Family hubs to be rolled out across every council in England July 6, 2025 Family hubs offering parenting support and youth services are set to be rolled out across every council in England, ministers have announced. The Department for Education is putting £500 million that will be targeted at disadvantaged communities into the scheme, to put a hub in every local authority by April 2026. The Education Secretary has [...]
Reform MP James McMurdock removes party whip ‘from himself’ over Covid loans investigation July 5, 2025 Reform MP James McMurdock has suspended himself as chief whip following a Sunday Times investigation into his misuse of Covid-19 government loans. McMurdock, who has represented South Basildon and East Thurrock since last July’s general election, is alleged to have borrowed tens of thousands of pounds under the government’s Bounce Back loans scheme, according to a [...]
Starmer and Macron hope for ‘progress’ on defence and migration at summit July 5, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have said they hope to make “good progress” on issues including migration and defence when they meet next week, Number 10 has said. The two leaders will hold a summit when the French President travels to the UK for a state visit next week, with the two leaders speaking [...]
Reeves warns ministers tax rises are coming after loss of ‘low hanging fruit’ July 5, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned ministers that taxes will have to rise after the government U-turned on its welfare bill, despite repeated pledges not to increase the taxes of working people. Reeves told ministers on Tuesday that raising the tens of billions pounds she needs would be a “big challenge” given her lack of options, [...]
Taxpayers on the hook for at least £1bn after Lindsey oil refinery closure July 4, 2025 British taxpayers could be forced to pay up more than £1bn following the collapse of the Lindsey oil refinery in North Lincolnshire last week. Sources told the Times HMRC is owed unpaid taxes of around £250m, while the facility’s decomissioning costs could run from anywhere between £700m and £3bn. At least 420 jobs were put [...]
More West End streets to be pedestrianised under Crown Estate plans July 3, 2025 Plans to pedestrianise more streets in London’s West End have been proposed via a partnership between King Charles’ property firm and a local authority. The Crown Estate and Westminster City Council intend to turn Regent Street St James’s into a traffic-free space while greatly enlarging the pedestrian area at Piccadilly Circus. The proposals also include [...]
Supermarkets hit out at government plans to cut calories from Brits’ baskets July 3, 2025 UK supermarket bosses have hit out at part of the government’s latest plans to reduce obesity in the UK, arguing that the strategy will up costs and won’t make any difference to public health. The government plans to set a new standard for products on supermarket shelves as part of its 10-year plan for the [...]
Eurostar ramps up plans to double capacity at London St Pancras July 3, 2025 Eurostar has outlined proposals to double capacity at London St Pancras as it looks to tap growing demand for international rail travel. The cross-channel operator has penned a preliminary deal with London St Pancras Highspeed, formerly HS1, aimed at future proofing the popular hub against overcrowding. A three-part plan includes improving the international area of [...]
Regulator blocks Richard Branson’s bid to bring back Virgin trains July 3, 2025 Richard Branson’s bid to bring Virgin trains back to the UK has suffered a crushing setback following a ruling from the rail regulator. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on Thursday said it had rejected applications from Virgin Management and two other companies for track access rights to run services on the West Coast [...]
Watches of Switzerland: Trump tariffs spark hike luxury timepiece prices July 3, 2025 Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) has warned scores of its products in America will see price increases due to Trump’s 10 per cent tariff on non-US goods. Its share price fell more than five per cent in early trades. The London-listed company, which sells luxury timepieces from Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Audemars Piguet – amongst [...]
