Sir Richard Branson has announced the death of his wife, Joan Branson, sharing a heartfelt tribute on Instagram confirming she has passed away after their 50 years together. The Virgin founder described Joan as his “best friend” and “guiding light”, paying tribute to her role at the centre of the Branson family. “Heartbroken to share […]
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has urged Labour MPs to rally behind her “fair and progressive” Budget, warning that while not every measure would be universally popular, the package must be backed in full to deliver the government’s economic agenda. Addressing a tense meeting of the parliamentary Labour Party after two weeks of leadership speculation, Reeves told […]
Artificial intelligence and robotics could automate more than half of all work carried out in the United States — with existing technology — according to a new report from the McKinsey Global Institute. The research finds that 57% of US work hours could be automated today if organisations redesigned workflows around the capabilities of AI […]
Four young people, including a 17-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman, have been arrested in a major cybercrime investigation linked to high-profile attacks on Marks & Spencer, the Co-op and Harrods. The National Crime Agency (NCA), working in coordination with local police forces, detained the suspects early on Thursday in connection with a string of […]
The UK government has officially dropped controversial plans to introduce “zonal pricing” for electricity, following two years of consultation and intense debate across the energy sector. The proposed system, which would have charged households and businesses different electricity rates depending on where they lived, has been abandoned in favour of maintaining a single national pricing […]
Around 3.6 million households – just over 40% of mortgage holders – are likely to see their monthly payments rise over the next three years, according to the latest update from the Bank of England. The Bank’s Financial Stability Report revealed that about 30% of homeowners have yet to refinance their mortgages since interest rates […]
In a stunning development for the world of Formula 1, Christian Horner has been dismissed as team principal of Red Bull Racing, bringing an end to a 19-year tenure that oversaw six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ titles. The announcement was made on Wednesday morning via a brief Red Bull statement thanking Horner for his […]
The UK Government has announced a record £92 billion investment in more than 50 major road and rail upgrades across England and Wales, promising to boost economic growth, create tens of thousands of jobs, and significantly improve journey times for commuters and businesses. Part of the government’s “Plan for Change”, the funding represents the largest […]
The High Court trial between PPE Medpro and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) drew towards its conclusion today, with a blistering set of closing submissions from the defence that portrayed the government’s £122 million claim as a desperate attempt to deflect attention from its own pandemic procurement failures. Describing the case as […]
Monzo has been fined £21 million by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) after fraudsters were able to open bank accounts using clearly fake or implausible addresses — including Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street. The FCA said Monzo’s financial crime controls were “completely inadequate”, allowing thousands of suspicious accounts to be opened between 2018 and […]