The number of mortgages approved for house purchases fell at the end of last year to the lowest level since the financial crisis, outside of the pandemic, in early signs of a slowdown in the housing market that is expected to reduce prices. Mortgage approvals were down 23 per cent month-on-month to 35,600 in December […]
Barclays plans to launch a string of “banking pods” after recently announcing more branch closures. The bank said it will expand its “flexible banking formats” in response to changing customer needs. The plans include the launch of new banking pods, which will be purpose-built, semi-permanent structures in locations such as shopping centres and retail parks. […]
Lidl has revealed plans to invest £4bn into British food businesses this year, as it charges ahead with growth plans. Lidl GB, the British arm of the German retail group, said it would accelerate the spending plans it announced in 2019. Lidl GB had committed to a £15bn investment in the British food industry between […]
The Wakelet Microsoft 365 Children’s Parliament backed by The Express, is proud to announce that James Caan CBE, the former Chairman of the UK Government’s Start-up Loans Scheme and former Chairman of The Big Issue, will be joining the organisation as its Enterprise Ambassador. Mr. Caan will be meeting with 7-11 year old children in […]
The Bank of England is poised to raise interest rates for the 10th time in succession when its policymakers meet this week in a further squeeze on the finances of mortgage holders and businesses. Financial markets expect a 0.5 percentage point increase in the central bank’s base rate to 4%, its highest level since the […]
‘It’ll be up to our members to decide, and they’ll inform the leadership,’ said RMT general secretary Mick Lynch. Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union leader Mick Lynch has said its members will decide whether to accept an offer to end the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The RMT general secretary claimed the […]
Regional carrier Flybe has ceased trading and all scheduled flights have been cancelled. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) made the announcement the company had gone into administration for the second time in three years, asking passengers booked on Flybe flights not to travel to airports. It urged ticket-holders to instead check its website for […]
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) raised questions about the government’s proposed targets on water pollution, tree planting and rewilding, calling them “irrational” and “unachievable”, according to documents published by the environment department. Under the 2021 Environment Act, the government was required to set legally binding targets for nature recovery and environmental improvements. It began consultation […]
Britain’s housebuilders are calling for the return of the Help to Buy scheme to light a fire under a slowing housing market and avert a dramatic plunge in the supply of new homes. Trade body the Home Builders Federation (HBF) is writing to the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, to reintroduce help for first-time buyers at the […]
Rishi Sunak has sacked Nadhim Zahawi for serious breaches of the ministerial code after an investigation found he failed to be honest and open about his tax affairs. Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministers’ interests, said that Zahawi had repeatedly failed to disclose details about an HMRC investigation into his tax affairs. Zahawi […]