6:50 am, September 8, 2026
John Healey unveils £150m fund for northern firms in push for growth
The Chancellor has unveiled a £150m fund for fast-growing northern firms as he sets out plans to grow the economy through an ‘active’ state.
Speaking yesterday (Mon), John Healey detailed plans to spread growth more widely across the UK by using public investment to attract private capital. The British Business Bank will commit up to £150m to a new fund ‘to get behind the most innovative and fast-growing firms’
The Chancellor also promised to ‘draw a line’ under rising costs for businesses, end legal blockages to building infrastructure and embrace technology as part of a push for growth.
Average UK house price falls annually for first time since 2023 – Lloyds
The average UK house price fell annually in August, marking the first year-on-year decrease since November 2023, according to an index.
A 0.4% average annual drop in property values was recorded by Lloyds in August.
The typical house price fell by 0.2% month on month, following a 0.1% month-on-month decrease in July.
Polestar looks to the future with Formula 2030 Concept
Polestar has hinted at what its future vehicles could look like with the new Formula 2030 Concept.
Designed to showcase what future 2 and 7 models could look like, the concept will make its full debut in October.
For now, a teaser image shows a wide, low-slung vehicle with Polestar’s classic ‘Dual Blade’ headlights prominently featured. Like the rest of the Polestar range, the Formula 2030 is believed to be an electric vehicle.
The markets
tock prices in London closed slightly lower on Monday, as rising oil prices fuelled inflation concerns, while investors also digested UK Chancellor John Healey’s pledge to control public spending ahead of next month’s Budget.
The FTSE 100 index closed down 8.96 points, 0.1%, at 10,822.13. The FTSE 250 ended down 78.03 points, 0.3%, at 24,506.68, and the AIM all-share closed down 0.41 points, 0.1%, at 799.50.
In European equities on Monday, the CAC 40 in Paris closed up 0.3%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt ended down 0.3%.
Monday on Car Dealer
How two UK dealers built the world’s biggest Koenigsegg dealership
SuperVettura founders Tommy Wareham-Dart and Paul Burrows have turned a recession-era leap into a world-leading Koenigsegg dealership. The Sunningdale business now has 50-60 cars on order, a £6.5m showroom and a loyal owner community that bosses say has become central to its success.
UPDATED: JLR confirms 4,000 jobs to be axed as part of £1.7bn cost-saving drive
JLR has confirmed plans to cut 4,000 jobs over the next two years as it targets £1.7bn in savings. The cuts will largely affect UK office roles as the carmaker continues recovering from its cyberattack and faces weaker sales, rising costs and US tariffs.
Used car prices rise as dealers protect margins – but tougher end to 2026 is looming
‘It’s going to be here tomorrow’: Lawgistics boss warns dealers to stop waiting for CRA reform
Lawgistics founder Joel Combes says dealers should stop waiting for Consumer Rights Act reform and instead focus on understanding their existing obligations and creating processes and evidence to protect themselves against disputes.
Hendy’s Duncan McPhee raises almost £4,000 after completing gruelling cancer challenge
Police minister blames Tories for Portsmouth and Dover anti-migration protests
The policing minister has blamed the Conservatives for ‘the frustration we see in our communities today’, after anti-migrant protesters took to the streets of Dover and Portsmouth over the weekend.
Official vehicles were damaged and a handful of police officers were injured during a stand-off with masked protesters in Portsmouth overnight on Sunday.
It came after crowds of masked, black-clad men blocked road access to the Port of Dover on Saturday, in scenes which were condemned by politicians of all parties.
Bernie Ecclestone denies arrest after being stopped with shotgun in Portugal
Bernie Ecclestone said he was stopped by police at an airport in Portugal for bringing a shotgun into the country he intended to use in a clay pigeon shooting competition.
The 95-year-old former Formula One boss told the Press Association that he had to ‘surrender’ the weapon because he did not have the correct documents – but denied he was arrested.
The incident took place on Monday after Ecclestone landed in Cascais – about 20 miles outside of Lisbon – on a flight from Switzerland.
Weather outlook
Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be windy with showers and brighter spells, while Wales and the Midlands see rain clearing to fresher conditions.
Southern England will start wet, with heavy rain gradually clearing.
Overall, Tuesday looks cooler, breezy and changeable across the UK.