6:40 am, July 14, 2026
UK economy set to have stayed in slow lane after Iran war held back growth
The UK’s economy is expected to have been stagnant for another month as some industries come under pressure and the Iran war continues to hold back growth.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will publish May’s gross domestic product (GDP) figures on Thursday following a period of global turbulence during the US-Israel’s war with Iran.
Some economists are expecting GDP to have flatlined or declined in May, after slipping by 0.1% in April.
Former Virgin Money boss picked as next chair of UK’s auditing watchdog
Former Virgin Money boss and prominent businesswoman Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia has been announced as the Government’s pick to chair the UK’s auditing watchdog.
Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle chose her as the preferred candidate for chair of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), which regulates auditing and accountancy firms.
If confirmed, she would succeed Sir Jan du Plessis who steps down at the end of September.
Urban Automotive reveals Land Rover Defender pick-up with ‘Widetrack Avontur’
The team at Urban Automotive has revealed its take on a Land Rover Defender pick-up truck with the Widetrack Avontur prototype.
Urban Automotive is a British firm that specialises in modifying some of the world’s most luxurious vehicles and the Widetrack Avontur prototype has been developed to celebrate the brand’s 10th anniversary.
The Widetrack Avontur is based on a Land Rover Defender 110 Hard Top Commercial variant, but has had several changes made to its exterior and chassis to create this concept.
The markets
he FTSE 100 struggled for direction on Monday, while the oil price rose reflecting tension between the US and Iran as the Middle East crisis flared once more.
The FTSE 100 closed up 1.00 point at 10,498.29. The FTSE 250 ended up 25.17 points, or 0.1%, at 23,396.58, while the AIM All-Share fell 2.68 points, 0.4%, to 761.14.
In European equity markets on Monday, the CAC 40 in Paris ended up 0.3%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt rose 0.2%.
Burnham will be next prime minister after 349 MPs back him for Labour leadership
Andy Burnham will be the next prime minister after receiving an extra 27 nominations from Labour MPs on Monday, taking his total to 349.
The additional nominations, on top of the 322 he received last week, mean it is now impossible for any other candidate to gain the 81 endorsements needed to challenge for the Labour leadership.
While almost 80% of the Parliamentary Labour Party formally nominated Mr Burnham last week, extra endorsements on Monday took him over the line.
Ann Widdecombe murder suspect ‘not known to anti-terror Prevent programme’
The suspect being held by on suspicion of murdering veteran politician Ann Widdecombe was not known to the anti-terrorism Prevent programme, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said.
Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the former Conservative minister’s death after new evidence came to light.
Miss Widdecombe, 78, latterly a Reform UK spokeswoman and Brexit Party MEP, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon.
Heatwave fuels 19 wildfires across UK as more health warnings issued
Wildfires are blazing in 19 locations across England and Wales as the UK continues to bake, with more heat-health warnings issued for much of the country.
Seven English regions have been issued with yellow alerts between Tuesday and Friday by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this week as the Met Office forecasts temperature peaks of 33C in south-central regions.
Emergency services were last night dealing with 19 active wildfire incidents, with fire and rescue teams dealing with a combination of large moorland and agricultural fires, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
