‘A clear thumbs down’: UK business confidence slumped post-Budget Politics The UK’s business optimism “slumped” in a downturn after the Autumn Budget, according to a closely watched survey of the private sector. S&P’s ‘flash’ purchasing managers’ index (PMI) came in at 49.9 in November, now below the neutral 50.0 threshold, down from 51.8 last month, and the lowest since October 2023. Firms reported a fractional [...]
Football regulator delay fears after Lords ask for 158 changes to bill Sport Business The prevaricating is also likely to mean hard-up clubs below the Premier League enduring a longer wait for an increase in financial distributions from the top flight.
Why a 24 per cent drop in insolvencies is not all it seems Retail At first glance, the Government’s new figures on insolvencies appear cheery, with the number of companies going bust over the last year down 24 per cent, from 2,293 to 1,747. But analysts have suggested figures may have more to do with falling interest rates than the general health of the economy, in addition to warning [...]
Will Labour’s planning bill actually get Britain building again? November 19, 2024 The UK's planning system is in need of a radical overhaul. Will Labour's Planning and Infrastructure bill deliver? Sam Richards takes a look.
Darts: Venues, clubs and businesses thrive from Ally Pally showcase November 18, 2024 The nights rolling in at 4pm and no longer being able to resist the temptation of turning on the heating can only mean one thing: the annual darts pilgrimage to Ally Pally is nearly upon us. Because with Luke Littler absolutely romping the Grand Slam of Darts title in Wolverhampton on Sunday, all eyes are [...]
Beware of the big promises of AI – we’ve been here before November 18, 2024 AI hype is everywhere, but we've been here before. Ian Whittaker prescribes a healthy dose of scepticism in today's Notebook.
Former MP describes ‘enormous guilt’ over Westminster honeypot scandal November 16, 2024 Former MP William Wragg has described the feeling of “enormous guilt” that washed over him as he realised he had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam designed to target politicians in Westminster. A police probe began in April earlier this year after it was suggested at least 12 men with links to Westminster had received [...]
Reeves ‘not satisfied’ as economic growth slows in third quarter November 16, 2024 Rachel Reeves has said she is “not satisfied” after official figures showed economic growth slowed in the months after Labour won the election, and even contracted in September. The UK economy grew by 0.1 per cent between July and September, versus 0.5 per cent growth in the previous quarter, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) [...]
Dear sport leaders, drop the slogans if you’re not going to be a force for good November 16, 2024 As the world watched the final votes being counted in the US election, one person in particular should have been nervous about Donald Trump’s victory: Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Infantino had previously claimed that the upcoming 2026 World Cup was “a rallying cry […] a moment when three countries and an entire continent collectively say: [...]
Investors should think before reacting to the US election result November 14, 2024 The US election result isn’t just about America – but UK businesses and investors shouldn’t respond in haste, says Jane Booth The dust is still settling after a major few weeks of political events, from the publication of the UK’s Autumn Budget to the election of the 47th President of the United States. It’s been an [...]