Bank of England's latest report makes for pretty grim reading: * GDP Growth forecast downgraded from 1.5% to 0.75% in 2025 * It says that 'business and consumer confidence have declined' * Inflation expected to peak at 3.7% in Autumn - nearly twice 2% target *Economy shrank in Q4 by 0.1%. A small rise had previously been forecast * Cost of employing low earners will rise by 5% because of Nics rise * Firms expect to respond by increasing prices, cutting jobs and lowering wages *Economists pricing in three further rate cuts this year

Exclusive from @georgegrylls Sir Keir Starmer intends to 'push ahead' with deal to cede sovereignty to Chagos Islands and has offered significant concessions Navin Ramgoolam, Mauritius's new prime minister, said his country has been offered 'complete sovereignty' of Diego Garcia, home to a critical US military base He claimed that Starmer has effectively doubled the £9bn originally offered to Mauritius and weakened the British lease for Diego Garcia He said the new deal will frontload instalments and link them to inflation. He also said that Mauritius will now have a right to veto extending the lease He also revealed that Lord Hermer, the attorney-general, was involved in the latest round of face-to-face negotiations

Now, that’s street art I can get behind.

Partridges of Sloane Square's final day of trading at its store in Duke of York Square will be Sunday, 2nd February 2025. From Monday, 3rd February 2025, find us at 17-19 Gloucester Road, SW7 4PL or