Britain’s third heatwave in four weeks is not just pushing temperatures to Mediterranean levels—it’s also turning up the pressure on an already fragile economy. From Herefordshire farms to high street bakeries, businesses across the UK are feeling the strain as record heat disrupts productivity, slashes sales, and increases costs. For many smaller operators, the summer sun is no longer a seasonal boost—it’s becoming a growing threat to survival. On his dairy and arable farm in...
Ministers are being urged to introduce robust protections for whistleblowers as part of the government’s forthcoming diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) legislation, aimed at tackling race and disability pay inequality in the workplace. The proposed Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, expected to be tabled this year, will require employers with more than 250 staff to publicly report on disparities between white and non-disabled employees and their Black, minority ethnic, and disabled colleagues—mirroring existing gender pay...
The government will act to make electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable for UK drivers, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has confirmed, though she stopped short of pledging direct subsidies—despite reports suggesting a £700 million support package may be imminent. Appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Alexander promised that new measures to cut the cost of EV ownership would be announced later this week. However, she declined to confirm whether these would include up-front grants for consumers,...
Two stark reports in the past week have reignited concern over the UK’s economic future—one showing a dip in monthly GDP, the other forecasting a potentially explosive rise in government debt. Together, they paint a sobering picture for Chancellor Rachel Reeves as she prepares for her first autumn Budget. Friday’s growth figures revealed a further dip in GDP for May, reinforcing fears of a sluggish economy. But it was the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR)...
President Donald Trump and his team are tackling the messy and bloody world we inherited with historic achievements. Through deftly negotiated truces in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, our recent agreement with NATO and the successful strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, the U.S. is now well positioned to win lasting peace. But despite this historic run, tremendous global challenges remain. Russia’s war against Ukraine goes on, and Communist China rattles sabers in the Pacific. ...
In his 26th week back in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump is expected to make a ‘major announcement’ related to Russia, hold a meeting with the NATO chief, and join a summit in Pennsylvania as America’s race to lead the world on artificial intelligence continues. July 13 marks the one-year anniversary of the first assassination attempt on Trump during the 2024 presidential cycle. Trump spent the anniversary at his home in Bedminster, N.J., before...
After more than two decades of serving in the U.S. Navy and building government systems, I have witnessed firsthand how millions of dedicated Americans work every day in service of their fellow citizens and the security of our democracy. I have also seen both the immense potential — and frustrating inertia — that plagues public service. An unrealized opportunity exists to connect the U.S. government’s critical missions with the transformative power of commercial technology. Consider this:...
The future of Canary Wharf and the City of London may be less about spreadsheets and more about sound systems, according to a bold new proposal to revive both the capital’s financial districts and its embattled nightlife sector. Creative studio Bompas & Parr has suggested that London’s underused office blocks—left increasingly vacant due to the post-pandemic shift to hybrid working—could be transformed into “world-class late-night party zones”, offering a bold reimagining of urban space in...
BT has warned that outdated planning regulations and a lack of available spectrum are holding back Britain’s 5G ambitions—jeopardising an estimated £230 billion boost to the UK economy by 2035. The telecoms giant is calling on the new government to accelerate reforms to the planning system and double the spectrum available to mobile networks, arguing that the current approach makes it harder to deploy mobile infrastructure in the UK than in almost any other developed...
Work has officially begun on Tata Steel’s electric arc furnace at its Port Talbot site, marking a pivotal moment in the future of UK steelmaking. The project, which is expected to cut the site’s carbon emissions by 90 per cent, has been enabled by a £500 million grant from the UK government—a key component of Labour’s early industrial strategy. The new furnace will secure 5,000 jobs at Port Talbot and represents a major shift from...
