Sales of Covid tests have increased by a third this month, while official estimates of the number of people with the virus have also risen. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said its surveillance showed a slight increase in cases and hospital admissions, including those in intensive care, as of July 20. Its records show […]
The prime minister will emphasise the need to strengthen Britain’s energy security when he meets industry leaders this week. Rishi Sunak is to set out details of the government’s plans for the UK’s fossil fuel and green industries. The Sunday Times says he will announce multimillion-pound funding for a carbon capture project in Scotland. The […]
The anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller has said “we don’t have a functioning democracy” if new political parties cannot access banking services, after she was told her own party’s account would be closed. The government and financial services watchdog must step in, she said, to ensure new parties and MPs can access banking to be able […]
Nigel Farage has called for the chairman of NatWest Group to be “replaced at the soonest possible opportunity” over misjudgements in the de-banking scandal. He told GB News: “What happened yesterday was Howard Davies, the chairperson, as he calls himself, of the NatWest group, announcing the figures and saying everything’s fine, I’m staying on, there’s just […]
Embattled business group the CBI is this week preparing to announce the resumption of events for the first time since it was engulfed by allegations of sexual misconduct. The body, once at the heart of the establishment, has restarted its work in recent weeks, including the analysis of economic data, after pausing activity when the […]
Beleaguered Cinema chain Cineworld will suspend its listing on the London Stock Exchange today as it limps on with a restructuring plan to reduce its massive mountain of debt. The British chain revealed it would file for administration and stop trading on the exchange last month as it creaks under the weight of a huge […]
The expansion of ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) to outer London boroughs. has been ruled as lawful by the High Court. Five Conservative-run councils had launched legal action back in February over the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to London’s outer boroughs. The scheme will come into force from 29 August and see […]
The owner of House of Fraser has said it could close more stores, after shutting eight in the past year and declaring “the department store globally is broken”. Michael Murray, the chief executive of Mike Ashley’s retail empire Frasers, which also owns Sports Direct, the designer street fashion chain Flannels and a plethora of brands […]
Britain has lost 6,000 storefronts in five years, new figures show, with financial pressures forcing shop owners to close their stores and leave cities with undesirable “gap-toothed high streets”. Covid, the cost of living crisis and “crippling” business rates are causing businesses to desert retail spaces, and local councils must come up with a “cohesive […]
Top business groups have welcomed government plans to speed up the planning process for key infrastructure projects as a “major signal” on green growth. Ministers want to overhaul the system and create a new fast-track route for major schemes, such as offshore wind farms, transport connections, waste facilities and nuclear power stations. Prime minister Rishi […]