Starmer’s authority in doubt as Labour MPs vent fury over Mandelson February 5, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer was under mounting pressure last night after he admitted he had been warned about Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein prior to appointing him as ambassador to Washington. Starmer’s attempts to handle the release of files relating to Mandelson’s vetting process were then thwarted by furious Labour backbenchers demanding independent scrutiny of [...]
Exclusive: Welsh Rugby Union risks £4m hit as 55,000 Six Nations tickets unsold February 5, 2026 The embattled Welsh Rugby Union is facing a £4m hit from this year’s Six Nations, with more than 55,000 tickets still unsold for their three home fixtures. The financially troubled nation stands to lose out on around £3.8m in ticket revenue over the next two months, with more than 18,000 seats still free for their [...]
Liverpool Street redevelopment tipped to get green light February 5, 2026 The controversial redevelopment of Liverpool Street station has been tipped for approval despite receiving thousands of objections. Planning officers at Canada Corporation recognised that the plans would cause harm to a number of heritage assets, including the station itself, but said the issues were “clearly and convincingly justified” given the wider benefits [...]
Nuclear deterrent strategy ‘no longer fit for purpose’ February 5, 2026 The UK’s nuclear deterrent strategy is outdated and a lack of expertise has left the country with an “awful lot of ground to make up”, a report backed by the former head of the civil service has warned. Lord Simon Case, who was cabinet secretary until shortly after Labour returned to government, has joined academics [...]
Nick Train’s Finsbury fund slides further as AI triggers jitters February 4, 2026 Nick Train’s Finsbury Growth and Income Trust (FGIT) has endured another torrid few days after being caught up in the sell-off in data and software stocks. The trust is heavily exposed to London’s leading listed software companies, all of which have faced heavy pressure since the launch of Anthropic’s legal productivity tool on Monday. At [...]
Musk’s mega merger raises stakes for SpaceX IPO February 4, 2026 Musk’s decision to absorb xAI into SpaceX may strengthen its growth narrative ahead of a mooted IPO. Or, it could add a trifecta of complexity, regulatory exposure and executive risk at a particularly sensitive moment. The all-stock deal values the combined group at around $1.25 trillion (£910bn), making it the world’s most valuable private company [...]
Watchdog warns on ‘fire sale dynamics’ risk in repo market February 4, 2026 The global financial watchdog has urged regulators to cast a closer eye over the ways in which leveraged trades in the short-term repo market could amplify financial stability risks worldwide. Regulators at the Financial Stability Board (FSB) are particularly concerned that leveraged investors might be forced to dump their assets in the event of a [...]
Quality over quantity: UK M&A volume slips but deal value climbs February 4, 2026 UK merger and acquisition deal value increased last year despite a fall in volumes as investors turned their focus to acquiring fewer, higher-quality assets. The total number of UK deals fell 12 per cent year on year to 2,991, down from 3,411 in 2024, according to the latest industry trends data from PwC. But overall [...]
Team GB bid for Winter Olympics history hit by skeleton helmet row February 4, 2026 Team GB have become embroiled in a kit row on the eve of the Winter Olympics after their world-leading skeleton squad’s safety helmets were deemed to be non-compliant. The British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association (BBSA) has lodged an urgent appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a decision made by world governing body [...]
Payments watchdog won’t be abolished ‘any earlier than 2027’ February 4, 2026 The boss of the payments watchdog has said he doesn’t expect the regulator to be officially abolished any earlier than the first quarter of 2027 as criticism grows over the slow progress of reforms in the sector. David Geale, managing director at the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), said he had “not seen the outcome” of [...]