London desk

Filed from the London desk — including multi-city pieces that also ran elsewhere.

Business · 17 October 2026

Heathrow’s Third Runway: The Pro‑Growth Pitch That Left the Prime Minister Flying High on a Different Flight Path

Iris Quay, London desk

Chancellor John Healey has championed a pro‑growth case for a third runway at Heathrow, but the Prime Minister has declined to back the plan. The government will study responses to the public consultation, with airpo…

Finance · 17 October 2026

UK Leaves Door Open on Chinese EV Tariffs as Beijing Decries ‘Discriminatory’ Move, France Steps Aside

Iris Quay, London desk

No 10 has said the UK could impose tariffs on Chinese‑made electric cars if it joins the EU’s Made in Europe scheme. Beijing slammed the prospect as discriminatory, and France has withdrawn its earlier resistance t…

Politics · 17 October 2026

UK Prime Minister's Spouse in Spotlight on Jonathan Powell's Wife's Support Incident

Reginald Penny, London desk

London's top brass come to terms with the possible implications of Sarah Powell's controversial post on Palestine-related activism, as wife of popular writer Sarah Helm and the famous husband who handles security matters…

Business · 17 October 2026

Airbus chief warns UK may be left on the launch‑pad if it hands Skynet to Lockheed

Iris Quay, London desk

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury wrote to Transport Secretary Andy Burnham warning that selecting Lockheed Martin for the Skynet military satellite programme could see Britain lose its foothold in the European space sector.

Business · 17 October 2026

Robotaxi Waitlist Swells as Drivers and Politicians Target Wayve HQ

Iris Quay, London desk

More than 100,000 people on Uber’s robotaxi waitlist have sparked a protest at Wayve’s headquarters, with Uber drivers fearing for their jobs and politicians urging TfL to control licences.

Business · 17 October 2026

Twelve vessels peppered near Hormuz as the City pretends oil‑price volatility is just a new form of market seasoning

Iris Quay, London desk

A UK maritime agency recorded a record twelve ship strikes near the Hormuz Strait in one week, slowing oil exports. London’s financial hub responded with typical bravado, treating the security disruption as a quirky bo…

Business · 16 October 2026

Tesla Roadster 2 Takes Off, Flips, and Lands at Tesla Event

Iris Quay, London desk

Elon Musk unveiled the Roadster 2 at a Tesla event, where the car drove up a curved ramp, used SpaceX thrusters to lift, flip, and land back on the ramp.

Sports · 16 October 2026

Kartal’s Third‑Tournament Triumph: Wuhan Upset That Leaves Svitolina in the Dust

Tom Wick, London desk

Britain’s Sonay Kartal, playing her third event after a long injury lay‑off, stunned fifth‑seed Elina Svitolina to reach her first WTA 1000 semi‑final at the Wuhan Open.

Business · 16 October 2026

Ofgem’s ‘Pay‑Your‑Rival’ Charge Could Turn Energy Switching Into a Charity Fundraiser

Iris Quay, London desk

Ofgem is weighing a market‑stabilisation charge that would require suppliers who win customers with cheaper tariffs to pay a fee to the losing rival, a move aimed at keeping firms from going bust and that could turn ev…