Reeves’s promise of pub business rates U-turn averts Labour rebellion Change in England largely welcomed by industry and Labour MPs but represents another climbdown
Here’s why Labour is struggling to deliver: the British state is immense, but pull the levers and nothing happens At home, the machinery of government creaks badly – abroad, a leaden UK lags far behind dynamic competitors. A radical overhaul is needed, says Guardian columnist Larry Elliott
Starmer vows to review franchise legislation in response to Vodafone case Prime minister to ‘look closely’ at outcome of legal claims against FTSE 100 telecoms group
Fujitsu ‘not a parasite’, boss says while refusing to give redress figure for Horizon IT scandal victims Paul Patterson questioned by MPs as firm continues to make millions from UK government contracts
Collapse of ‘zombie’ UK firms forecast to fuel unemployment in 2026 Businesses being hit by rising cost of interest rates, energy costs and wages, says Resolution Foundation
Uber rewrites contracts with drivers to avoid paying UK’s new ‘taxi tax’ Hailing app will now act as agent rather than supplier outside London, avoiding VAT requirement
Ministers may cut green tech mandate from new homes regulations in England Critics say removing battery installation requirement will reduce amount homebuyers save on energy bills
China forecast to have sold one in every 10 new cars in UK in 2025 Carmakers such as MG, BYD and Chery are set to pass 200,000 mark in sales, analysis suggests, double 2024’s total
Zack Polanski offering voters fantasy solutions, says head of Fabian Society Joe Dromey, head of the Labour thinktank, urges his party to take on the ‘twin populisms’ of Reform UK and the Greens
UK consumers still reluctant to spend going into 2026, KPMG survey finds Combination of concern about economy and household cost pressures will continue to limit spending, report suggests
Help UK ceramics industry or ‘lose piece of national identity’, government told Unions and thinktank urge action to save sector hit by sky-high energy bills, cheap imports and underinvestment
Sustainable aviation fuel take-up in UK unlikely to hit 2025 target, data suggests Provisional figures in government mandate’s first year show 20% shortfall in levels of SAF supplied for UK flights
End of shareholder revolt register ‘will help UK firms bury pay controversies’ Fears for transparency and governance after closure of public log meant to curb ‘abuses and excess’ in boardrooms
Farage criticised for £400,000 job promoting physical gold as pension investment Exclusive: Reform leader promotes Direct Bullion – but experts say commodity is not for everyday investors
Labour is living in a fool’s paradise if it thinks it has plenty of time to turn Britain around Going into 2026, the economy has little forward momentum and things may get worse before they get better, says Guardian columnist Larry Elliott