Tories pledge to cut ‘eyewatering’ interest on some student loans February 22, 2026 The Conservative party has pledged to slash some of the interest paid on student loans issued up until 2023 amid growing opposition around the crippling amount of student debt. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the Plan 2 loans system – which around 5.8 million took out loans under between 2012 and 2023 – “increasingly feels [...]
UK and Trump in new tariff discussions as businesses sound alarm February 22, 2026 The UK is in discussions with the US over President Trump’s latest tariff salvo, a cabinet minister has confirmed, as businesses sound the alarm about the increased rate. President Donald Trump raised his base global tariff rate to 15 per cent on Saturday after the US Supreme Court struck down the authority he used to [...]
Trump says he is raising global tariffs after Supreme Court ruling February 21, 2026 US President Donald Trump has said he will raise his new global tariff rate to 15 per cent from 10 per cent, a day after the US Supreme Court struck down his policy. Trump signed a proclamation slapping a temporary 10 per cent duty on imports under section 122 of the 1974 trade act, which [...]
Davey challenges Starmer on Trump tariffs February 21, 2026 The UK Government should sue US President Donald Trump for 100 billion dollars for the damage caused to the UK by trade tariffs, Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey has insisted. The Lib Dem branded Mr Trump the “most dangerous, damaging US president of modern times” as he welcomed a “brilliant” decision by the US [...]
Thousands of entrepreneurs quit the UK in the past two years, says wealth manager February 21, 2026 Nearly 6,000 owners of high-growth businesses left the UK over the past two years, following changes to the UK’s tax regime and growing concerns over economic competitiveness. According to research from wealth manager Rathbones, who analysed Companies House filings from between January 2024 and 2026, of the business owners who have left the UK, the [...]
Brewdog co-founder to plough millons into rescue bid for the struggling brewer February 21, 2026 James Watt, the co-founder and former boss of Brewdog is to plough £10m of his own money into the company in a rescue bid for the craft brewer. According to reports from Sky News, Watt, who stepped down as Brewdog’s chief executive in 2024, is assembling financial backing from external investors for the group. Insiders [...]
Minimum wage is lowering standards of living, argues Wetherspoons boss February 21, 2026 The founder and chairman of budget pub chain JD Wetherspoon has warned that minimum wage is making lowering people’s living standards by limiting companies’ ability to increase pay and hire. Sir Tim Martin argued that rather than serve as a safety net to protect workers, minimum wage is now doing more harm than good, following [...]
Leading German group backs bid for Telegraph Media Group February 21, 2026 A leading German media group has backed a £500m bid for the Telegraph Media Group, which could rival the deal struck by the owner of the Daily Mail to acquire the UK titles. Axel Springer, which owns brand including Politico and Business Insider, said it would support a consortium of bidders led by Dovid Efune, [...]
Trump announces new blanket tariff after Supreme Court ruling February 21, 2026 US President Donald Trump has announced a new global tariff after the US Supreme Court ruled that his previously imposed duties were illegal. Trump imposed a 10 per cent global tariff shortly after the court’s ruling, a decision the president called “terrible”. The import duty will apply to all countries and be effective “almost immediately”, [...]
Diageo, Burberry rally after Trump tariff ruling February 20, 2026 Shares in two of the FTSE 100’s biggest retailers rallied on Friday afternoon after it was revealed President Trump’s sweeping global tariff regime had been struck down by the top US court. Burberry shares ended the day’s trading session up 3.2 per cent to 1,212p, while Diageo jumped 3.9 per cent to 1,851p after the [...]