Summary: The UK economy faces concerns as initial data shows an unexpected rise in June's inflation rate to 4.2%. Job numbers indicate potential hesitance by the Bank of England in raising interest rates . Unemployment reaches levels not seen since October 2021 amid recent events like Wilco's administration. Average hourly earnings grew by 8.2% in June, aligning with expectations of further interest rate increases. The uncertain monetary policy outlook hinges on upcoming consumer price inflation figures. Sterling reacts positively to data release, impacting currency performance. Future economic trajectory depends on up...

Tata Group to Invest £4 Billion in UK Electric Car Battery Factory, Creating Thousands of Jobs Summary: Tata Group announces £4 billion investment in a new UK electric car battery factory. The investment is expected to create thousands of jobs and make the factory one of Europe's largest battery production facilities. Chancellor Rishi Sunak praises the investment as a 'fantastic vote of confidence' in the UK economy. Factors influencing Tata's decision include the quality of skilled workers, the competitive tax regime, and supportive government policies. The location of the Gigafactory is yet to be disclosed. Prime Minister remai...

Summary: China's deflation could lead to cheaper import s globally, potentially benefiting the UK's consumer market. UK inflation may receive some relief from cheaper Chinese import s, but ongoing challenges persist. Sustained deflation in China might hinder UK exporters due to delayed spending and slower market growth. Global trade, consumption, and commodity prices could be significantly affected by a slowdown in China's economic growth. ...

Summary: Retail sales in the UK increased by 0.7% in June 2023 compared to the previous month, but were down by 1% compared to June 2022, indicating a gradual slowdown. Consumer confidence in July showed a decline, attributed to rising interest rates, fiscal drag, and reduced disposable income. Small businesses face challenges due to the cost of doing business, including higher interest rates, inflation, and the highest tax burden in 70 years. The UK government borrowed £18.5 billion in June 2023, with a significant portion going towards paying interest on previous debt. Debates arise about the sustainability of government borrowin...

Summary: A UNICEF report warns that half of young people in Europe and Central Asia are exposed to severe heat waves . The Met Office predicts that the UK's record-breaking heat will be the norm by 2060 due to climate change . Extreme temperatures in the UK are increasing faster than the global average, leading to more high-temperature records being broken. Children are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potential inequalities in education and health. Global efforts to cut emissions need to be accelerated to limit future climate change impacts. ...

Summary: FTSE 100 reaches four-week highs after consumer prices rise 7.9% in June, according to ONS data. Tata Motors announces £4 billion investment for the UK's first large-scale EV battery plant. National Grid sells 20% of the UK's gas network in a £700 million deal. Hargreaves Lansdowne reports a 6% jump in net new business during the quarter. Thacker Pass Lithium project gets approval from the US Court of Appeal, boosting Trident Royalty shares. London's FTSE...

UK agrees to give France £480m to tackle small boat crossings Rishi Sunak arriving in Paris, promising a new beginning. His predecessor couldn't say if Emmanuel Macron was a true ally. It's France's offender faux prime minister. This new prime minister in little doubt. The warmest of handshakes in the courtyard of the Elysees Palace. This is the first summit of its kind since 2018. Both leaders keen to show the world that this is a diplomatic bromance. A brief pose for the cameras, but soon alone together. The president and prime minister spent an hour in talks with no aides or officials in the room. Top of the agenda, small boats crossing the channel. In the last decade the UK has given over £250 million in funding to French authorities and they still keep coming. Rishi Sunak believes his predecessors took the wrong approach. If we're honest, the relationship betwee...

Food Shortage: Farmers 'can't bear' extra costs Depleted by drought, last summer's heat waves are still biting, this time into food supplies. Having much less water in the bank at this time of year means that we have had to reduce our irrigated cropping area by 25 per cent for this next growing season. Andrews scaled back his vegetable crops, with other farmers doing the same amid warnings of more shortages to come. The cost of production has increased almost exponentially, which is a massive challenge. Many businesses just can't bear that extra cost and they just can't take that risk. So we're really calling on the retailers to pay at least what it costs to produce, plus some form of margin to make it more sustainable and to encourage us to continue to produce food in the UK. Severe weather overseas is already disrupting supplies. Supermarkets are ration...

