Author: UK News

Row over claims Rachel Reeves could hike capital gains tax as high as 39% Rachel Reeves is being warned that a massive hike in capital gains tax could endanger her hopes of creating economic growth. It comes as a row has broken out over claims that the chancellor has asked Treasury officials to model capital gains tax rates of 39 per cent and 33 per cent, well above the second home rate of 24 per cent. While sources close to Ms Reeves have tried to dismiss Budget speculation and allegations of disarray, the concerns have dropped at a time of…

Sue Gray will skip major devolved nations summit chaired by Keir Starmer to ‘take short break’ Keir Starmer is set to chair his first devolved government summit on Friday – but without his new envoy and former chief of staff Sue Gray. Ms Gray was forced out as Sir Keir’s key adviser and asked to take on a new role as his representative for the nations and regions last weekend. Ms Gray, whose new position was confirmed after weeks of turmoil behind the scenes in Number 10, will be a notable absence as she takes a brief hiatus before changing…

Union says Labour’s workers’ bill has ‘more holes than Swiss cheese’ Labour’s new workers’ rights legislation is under fire, with one union boss claiming the proposal has “more holes than Swiss cheese”. While others have hailed the Employment Rights Bill as bringing a “seismic shift” for workers, Sir Keir Starmer has still been urged to go further in his bid to shift the balance of power between employers and employees. The legislation has been described by Labour as the biggest upgrade in employment rights for a generation and was published on Thursday. It will include plans to ban exploitative zero-hours…

Scam warning over little-known phone number rule Mobile phone users have been warned they could be at risk of hacking, nuisance calls or having their phone cut off because of little-known rules around the recycling of old numbers, Which? has warned. The consumer group said it has found a number of risks posed by existing phone numbers that get recycled and taken on by other consumers. It said the issue is that many new numbers given out by telecoms firms in the UK are recycled from previous owners because there is a fixed pool of 11-digit combinations, with customer demand…

Woman who returned to work weeks after giving birth due to low statutory maternity pay says she will always regret decision A woman forced to go back to work six weeks after giving birth due to not being able to live on statutory maternity pay has said she will regret the decision for the rest of her life. Laura Mazzeo, from north London, told The Independent she went back to her job in construction after taking six weeks of government maternity pay despite being very physically weak at the time due to having recently undergone surgery. It comes as new…

Kate Middleton meets families of Southport victims with William in surprise joint appearance – latest news The Princess of Wales has made a surprise joint appearance with Prince William to meet the bereaved families of the Southport attacks today. Marking their first joint engagement since Kate’s cancer treatment, the couple privately met the bereaved families in Merseyside. The Princess is said to have attended because she wanted to show her “support, empathy and compassion to the local community”. As well as meeting with the victim’s families, Kate spoke to first responders and the dance teacher who was present at the…

Children being traumatised at Gatwick deportation centre finds watchdog Assessment finds detention unit is subjecting families to ‘unnecessary suffering’ amid lengthy Home Office delaysYoung children are being traumatised while held at a Gatwick airport deportation centre that should be closed down, a watchdog has found. The independent monitoring board (IMB) also said the children’s parents were being subjected to “callous treatment and unnecessary suffering” because of the Home Office’s lengthy decision-making process over removals. Children are witnessing or overhearing their parents’ “considerable distress” at their expected deportation, despite staff efforts to shield them. Children are being asked by staff to…

10 best London deals – from Hache burgers to £151 off a Marylebone spa experience Looking for 10 things to do in London? Of course you are. Luckily, there’s lots to in this city to do for cheap! At least… There is now. Metro has teamed up with Time Out to bring you the best deals across the capital. Every Friday, 10 new deals will drop, available in the Metro newspaper, on Metro.co.uk, and on our socials. You’ll also find them in our weekly London newsletter, The Slice, in your inbox every Wednesday. We’ve got two courses of Mediterranean delights with a cocktail at…

Trending News Inspiration Papers News that Matters Impact on your life Good News Starmer bolsters anti-Russian sanctions ahead of welcoming Zelensky to Downing Street George Baldock dead at 31 after being found in his swimming pool MI5 warns Russia and Iran attempting to cause mayhem in Britain  Previous Next Previous Next Sarah Wilkinson@swilkinsonbc Read More The Israelis have murdered at least 16 civilians and wounded dozens of others in air strikes near Yemen al-Saeed Hospital in northern Gaza. Zarah Sultana@ZarahSultana Read More We will speak up until our leaders listen and the bombs stop. We will speak up until the…

UK weather today: Cloud and patchy rain clearing southern counties of England and Wales this morning. Then a fine day for all, with plenty of sunny spells. A few showers possible, mainly towards the north and east. Feeling colder than recent days. Tonight: Showers becoming more frequent across northwest Scotland through the evening and into the early hours. Largely dry elsewhere, with lengthy clear spells. A patchy frost forming as winds fall light. Source: Met Office

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Thursday’s front pages lead on domestic politics, with a number of publications reporting on the shock exit of James Cleverly from the Conservative Party leadership race. Cleverly had been a clear favourite for much of the contest – which is now down to Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.
Elsewhere, an estimate by the IFS that taxes will need to rise by up to £25bn in the budget if Labour is to meet its pledge to protect public spending.

