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More worrying economic news has emerged, this time from The Institute for Fiscal Studies. They believe that child poverty will reach 5.1 million by 2022 as households face a squeeze on wages. The think-tank believes that average pay rate won’t grow over the next two years. The analysis says households are suffering the worst slowdown in incomes for 60 years and if planned benefit cuts go ahead, and earnings growth slow, inequality will start to rise over the next five...

The Netherlands would vote 56 per cent in favour of leaving the EU if there was a referendum tomorrow, a new poll has shown. According to the Maurice de Hond poll the country would vote overwhelmingly to leave, with 44 per cent remaining compared to 48 per cent who voted the same in Britain. The poll shows that a majority of Dutch voters would prefer more self-government and are open to different options. For the Nexit supporters, this may mean looking...

If you had to say what is one thing you would never want to imagine, Theresa May and John Bercow showering together is probably top of my list. Well maybe just after Gary Barlow doing anything. Somehow this cropped up in today’s session, but more of that later, as I need to take my mind off it for a moment. See, a troubled mind can be much more serious than the thought of May wearing loofer mitts and gently exfoliating...

A recent report from the Trade Union Congress showed that unsecured borrowing increased sharply over 2016 to that point that, by the end of the year, each household owed an average of £12,887 - the highest amount on record. The Bank of England separately issued their own statistics, according to which the average amount of unsecured debt per household comes in rather lower, at £7,089 - but this is due to them not counting student loan debts towards the total....

German tabloid BILD’s Leipzig sent its thanks to Britain after news broke that BMW may move production of a new electric Mini to Germany. The paper ran with the headline "thank you Brexit" on Tuesday as BMW refused to deny claims it was considering a move as uncertainty mounts for British manufacturers who export to Europe. A so-called ‘hard Brexit’ could see additional tariffs levied on goods made in the UK but sold in the EU. Last year, 38 percent of the...

London has topped a table of 52 European cities for the number of people exposed to possible ground instability, according to a new study. The research, from an earth scientist at the University of Portsmouth, is the first to examine the distribution of geological hazards -- from volcanoes and landslides, to subsidence and mining -- across a number of Europe's largest cities. For many Europeans, including authorities with environmental responsibility, this might be the first time that they’ve heard of the possible hazards...

Our new favourite Twitter account is President Supervillain! https://twitter.com/PresVillain/status/834470392890785792 Comic writer and editor D.M. Higgins has used President Trump's own words to great comic effect by sticking them in the speech bubbles of classic sinister comic supervillians. https://twitter.com/PresVillain/status/833365274078363649 And within just a fortnight the Twitter account has amassed a cosmic 29.7K followers! https://twitter.com/PresVillain/status/832311031124856832 It's pretty sinister how easily The Donald's words transfer into comic book villains' mouths - whether demented rants at press conferences and rallies: https://twitter.com/PresVillain/status/832333550716387328 or malevolent policy threats that have slipped...

Space transport services company SpaceX is to launch its first commercial flight to the moon next year. The company has announced it has been approached to fly two private citizens on a trip around the moon late next year, with the punters paying a significant deposit to land a moon mission. The Falcon Heavy rocket, which was developed with SpaceX funding, is due to launch its first test flight this summer and, if successful, will be the most powerful vehicle to reach...

First aid experts have warned of the dangers of flipping pancakes ahead of Pancake Day - with tips including "dialling 999 or 112 for emergency medical help" in cases of serious injury. St John Ambulance issued tips for people ahead of one of the most perilous nights of the year, including moving away from the hot area if you get burnt. With millions of Brits across the country making their annual attempt to look culinarily proficient, the plaster dispensers have set out...