London desk

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

Business · 30 September 2026

Growth Grows, Diesel Rises: A Londoner’s Dream and a Driver’s Dilemma

Iris Quay, London desk

The Office of National Statistics nudged the UK’s growth figure higher, delighting City brass, even as diesel prices edge towards the dreaded £2 threshold.

Business · 30 September 2026

Greggs to Trim the Oven: Four Factories Shut, 740 Jobs Sent to the ‘City’ for a Proper Cup of Tea

Iris Quay, London desk

Greggs says it will close four UK bakeries, cutting 740 positions, in a bid to stay ‘cost‑efficient’ while the City nods approvingly.

Entertainment · 30 September 2026

Sam Pollard Takes the Jury Gavel at London Film Festival, Leaving Docs and Features to Battle for the Same Popcorn

Celia Marsh, London desk

Sam Pollard has been appointed head of the Official Competition jury at the London Film Festival, joined by Argentine auteur Mariano Llinás and DDA’s Julie La Bassiere, while Amir El‑Masry and Sandhya Suri preside o…

Finance · 30 September 2026

Bank of England Boss Declares War on Rogue AI, Vows to Keep the Reins

Iris Quay, London desk

In a move that reads like a plot twist from a fintech thriller, the Bank of England’s governor says the central bank must retain a 'right to intervene' in the AI sector, warning that rogue models could hijack the finan…

Finance · 30 September 2026

Poundland’s Plunder: A 11,000‑Job Lifeline Involving a Former Asda Mogul

Iris Quay, London desk

Poundland’s survival hinges on a rescue bid that may involve a former Asda boss and a financial backer. The deal could keep thousands of low‑price shoppers’ livelihoods afloat, but will the City’s appetite for di…

Politics · 30 September 2026

Worth a punt: Deputy Mayor Timpson on the Prime Minister's Pitch

Reginald Penny, London desk

Andy Burnham's speech, known as 'The Burnham Feast', has left the nation bewildered on Brexit; Editor Timpson suggests a new Parliamentary agenda; Boris Johnson's minions continue to play Brexit tennis; and if your mind…

Politics · 30 September 2026

Shoebridge’s Greens: The New Labor Replacement Plan

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

After a dramatic leadership ballot, NSW senator David Shoebridge has taken the reins of the Greens, vowing to replace Labor. The move comes after Larissa Waters’ resignation and a surge of One Nation, leaving the party…

Business · 30 September 2026

City Brokers Brace for £1,999 Energy Bills as Forecasts Spark Panic

Iris Quay, London desk

The latest forecast predicts that the average UK household will pay nearly £2,000 in energy costs this year, a spike that has the City’s financiers scrambling to adjust their models and their coffee budgets.

Politics · 30 September 2026

Burnham Signals Triple Lock Sunset by 2030, Aims to Keep Care Fund Alive

Reginald Penny, London desk

Prime Minister Burnham vowed to end the pension triple lock in 2030, redirecting funds toward care services, a move that left MPs on the cusp of a delayed train and listeners to Sam and Anne’s podcast scrambling to cat…