Author: David Pike

Reeves’s radical change to fiscal rules could go further – New Zealand shows how Nation follows net worth rules which count liabilities such as debt but also assets, including land, roads, hospitals and schools. Rachel Reeves will this week change the way the UK government’s debt rules are calculated to unlock billions of pounds in additional headroom for spending on long-term infrastructure projects. In what could be the most radical step in Labour’s first budget…

Lower shop prices boost prospect of Bank of England rate cut British Retail Consortium says prices falling at fastest rate in three years and are 0.8% lower than a year ago. The chances of a fresh cut in interest rates from the Bank of England next week have been boosted by a report that shows shop prices falling at their fastest pace in more than three years. The monthly snapshot from the British Retail Consortium…

The London street tired of being ‘pimped out’ for Paddington | UK News A north London neighbourhood is fed up with tourists flocking to their street to take photos of the famous ‘Paddington’ house – and fear the issue will get worse ahead of the new film’s release. To mark the new blockbuster – Paddington in Peru – Airbnb is bringing ‘32 Windsor Gardens’ – the fictional home of The Brown family to life. But…

£113bn of homes in sales pipeline, says Zoopla An estimated £113 billion-worth of homes are working their way through the buying process in what marks the highest level of new sales agreed since autumn 2020, according to a property website. Across the UK, around 306,000 homes are in the sales pipeline working their way to completion, 62,250 (26 per cent) more than a year ago, Zoopla said. Momentum in new sales remains strong and looks…

UK budget 2024 live: Rachel Reeves’ expected tax hike will hit working people, says ex-Bank of England governor Rachel Reeves’ tax-hiking Budget will hit workers however Labour frame it, the former governor of the Bank of England has said. Lord Mervyn King, who was head of the Bank of England for a decade until 2013, said that the debate around who Labour are classifying as a “working person” is “a terrible illusion”. Speaking on Sky’s…

Royal news live: Charles set for full overseas tour as William breaks silence on Harry in Diana tribute Prince William has mentioned Prince Harry publicly for the first time in years, as he recalls a childhood memory in his upcoming documentary. The Prince of Wales recounted the time his mother, the late Princess Diana, took him and his brother to visit a homeless shelter more than 30 years ago. “My mother took me to The…

UK politics latest: Rachel Reeves declares her Budget is for the strivers as tax hikes expected Rachel Reeves has promised a Budget ‘for the strivers’ but admitted tough decisions have been made in a new article. Ahead of Labour’s long-anticipated Budget on October 30, the Chancellor said: “I have had to make tough decisions in this Budget. Not everything is going to be easy. But let me be clear – I am doing this for…

Keir Starmer denies misleading public over tax rises in UK Budget Keir Starmer has denied misleading the public over tax rises in the Budget after he suggested “working people” did not make money from property or shares. The prime minister also rejected claims he had waged a “war on middle Britain”. Labour made manifesto pledges to not hike taxes on what it described as “working people,” explicitly ruling out increases to VAT, national insurance, and…

Prince William: ‘I’ll show people how to prevent homelessness’ Prince William has said criticism about his privileged lifestyle and many residences drives him to try to end homelessness in Britain. The heir to the throne was challenged to respond to jibes about his three homes and 135,000-acre Duchy of Cornwall estate for a two-part ITV documentary airing this week. Continue reading… https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/oct/27/prince-william-ill-show-people-how-to-prevent-homelessness

London Eye to go anti-clockwise as clocks go back in UK | UK News Highlight the bias, if any in the title by underlining the biased words or phrase in the original title The London Eye will spin backwards for only the second time today (Picture: Getty Images) One of London’s most iconic landmarks will do something very rare this morning. The London Eye marks the end of British Summer Time by taking a backwards…

Sunday’s front pages are dominated by domestic politics with the Conservative leadership race and the upcoming October budget – due on Wednesday – taking the lead.
Several royal stories are featured on the front pages, including pictures of both King Charles and Prince William.
Elsewhere, there’s a dash of international news – mainly the upcoming US election as pop star Beyonce joined Kamala Harris on stage last night as well as ongoing coverage of the Middle East crisis.

