Economics now one of UK’s top ten most popular A-levels August 17, 2023 Economics is now one of the UK’s top ten most popular A-levels, after students flocked to study the subject amid a period of instability for the UK. More than 39,000 students received results for the qualification this summer, according to the Joint Council for Qualifications, a 7.3 per cent increase on last year. It marks [...]
Explainer: Committing to the pension triple lock once again August 17, 2023 Every six months or so, the political world plunges into a debate about the pension triple lock. This summer is no exception, with Rishi Sunak promising to stick to it this week. The triple lock regulates pensions, redefining the amount pensioners will get every April by whatever is highest between pay growth, inflation or 2.5 [...]
Sunak commits to triple lock hinting pensions could rise by eight per cent August 17, 2023 Rishi Sunak has signalled that state pensions could go up next year by almost eight per cent as he committed to maintaining the “triple lock”. Under the triple lock, the state pension is uprated in April by inflation, wages or 2.5 per cent, whichever is higher. Wage growth is currently the highest of the three [...]
The London YouTuber, 9, whose animal videos have impressed David Attenborough August 17, 2023 With over 100,000 views on his videos, 9-year-old London YouTuber Leo from Camberwell has done such a good job with his videos that he’s impressed David Attenborough. Leo, who started making videos about animals during lockdown, got a hand-written letter from Sir David, as well as from prime minister Rishi Sunak. Leo also won the [...]
Rishi Sunak: Brits will never have it so good (next year) despite ‘real risk’ of recession August 17, 2023 Rishi Sunak has outlined his hopes to ensure Britons feel better off next year, amid warnings that the UK economy faces a “very real risk” of recession due to higher interest rates. The Prime Minister attempted to strike an optimistic tone when asked about efforts to tame inflation, as he said there is a need [...]
Interactive Investor founder Sherry Coutu on her next big challenge – and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro August 17, 2023 As a decade-spanning serial entrepreneur, it seems only too on the nose that Sherry Coutu likes to spend her spare time climbing mountains. When we speak, the founder of the retail investment stalwart Interactive Investor has just returned from a jaunt up Rinjani volcano in Indonesia for the third time. She’s gearing up to take [...]
Interactive Investor founder Sherry Coutu: entrepreneurship, climbing mountains and why Sunak’s maths plans don’t quite add up August 17, 2023 Interactive Investor founder Sherry Coutu on education, climbing mountains and entrepreneurship
The Notebook: Ben Roback takes the political temperature, investigates e-waste and reveals a secret swim spot August 17, 2023 Turning down the political temperature, for now… The long, hot summer we all hoped for hasn’t exactly materialised. Politically, the temperature seems equally mild. Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer disagree widely, but you get the distinct feeling a base level of respect exists between the two men. Putting politics to one side, they could [...]
Even hiking their fees might not be enough for universities to turn a profit August 17, 2023 Universities are in an existential crisis, losing money and the quality of their teaching. But even the option of hiking fees doesn't look feasible at the moment, writes Will Cooling
‘The last thing commuters need’: London business groups slam rail fare hike August 16, 2023 London business groups have slammed a significant government hike in rail ticket fares set to hit commuters next March. The Department for Transport (DfT) has committed to ensuring any fare increase falls below the nine per cent rise in the Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation measure, announced by the ONS on Wednesday morning. Regulated rail [...]