6:50 am, October 6, 2026
BT rescues TalkTalk from collapse amid worries over national security threat
BT has bought struggling broadband provider TalkTalk out of administration for £400m following fears its collapse could spark a national security threat.
The telecoms giant said it had stepped in to save TalkTalk’s consumer division and its wholesale arm PlatformX Communications (PXC) in a ‘genuinely unprecedented situation’ after TalkTalk’s attempts to find a buyer for its two businesses had failed.
The move will protect jobs for TalkTalk’s 900 workers based in Salford, Greater Manchester, and secure telecoms supply to 2.5 million households and vital public service customers, including hospitals and schools.
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons ‘held talks over a possible merger’
Supermarket Sainsbury’s held early-stage talks with smaller rival Morrisons earlier this year over a potential merger, according to reports.
Sainsbury’s – Britain’s second-biggest grocery chain – is understood to have kicked off preliminary discussions in November last year after a possible multibillion-pound deal before Sainsbury’s walked away in February.
The pair are not believed to be in active talks over any tie-up but it reignites speculation over consolidation in the sector as competition ramps up with discounters Aldi and Lidl continuing to expand and pricing in sharp focus amid soaring inflation. Sainsbury’s and Morrisons declined to comment.
Hyundai’s Ioniq 3 gets full Electric Car Grant as it hits UK roads
The Hyundai Ioniq 3 has gone on sale in the UK, with the Korean brand confirming that its latest electric vehicle qualifies for the goverment’s full Electric Car Grant.
Once the £3,750 discount has been applied, the Ioniq 3’s starting price begins at £18,495 for smaller-battery versions rising to £28,195 for the range-topping Ioniq 3 N Line Evo.
Arriving as the brand’s latest compact electric car, the Ioniq 3 brings a range of up to 214 miles from 42kWh battery versions or up to 308 miles on the larger-battery 61kWh versions. All cars should manage a 10 to 80% charge in under 30 minutes thanks to rapid charging capability.
The markets
Stocks in Europe ended Monday mixed, with the FTSE 100 outperforming as political and fiscal worries put France’s CAC 40 on the back foot.
In London, the FTSE 100 Index ended up 35.99 points, 0.3%, at 10,497.94. The FTSE 250 fell 70.49 points, 0.3%, to 24,123.75, and the AIM all-share declined 3.44 points, 0.4%, to 780.31.
The pound was quoted at 1.3218 dollars on Monday, down from 1.3233 dollars at the same time on Friday.
US bombers pulled from RAF Fairford in face of ‘some threats’, says Trump
Donald Trump says there were ‘some threats’ that led the United States to pull bombers from a UK base.
The US president said the military aircraft ‘didn’t fly out by accident’ from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Earlier, US secretary of State Marco Rubio had sought to play down the withdrawal of the planes after suggestions the move was linked to security concerns. He would not link the departure of the jets to a recent suspected terror plot targeting the base.
Former politician and bestselling novelist Jeffrey Archer dies suddenly aged 86
Former politician turned bestselling writer Jeffrey Archer has died suddenly aged 86, his publisher said.
Archer, who was a Conservative MP for five years before serving as the party’s deputy chairman, died ‘suddenly and peacefully at his home between writing sessions’ on Monday, HarperCollins said.
He had a successful career as a novelist alongside politics and was made a life peer in 1992 as Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare, becoming the Conservatives’ choice to fight for the party in the first London mayoral election. But his campaign ended when his political career crashed in 2001 with the disgrace of his being imprisoned for four years for perjury and perverting the course of justice.
Monday on Car Dealer
Used Car Awards 2026: Find out who has made our Nominations List this year!
Our Nominations List for the annual Used Car Awards is now complete – and today we reveal who will move to the next stage.
UK government preparing tariffs on Chinese electric cars amid pressure from EU
The UK government is preparing plans which could see tariffs imposed on Chinese electric cars, potentially pushing up showroom prices, amid mounting pressure to protect domestic vehicle manufacturing.
V12 Sports & Classics holds profits steady despite almost £28m fall in turnover
Used car supermarket group V12 Sports & Classics has managed to hold profits virtually steady despite seeing almost £28m wiped from its annual turnover.
Nissan dealers use Lego Skyline giveaway to tempt customers in for winter checks
Nissan dealers are turning to one of the brand’s most famous performance cars to add a bit of interest to the usual winter aftersales push.
Volvo Cars pulls 2026 sales and cash flow forecasts as China struggles deepen
Volvo Cars has abandoned its sales and cash flow forecasts for 2026 after worsening conditions in China and a sluggish recovery in the US left the manufacturer facing a weaker end to the year.
Weather
Today, cloud and patchy rain will move south across central areas, with sunny spells elsewhere after southern fog clears, reports BBC Weather. Northwest Scotland will see showers.
Tonight, England and Wales turn wet and cloudy with often heavy rain, while Scotland and Northern Ireland remain drier with clear spells and scattered showers.