Reuters UK Domestic

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition Labour Party said it would stop the next generation from legally buying cigarettes if it wins a national election on July 4. Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had wanted to bring in some of the world’s strictest anti-smoking rules by banning anyone aged 15 and under from ever buying cigarettes, …

UK’s Labour promises to ban smoking for younger generations Read More »

(Reuters) – British outsourcing group Capita unveiled strategic plans on Thursday to focus on its core segments as it aims to improve its financial performance and cash generation. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT? The company in March flagged cost-cutting steps worth about 100 million pounds ($127.8 million), after reporting an annual loss and wider cash outflows on …

UK outsourcing firm Capita to sharpen focus on core businesses Read More »

(Reuters) -British pub group Fuller, Smith & Turner, on Thursday, posted higher sales for the first 10 weeks of the new fiscal year, aided by strong demand and lower costs, but its growth rate slowed from last year. The company, which operates premium pubs across the UK with many in central London, reported a 4.4% …

UK pub group Fullers’ sales rise on strong demand, lower costs Read More »

(Reuters) -Virgin Money UK on Thursday warned of a higher cost-to-income ratio in the second half of the year, as the British lender delayed certain restructuring plans due to an all-cash takeover proposal from building society Nationwide. The cost-to-income ratio is a key measure of efficiency where lower is better. The impact of inflation and …

Virgin Money UK flags higher cost-to-income ratio in second half Read More »

By Elizabeth Piper and William James LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer were grilled by voters at a televised event on Wednesday, with both challenged over past decisions, pledges and how they would fund policies if they won a July 4 election. At their latest meeting in television …

UK’s Sunak, Starmer face televised grilling by unhappy voters Read More »

LONDON (Reuters) – British Labour leader Keir Starmer performed better than his election rival Rishi Sunak in live television interviews broadcast by Sky News on Wednesday, a snap poll by YouGov showed. YouGov said 64% thought Starmer performed better, while 36% thought Sunak had done better. (Reporting by William James; editing by Elizabeth Piper)

By Shaloo Shrivastava BENGALURU (Reuters) – The Bank of England will start cutting interest rates in August, according to all but two of 65 economists polled by Reuters, and most of them expect at least one more reduction this year despite persistently high pay and services inflation. One of the first central banks to start …

Bank of England to cut rates in August, at least one more expected this year: Reuters poll Read More »

By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) -Former British nurse Lucy Letby’s conviction last year for murdering seven babies and trying to kill six others is important evidence in her trial for the attempted murder of another newborn, a prosecution lawyer said on Wednesday. Letby, 34, was found guilty last August of the numerous crimes committed between …

UK nurse Lucy Letby’s murder convictions important in new trial, court told Read More »

By Alan Baldwin BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) – Olympic breaststroke champion Adam Peaty will be heading to Paris at peace with himself and under no pressure, and that could make him an even more dangerous opponent, he said on Wednesday. The Briton is chasing a third successive 100m gold, the “three-Peaty” headlines at the ready, at …

Swimming-Peaty will head to Paris with peace and no pressure Read More »