MORNING NEWS: Mixed bags and sausage rolls

In the news this morning, a mixed bag of Christmas trading with retailers including Sainsbury’s, Greggs, and Mothercare revealing how they fared in the festive season. All in all, the retail sector endured its worst Christmas since the financial crisis in 2008, according to the British Retail Consortium as fragile consumer confidence took its toll on the high street. And the amount Amazon paid in business rates is made public after pressure from MPs. Also: NEWS ROUND-UP: Lendlease wins £1.5bn Birmingham Smithfield deal Orders safe as houses despite Brexit, insists Taylor Wimpey Chrysler’s sky-high price tag Spelthorne borough council splashes out £1bn on property