6:43 am, October 27, 2026
Khan hails pedestrianisation of Oxford Street as ‘momentous day’ for London
London Mayor Lord Sadiq Khan of Tooting has hailed the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street as a ‘momentous day’ for London, adding “it’s really important that we support our fantastic retail”.
As of yesterday (Oct 26), almost a kilometre of the busy central London shopping street, between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, was made traffic-free with vehicles being diverted onto nearby roads.
Oxford Street, which produces an annual spend of around £3.1bn, is one of the world’s busiest shopping areas, with about half a million visitors each day and the overhaul comes in time for the run-up to Christmas.
China’s ATG buys hiking brand Lowe Alpine from UK’s Equip
China’s ATG Brands has snapped up rucksack maker Lowe Alpine from UK outdoor clothing specialist Equip.
The Hangzhou-based company has bought Lowe Alpine intellectual property, including trademark, logo and associated brand assets, for an undisclosed amount.
The deal will not cover stock, dedicated employees or premises, the companies said.
Lowe Alpine was originally founded by brothers Mike, Greg and Jeff Lowe in Utah in 1967. Equip, which also owns hiking clothing and equipment brand Rab, bought the business in 2011.
Lepas shows future of its cars with Aura concept
Lepas has given an indication of what its future models could look like with its sleek Aura concept.
Lepas, which falls under the Chery umbrella alongside brands such as Jaecoo and Omoda, currently has one car on sale in the UK – the L8 – which will soon be joined by the L6. Both, however, are SUVs.
Lepas says that the rounded front end of the Aura concept ‘will inspire the future’ of the brand’s cars and this grille area is framed by ‘Leopard-Eye’ lights which will also be used on other models.
The markets
Stocks in London started the week on the front foot, ending Monday in the green, as investors looked ahead to the autumn Budget and a busy week of central bank interest rate calls.
In London, the FTSE 100 index ended up 76.97 points, 0.7%, at 10,767.33. The FTSE 250 ended 263.86 points higher, 1.1%, at 24,501.25, and the AIM all-share advanced 6.51 points, 0.9%, at 753.18.
The pound was quoted at 1.3353 dollars, down from 1.3376 dollars. Against the euro, sterling ebbed to 1.1940 euros from 1.1946 euros.
Burnham ‘not leaning either way’ on future ties with EU, No 10 says
Andy Burnham is ‘not leaning either way’ on the UK’s future relationship with the EU, No 10 said amid questions about his stance.
Theprime minister’s call at the weekend for an ‘honest discussion’ about a return to freedom of movement has fuelled questions about the parameters around his vision for a deepening relationship with Brussels.
No 10 denied it was backtracking after Burnham earlier left the door open to a potential referendum on freedom of movement. A Downing Street spokeswoman said we are ‘not at that stage yet’ when asked whether the public would decide on proposals to get closer to the EU through a referendum or by voting on an updated Labour manifesto.
Home Secretary announces independent review into murder of Henry Nowak
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood has pledged to provide answers to Henry Nowak’s family, as she announced an independent review into the student’s murder.
The review will be led by former lord chancellor Alex Chalk and will look at ‘any missed opportunities to intervene’, Mahmood told the Commons.
The 18-year-old died after being fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton on December 3 2025. Nowak was handcuffed as he lay dying, after Digwa, a Sikh, falsely accused him of racial abuse.
Monday on Car Dealer
Podcast – Manufacturers need to stop patronising car dealers, says former Westway boss
Car manufacturers need to stop patronising their dealer networks and start listening to retail partners, Ineos global head of fleet, Tony Lewis, tells Car Dealer.
Former Autotrader executive faces Labour Party probe over £50,000 Covid loan
A motor trade executive turned MP has been suspended by the Labour Party amid questions over a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan he took during Covid.
Geely targets 45,000 UK sales next year as dealer network expansion gathers pace
Geely is targeting 45,000 UK registrations in 2027 as the Chinese manufacturer prepares to more than double its annual sales volumes.
Car salesman loses job after being caught drink-driving at twice the legal limit
A car salesman has lost his job after being caught driving at twice the legal drink-drive limit.
Out now: Issue 224 – Big Mike is back! Plus Skoda Peaq, Used Car Awards and all the latest news
Our latest interactive and digital edition of the magazine is FREE to read and download!
Volvo to axe 2,500 jobs after £290m quarterly loss as Chinese competition hits profits
Volvo Cars is to cut around 2,500 jobs worldwide after reporting a quarterly operating loss of SEK 3.7bn (£290m), with fierce competition in China hitting the manufacturer’s finances
Weather
Today will remain windy, especially in northern areas, with rain affecting the far north-west, reports BBC Weather. Elsewhere, expect sunny spells and scattered showers, while patchy rain clears the south-east.
Tonight, northern areas will see further rain, occasionally heavy, while the south stays mostly dry and clear. Winds will gradually ease.