life since June and business surveys since October's Budget have painted an incredibly bleak picture of the year ahead.
Six months on, Labour’s pledge to restore trust in politics has proven nonsense January 7, 2025 Six months on, where have Labour's promises of radical reform gone, asks James Chapman in today's Notebook.
With expectations so low, Starmer might just carve out a win January 7, 2025 From a news perspective, the Christmas break was more Deck the Halls than Silent Night. Keir Starmer ended last year with approval ratings so low that critics were never going to call off the dogs in the spirit of good will to all men. The PM couldn’t even enjoy a toboggan run in Madeira without [...]
Tulip Siddiq: City minister referred herself to watchdog over property questions January 6, 2025 Tulip Siddiq has referred herself to the government’s standards watchdog over questions about her use of properties linked to the deposed Bangladeshi leader, Keir Starmer said. The City minister has come under increasing pressure after it emerged she had been given a London flat and lived in another property with links to her aunt, former [...]
Brits buy 50m Aldi mince pies as budget grocer hails ‘best Christmas ever’ January 6, 2025 Aldi has recorded its best festive season ever in 2024, with sales topping £1.6bn in the month before Christmas. Sales at the grocer grew 3.4 per cent year on year, while its seasonal offering rose 10 per cent and its premium range jumped by 12 per cent compared to 2023. Aldi UK’s chief executive officer, [...]
Rail regulator orders HS1 to slash spending on Eurostar route January 6, 2025 The Office of Rail and Road has ordered HS1 to lower its spending from April 2025, after finding it did not meet its duties for efficient spending. The 109km high-speed rail line was ordered to bring charges down by 3.8 per cent compared to its latest plans, saving passengers and freight trains as much as [...]
7 productivity hacks to make the return to the office less miserable January 5, 2025 Back to the office this week? Productivity expert Emily Austen shares her 7 hacks to survive the first week back.
Elon Musk’s attacks on Jess Phillips a ‘disgraceful smear’, Streeting says January 5, 2025 Wes Streeting has said attacks made by Elon Musk on Jess Phillips over grooming gangs are a “disgraceful smear” considering the Labour minister’s efforts to support victims of abuse. The billionaire owner of social media platform X, Tesla and Space X suggested the safeguarding minister “deserves to be in prison” for denying requests for the [...]