FCA chief clashes with investment industry on over-reliance March 19, 2026 The investment industry must stop being over-reliant on regulators and solve their own problems in order to make investors less risk averse and boost economic growth, the financial watchdog has said. Speaking in an interview with City PM, Simon Walls, interim executive director of markets at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), argued that despite the [...]
Borrowing costs surge as market bets on future Bank of England rate hikes March 19, 2026 The government’s short-term borrowing costs climbed to their highest level in more than a year on Wednesday, after the Bank of England announced a unanimous decision to hold its central interest rate. Traders aggressively pared back bets of future rate cuts on the news that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East led all nine [...]
‘Here’s a picture of a hamster’ – 4Chan ridicules Ofcom after UK regulator issues £500K fine March 19, 2026 US-based forum 4Chan has ridiculed Ofcom after the UK regulator hit them with a £520,000 fine for breaching the UK’s Online Safety Act, in a case that underlines the growing challenge of enforcing digital rules on overseas platforms as well as the increasingly combative response from parts of the tech ecosystem. The bulk of the [...]
Zack hits back – but I stand by what I said: The Green Party is dangerous March 19, 2026 After yesterday’s column on Zack Polanski (“I wouldn’t vote for his party in a million years“) the Green Party leader hit back, suggesting a lack of compassion on my part. Being firmly of a free-market persuasion I’m used to having my motives questioned, but I stand by my view that Polanski’s economic policies (wealth taxes, [...]
Bank of England holds interest rates in unanimous decision March 19, 2026 Interest rates have been held as policymakers at the Bank of England warned the war in Iran could send prices spiralling as soon as April. Members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) left interest rates unchanged at 3.75 per cent, with guidance to cutting rates in upcoming meetings now being dropped altogether. Several policymakers, including [...]
Can Scotland ever win the Six Nations, when so many of their players play abroad? March 19, 2026 On the final day of the 2026 Six Nations Championships, Ireland defeated Scotland in Dublin in their 12th successive victory against Gregor Townsend’s side. Ireland’s victory extended Scotland’s 27-year wait for the title and underlined the growing gap between the two sides. Days later, news broke that Scotland No8 Jack Dempsey has agreed a deal [...]
Banks keep £100 contactless limit despite new powers March 19, 2026 Britain’s banks will not be lifting the £100 cap on contactless payments despite the regulator giving them the power to do so, citing low demand. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) lifted the cap on Thursday, leaving it up to banks to increase their own limits – although none of the UK’s biggest banks have decided [...]
Wimbledon tennis expansion wins major battle after huge ruling on £200m plans March 19, 2026 The proposed £200m expansion of Wimbledon into an adjacent London golf course overcame a major hurdle today, with a judge ruling in favour of the All England Club. An appeal by campaign group Save Wimbledon Park resulted in a six-day hearing earlier this year, but Mr Justice Thompsell has landed on the side of the [...]
One in five founders expect to leave UK in next 12 months March 19, 2026 A fifth of British entrepreneurs expect to leave the country in the next 12 months as confidence in the government sinks to a new low. Fresh data from the Entrepreneurs Network has revealed the growing fears of a ‘brain drain’ could be set to escalate with just over one in five founders pencilling in plans [...]
Ex-Battersea Power Station boss takes owners to court over dismissal March 19, 2026 The former boss of Battersea Power Station has launched legal action against the owners of the iconic London landmark after being dismissed from his role in May. A £9bn project has transformed Battersea Power Station from a disused, decommissioned site to a 42-acre estate with 2,000 homes and 60 companies in under a decade. Don O’Sullivan, formerly [...]
