Businesses cut jobs for 19 consecutive months yet ‘growth holds up’ May 6, 2026 Businesses have now cut jobs for 19 consecutive months as researchers warned that higher payroll costs and productivity gains have forced employers in the services sector to rethink hiring plans. Results from S&P Global’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) suggested that lower staffing numbers across the UK’s dominant services sector have been recorded in each month [...]
London local elections 2026: Who will win in Kingston upon Thames? May 6, 2026 In the Lib Dems’ leafy heartlands, campaigns have included demands for an M&S. But a third runner has entered the traditional two-horse race with the Tories in Ed Davey’s own backyard – the Kingston Independent Residents Group. Kingston upon Thames is both the geographic and the spiritual home of the Liberal Democrats. The leafy south [...]
London local elections 2026: Conservatives HOLD Kensington and Chelsea May 6, 2026 Kensington and Chelsea has been held by the Conservatives. The Tories comfortably retained the affluent borough, holding their seat count at 36. The Labour Party saw its seat count nearly halved, to seven, as the Lib Dems remained on two seats. The Green Party took one seat and one independent candidate was elected. Kensington stays Tory Kensington [...]
London local elections 2026: Who will win in the borough of Islington? May 6, 2026 Labour’s dominance makes it almost a one-party authority here. But the Greens are on the march backing rent control after big-name infighting between the likes of Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer means no shortage of political drama. At first glance, Islington Council’s composition is like North Korea’s. It is all-but a one-party authority. At the [...]
The Debate: Is the Renters’ Rights Act good for London landlords? May 6, 2026 The Renters Rights' Act has completely rewritten the landlord-tenant relationship. But can it benefit both sides?
Exclusive: OBR calculations suggest Reeves set for borrowing spree May 6, 2026 The Office for Budget Responsibility’s own calculations on the impact of a war in the Middle East suggest that Rachel Reeves is set to oversee a surge in borrowing, City PM has found. Sir Keir Starmer and Reeves have said that the government’s focus on “stability” has added protections to public finances and helped the [...]
Two million global airline seats cut as jet fuel shortage grounds travel May 6, 2026 Airlines are preparing to slash millions of seats from this month’s schedule, as the Middle East conflict and soaring jet fuel prices drive up costs ahead of the industry’s busiest travel season. Some 13,000 flights have been removed from May schedules worldwide, according to data from the aviation analytics company Cirium. Istanbul, one of the [...]
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is right – our energy policy is ‘all over the place’ May 6, 2026 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 [...]
A bank tax hangs in the balance at the local election ballot May 6, 2026 As speculation of a leadership challenge – or sweeping reshuffle – surrounds the forthcoming local elections, in this week’s column Samuel Norman looks at what a change in Chancellor would mean for the banking sector. It is no secret that Thursday’s local elections carry a weight far heavier than the fate of a few neighbourhood [...]
‘Clear risk signal’: Gilt yields hit 28-year high as investors weigh Starmer’s future after local elections May 5, 2026 Gilt yields have risen to their highest rate since 1998 as investors weigh the odds of Keir Starmer being ousted following what is widely expected to be a major defeat for Labour at the local elections. The yield on 30-year government bonds rose 11 basis points on Tuesday to hit 5.76 per cent, topping the [...]
