Category: UK News

The upcoming Budget, set to be presented by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday, will have implications for a variety of people in Wales, from business owners and holiday let landlords to parents and drivers. Here are five key issues to look out for: Tax cuts are at the top of the Conservative wish list, with… Continue reading Spring Budget 2024: Five things for Wales to watch for

Birmingham City Council has approved a range of service cuts in preparation for a 21% increase in council taxes over two years. The council, which is the largest in Europe, has declared itself effectively bankrupt and needs to save £300m. The cuts were published in draft form in February and cover a range of services… Continue reading Birmingham City Council signs off 'devastating' cuts

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, is set to announce his budget for 2024 on Wednesday, March 6th. The annual budget statement outlines the government’s plans for public spending, as well as any potential changes to tax policy. The Office for Budget Responsibility, an independent body that monitors spending, will also release its assessment… Continue reading Budget 2024: When is it and what will it mean for my money?

An American airline pilot, Lawrence Russell, has pleaded guilty to arriving for work impaired through drink or drugs after being caught over the alcohol limit before he was due to fly a Boeing 767 full of passengers from Edinburgh to New York. The 63-year-old captain with Delta Airlines was searched by airport security officers last… Continue reading Delta pilot over alcohol limit before Edinburgh to New York flight

The upcoming Budget announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer is a precise balancing act. The Chancellor must determine how to allocate funds for voter-friendly policies, decide where to cut spending, and consider the political message the budget announcement will send. One area which is under scrutiny is council budgets which are facing significant pressure,… Continue reading Budget: Do councils spend too much on diversity schemes?

Jo Hamilton, a former sub-postmaster caught up in the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, has settled with the government for an undisclosed sum. Her conviction was overturned in 2021 when it was discovered that more than 700 sub-postmasters and postmistresses had been prosecuted due to a faulty accounting system. Ms. Hamilton said the settlement would… Continue reading Post Office scandal victim feels 'survivor's guilt' after compensation

After a review, it has been discovered that a toxic environment enabled the existence of abusive training practices and bullying in swimming clubs in England for years. The review found that extreme competitiveness created a culture of fear throughout all levels of aquatic sports. Many athletes, volunteers, and parents feared being victimised if they spoke… Continue reading Toxic culture of fear in swimming systemic – review

The newly proposed pay increase for senior doctors in England has been approved by unions, but the decision will now be in the hands of consultant members of the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association. The pay offer includes an additional £3,000 for consultants a few years into their careers.… Continue reading Unions back improved NHS senior doctor pay offer

UK councils will be advised to reduce their spending on consultants and diversity schemes in the upcoming Budget, according to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Local councils have been warning that they are struggling to balance the books as financial pressures continue to mount, leading to cuts to services in cities such as Nottingham and Birmingham. However,… Continue reading Budget: Cut consultants and diversity schemes to save cash, Hunt to tell councils

Bruce Springsteen, the iconic rock star, has been recognised for his support of striking miners 40 years after the dispute occurred. In 1985, Springsteen performed a gig in Newcastle where he surprised two miners’ wives with a cheque for $20,000. Juliana Heron, now 76, who led a miners’ support group at Eppleton near Sunderland, said… Continue reading Sunderland miners thank Bruce Springsteen for strike donation