Blackrock eyes SpaceX stake as Musk pulls IPO forward to June May 17, 2026 Elon Musk is pulling SpaceX’s long-awaited stock market debut forward as BlackRock weighs a major investment in what could become the largest IPO ever attempted. The rocket and satellite giant is now expected to price its flotation on 11 June before beginning trading on Nasdaq the following day under the ticker SPCX, according to Bloomberg. [...]
Andy Burnham plots Westminster return warning Labour has ‘let people down’ May 17, 2026 Andy Burnham has moved a step closer towards a return to Westminster after confirming that winning the forthcoming Makerfield by-election would be the “first stage” in a wider bid to reshape Labour. The Greater Manchester mayor has repeatedly distanced himself from Sir Keir Starmer’s government, criticised Britain’s economic direction over the past 40 years and [...]
Premier League + and why owning the broadcast isn’t owning the fan May 17, 2026 The Premier League and Uefa’s moves into streaming platforms misunderstand the way fans want to consume football, says George Gilmore. In the last few months, the two leading lights in global club football, the Premier League and Uefa, have announced they will be launching direct-to-consumer broadcast offerings. In so doing, a revolutionary, if predictable, moment [...]
Britain takes first steps on journey to 2040s North of England Olympics bid May 17, 2026 The first steps have been taken to see Great Britain host the Olympics, in the North of England, for the first time since London 2012. The government this morning commissioned an “initial strategic assessment” into the potential for the North of England to stage the quadrennial games in the 2040s. Though any decision to bid [...]
‘I’ll be standing’: Streeting gears up to join leadership race as Burnham vows to save Labour May 16, 2026 Former health secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed he will join any potential leadership race, as pressure piles on Starmer’s premiership. Speaking to Sky News, Streeting spoke of his intention to join the race. He said: “We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field, and I’ll be standing.” He went on to [...]
UK government at risk of grinding ‘to a halt’ amid leadership race drama May 16, 2026 Ministers and senior civil servants have warned that sections of the UK government are at risk of hitting a standstill amid the growing likelihood of a Labour leadership contest. Government figures have expressed concern a contest could overshadow Starmer’s agenda and key initiatives, including the push for closer UK relations with the EU. Worries have [...]
JCB billionaire to hand reins to youngest son in blow to apparent heir May 16, 2026 The boss of JCB has named his younger son as his heir to the business, instead of his elder son and presumed heir. In an interview with the Telegraph, Lord Bamford said that his third child, George, would take over from his as head of the digger manufacturer rather than elder son Joseph, known as [...]
Starmer prepares for leadership battle as Streeting declares UK must rejoin EU May 16, 2026 Prime minister Keir Starmer is expected to approve an £18bn increase in defence spending, as he prepares to battle for his political survival. Senior defence insiders said the investment would enable the armed forces to modernise and prepare to fight a future war. According to reports in The Times, national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, has [...]
Reeves to overhaul ring-fencing regime in a bid to boost the UK economy May 16, 2026 The Treasury is set to unveil a sweeping overhaul of the ring-fencing regime next week, in a bid to protect depositors at the UK’s biggest retail banks, as ministers scramble to boost economic growth. According to reports in Sky News, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has signed off plans aimed at unlocking billions of pounds of additional [...]
London Marathon’s staggering popularity isn’t about running at all May 16, 2026 Why does one in 50 UK adults want to run the London Marathon? Maybe because it’s an oasis of joy in a desert of doldrums, says Matt Readman. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, as breadlines lengthened and unemployment spread across entire cities, something unexpected happened: people laughed more. Or at least, they looked [...]