Business & Economy

Published: 04 November 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online In a bold and politically charged move, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has signalled that she is prepared to raise income tax, breaking a major Labour manifesto pledge, as she prepares her upcoming Budget later this month. Speaking from Downing Street on Tuesday morning, Reeves made it clear that the government would prioritise economic stability and the national...

Published: 04 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The parent company of Primark, Associated British Foods (ABF), has announced that it is considering splitting its fashion retail business from its extensive food division, which includes well-known brands such as Twinings, Kingsmill, and Silver Spoon. The potential separation is part of a strategic review aimed at “maximising long-term value” amid a “challenging external backdrop”, the company confirmed...

Published: 04 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. In a surprising twist that has delighted food lovers across the globe, a small independent London bagel shop has claimed the crown as Deliveroo’s most popular food item worldwide this year. Papo’s Bagels, a family-run establishment in Dalston, saw its signature “Classic Bagel” rise above orders from major restaurant chains and international brands, highlighting the enduring appeal of...

Published: 04 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Campaigners are set to challenge the UK water regulator, Ofwat, in court over claims that it is unlawfully allowing water companies to charge households twice for essential investments aimed at reducing sewage pollution. The legal challenge, brought by River Action, will argue that the regulator’s current approach to approving water company bills means that customers could be paying...

Published: 03 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Ryanair’s outspoken chief executive, Michael O’Lear,y has launched a scathing attack on the Labour government, declaring that the UK economy is “doomed” under the current leadership and warning that punitive tax policies could cripple business growth. His remarks came just weeks before the highly anticipated UK budget announcement, scheduled for 26 November, as the airline reported a significant...

Published: 03 November 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online In one of the most remarkable brewing projects of the century, a Scottish brewer is preparing to open and revive a 150-year-old bottle of beer that once sailed with explorers bound for the Arctic. Dougal Gunn Sharp, founder and master brewer of Edinburgh-based Innis & Gunn, has announced plans to unseal the ancient bottle of Allsopp’s...

Published: 03 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Donald Trump’s appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom, Warren Stephens, has called on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to accelerate North Sea oil drilling, arguing that it would enhance the UK’s position as a reliable ally of the United States. Stephens, speaking in a detailed interview on Sky News’s Mornings with Ridge & Frost, expressed concern over Britain’s...

Published: 02 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A small business owner from Nottinghamshire is preparing to take on global cosmetics giant L’Oréal in a tribunal next week, following a protracted trademark dispute that she says has caused severe personal and financial strain. Rebecca Dowdeswell, 49, has spent three years locked in legal wrangling with the £170 billion company over her use of the name nkd...

Published: 31 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Wales could see the implementation of a four-day work week in selected sectors following next year’s parliamentary elections, according to political insiders. Plaid Cymru, currently leading in polls for the 2026 Senedd elections, has indicated that it would support a pilot program for the scheme if it assumes power. The party previously brought the idea to the Welsh...

Published: 30 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Richard Branson’s Virgin Trains is one step closer to breaking Eurostar’s longstanding monopoly on cross-Channel passenger services after the UK’s rail regulator approved the company’s application to access a key depot in east London. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) confirmed that Virgin will be allowed to use the Temple Mills depot in Leyton, a facility essential...