Business & Economy

Published: 16 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Concerns over UK energy supply chains have intensified after new warnings suggested heavy dependence on China could cost thousands of British jobs. A detailed assessment by the Institute for Public Policy Research has highlighted how vulnerabilities within UK energy supply chains may undermine economic stability and clean energy ambitions. The report, circulated widely across policy circles, argues that...

Published: 14 January 2026 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online The UK government has unveiled ambitious plans for a major rail investment programme across the north of England, more than a decade after the first proposals for such a project emerged. The multibillion-pound scheme, known as Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), is designed to deliver faster journeys, more frequent services, and upgraded stations, aiming to transform travel...

Published: 14 January 2026 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in China this week on a visit laden with promise, risk and global scrutiny, as Ottawa attempts to recalibrate one of its most complex foreign relationships at a time of deep economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The trip, the first by a Canadian prime minister to China since 2017, is being...

Published: 13 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Labour leader Keir Starmer has argued that his foreign trips are essential for addressing the cost of living. He told MPs that engaging directly in international negotiations would improve trade and security, which in turn would benefit the domestic economy. Starmer emphasized that global engagement, rather than isolation, was crucial for Britain’s economic stability. While many MPs prefer...

Published: 12 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. UK business confidence dropped sharply at the end of 2025 as hiring slowed significantly across multiple sectors. The focus keyword UK business confidence appears early in this report, reflecting surveys that reveal companies are increasingly cautious due to rising operational costs and economic uncertainty. Accountancy and recruitment studies indicate that firms paused hiring, reducing both full-time and temporary...

Published: 12 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The focus on UK helicopter contracts has intensified as industry sources warn about 3,000 jobs at risk if the Ministry of Defence does not finalise a new order soon. Leonardo Helicopters, owner of the historic Westland factory in Yeovil, Somerset, is facing a potential closure by the end of March if the UK military fails to commit to...

Published: 10 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Wessex Water pay has again come under scrutiny after executives were revealed to have received undisclosed additional funds. In 2025, Wessex Water bosses were awarded £50,000 in extra pay from a parent company, despite the Labour government banning bonuses to utility executives. Chief executive Ruth Jefferson and chief financial officer Andy Pymer received £24,000 and £27,000 respectively, in...

Published: 09 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Rachel Reeves has moved decisively to contain unrest within Labour by signalling a reversal on pub business rates, a decision that has eased immediate pressure on the chancellor while reopening debate about economic judgment and policy timing. The promise of change follows sustained criticism from Labour MPs, industry leaders, and local publicans who warned that sharp increases in...

Published: 06 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. UK taxpayers are losing tens of millions every year due to “phoenixism” at recruitment firms, HMRC data suggests. Phoenixism, the practice of liquidating insolvent companies and restarting them under new ownership while leaving debts unpaid, has repeatedly cost the exchequer enormous sums. Since the autumn, new cases have emerged where recruitment businesses were bought out of pre-pack administrations,...

Published: 06 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Keir Starmer has set the stage for fierce parliamentary battles over his UK-EU “reset” plan, aiming to reshape trade and regulatory relations with Brussels. The reset policy will be introduced through legislation designed to align agrifoods and electricity trading arrangements while granting ministers broader powers to adjust standards across sectors. This reset strategy has been framed as a...