UK

Metro Bank has received a takeover approach from Pollen Street Capital, sparking fresh concerns over the number of companies leaving the London Stock Exchange amid rising private equity interest. Read more: Metro Bank takeover approach adds to fears of London Stock Market exodus

If London is serious about shaping the next era of tech, we must treat semiconductors as vital national infrastructure, writes Russ Shaw.

A senior official admits errors in PPE Medpro contract approval, as day two of the £122m High Court case reveals confusion and contradictions inside the government’s Covid procurement process. Read more: PPE Medpro legal battle intensifies as civil servant admits approval ‘mistake’ over sterile gowns

The High Court has upheld Labour’s decision to apply 20% VAT to private school fees.

The rising popularity of padel and pickleball has helped health club chain David Lloyd make a profit for the first time since being acquired by private equity giant TDR Capital. The Hertfordshire-headquartered chain has reported a pre-tax profit of £32.2m for 2024, new accounts filed with Companies House have revealed. The results come after the…

French energy giant EDF has acquired EV charger company Pod Point for just £10 million, down from its £352 million IPO valuation in 2021, after a sharp drop in revenue and continued losses. Read more: EDF buys EV charger firm pod point for just £10m – four years after £352m london float

The Ministry of Defence and Department for Health and Social Care are slated to see billions cut in Whitehall budgets in what a DOGE-style body within the Treasury described as “efficiency gains” – despite both departments set to see a real terms increase in spending between 2026 and 2029.  A new government document has revealed…

PPE Medpro defends itself in a £122m High Court case, arguing that the UK government approved its gowns during Covid-19 and is now wrongly scapegoating the firm for its own procurement failures. Read more: PPE Medpro hits back in £122m DHSC court case, blaming government ‘chaos’ during Covid procurement

UK exports to the US dropped by £2bn in April — the steepest monthly fall since 1997 — following President Trump’s new tariffs. Trade front-loading in Q1 gave way to sharp decline. Read more: Record fall in British exports to US as Trump tariffs bite

High Street favourite sold for £1 in a bid to stabilise the business.