---
title: "U.K. hedge fund short bets surge fivefold as Burnham policy shift stirs equity opportunities"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/293561548.md"
description: "U.K. hedge fund short bets surged fivefold in H1 2026 following Prime Minister Andy Burnham's policy shift, which includes reindustrialization plans and removing sales tax on electricity. White & Case reported that companies with significant disclosed short positions rose to 27 from five year-earlier. Investors are positioning for new long and short opportunities, with utilities and builders like Vistry Group heavily targeted."
datetime: "2026-07-23T05:10:57.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/293561548.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/293561548.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/293561548.md)
---

# U.K. hedge fund short bets surge fivefold as Burnham policy shift stirs equity opportunities

According to CNBC, hedge fund disclosed short positions against U.K.-listed stocks surged fivefold in the first half of 2026 as investors prepared for a broader set of long and short opportunities under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Burnham, who took office this week, outlined a "cost-of-living government" and a 10-year plan to reindustrialize Britain, while also announcing plans to remove sales tax from household electricity. White & Case said the number of U.K. companies with aggregate disclosed short positions of at least 5% of shares rose to 27 in the first half of 2026 from five a year earlier. Kernow Asset Management's Alyx Wood said the firm is bearish on U.K. utilities and is short Vistry Group, while long Berkeley Group. White & Case also said Vistry and Ibstock were among the most heavily shorted names, with aggregate short positions of almost 16% and 13%, respectively.

### Related Stocks

- [VTY.UK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/VTY.UK.md)
- [BKG.UK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BKG.UK.md)

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