Human Times

UK Edition

2nd November 2026

THE HOT STORY

Healey signals delay on minimum wage promise for younger workers

John Healey has indicated that a pledge in the Labour manifesto to close the minimum wage gap for young people would be delayed until after the next election. In a BBC interview on Sunday, the Chancellor was asked if younger workers would be paid the same minimum wage as older workers by the time of the next election. "We'll take one step at a time," he said, saying that Labour was still committed to the ambition, but hinting that the plan to equalise wages might be delayed, partly to encourage employers to hire younger workers. "There is no question about whether or if, it's a question of when - it's a question of how fast," Healey said. "I want to make sure we can look hard at those trade-offs that are there between jobs and wages . . . I want to take business, I want to take trade unions with me, and with the government, because together we have to get into what at the moment is a moral shame on this nation. A million youngsters - written off without any prospect of being helped into work and making contributions to this country for the future."

Financial Times

BBC News

The Guardian

WORKFORCE

Local leaders to take charge of youth unemployment

Local and combined authorities will be given funding and greater responsibility for getting young people on benefits into work under plans to tackle youth unemployment. Former cabinet minister Alan Milburn’s review is expected to recommend a locally run system offering jobs, training or apprenticeships, with a “tough love” approach requiring young people to engage with support. The proposals draw on the Netherlands, where local youth services have helped achieve a much lower inactivity rate. Research by the Centre for Social Justice found that reducing Britain’s rate to Dutch levels would get 671,608 people into work or training, saving the taxpayer £15.2bn. Meanwhile, the FT reports that Milburn's forthcoming review will say the government will need to find billions of pounds more to fund employment schemes to get young people back to work.

Financial Times

The Times

WORKPLACE

Union calls for airport bans on abusive passengers

The Unite union has reported that 75% of cabin crew experience abuse monthly. The union's survey of 1,800 members detailed incidents including threats and physical assaults. Unite is advocating for minimum safety standards, including increased police presence and a national ban list for disruptive passengers. Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: "Abuse towards airport and aviation workers is not 'part of the job', it is a workplace safety issue that affects workers on the ground and in the air and can ultimately put other passengers at risk. Airports and airlines now need to up their game on this."

The Times

STRATEGY

Virgin Media O2 staff face job cuts

Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) is facing significant job cuts as it seeks to reduce costs amid £27.2bn in debt and increasing competition. The company has not confirmed the exact number of redundancies, but it is expected to affect a large portion of VMO2's 16,000 employees, primarily in non-customer facing roles. Prospect union's deputy general secretary, Noel McClean, described the situation as "disappointing and very unsettling." VMO2 is also reviewing its use of contractors and suppliers as part of its cost-saving measures.

Financial Times

The Daily Telegraph

Lloyds cuts jobs amid industry shake-up

Lloyds Banking Group has begun a voluntary redundancy programme as part of broader job cuts in the banking sector. Employees can register for severance packages, and departures are expected in early 2027. Other banks, including Barclays and NatWest, have also announced significant job reductions. Barclays is cutting 5,000 roles, citing efficiency gains from technology, while NatWest has reduced its workforce by 1,000 jobs this year.

The Times

CORPORATE

Government warns Poundland owner over potential collapse

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has warned Poundland's US owner, Gordon Brothers, that the government could take action if the retailer is wrongly forced into insolvency. Ministers are seeking urgent assurances that the company is being managed lawfully and are supporting efforts to find a buyer, although financial assistance has been ruled out. Reynolds said the owner had serious questions to answer if it rejected a viable rescue offer from Martin Property Group. He added: "I’m deeply concerned to see the reports swirling around Poundland’s uncertain future and the impact that could have on the 12,000 staff and their families, who are at the forefront of my mind."

ECONOMY

Burnham launches £700m industrial sites accelerator

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled a £700m Strategic Sites Accelerator to unlock up to 10 industrial and commercial sites nationwide, attracting up to £2bn of private investment and supporting tens of thousands of jobs. It will tackle planning delays, grid connections and financing gaps affecting advanced manufacturing, digital technology, defence and life sciences. Mayors and local leaders will identify viable locations with strong demand. Ten devolution agreements are nearing completion, and elected mayoralties will receive locally generated basic-rate income tax revenue from April 2028.

The Independent

LEGAL

Senior judge reprimanded for 'misconduct' over slow decisions

High Court judge Mrs Justice Ellenbogen has been reprimanded for taking over a year to deliver judgments on three cases. An investigation followed a complaint in February, and concluded that her delays constituted serious misconduct. Ellenbogen acknowledged she should have been more "proactive" in communication and attributed the delays to workload pressures and personal circumstances. The Judicial Conduct Investigations tribunal accepted the recommendation for a reprimand, saying her actions harmed public confidence in the judiciary.

Financial Times

Law Society Gazette

The I

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Academics urge tobacco-style action on manosphere

A Lancet report says the online manosphere harms boys and girls, driving mental distress, violence against women and isolation among men. Chancellor John Healey pledged £15m in last week's Budget for initiatives countering manosphere misinformation in workplaces and schools. The authors of the report say social media algorithms reward extreme material and let influencers profit from advertising, and recommend content bans and tobacco-style regulation of platforms. Professor Sarah Hawkes, a report co-author, observed: "The manosphere offers boys and young men belonging, identity and an explanation for why life feels hard."

The Times

INTERNATIONAL

US government sues Google

The US government has filed a lawsuit which accuses Google of not giving an employee, Mark Davisson, his old job back or finding him a similar role after he took military leave as a US Army reservist. Reuters says it's a rare instance of the government suing a private employer for violating the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), which protects the civilian employment of military personnel called to active duty. “We disagree with the claims in this complaint . . . Google takes compliance with employment laws, ⁠including USERRA, seriously and investigates allegations of workplace wrongdoing,” Google spokesperson Atle Erlingsson said.

DOJ.gov

Reuters

ING plans to cut hundreds of jobs

Dutch financial giant ING is to eliminate 400 jobs in its wholesale banking division. ING said it is creating a more streamlined structure for the business, which serves large corporates and financial institutions. “Sometimes we feel we are too complicated internally, and therefore we simplify the organisation,” ING chief executive Steven van Rijswijk said, adding that means “it will be more direct for our clients to do business with us, with clear internal lines and clear decision making.” The bank has more than 60,000 employees, according to its website.

OTHER

France's retailers face bleak Christmas as protests cause up to $2bn in losses

France's retailers are facing significant disruption ahead of the crucial Christmas trading period as nationwide protests over rising living costs and fuel prices have damaged approximately 2,400 stores and forced widespread closures. The French Chamber of Commerce estimates retail losses have exceeded €1bn, while Morningstar DBRS warns total losses could approach $2bn, including uninsured damage and lost revenue. Consumer confidence has fallen to a 13-year low, raising concerns ahead of November and December, which typically account for 40% of annual retail turnover. More than a quarter of damaged stores remain closed, with further demonstrations threatening additional disruption. Retailers have warned that prolonged unrest could significantly weaken festive sales and tourism, placing further pressure on France's already fragile consumer spending environment.

Reuters

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