Damning report of sexual violence survivors subjected to rape myths in court Victim-survivors in England and Wales cross-examined about alcohol consumption and what they were wearing, charity Victim Support finds. Three-quarters of survivors of sexual violence are subjected to rape myths during cross-examination, such as being asked what they were wearing or if they were out for revenge, according to research. The court process One-third of victims were asked what they did to stop the offence while it was happening. Suggesting the CPS and society at large has a problem with rape victims. One-third faced accusations that pursuing justice was…

Ex-Met police officer ‘intimidated’ neighbours by spraying them with hose in dog poo row A former Met Police officer washed her dog’s faeces and urine into her neighbour’s garden before spraying them with a hosepipe when they complained, a hearing has been told. Mel Chinn was found guilty of gross misconduct by a police disciplinary panel after the shocking allegations against her were revealed. The former detective sergeant in the Metropolitan Police, who has left the force since the accusations were made, first became embroiled in a row with her neighbours in 2019 over a planning dispute involving a ground-floor…

Victoria Taylor: Police search river in hunt for missing mother after finding possessions nearby Police say there is a “significant possibility” that missing mother Victoria Taylor entered a river before her disappearance late last month. Ms Taylor, 34, went missing from Malton home in North Yorkshire on Monday 30 September. Police have now revealed that some of her personal possessions were found near the River Derwent. Police recovered CCTV footage showing Ms Taylor leaving her home at 9am, and purchasing several items at a BP garage in Norton at 11.35am. She was seen at Malton Bus Station shortly afterwards. Chief…

Blind man left with ‘no dignity’ after two-year delay in getting guide dog while stuck on housing waiting list A blind man has described being “broken” while facing a two-year delay in getting a guide dog because he was stuck on a social housing waiting list. When Ray Clements began to lose his sight three years ago, the shared house he was living in quickly became untenable as he could not trip hazards. The 51-year-old began sleeping on his brother’s sofa in Liverpool for what he thought would be a short period as he awaited suitable social housing. However, almost…

Drink-driver runs red lights and ploughs into cars over taxi fare home A drink-driver ran multiple red lights and crashed into parked cars as he drove home from a nightclub in Nottingham in February, newly-released footage shows. Declan Muers, 27, of Brewsters Road, Mapperley, Nottingham, failed to stop for police as he sped through the city centre while over the limit. Muers was sentenced to 16 months, suspended for two years, on Monday (7 October) after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop when required by a police constable and drink-driving. Nottinghamshire Police said: “He should have got a…

Starmer bids to end Tory ‘scorched earth’ industrial relations policy with workers’ rights reset Union chiefs have hailed workers’ rights reforms unveiled by Keir Starmer’s government today for “changing the balance of power” in favour of employees and away from employers. The long-awaited package to unpick Tory anti-union legislation has been unveiled less than 24 hours after the Renters’ Rights Bill passed its second reading in the Commons. Experts also hailed that legislation as handing power to tenants and away from landlords as Labour pushed through a revolution to protect the rights of millions of people in the UK. The…

Sexual violence victims face rape myths and misogyny in cross-examination, report finds Sexual violence victims are being re-traumatised by the court process, with three-quarters asked questions founded on rape myths while cross-examined, according to a damning new report. Research by Victim Support found survivors have experienced suicidal thoughts and tried to take their own lives while going through the court process. Some have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Two victims – whose attackers were found guilty – told of the struggles they faced while going through the criminal justice system. Researchers looked at the experiences of sexual violence victims…

Starmer bolsters anti-Russian sanctions ahead of welcoming Zelensky to Downing Street Sir Keir Starmer has set up a team of experts to ensure British firms are complying with anti-Russian sanctions ahead of a visit by Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street. The prime minister will welcome his Ukrainian counterpart and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte on Thursday. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour in 2022, Britain rolled out its most comprehensive set of sanctions against any major economy, with over £20bn worth of trade with Russia targeted. The sanctions have deprived Russia of more than £300bn of funds since February 2022,…