Business

A former chief executive of Aston Villa and Liverpool is a surprise contender to become the inaugural chairman of the government’s controversial football watchdog. Sky News can exclusively reveal that Christian Purslow, who left Villa Park in 2023, is on a three-person shortlist being considered by Whitehall officials to chair the Independent Football Regulator (IFR).

The banking sector is “investing heavily” in digital platforms, according to the body which represents the country’s lenders as many face a backlash over the latest payday glitch chaos to hit customers. Millions were exposed on Friday to varying challenges from slow app or online banking performance to being blocked out of their accounts altogether.

The disgraced former chair of the Co-op Bank, Paul Flowers, has been jailed for three years on fraud charges. The 74-year old, who was forced out of the lender in 2013 amid claims of inappropriate expenses and illegal drugs allegations, admitted 18 counts of fraud worth nearly £100,000. Flowers, also a former Methodist minister, committed

Ed Woodward, the former Manchester United chief, has been approached about joining the vehicle which owns stakes in clubs including Crystal Palace and Olympique Lyonnais. Sky News has learnt that Mr Woodward, who left Old Trafford in 2022, a year after United’s involvement in the ill-fated European Super League project, is being lined up as

The government has signalled that plans to bring a second runway at Gatwick into regular use will get the green light if environmental conditions are met. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was “minded to approve” the airport’s plans, but the deadline for a decision has now been pushed back until the end of October.

An MP has accused Meta of turning Facebook Messenger into “Jeffrey Epstein’s private island” by enabling end-to-end encryption.  The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee grilled tech giants X, TikTok, Google and Meta today as part of an inquiry into online misinformation and harmful algorithms. “Twenty years ago, someone like Gary Glitter had to go to

The 161-year-old Middlesex County Cricket Club (MCCC) is kicking off a secret review of its mutual ownership status as it seeks to place the Lord’s-based outfit on a sustainable long-term financial footing. Sky News can exclusively reveal that Middlesex has drafted in Oakvale, a specialist sports and gaming corporate finance advisor, to explore a range

The possibility of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine has caused wholesale energy bills to fall in recent weeks but household bills will still be going up from April. Consumers will be paying for the winter months. Europe endured a cold and still winter, meaning demand for energy increased while countries were less able

The average annual energy bill will increase to £1,849 from April as the industry regulator Ofgem increases the price cap for the third time in a row. When compared to prices over the last three months, the new figure represents a 6.4% a year – or £9.25 per month – increase in the typical sum

The environment secretary’s speech to the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) conference was interrupted by protesters who remain angry over the decision to impose inheritance tax on farms. Steve Reed unveiled a series of policy sweeteners designed to ease tension with the farming community over the policy, but was met with muted applause and a hostile

Did you know there’s a critical product – one without which we’d all be dead – which Europe is actually importing more of from Russia now than before the invasion of Ukraine? It might feel a bit pointless, given how much chat there is right now about the end of the Ukraine war, to spend

The net zero sector has grown by 10% over the past year – adding £83bn to the UK economy, a new study suggests. Employment in green businesses and industry has also climbed 10%, supporting the equivalent of 951,000 full-time jobs (2.9% of total UK employment). Politics latest: PM warns of ‘crucial moment’ in Ukraine war

Hundreds more high street jobs will be lost this week after Quiz Clothing, the troubled fashion retailer, called in administrators. Sky News understands that the company, which was listed until recently on the London Stock Exchange, will see the closure of 23 of its shops, with about 200 employees expected to be made redundant. Quiz,

Inflation has risen a surprising amount – to the highest in nearly a year – official figures show. This means prices are rising even more than at any time since last March, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for January. The consumer price index (CPI) ticked up steeply to 3% from

In The Style is on the brink of insolvency less than two years after the then London-listed online fashion retailer was forced into a fire sale to a family office investor. Sky News has learnt that FTS Recovery is being lined up to act as administrator to the company, which was founded by Adam Frisby

The world’s biggest theme park operator has begun exploring a sale of some of its aquarium assets as it seeks to prioritise investment in its biggest international sites. Sky News has learnt that Merlin Entertainments, which is jointly owned by the private equity giant Blackstone and the investment vehicle of the family behind the Lego

The Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has indicated the number of regulators overseeing British industry and commerce could be reduced as part of the government’s pursuit of economic growth. Speaking as he launched a consultation on the overhaul of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which regulates mergers and acquisitions, Mr Reynolds told journalists the number

Yes there are all sorts of provisos. The UK economy is still flatlining. A 0.1% expansion is about as close as you can get to zero. Gross domestic product per head – a better measure of our living standards – is shrinking (indeed, it’s been shrinking for two quarters). And the UK remains far weaker

The government is continuing to put Post Office victims through “hell” in their fight for redress, Sir Alan Bates has told Sky News. More than 240 former sub-postmasters are still waiting for financial compensation years after they won their High Court battle. Sir Alan’s comments come after another former sub-postmaster, Terry Walters from Wilmslow in

The UK economy grew fractionally during the final three months of 2024, according to early official figures, which ease the immediate risk of a recession. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a 0.1% rise in gross domestic product (GDP) during the fourth quarter, with only a recovery for growth in Christmas spending and manufacturing