London Underground hit by major strike today! King Charles pelted with eggs! Next acquires Made.com’s brand and website...

UK media have learned that the man is 23-year-old Patrick Thelwell, a member of the environmental group Extinction Rebellion and a former Green Party parliamentary candidate. Yorkshire Police stated that Patrick Thelwell has been arrested on suspicion of causing a public order offence and is currently in custody. UK nurses to hold nationwide strikes in coming weeks On 9 November, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the UK’s largest nursing union, announced that nurses across the country will stage nationwide strikes over the coming weeks, citing soaring domestic inflation and wage increases for nurses falling far short of inflation levels. A total of 176 hospitals and healthcare facilities will be affected. The RCN stated that, adjusted for inflation, the average UK nurse’s salary fell by 6% between 2011 and 2021—greater than the 4.6% decline across the UK workforce overall. The RCN is demanding a 5% pay rise for nurses above the current retail price index (RPI) inflation rate—which now exceeds 12%. The chart below shows the salary levels for nurses at various grades across England for the 2022–23 financial year. The RCN said that emergency care and intensive care services will remain operational during the strikes, but routine services—including knee and hip replacement surgeries, community care, and mental health services—will be disrupted. The NHS plans to seek assistance from military hospital nurses during the strike period. UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay criticised the nurses’ industrial action, saying: “It is excessive and disappointing for nurses to take this step while the UK faces an economic crisis. Moreover, the RCN’s pay demand is unreasonable and unaffordable for the government.” UK furniture e-commerce retailer Made.com officially enters administration; Next acquires its brand, website and other IP On 9 November, UK-based furniture e-commerce brand Made.com—founded by a Chinese national—announced it had formally entered administration. At the same time, UK retail giant Next acquired Made.com’s brand, website, and other intellectual property. The purchase price remains undisclosed. Prior to this announcement, Made.com had appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a leading accounting firm, as its administrator. The latest bankruptcy news puts 573 jobs at risk and leaves thousands of customer orders unresolved. Reports indicate that Next’s acquisition does not include Made.com’s remaining furniture inventory, which will instead be liquidated. Made.com’s shares have been suspended and will be cancelled following the company’s formal insolvency. Two weeks earlier, on 26 October, Made.com had already shut down its website, halted new customer orders, and ceased trading on the London Stock Exchange. Founded in 2010, Made.com was established in London by Li Ning, a Chinese national born in Foshan, Guangdong Province. He studied in France and launched the company in London at age 28. In a statement issued in September, Made.com cited rising costs, supply chain pressures, weakening consumer confidence, and increased discounting as reasons behind its plan to cut jobs and explore a potential sale.

UK may pay £500 million subsidy to India’s Tata! UK economic data revised upward! M&S sues UK government...

Data released by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 1 September showed that UK GDP in Q4 2021 was 0.6% higher than in the same quarter of 2019—revised up from a previously estimated 1.2% contraction. The data also revised 2021 GDP growth upward by 1.1 percentage points to 8.7%, while the 2020 pandemic-induced recession was revised down from 11% to 10.4%. These significantly revised figures mean that, by the end of 2021, UK GDP—measured on a quarterly basis—had surpassed pre-pandemic levels, recovering faster than G7 peers Germany, France, and Italy, matching Japan’s pace, and trailing only the US and Canada. In its statement, the ONS explained: “These revisions primarily reflect richer data obtained from annual surveys and administrative sources. We can now directly measure business intermediate consumption costs and adjust price statistics at a more granular level.” London Mayor abandons 2025 net-zero emission zone plan According to UK media reports, under mounting pressure from the expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), London Mayor Sadiq Khan has abandoned plans to establish a Net Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) in central London from 2025. The proposal was detailed in the Mayor’s 2018 Transport Strategy and would have imposed charges on all petrol and diesel vehicles. The document proposed establishing net zero emission zones in UK town centres starting in 2020, aiming for zero emissions in central London by 2025 and across the whole of London by 2050. It stated: “Alongside incentives and supporting infrastructure to encourage the switch to ultra-low-emission vehicles, disincentives are also needed to phase out fossil-fuel vehicles. Zero-emission zones may require non-compliant vehicles driving within the zone to pay a road user charge.” In response to rumours about abandoning the plan, a spokesperson for Mayor Khan said the Mayor’s current priority is achieving net zero emissions across London by 2030. Currently, local authorities including Camden and Kensington & Chelsea have stated they have no immediate plans to implement net zero emission zones. Westminster, Hackney, Islington, Southwark, Wandsworth, and Lambeth councils have not responded. Canadian businessman seeks to acquire majority of Wilko’s operations, potentially saving 8,500 jobs According to UK media reports, Doug Putman—the Canadian owner of HMV music stores—is planning to acquire the majority of UK homeware retailer Wilko’s operations. Putman has reportedly submitted an offer to acquire 300 of Wilko’s 400 stores, potentially safeguarding 8,500 of the company’s 12,500 jobs. On Thursday (31 August), administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) began consulting Wilko’s principal creditors regarding the terms of Putman’s proposed agreement. Wilko formally entered administration on 10 August and launched a pre-closure clearance sale, simultaneously suspending online sales.

M&S Boss Bemoans Last Week’s Budget as ‘Whole Lot of Nothing’

1 hour ago

M&S CEO criticized the UK budget and packaging regulations while reporting a £355m profit rebound driven by strong food sales growth. The retailer also welcomed an upcoming EU food trade deal to reduce post-Brexit logistical costs.

theguardian

2026-11-04

M&S Boss Bemoans Last Week’s Budget as ‘Whole Lot of Nothing’

M&S Boss Bemoans Last Week’s Budget as ‘Whole Lot of Nothing’

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