Politics & pubs, World Cup, weight loss drugs, trading & other:

A DAY IN THE LIFE:

So, it feels as though it’s rained for a month around these parts and its apparently been wetter in the west.

In which case it’s a surprise that there’s any land left above water. But it’s been good for the UK’s reservoirs which, the various websites tell us, were around 93% full at the end of January and they will have become no drier since.

Anyway, enough about the weather. Bristol City managed to score three times as many goals against Hull as they have scored in their last five matches combined which, though it was charitable of us, did little for our promotion hopes. On to the news:

LANGTON EMAIL:

The Free Email is now written in short form. Extended versions of many stories (after the ellipses) are in the Premium Email. Reply to this email if you would like to upgrade.

Prices for the Premium are £395 for one subscription, £695 for multiple, £995 for very large subscribers, all plus VAT. Or sign up for easy in, easy out monthly option per subscriber HERE

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=87YUG2Z5W7PSN

PUBS & RESTAURANTS:

Politics & pubs:

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said that his party would cut beer duty and VAT on hospitality. He has suggested that his party would oversee the phased abolition of business rates and drive changes to energy and employment costs. Mr Farage told a press conference on Facebook that, in the short term, Reform would cut beer duty by 10% and reduce VAT on hospitality revenues to 10%. He said that ‘VAT going down to 10% allied to a 10% cut in beer duty would be 40p off a pint of beer.’ Whilst it’s been suggested that the numbers involved look to be radically different, Mr Farage said that the above would be paid for by reinstating the two child cap on child benefit….

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Other news:

The Telegraph suggests that weight loss drugs could be behind a 2.1% drop in demand (by volume) for fresh potatoes over the last year.

The Standard reports that ‘the tax burden for hospitality has continued to grow exponentially, and it remains the highest in the economy….’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

The SBPA has commented on the decision by several local authorities not to adopt 15 June, the date of Scotland’s first World Cup game in almost 30 years, as a bank holiday, saying that ‘we are deeply disappointed that several major Scottish councils — including Edinburgh, Fife, Scottish Borders and Falkirk — have now confirmed they will not recognise the World Cup bank holiday. These decisions collectively undermine what should be a unifying national moment and deny local pubs and hospitality venues the economic and community boost that this celebration would naturally bring….’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Writing in the Standard, Sacha Lord suggests that higher employment taxes have led to the loss of 110,000 hospitality jobs, with other operators cutting hours ‘at any and every opportunity’.

Exports of British farm products to the EU are reported to have fallen by almost 40% in the five years since the UK left the trading bloc.

COMPANY NEWS:

JDW has commented on the BBC’s report on the company’s dogs policy saying that it is misleading. Wetherspoon ‘allows assistance dogs , but asks for proof of training documentation from ADUK, an umbrella organisation, which states that its “member organisations work to the highest internal standards of assistance and guide dog training….”’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

HOLIDAYS & LEISURE TRAVEL:

The FT reports that luxury hotels across the world are charging record prices despite what has been said to be a slowdown in the sales of luxury goods and services.

A US court has ordered Uber to pay $8.5m to a woman who was raped by a driver. The ruling could reportedly influence the outcomes of many other cases that are being pursued against the company.

OTHER LEISURE:

Google has said that its YouTube subsidiary generated over $60bn in revenues in 2025. Midia Research tells the BBC ‘YouTube is one of – if not the – most-used of all digital offerings, with over 70% of international consumers using it weekly, and over 50% using it daily.’

FINANCE & MARKETS:

Andrew Bailey has said that the global economy has shown resilience despite heightened uncertainty, supply‑side shocks, and geopolitical risks, but downside risks remain significant. He says that long‑term structural challenges—slowing productivity growth, ageing populations, trade fragmentation are causing issue. Mr Bailey says that sustaining growth and financial stability will require innovation, openness, international cooperation, and strong global institutions.

The Resolution Foundation has said that UK productivity grew more in the last year than in the previous seven combined.

Sterling higher at $1.3612 and €1.1507. Oil lower at $67.30. UK 10 year gilt yield down by 5 basis points at 4.52%. World markets better on Friday and into Monday and London set to open around 51 points higher as at 6.30am.

RETAIL WITH NICK BUBB:

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.