From fake AI journalism to very real lives: An anatomy of a scoop September 2, 2025 Last week I wrote a wild story that began with an AI-generated pitch about warring London chicken shops and ended with a video call to Nairobi with the man who had willed it into existence. Wilson Kaharua – working under the alias Joseph Wales – was not a criminal mastermind but a small-time SEO writer [...]
Former Reform MP to shut down firm after allegations dismissed September 1, 2025 A former Reform UK MP is shutting down one of the companies he was alleged to have not declared a financial interest in. James McMurdock, who now sits as the independent MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock in Essex, has applied to Companies House to have Gym Live Health & Fitness Limited struck off. The move [...]
Pepys Day: Raise a toast to London’s best diarist September 1, 2025 As the City prepares to celebrate its second annual Pepys Day, Michael Mainelli tells us why the diarist is worth celebrating.
A Treasury reshuffle on the eve of a Budget is a bad sign for Reeves September 1, 2025 Handing responsibility for the economy to a man who was director of policy for Ed Miliband is a sign of desperation from Rachel Reeves, says Eliot Wilson Every time I see a new announcement from Rachel Reeves at the Treasury now, it puts me in mind of the poet Stevie Smith: “I was much further [...]
Social Chain: Steven Bartlett’s first company returns to the black September 1, 2025 Social Chain, the media agency which was co-founded by Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett, has made its first profit since 2021, it has been revealed. The business, which was also set up by Dominic McGregor, has posted a pre-tax profit of £645,667 for 2024. New accounts filed with Companies House show that Social Chain’s return [...]
McLaren, a $100m-per-year deal and Formula 1’s sponsor boom August 31, 2025 Formula 1 is becoming a hotbed for advanced sponsorship, and McLaren’s announcement has completed a special title set. BWT, Aramco, HP, MoneyGram, Petronas, Visa Cash App, Oracle, Stake and Atlassian; these aren’t simply some of the world’s most recognisable and developing brands but title sponsors for teams in Formula 1. And as of next year, [...]
Tube strikes force Coldplay to reschedule final two Wembley concerts August 30, 2025 Coldplay have rescheduled the final two dates of their 10-show run at Wembley Stadium due to strikes on the London Underground. The Chris Martin-fronted band said the strikes, which will see Rail, Maritime And Transport (RMT) union members on the Tube take industrial action at different times from September 5 for seven days, had made [...]
Chris Froome facing uncertain future after breaking back in training crash August 28, 2025 Four-time Tour de France-winner Chris Froome is set to undergo surgery after breaking his back and five ribs and suffering a punctured lung in a crash during training. Froome, 40, was airlifted to hospital in Toulon after sustaining the injuries on Wednesday. Britain’s most decorated Grand Tour cyclist is said to be in a stable [...]
UK tech leaders back home turf for growth as AI drives investment August 28, 2025 The UK is increasingly being viewed by its own tech entrepreneurs as the most attractive country in which to build and scale a technology company, according to a new report. Barclays Bank’s latest Business Prosperity Index revealed that a majority of tech leaders now view Britain as offering stronger growth prospects than its international rivals [...]
Torsten Bell: Who is the mastermind behind the 2025 Autumn Budget? August 28, 2025 When parliamentary candidates were revealed ahead of last year’s elections, Torsten Bell was one of the better-known names on Labour’s list. With his glaringly wonkish CV and swaggering way of talking up esoteric economic policies, he seemed primed to one day leave his mark on a Budget. According to the New Statesman, his opportunity to [...]