UK defence contractors to offer 40,000 apprenticeships, placements and jobs
Posted on Wednesday September 23, 2026

Wes Streeting says he leads a ‘ministry for growth’ as Labour seeks to show more defence spending will create UK jobs

Defence contractors have promised to create 40,000 apprenticeships, work experience placements and jobs for young people each year, as Wes Streeting claimed to be overseeing a “ministry for growth”.

Labour is keen to demonstrate that the rapid increase in defence spending planned for the coming years, which may necessitate tax rises, will result in jobs in the UK.

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Three international bodies warn of risks of rising debt and soaring borrowing in major economies
Posted on Wednesday September 23, 2026

IIF highlights challenges facing US, France, UK and Japan, while OECD and IMF also voice global concerns

Three heavyweight international bodies have issued stark warnings about the risks of rising debt levels and soaring borrowing costs across large economies.

The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Institute of Finance (IIF), the voice of global banking, on Wednesday highlighted the dangers of soaring interest rates on $365tn (£275tn) in global borrowing.

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Legal & General to cut 1,000 jobs by mid-2027
Posted on Wednesday September 23, 2026

Programme will initially involve voluntary redundancies in the UK but the insurance and pensions firm will consider mandatory job cuts depending on the take-up

Legal & General plans to cut 1,000 jobs by the middle of next year, about a tenth of the British insurance and pensions firm’s workforce.

António Simões, the chief executive, is wielding the axe as part of his attempts to create a “leaner organisation” since taking over from longtime CEO Nigel Wilson in January 2024. L&G described the move as “the next stage of that transformation”.

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Bentley launches first fully electric car – with fake engine sounds to replace classic growl
Posted on Wednesday September 23, 2026

Torcal SUV can travel up to 375 miles on a single charge and is part of a £350m investment in the VW-owned carmaker’s UK business

Bentley is launching its first fully electric car – complete with a drum soundtrack to replace the growl of a combustion engine – as part of a £350m investment in its UK business.

The vehicle, an SUV called the Torcal, is Bentley’s cheapest, starting at £173,000, and will be built at its factory in Crewe, securing the jobs of the 4,000 workers there.

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New UK agency to fight ‘information warfare’ from likes of Russia, Burnham tells UN
Posted on Wednesday September 23, 2026

PM aims to ‘stem poisonous tide’ of disinformation and deepfakes with National Centre for Information Defence

Security chiefs will set up a new national centre to tackle disinformation and deepfakes from hostile states such as Russia, Andy Burnham has announced, saying the government had a duty to “stem the poisonous tide” from damaging British interests.

The National Centre for Information Defence will “detect, attribute and disrupt” information attacks by foreign powers, many of which are enabled by AI, bringing together the intelligence agencies, law enforcement and social media companies.

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OpenAI’s George Osborne says datacentre nimbys holding back Britain
Posted on Tuesday September 22, 2026

Former chancellor, now senior figure at OpenAI, says UK needs datacentres to maintain ‘sovereignty’ over AI tech

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Datacentre nimbys are holding Britain back, George Osborne has said in reaction to nationwide protests about the giant water- and energy-guzzling structures.

The former Tory chancellor is now the head of AI for countries at OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT. His job is to represent the company to governments around the world and he also has a role in enabling the building of datacentres and other infrastructure.

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Andy Burnham signals he may lift ban on alcohol in football stands
Posted on Wednesday September 23, 2026

Prime minister says measure is discriminatory when fans of other sports are not similarly restricted

Andy Burnham has signalled he may lift the ban on drinking alcohol in the stands at football matches, suggesting it is “unfair” for fans to be singled out when it is permitted for other sports.

The prime minister, a committed Everton fan who still attends matches, said there was a case for trialling an end to the ban to bring football in line with rugby and cricket.

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Warwickshire ‘in the groove’ as County Championship destiny calls
Posted on Wednesday September 23, 2026

Going into the last round 11 points clear, the bowler Olly Hannon-Dalby is confident the favourites can clinch the title

Olly Hannon‑Dalby, 6ft 7in of medium‑fast heritage craft, has just come out of training at Edgbaston. The last round of County Championship cricket is about to start and slow‑burn Warwickshire are nailed-on favourites. Hannon‑Dalby tries to pinpoint what has made the team tick this summer.

“Our bowling has massive depth,” he says. “Ethan Bamber has had an outstanding year with 60 wickets, and then Chris Woakes has been around the majority of the season. To be able to throw an English legend the ball every now and then is unbelievable – and his demeanour when he plays, how he carries himself is amazing. In fact our depth in general is great, everyone has played and contributed.”

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