UK economy ‘languishing’ behind peers as living standards stagnate January 19, 2026 The Labour government risks leaving the UK economy falling further behind major trading partners, left-leaning economists have warned, as they urged Rachel Reeves to ramp up growth plans ahead of crucial meetings in Davos this week. A new report by the Resolution Foundation, the think tank where several current Treasury ministers brainstormed policies before becoming [...]
‘He’s an idiot’: Musk and Ryanair boss trade insults in Starlink row January 17, 2026 A spat over in-flight Wi-Fi has spiralled into a verbal brawl between Elon Musk and Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary. The clash tumbled into the open after O’Leary dismissed Musk and his satellite internet business Starlink in a radio interview on Ireland’s Newstalk, calling him “an idiot”. The verbal row widened to O’Leary telling listeners [...]
Sack Streeting, cabinet ministers urge Starmer January 17, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has faced calls from cabinet ministers to follow Kemi Badenoch’s playbook and sack health secretary Wes Streeting for disloyalty. Ministers are becoming increasingly frustrated about Streeting’s forthright public criticisms of the Labour party, with some privately accusing him of putting his leadership ambitions first and “attacking No 10”. One cabinet minister told [...]
Tough year ahead as businesses face compliance and investigation storm January 17, 2026 A wave of complex regulations and cross-border probes is set to test the resilience of businesses worldwide in the coming year; at the same time, resource constraints expose vulnerabilities. A staggering 82 per cent of global businesses fear being hit by cross-border or multi-agency investigations this year, according to a new report by law firm [...]
Why are London’s house sellers losing money? January 17, 2026 London’s housing market is known for offering vast mansions and leafy avenues to wealthy buyers from across the world. So why are more sellers in the capital suffering losses than anywhere in the country? It is London’s most affluent and sought-after locations where the profitability of home-selling is taking the biggest hit, with Chelsea and [...]
AJ Bell boss: Rachel Reeves ISA reforms ‘doomed to fail’ January 16, 2026 The chief executive of a top investment firm has issued a scathing broadside against the Chancellor’s proposal to restrict cash ISA limits. In a letter seen by Sky News, AJ Bell chief executive Michael Summersgill wrote to Rachel Reeves that efforts to push Brits towards investing with limits on cash savings are “doomed to fail”. [...]
UK growth spurt due to ‘payback for earlier weaknesses’ January 16, 2026 The UK economy’s growth spurt in November was just a recovery from “earlier weakness” after hits to Jaguar Land Rover’s production lines and “ongoing” problems with data calculations” weighted on earlier readings, top analysts have warned. Data published on Thursday morning showed the UK economy inched up 0.3 per cent in November despite expectations of [...]
Urban Pubs & Bars launches acquisition spree after strong Christmas sales January 16, 2026 Urban Pubs & Bars has embarked on an aggressive acquisition spree as the London-based hospitality group toasted strong demand over the Christmas season. This week the company announced it had acquired The Birdcage in East London from Brewdog, marking its sixth acquisition of 2026. The deal follows the recent completion of five premium hospitality venues [...]
Sadiq Khan’s AI fearmongering will set London back January 16, 2026 Sadiq Khan's warnings about AI has made London look like a city anxious, rather than ambitious, about AI, and investors will take note.
London’s ‘record low confidence’ blamed on Labour workers’ rights bill January 16, 2026 London is suffering from record low business confidence due to Labour government’s Employment Rights Bill, an industry group has warned. The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it recorded the lowest ever level of business confidence in its quarterly economic survey of 500 business chiefs across the capital. The group warned that the “punitive” [...]
