Business

Business · 18 hrs ago

City rolls out on‑the‑spot fines to sober‑up the e‑bike brigade, promising a less tipsy commuter jungle

Iris Quay, London desk

The City has launched a crackdown on drunken e‑bike riders, proposing on‑the‑spot fines and a consultation on further penalties. Officials say the move aims to curb dangerous riding and restore order to the streets…

Business · 21 hrs ago

Britain’s ‘Critical Minerals’ Crisis: MPs Warn of Dangerous Dependence on China

Iris Quay, London desk

Parliament says the UK’s reliance on China for critical minerals – essential for defence, AI and net‑zero – is a security risk and urges a centralised mining strategy and diversification funding.

Business · 1 day ago

Poundland Owner Meets Business Secretary as Collapse Looms

Iris Quay, London desk

Gordon Brothers, the investment firm behind Poundland, is set to meet Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds on Wednesday amid growing concerns that the retailer could collapse, prompting close scrutiny from the City.

Business · 4 days ago

From Market Stall to Money‑Pit: Poundland’s Puzzling Plunge

Iris Quay, London desk

Poundland, which began as a stall in Wolverhampton, grew into a high‑street discount giant but now faces the threat of collapse.

Business · 5 days ago

Charity shop profits plummet as Vinted swipes the last good cardigan

Iris Quay, London desk

UK charity shop profits have fallen sharply, with Oxfam reporting a 23% drop in retail profit and the British Heart Foundation describing trading as ‘exceptionally challenging’ due to the rise of online resale platfo…

Business · 5 days ago

Paddington and New Street Shut for Five Days Each Over Christmas

Iris Quay, London desk

London Paddington and Birmingham New Street will each close for five days over the Christmas period as part of a 10‑day engineering programme, while most other routes stay open. Travellers are urged to plan ahead for t…

Business · 6 days ago

Binance $6.3bn Heist: North Korea’s TraderTraitor Unit Strikes

Iris Quay, London desk

Blockchain intelligence firm TRM attributes a $6.3 billion theft from Binance to North Korea’s TraderTraitor hacking unit, the largest crypto heist on record, sending major cryptocurrencies – Bitcoin down 2.35% –…

Business · 30 October 2026

Lloyds CFO Says Bank Tax Hike Is a 'Convenient Energy‑Bill Bandage'

Iris Quay, London desk

A senior Lloyds Banking Group officer scoffed at the chancellor’s plan to use bank levies to ease household energy costs, arguing the tax hike is more a political gesture than a financial solution.

Business · 30 October 2026

Think‑tanks Warn Living Standards Set to Fall, Budget Echoes ‘Painful’ Forecast

Iris Quay, London desk

Think‑tanks and the latest budget forecast both warn that living‑standard growth is grinding to a halt, making the years ahead painfully stagnant.