Tuesday newspaper round-up: winemakers, easyJet, farmers, EWIT

24th Mar 2026 07:13

(Sharecast News) - The UK government has dismissed a warning from an energy trade body that failing to produce more homegrown North Sea oil and gas will leave the UK increasingly reliant on imports at a time of rising global instability. The industry group, Offshore Energies UK, has said the UK "urgently" needs a greater supply of domestically produced energy or consumers will be left "more exposed to global volatility and higher emissions". - Gurdian

English and Welsh winemakers have reported a sharp rise in production, after the hot, dry summer in 2025 and an increase in vineyard planting resulted in the third-largest UK harvest. The equivalent of 16.5m bottles were produced across the UK last year - or 124,377 hectolitres - according to figures from the wine regulator, the Food Standards Agency (FSA). - Guardian

EasyJet will slow hiring after warning that the Middle East crisis could push up air fares by the summer. The low-cost carrier plans to leave vacant posts unfilled for longer while flight frequencies could be reduced on some weaker routes to preserve cash. - Telegraph

Farmers across Britain are being hit with fuel rationing as supplies of diesel become squeezed. Some wholesalers of "red diesel", which is used to power tractors and other farm machinery, have begun imposing limits on the amount farmers can buy, The Telegraph has been told. - Telegraph

The chairman of Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust has expressed frustration with a senior official at the Financial Conduct Authority after the regulator failed to initiate immediate rule changes to counter the activist hedge fund Saba Capital. Jonathan Simpson-Dent said the authority's "lack of a stance" on investment trusts would encourage other activists like Saba to target other UK trusts, gradually "grinding down" opposition in order to take control. More trusts would disappear, he said. - The Times