Nigel Farage’s influence is shaping political decisions. Keir Starmer’s reversal on winter fuel payments and Robert Jenrick’s focus on fare evasion on social media are both responses to Reform UK’s significant gains in local elections. With Westminster seemingly under his sway, one must wonder if Nigel Farage is the de facto prime minister. In this week’s Free Thinking, City AM’s Opinion and Features Editor Alys Denby talks about the turquoise threat, the housing crisis, and the upcoming spending review with Emma Revell, external affairs director at the Centre for Policy Studies and a City AM columnist.
Free thinking: Is Nigel Farage the real Prime Minister?
With everyone in Westminster dancing to Nigel Farage’s tune, we have to ask: is the Reform UK leader the real prime minister?
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Stories for you —
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Pubs set for relief from packaging charges
Government changes could reduce duplicate packaging charges for British pubs. From April 2027, glass containers supplied directly to licensed venues will be exempt from certain producer responsibility fees, with potential savings for hospitality operators.
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ITV cuts spending as advertising demand weakens
ITV plans temporary spending reductions as UK advertising demand weakens. Fourth-quarter advertising revenue could fall by up to 10%, prompting £30m in savings despite continued growth in streaming activity.
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Europe’s biggest AI challenge isn’t the technology. It’s organisational psychology.
Europe’s AI adoption gap increasingly reflects challenges in workplace psychology. Cognizant EMEA president Manoj Mehta explains how leaders can build trust, support experimentation, and bring workers into the transformation.