Public sector borrowing in the UK surged past expectations last month, hitting £20.2 billion, as higher spending on public services and increased benefit payments drove up government outlays. The figure, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), came in significantly above the £17.9 billion forecast by economists and surpasses the £19.2 billion recorded in […]
Artificial intelligence continues to dominate venture capital headlines — and cheques — but a new report from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) warns the surge in AI investment is masking a growing divide in the startup ecosystem, with many non-AI ventures starved of capital and so-called ‘zombiecorns’ now on the rise. According to SVB’s State of […]
The European Commission is preparing to introduce a €2 handling fee on online parcels entering the EU as part of a sweeping overhaul of its customs system, aimed at managing the billions of low-value items flooding into the bloc—primarily from China-based e-commerce giants such as Shein, Temu, and Alibaba. The proposed fee is intended to […]
The UK’s banking industry is urging the government to extend new legal protections for retail workers to branch staff in banks and building societies, warning that they face similar risks of abuse, violence, and intimidation. A proposed new standalone offence for assaulting retail workers is being introduced under the government’s crime and policing bill, currently […]
British business leaders have welcomed the UK’s latest post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, calling it a vital step towards restoring trade stability, while also warning of key challenges ahead — particularly around regulatory alignment and future sovereignty. The agreement, seen as a reset in the UK-EU relationship, includes removal of many border checks on […]
Revolut, the UK’s most valuable fintech company, has selected Paris as its new European headquarters, announcing a €1 billion investment in France over the next three years as part of its continued European expansion. The London-based digital bank confirmed it is applying for a French banking licence and will make the French capital its operational […]
British ports are calling on the government to compensate for millions in wasted spending on post-Brexit border infrastructure that is now set to be rendered redundant under the UK’s new trade deal with the European Union. The agreement, which includes a commitment to drop most sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks on food, animal products and […]
Inflation in the UK is forecast to accelerate sharply this month, with figures due next week expected to show the steepest monthly rise since October 2022, as households absorb a fresh wave of bill increases. City analysts predict that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will report inflation climbing to 3.6% in April, up from […]
Britain’s leading retail, luxury, and fashion groups are calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reinstate tax-free shopping for international visitors, warning that mounting pressure from US tariffs is eroding UK competitiveness and forcing businesses to scale back transatlantic operations. In a joint letter four major trade bodies — the British Retail Consortium, British Beauty Council, […]
Dame Amanda Blanc, chief executive of Aviva, has warned that giving the government power to force pension funds to invest in UK assets would be a serious misstep, describing such a move as “a sledgehammer to crack a nut”. Speaking on Thursday, Blanc insisted that defined contribution pensions must be invested in the best interests […]