6:37 am, December 11, 2025
William Hill owner considers sale after Budget gambling tax hikes
William Hill owner Evoke has said it could be sold after launching a review, as the gambling giant prepares to be hit hard by Budget changes to gambling taxes.
The company, which also owns 888, said its directors are undertaking a review of strategic options, ‘including but not limited to a potential sale of the group’. It added that the sale of some of its assets or business units is also an option.
The company said the potential sale follows an update on the day of the autumn Budget last month, when Labour announced plans to increase gambling taxes.
Leon to axe restaurants and jobs as administrators hired
Leon has said it will shut a number of restaurants after appointing administrators to lead a major restructuring.
The fast food chain said it will cut jobs as a result, as its boss criticised the hospitality industry’s ‘unsustainable’ tax burden.
It is understood the company has not yet decided exactly how many restaurants will need to close or how many workers will be affected.
Updated Xpeng G6 to launch in UK priced from £39,990
Xpeng is set to launch its revised G6 electric SUV in the UK next year.
Priced from £39,990, the new G6 brings revisions to the original car, which was only introduced into the UK this year.
The new model will launch with a new all-wheel-drive Black Edition, which uses dual motors with a combined output of 480bhp. Styling and equipment upgrades include a new full-width front light bar, quicker wireless phone charging pads, and a new digital rear-view mirror.
The markets
The FTSE 100 outperformed European peers on Wednesday as markets weigh future interest rate expectations ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision later in the day.
The FTSE 100 index closed up 13.52 points, 0.1%, at 9,655.53. The FTSE 250 ended 78.15 points lower, 0.4%, at 21,830.97, and the AIM All-Share ended down 0.96 of a point, 0.1%, at 746.62.
The pound was quoted higher at 1.3332 dollars at the time of the London equities close on Wednesday, compared to 1.3311 on Tuesday. The euro stood at 1.1647 dollars, up against 1.1637. Against the yen, the dollar was trading lower at 156.36 yen compared to 156.90.
New home buyer inquiries fell to two-year low in November – Rics
The volume of new home buyer inquiries deteriorated to the weakest level recorded in around two years in November, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics).
A net balance of 32% of property professionals reported new buyer inquiries falling rather than rising, which was the weakest reading since late 2023, its report found.
The number of new instructions to sell and sales being agreed was also falling overall, with professionals highlighting the impact of pre-Budget uncertainty.
Iceland boss and top Downing Street aide among Starmer’s new Labour peers
The chairman of the supermarket chain Iceland, Richard Walker, and Matthew Doyle, a former Number 10 director of communications, have been nominated for a peerage by the prime minister.
The series of Labour appointments to Parliament’s upper chamber comes as the Government has faced staunch opposition from peers over its flagship workers’ rights legislation.
Meanwhile, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has nominated former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, Sir John Redwood, the ex-Conservative Cabinet minister, and journalist and historian Simon Heffer.
Wednesday on Car Dealer
Auto Trader defends its pricing as bosses deny Deal Builder is responsible for falling share value
Bosses at Auto Trader say that the recent fallout over its controversial Deal Builder product is not to blame for its tumbling share price.
Redgate Lodge staff in mourning after ‘hit-and-run’ claims life of ‘a beautiful soul’
An online fund-raising page has been created to support the family of the operations director at Redgate Lodge, whose partner died on Saturday after a suspected hit-and-run.
Man to face trial over £18,000 damage to vehicles at Cawdor Cars dealership
A 78-year-old man accused of causing more than £18,000 in damage at a car dealership is due to face trial next summer.
Big Van World to challenge £80k Home Office fine over alleged illegal workers
A commercial vehicle dealership who has been fined £80,000 from the Home Office over claims it hired illegal workers is mounting a legal challenge.
Weather
A mostly dry start with bright spells today before rain moves into the north-west and patchy showers reach the south-west, reports BBC Weather. Windy throughout.
Tonight, rain spreads east, then clears to leave western areas dry with clearer skies, while the south-east turns cloudier but largely avoids the wet weather.
