Britain’s data centres are eating the grid – and we underestimated the damage Tech UK data centre emissions forecasts have been revised upward 100-fold. London’s server farms already consume more power than all its households combined. So why did it take this long to do the maths? Data centres are consuming six per cent of all UK electricity, while government emissions forecasts have been revised upward by a factor [...]
Government urged to accelerate review of ‘disruptive’ EV sales targets Motoring A leading London-listed car dealership has called on the government to speed up its review of electric vehicle sales targets, which it said “disrupts” the car sales market. AIM-listed Vertu Motors has said the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate scheme is hitting its profits and “distorting” its volumes and margins. The scheme was brought in [...]
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is right – our energy policy is ‘all over the place’ Energy Punchy interventions from chemicals tycoon Sir Jim Ratcliffe are not rare; most announcements from his company, Ineos, are enriched with a missive from the billionaire on where exactly the UK is going wrong. But these are no mere PR ploys. The stakes are high and he knows what he’s talking about. Yesterday’s confirmation of his [...]
Kemi Badenoch interview: ‘I want an economic revolution’ May 5, 2026 Kemi Badenoch has told City AM she wants to deliver “an economic revolution” in the UK, based on lower taxes, less government intervention and “a mindset shift” that puts businesses and the City at the heart of the growth agenda. Speaking ahead of this week’s local elections, the Tory leader says she is developing policies [...]
UK carbon markets stand to get an AI boost May 4, 2026 The connection between AI growth and carbon market demand is one the UK is well positioned to act on, writes Chris Hayward.
Banking on a storm: Natwest weathers first of AGM climate rows April 29, 2026 Natwest faced a prickly time in its Edinburgh AGM and in this week’s column Samuel Norman looks at whether fun and games could be in store for its peers. Also on the agenda this week – Revolut heads for some Spanish sun. Natwest chair Rick Haythornthwaite suffered a thorny reception on Tuesday at the bank’s [...]
Natwest forced to pause AGM after climate protest April 28, 2026 Natwest was forced to pause its annual general meeting on Tuesday following a disruption from climate protesters. The FTSE 100 giant’s chairman Rick Haythornthwaite adjourned the meeting – taking place at Natwest’s Gogarburn headquarters in Scotland – after protesters disrupted his address to shareholders. Campaigners had been calling for a protest vote against Haythornthwaite in [...]
EO Charging collapses despite European EV sales boom April 15, 2026 EO Charging has gone into administration, with 69 jobs slashed, in a recent blow to the UK’s EV infrastructure sector as car sales across the continent accelerate. PwC was appointed administrator to the EV charging firm, which traded as Juuce Limited, on 8 April. The consultancy said that more than two thirds of the 93 [...]
Voters tell Reeves: Cut taxes and energy costs to boost ‘poor’ UK economy April 13, 2026 British voters want Rachel Reeves to cut taxes and reduce energy costs in order to focus on growth as a majority of people felt the UK economy was “poor”, new research has shown. Polling by Freshwater Strategy for the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a free market think tank, suggested that the vast majority of [...]
Rachel Reeves’ wealth fund pumps £600m into Rolls-Royce SMR April 13, 2026 Rachel Reeves’ flagship wealth fund has announced a fresh heap of financing for Rolls-Royce SMR following its tie-up with Ed Miliband’s state-owned energy company. The National Wealth Fund has revealed a £599m financing package for Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors (SMR) in a bid to kick start delivery on its project with Great British Energy. The [...]