Business

Sir Keir Starmer has called on the government to take “emergency action to get a grip” on the HGV driver shortage causing fuel and food shortages. The Labour leader said the prime minister needs to deploy the 150 army drivers that are on standby now to petrol stations across the UK after an independent fuel

A 12% rise in the energy price cap has taken effect amid warnings further increases are inevitable in the months ahead as wholesale costs surge in a time of “chaos” for the wider economy. Labour, which has claimed a “winter of discontent” looms, accused the government of complacency over “the fuel crisis, energy costs crisis,

The fuel crisis is “back under control” as more is now being delivered to petrol stations than is being sold, a minister has told Sky News. After days of long queues at petrol stations and with many running out of fuel, Simon Clarke, chief secretary to the Treasury, said the main message today is “there

The UK economy grew more strongly than previously thought in the second quarter as consumers curbed their savings to fuel a spending splurge. Gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 5.5% in the April-June period, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which had initially estimated growth of 4.8%. It means that by the middle

Energy firm Igloo, along with two others, have confirmed they are ceasing to trade as the record surge in wholesale energy costs continue to take their toll on small suppliers. Industry regulator Ofgem said the customers of Igloo, Symbio Energy and ENSTROGA would be sheltered through the appointment of a new supplier in due course.

Retailer Next has called for the government to take a “more decisive” approach as it warned a lack of foreign workers could hamper Christmas shopping deliveries. The business, led by Conservative peer Lord Wolfson, suggested that after the “widely predicted” HGV driver shortage crisis it should act to avert further looming problems in areas such

The first “very tentative signs of stabilisation” are being seen on petrol forecourts, the transport secretary has said, following days of long queues and closed pumps at some filling stations across the country. Grant Shapps said the sooner people returned to their normal habits and stopped panic buying petrol and diesel, the sooner the fuel

Oil prices have topped $80 a barrel for the first time in three years – likely to add to pressure on motorists when the higher cost filters through to pumps. Brent crude rose for a sixth day in a row as concerns over supply coincide with more countries, such as Japan, easing COVID-19 restrictions, which

Petrol retailers hoping for a return to normal after motorists drained pumps over the weekend have faced yet more forecourt queues – as parts of the economy started to feel the strain. In some areas, up to 90% of pumps ran dry, according to industry estimates – and there was little sign of the panic-buying

The UK is temporarily suspending competition laws for the fuel industry to allow the sharing of information and to target petrol stations running dry around the UK as a result of driver shortages. Earlier, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng met with fuel industry executives in an effort to find a way through the current supply chain

IWG, the serviced offices giant behind Regus and Spaces, is exploring a multibillion pound break-up that would involve splitting it into several distinct companies. Sky News has learnt that Mark Dixon, IWG’s founder and chief executive, is in the early stages of examining a series of corporate actions that he believes would crystallise significant value

Up to 4,000 people will be trained up as new HGV drivers as part of a package of measures that will help tackle the driver shortage, the government has announced. The government is looking to ease the pressures currently faced by the supply chain, which has seen people queueing for petrol and shops struggle to

Panicked motorists have caused lengthy queues at petrol stations for a second day – as an industry expert predicted the “catastrophic situation” is going to get worse before it improves. Long lines of cars continued to form at forecourts across the country on Saturday after a shortage of HGV drivers forced some fuel retailers to

The government is expected to clear the way for a visa change that would allow thousands of foreign lorry drivers to work in the UK. The temporary measures would be aimed at HGV truckers from abroad plugging the gaps that have been blamed for causing queues at petrol pumps and shortages in some food items.

The transport secretary has said motorists should “carry on as normal” when it comes to buying fuel, after BP closed some of its petrol stations due to supply issues. The energy giant said tens of forecourts in its 1,200-strong network were experiencing shortages – blamed on the nationwide lack of HGV drivers – while rival

Big businesses including BT, Thames Water and the Co-op have called on the government to phase out gas power by 2035, in a week when spiralling gas import prices have left the UK grappling with enormous price hikes. In a letter shared exclusively with Sky News, the household names told ministers “the time is right