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The latest local and national UK and International news.
Lowest income families hit hardest by inflation – here’s why
Inflation has hit the lowest income families hardest since recession because they spend the most proportionally of any income group on utilities, which have shot up in price over the decade. Lower income families are also likely to have been hardest by inflation since Brexit, due to the rise in the price of food and non-food essential items, which they spend disproportionately more on. While many ‘big ticket’ items have actually fallen in price over the last 20 years: cars are 12...
Companies profiting from privatisation of NHS are unlikely to ever pay tax
The companies eating up the publicly-funded NHS are unlikely to ever give anything back in tax, it has emerged today. Analysis by Richard Murphy, a chartered accountant at Tax Research UK, found that Virgin Care Ltd, which has been quietly eating up large chunks of the NHS, is "unlikely to pay any tax in the UK in the foreseeable future". That's because Virgin Care and its parent company Virgin Group is made up of 13 holding companies, some of them...
Public sector workers “at breaking point” as inflation hits 3%
More misery for five million public sector workers as their wages take yet another hammering GMB says public sector workers are at breaking point as inflation hits three per cent. The latest ONS figures show CPI is up to 3 per cent from 2.9 per cent - a five-and-a-half year high. The rise means more than five million public sector workers will see an even bigger real terms wage cut due to the pay cap. On average, each public sector...
In pictures: Hurricane Ophelia covers London in a blanket of orange cloud
Former Hurricane Ophelia brought an eerie red sun to parts of England as a blanket of orange cloud swept into the country. The storm is believed to have picked up dust from the Sahara and debris from forest fires in Spain and Portugal as it travelled towards the UK. This caused the sun to appear red and created an atmospheric orange glow across the West Country and Bristol. Bristol resident Simon Gallowway tweeted: "Weird Sun over #Bristol right now. Looking...
Small fanged kangaroo once roamed rainforests of northern Australia
A small fanged kangaroo that once roamed rainforests that covered northern Australia lived longer than previously thought. The long toothed creature the size of a wallaby lived at least five million years longer than previously thought. Despite its fearsome canines the fangaroo was a plant eater, did not hop like modern roos and its teeth were just for show to attract mates. They were thought to have gone extinct about 15 million years ago because of climate change. But new...
Brexit border challenges “can’t be met” as Tories “talking up the prospects of a no-deal instead of being level with the public”
Parliament heard a stern warning that the Government is not ready to meet the challenges of dealing with immigration post Brexit today. Home Secretary Amber Rudd’s deputy Brandon Lewis MP was fielding Home Office questions in parliament and insisted: "We are confident that a positive deal can be reached, but we are of course preparing for every outcome. While we cannot comment on the detailed planning, government departments are working together across a range of complex issues to develop our...
Activist scales iconic 150yo tree in bid to save it from felling as long-standing tree row continues
An activist scaled a 150-year-old oak tree today (mon) in a bid to prevent it from being felled by a local council. Residents gathered in the street where the tree is sited today (October 16) in the hope of stopping the council from tearing it down. TV presenter Vernon Kaye is among campaigners who have appealed to Sheffield City Council to re-think pavement resurfacing plans and save the much-loved oak. In a video appeal, he said: "Sheffield Council, come on....
Satellite images show how the UK has been dwarfed by the remnants of hurricane Ophelia
These striking satellite images show how the UK has been dwarfed by the remnants of hurricane Ophelia as Britain and Ireland are battered with gusts of up to 80mph. Images captured by the University of Dundee Satellite Receiving Station this morning (Mon) show the true size of the most recent 'weather bomb'. Storm Ophelia seen from the Meteosat satellite captured by the University of Dundee Satellite Receiving Station at 9:00 GMT November 16 2017, showing the size of the storm...
Britain’s newest super train came into service – setting off 25 minutes LATE
Britain's newest super train came into service today (Mon) - setting off 25 minutes LATE and with the air conditioning leaking water. The Hitachi 800 was due to leave Bristol Temple Meads for London Paddington at 6am sharp but didn't depart until 6.25am for unspecified 'technical issues'. Passengers were still forced to stand, despite claims that capacity on the new trains was increased by 20 per cent. And one had their laptop damaged as water from the air conditioning poured...