The government has said it intends to launch a second investigation into the Barclay family’s complex deal to transfer control of the Telegraph, after its Abu Dhabi-backed consortium partner revealed a last-minute corporate structure change that has raised public interest concerns. The culture secretary, Lucy Frazer, said she was “minded to” issue a new public interest intervention notice (PIIN) to call in the regulators Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to look at RedBird IMI’s move to create a new UK holding company to house the Telegraph and its sister magazine, The Spectator, when it takes control of the titles. – Guardian
London is capturing an ever-bigger share of the UK’s record service sector exports and government action is needed to ensure other big cities keep pace with the capital, a report says. The Resolution Foundation said London accounted for almost half of the UK’s service sector exports, with its share of the total rising from 38% to 46% between 2016 and 2021. – Guardian
Sainsbury's chief Simon Roberts gave his support to the Financial Mail on Sunday's campaign for police to crack down on shoplifters as an epidemic of retail crime sweeps across the country. Roberts also said he backed making abuse or violence against retail staff a specific offence. He also noted that the grocer had been the first to offer all of its 150,00 staff body-worn cameras that can aid support teams at its stores. - The Financial Mail on Sunday
Homeowners in England and Wales who sold their property in 2023 netted an average profit of £102,000 despite house prices falling last year, according to new data. The data, issued by estate agent Hamptons, shows that while 2023 was challenging for the UK property market, years of strong price growth meant those who sold a home last year typically banked a sizeable profit or had a decent sum to put towards their next purchase. – Guardian
Jeremy Hunt has dangled the prospect of big tax cuts in his March budget, in what is seen as one of the last opportunities for the Conservatives to claw back Labour’s huge opinion poll lead. In his first public comments on his budget strategy, the chancellor made clear that only unexpected bad news would prevent him from answering the call from Tory MPs for a substantial giveaway before an expected autumn general election. – Guardian