Migrant crossings: 'Can you stop the small boats?' Are you going to be able to stop the small boats? Well, that's our objective. We couldn't have been clearer in putting it as one of the five central promises of this government to stop the boats, secure our borders and bring fairness back to our asylum system. We're going to do everything in our power to achieve that, and ultimately, it will be for the public to decide at the next general election whether we've succeeded or not. But be in no doubt that the Prime Minister of the Home Section and I will do everything we can to achieve that goal. I'm just interested in listening to some of the language you're using there. It's your objective. You're going to do everything you can to achieve it, not saying, yeah, we are going to stop the small boats. We are going to stop the small boats, and we wi...

Eurovision 2023: Decision to ban Volodymyr Zelenskyy from making address 'disappointing' So, very good morning to you, and I do want to talk about Eurovision in just a moment. But before we get on to that, a couple of stories around today that I want to ask you about. Firstly, comments by the former Conservative Home Secretary, Preeti Patel today, saying that Rishi Sunak needs to offer more hope and optimism for conservatism, or she says he risks presiding over a managed decline of the party and defeat of the next election. Is she right? So, you know, I have a marginal seat. I am reliant on the grassroots of the party to help me. They are determined, as I am, and I think most people within the party, to support the Prime Minister in the endeavours that he has to try and grow the economy and tackle the issues that are the people's priorities. So, I think what they want us t...

Train strikes: RMT Boss says pay offer 'not acceptable' Well, the R&T General Secretary, Mick Lynch, joins me now. A very good morning to you, Mick Lynch. First of all, just how much support do you expect to have for the walkout today? Just how disruptive will this strike be? Well, our members will be out all over the country. They'll be on picket lines up and down the rail network. We've had a very strong mandate to renew our action in the last week or so, a nine-to-one vote on a heavy turnout. So our members are up and down the picket lines, taking the action as instructed by the union and as voted for by them. And so the action is solid, and it will be as long as this campaign goes on. People watching will know that this dispute has been going on for a long time. How close are you now to a resolution? Well, we had an offer put to us, the second or third offer,...

Emergency coal power used for Britain's coldest night of the year As the coldest night of the year approaches, Britain is shivering. Arctic air dropping down from the north and set to stay for days. It's putting pressure on our electricity system, the national grid, for the first time this winter, activating emergency coal units that have been standing by in case of a shortage. The challenge we often face on very cold days is getting through the short but intense period of demand as everyone gets home from work and school. That's millions of households putting the kettle on, turning the heating up and making an evening meal all at the same time. When it's windy, we usually make more than enough power to cover that, but right now it's relatively still. Imports from Europe via subsea connectors can also help, but France, a major partner, has had limited supplies beca...

Home Secretary Suella Braverman is heckled at Conservatism Conference | 5 News In six weeks time the blueberries will be ripe at Winterwood Farm in Kent and who's going to be picking them? Currently the farm here employs about 320 people of which 300 are from countries all over the world and the remaining 20 are Brits. OK, so you rely heavily on a foreign workforce? Yes. So defining conservatism. But the Home Secretary wants to wean us off after a noisy start at the National Conservatism Conference. What is the next line of that? We welcome you unless you come on a boat. To Heckler's a reminder of the division migration in Vokes she set out her vision. And we mustn't forget how to do things for ourselves. There is no good reason why we can't train up enough truck drivers, butchers, fruit pickers, builders or welders. This enables us to build a high skilled, high wage...

Windsor Framework has received a 'cautious welcome' in Northern Ireland All right, let's get the view now of Michelle O'Neill, because this time last week all the talk was of the PM's deal with the EU over the Northern Ireland protocol. This seemed to get a decent enough reaction from most parts, but of course the big question is what do the DUP do, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland? They say they won't rejoin power sharing if they're not happy. Well, the largest party at Stormont is Shinfeng, and its leader there would have been First Minister. That's Michelle O'Neill. She joins us live now. Thank you very much for being on the programme this morning. Has Rishi Sineq negotiated a good deal for Northern Ireland? Well, I think we've all had the best part of a week now to reflect on the deal, and I think it's fair to say that the ...

Summary: Prince Andrew seeks to regain taxpayer-funded security after losing it due to his civil sex assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre . Former Home Secretary Priti Patel 's suggestion of a security review for Prince Andrew sparks debate. Duncan Larkham argues for reinstating security due to Andrew's royal status and potential security risks . Ava Santina questions the appropriateness of taxpayers bearing the cost and compares Andrew's situation to that of other public figures. The discussion delves into the royal family's m...