Four people arrested during pro-Tommy Robinson and anti-racism marches Four people were arrested on Saturday during far right and anti-racism counter-protests as organiser Tommy Robinson missed his own event after being remanded in custody. Two arrests took place at the far-right protest organised by Mr Robinson, 41, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, where demonstrators displayed anti-immigration placards. Around midday, thousands of Mr Robinson’s supporters gathered in central London, marching from Victoria Station to Parliament Square. Among…

£1.4 billion to fix ‘crumbling’ schools as Reeves pledges to prioritise education and free childcare in Budget Rachel Reeves has announced she will earmark £1.4 billion to rebuild crumbling schools as she pledges to prioritise education and childcare in the Budget. Investment in free breakfast clubs for pupils will also be tripled, while there will be another £1.8 billion to expand government-funded nursery care. The Chancellor said children “should not suffer for” because of a £22 billion…

Bulgarians vote with little hope of breaking a political deadlock Bulgarians were voting Sunday in a seventh General election in just over three years with little hope that a stable government will be formed to stop the country’s further slide into political instability. Voter fatigue and disillusionment with politicians have created an environment where radical political voices, aided by Moscow’s widespread disinformation, are successfully undermining public support for the democratic process and boosting the popularity…

Adventure tourism business warns 'we're really struggling' amid closure fears The business was launched in 2020 but costs have rocketed https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/adventure-tourism-business-warns-were-30237045

Explorer shocked by what he found at abandoned Eryri village swallowed by nature He was researching the place for his ‘hidden treasures’ of Eryri National Park https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/explorer-shocked-what-found-abandoned-30234297

The 18 places in North Wales deemed too dull for new national park Landscape experts have axed large parts of the proposed national park https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/18-places-north-wales-deemed-30232648

Two kids in hospital after stabbing attack in east London. A two-year-old boy, a eight-year-old girl and a woman thought to be in her thirties are in hospital after being stabbed at an address in east London. One man, who was also taken to hospital following the incident, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Two kids in hospital after stabbing attack in east London | There has been a major emergency response this…

Chancellor pledges extra £500m for social homes in budget as part of the Treasury’s plans £5bn total investment in housing supply and a reduction in discounts under the right-to-buy scheme. The extra £500m for social homes in the budget, in what appears to be a compromise with the housing department, led by Angela Rayner, over the scale of ambition required in the sector. The promise of an additional £500m for the government’s affordable homes programme…

Campaigners call for steeper cuts to UK greenhouse gas emissions Climate Change Committee advised Ed Miliband to cut level by 81% but activists want bigger promises. Climate campaigners have urged ministers to make steeper cuts in the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions after the government’s statutory adviser on the climate gave its verdict on new targets. The Climate Change Committee, which advises the government, has written to Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, to advise cuts of…

Reeves set to increase employers’ national insurance contributions Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the worldSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailRachel Reeves is set to increase employers’ national insurance to help fund the NHS and balance the books, reports suggest.The chancellor will increase the tax by up to 2 percentage points, as well as cutting the earnings threshold at which businesses start making national insurance contributions.The combined…

Rachel Reeves to slash discount for ‘right to buy’ council homes in Budget Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRachel Reeves is to slash the ‘right to buy’ discount given to those purchasing their council house in next week’s Budget. Ministers say the move is designed to “protect” existing stock so thousands more homes remain for rent. But the cut risks…

Tommy Robinson latest: Right-wing activist charged with terror offence ahead of extremist demo at weekend Tommy Robinson outside Folkestone Police station (Yui Mok/PA Wire)For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsRight-wing activist Tommy Robinson will miss his own planned march for thousands of people after being remanded into custody by police.The 41-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is accused…

The North Wales roads that could change speeds under 20mph review These roads could change under new guidance https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-roads-could-change-30230384

'Eyesore weeds' on Gwynedd beach are actually wildflowers that stop it washing away Some people complain the plants are unsightly but experts say they have a valuable role https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/eyesore-weeds-gwynedd-beach-actually-30197376