The UK Pulse The Pulse of the UK

Alderney electricity bills to be subsidised as crude nears $100

Alderney electricity bills will be subsidised for the rest of the year if crude oil rises above $100 a barrel, with the States of Guernsey providing AEL £200,000.

3 min read

Aerial view of a coastal town with sandy beaches, rocky shoreline, turquoise bays, and patchwork fields stretching inland.

UK households can install plug-in balcony solar panels from 27 August

British households will be able to buy plug-in balcony solar panels from 27 August after a law change, allowing renters and flat owners to cut energy bills.

8 min read

Upper floor of a yellow building with a solar panel installed on the outside of a metal balcony.

Michelin-star chef says business rates cut is not enough

Birmingham chef Alex Claridge says a 20% business rates cut for pubs and venues will not fix the pressures facing independent restaurants.

4 min read

Portrait of a bearded person wearing a white T-shirt and necklace, standing in a kitchen or food-preparation area. Metal wire shelves behind the person hold several countertop appliances, mixing bowls, and containers. The image is lit with direct flash, creating strong shadows on the wall.

VAT cut to be applied to Manx electricity bills

VAT on domestic electricity bills in the Isle of Man will fall from 5% to 0% from 1 October, with a typical household expected to save about £50 a year.

3 min read

Electricity smart meter on a kitchen counter with a pot on a stove in the background.

Warren accuses Barclays of failing to probe Staley-Epstein ties

Elizabeth Warren and two US lawmakers have demanded answers from Barclays over its handling of former CEO Jes Staley’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

6 min read

Jes Staley arrives for a court hearing last year

UK millionaires urge Andy Burnham to tax them more

Gary Lineker, Brian Eno and 118 other wealthy Britons have written to new prime minister Andy Burnham urging higher taxes on the very richest, including a proposed 2% levy on wealth over £10m.

2 min read

Gary Lineker smiling. He wears a black top.

Government to cut business rates for pubs, clubs and venues

Pubs, clubs and live music venues in England will get a 20% business rates cut from April, with the government estimating savings of around £1,100 next year.

4 min read

Ukraine strikes hit Wildberries warehouses and squeeze Russian sellers

Ukrainian drones have struck multiple Wildberries warehouses in Russia, killing workers, destroying stock and disrupting small businesses that depend on the marketplace.

1 min read

Smoke rises from a Wildberries warehouse on fire after an attack in Nevinnomyssk, Russia, July 22, 2026

Canada's dairy sector is back in Trump's trade crosshairs

Canada's dairy supply management system is back in focus after Donald Trump tied it to a 50% tariff on Canadian goods, prompting fresh debate over trade, prices and political risk.

12 min read

A line of black and white Holstein cows stick their head through blue gates to eat hay in a barn at a dairy farm.

Why the UK is still undecided on e-scooters

In Southampton, e-scooters are part of everyday life, but the UK still has no long-term decision on legalising and regulating them.

11 min read

Montage image showing a collage of e-scooters, all seen from the side. In the top half of the image, the e-scooters have a green background and are facing to the left. At the bottom they have a red background and are facing to the right.

UK airport drop-off fees rise by a third, with Gatwick and Stansted the most expensive

RAC analysis found drop-off fees at major UK airports have risen by a third since last summer, with Gatwick and Stansted charging £10 and London City the most expensive per minute.

3 min read