Shadow Scottish secretary Andrew Bowie urges Keir Starmer to review North Sea oil policy after Donald Trump calls UK fossil fuel taxes too high and North Sea reserves a ‘treasure chest’.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Anneliese Dodds urges Labour to consider wealth tax to plug public finance gap
Former shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds says Labour must not avoid tough decisions ahead of the autumn budget—including a possible wealth tax to fund defence and public services.
Microsoft joins $4tn club as AI-driven growth fuels tech boom
Microsoft has become the second public company to surpass a $4 trillion valuation, as soaring AI demand and record cloud revenues fuel investor confidence.
Global markets slip as Trump unleashes sweeping tariffs on 92 countries
European stock markets fall as Donald Trump triggers new tariffs on 92 countries, sparking fears of a renewed global trade war and economic slowdown.
Nearly 3,000 HMRC laptops and phones lost or stolen, raising cybersecurity fears
Almost 3,000 mobile phones and laptops have been lost or stolen by HMRC over three years, sparking concerns over national cybersecurity and data protection.
UK property sales rise in June, offering boost to Chancellor Rachel Reeves
Residential property transactions rose in June 2025, providing a welcome boost to Chancellor Rachel Reeves and signalling growing confidence in the housing market.
Jeremy Clarkson devastated as Diddly Squat Farm hit by TB outbreak
Jeremy Clarkson has revealed a bovine tuberculosis (TB) outbreak has struck his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire, leaving him and his team “absolutely devastated.” The infection, which affects cattle and not humans, will force the culling of at least three animals, including a cow currently pregnant with twins.
Trump’s tariffs face pivotal court test hours before scheduled rollout
Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime is set to face a crucial legal test on Thursday morning, just hours before a major wave of new import duties is scheduled to take effect. The case could determine whether the former president’s aggressive trade policy, justified under emergency powers, can legally stand.
Retailers warn Reeves: tax rises in autumn budget risk pushing up shop prices
Britain’s leading retailers have issued a stark warning to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, saying that further tax rises in the autumn budget would almost certainly lead to higher shop prices, adding pressure to struggling households and worsening inflation.
Pound heads for worst month since September 2023 as dollar strengthens
The British pound is on track for its sharpest monthly decline in almost two years, falling 3.6% against the US dollar in July as the UK currency faces pressure from both economic headwinds and shifting global sentiment.
Regulators issue warning to firms over motor finance compensation practices
Regulators have issued a stark warning to law firms and claims management companies amid mounting concerns over misleading practices in motor finance compensation claims.
Government backs Ofcom’s crackdown on online porn sites as age-check rules kick in
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has welcomed a “speedy and decisive” crackdown by Ofcom on dozens of pornographic websites failing to implement robust age verification, marking the first major enforcement under the new Online Safety Act.
Government to impose toughest late payment laws in the G7
The UK government is preparing to introduce sweeping legislation to clamp down on late payments, in what it describes as the “toughest laws on late payments” among G7 nations.
Adidas to raise prices as US tariffs add €200 million to costs
Adidas will increase prices for US consumers after warning that new tariffs on Vietnamese and Indonesian goods will cost the company an extra €200m this year.
Richard Desmond drops part of his claim in National Lottery dispute as £1.3bn trial approaches
Businessman Richard Desmond has withdrawn part of his £1.3 billion legal challenge against the Gambling Commission over the awarding of the fourth National Lottery licence, just months before the case heads to trial in October.
