London desk

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

Finance · 5 days ago

Tax Thresholds Stuck in the Slow Lane: Healey’s Budget Keeps the Freezes Turning

Iris Quay, London desk

John Healey’s first budget leaves income‑tax thresholds frozen, so as wages rise with inflation more of the extra earnings will be taxed, cutting take‑home pay.

Sports · 5 days ago

Arsenal to Appeal Dowman's Red Card – A Legal Brief for the Unlikely

Tom Wick, London desk

Arsenal will appeal Max Dowman's sending‑off from their Carabao Cup loss to Fleetwood Town, but former referee Dermot Gallagher predicts the challenge will fail because the referee’s standard was ‘aggressive’.

Business · 5 days ago

Burnham’s 2026 Budget: PMQs, a Free‑Movement Showdown and a ‘You Be the Chancellor’ Game

Iris Quay, London desk

Before John Healey could deliver the 2026 budget, Andy Burnham faced PMQs, Michael Badenoch launched a free‑movement attack, and a new interactive game let the public try to balance the books – a meeting betwee…

Business · 6 days ago

Healy’s Budget: Small Shops Celebrate, Banks Hold Their Breath

Iris Quay, London desk

John Healey’s maiden budget rewards struggling households, new homebuyers and small shops, while banks and online marketplaces brace for higher levies.

Business · 6 days ago

The City Throws a Party for Cash ISA Reversal – No More Cutting Back

Iris Quay, London desk

Chancellor John Healey announced a reversal of the cash ISA allowance cut, prompting a brief but lively celebration among City firms and savers.

Business · 6 days ago

UK’s £24 bn ‘Fairytale’ Carbon Capture Budget Leaves City’s Ledger Looking Like a Magic Trick Gone Wrong

Iris Quay, London desk

The Treasury’s latest spell—spending £24 bn on speculative carbon‑capture projects—has sparked a national laugh and a call from wildlife‑enthusiast Chris Packham to redirect the money toward lower bills an…

World · 6 days ago

Handler ‘Ali’ Allegedly Orchestrated RAF Fairford Plot as Two 24‑Year‑Olds Appear in Westminster Court

Tom Wick, London desk

Two 24‑year‑old British men, Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with national‑security offences linked to an alleged Iran‑connected plot at RAF Fairford. Pr…

Finance · 6 days ago

Anthropic Files for US IPO, Aiming for One of the Largest Debuts

Iris Quay, London desk

AI startup Anthropic, the creator of the Claude chatbot, has filed for a US listing that could become one of the biggest IPOs in history, turning the City’s finance‑talk into a caffeine‑fueled debate.

Finance · 6 days ago

Banking Bunch: Lender’s Billions Boosted by Higher Rates, Tax on the Horizon

Iris Quay, London desk

A major UK lender posted billions in profit thanks to higher interest rates, but the Treasury is already drafting a higher bank tax to keep the coffers full.