Pret a Manger back in black after pandemic massacre as sandwich giant eyes overseas expansion July 4, 2022 Sandwich and coffee chain Pret a Manger has said it returned to profitability in March after suffering another year of hefty losses in 2021 amid lockdowns and Covid restrictions. The group revealed it remained in the red with operating losses of £225.9m last year, in new filings on Companies House. This was an improvement on [...]
Labour wins by-election as victor Ashley Dalton calls for Sunak to ‘move out of the way’ February 10, 2023 Labour’s Ashley Dalton told the Conservatives “move out of the way” after a comfortable win in the West Lancashire by-election. She demanded a general election, telling Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that it was time for Labour to take over. Bitterly cold conditions on polling day and the expectation of an easy Labour hold contributed to [...]
UK economic outlook: Moving from shaky ground to stability and growth April 18, 2023 Few would argue that UK businesses have had an easy time the last few years. Between the pandemic, cost-of-living crisis, and rising inflation, many had predicted an upcoming recession for the UK economy. Whilst we may have avoided a sharp economic downturn, there is no denying that businesses in the UK are still very much on rocky [...]
IFS: No room for tax cuts or spending rises at March budget despite Jeremy Hunt pocketing £60bn windfall February 28, 2023 There is no room for tax cuts or spending increases at the 15 March budget despite Jeremy Hunt being handed an around £60bn windfall from lower energy prices and interest rates, a top economic think tank has forecast today. The Chancellor will be held back from handing households and businesses a tax giveaway due to [...]
Britain’s pro-growth agenda needs a rebrand to convince reluctant voters July 18, 2023 As the Tories face a brutal set of by-elections, they needs to find a way to give growth a good name again.
Elizabeth line: Bond Street station to open on 24 October September 28, 2022 Bond Street’s Elizabeth line station will open on 24 October following a five-month delay, Transport for London (TfL) has announced. The step-free station will accommodate 140,000 daily passengers, relieving congestion from Oxford Street and giving a boost to the capital’s fashion district. Trains will initially run every five minutes, with no services taking place on [...]
Fuel traders urged to take responsibility as wholesale price falls but petrol hits new record at pump June 23, 2022 Despite falling wholesale costs of petrol and diesel, prices are still going up at the pump as motoring groups call on fuel traders to offer consumers relief.
5m Brits have more than one job while double that number is looking for a side hustle September 27, 2022 More than 5m Brits are turning to a second or even third job to beat the cost of living crisis, while another 10m are considering it, according to new data out today from insurer Royal London. In fact, a separate study commissioned by GoDaddy shows that nearly one in three of firms that have under 10 employees are secondary [...]
Sadiq Khan expands London ULEZ scrappage scheme in wake of Uxbridge by-election loss August 4, 2023 The Mayor of London has announced a major expansion of financial support designed to ease the impact of the capital’s ultra low emission zone (Ulez) on people’s pockets. Sadiq Khan said every Londoner with a polluting car facing charges under Ulez will now be able to receive a grant of up to £2,000 to support [...]
Govt accused of ‘rank double standards’ as civil servants paid £30m in vouchers December 29, 2022 The Government has been accused of “rank double standards” after giving almost £30 million in high-street vouchers to civil servants amid a pay freeze prompted by the cost-of-living crisis. Sixteen Whitehall departments in 2021-22 paid out a combined total of £29.57 million to staff in the form of ‘reward and recognition’ vouchers, a third more [...]