British Isles
Bank of England interest rates ‘set to plunge within months'
The Bank of England is expected to lower its base interest rate to 3.5% in the coming months, a relief for home buyers and businesses as the UK economy shows signs of improvement.…
Peace efforts need prayer, Welby tells world leaders
The Archbishop of Canterbury, addressing world leaders at the International Meeting for Peace in Paris, emphasised the critical role of prayer in achieving peace. Speaking in French, he said that peace efforts in…
New safe zones outside abortion clinics
From 31 October, safe zones around abortion clinics in England and Wales will take effect, prohibiting protests within 150 metres of these facilities under the Public Order Act. The new law, which received…
Poor maternity care becoming 'normalised', watchdog warns
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has warned that poor maternity care in NHS hospitals could become 'normalised' without urgent action. A report based on 131 inspections between August 2022 and December 2023 found…
Pharmacists balloted over 'work-to-rule' action amid funding row
Pharmacists in England are being balloted for potential 'work-to-rule' action due to a growing funding dispute. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has called for a £1.3 billion increase in funding, warning that pharmacies…
Man 'pretended to be white' to stir up hatred during UK riots
Ehsan Hussain, a 25-year-old from Birmingham, has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison for inciting racial hatred during the UK riots. Posing as a far-right extremist, he used a…
Axing winter fuel payments will hurt everybody, warns pensioner
Millions of pensioners in the UK are facing a challenging winter after the Government voted to cut automatic winter fuel payments to pensioners. The decision, supported by nearly 400 Labour MPs, addresses a…
Bishop blocks retired priest’s 'permission to officiate' after climate protest arrest
The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, has declined to grant Permission to Officiate (PTO) to retired priest Revd Sue Parfitt, who is facing trial for criminal damage after a climate protest.…
Government axes universal winter fuel payments
Millions of pensioners will lose winter fuel payments after the Government won a Commons vote to end the universal benefit. Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced the measure as part of an effort to address…
Government announces tougher measures to protect tenants
The Renters' Rights Bill, appearing in Parliament on 12 September, aims to provide the most significant shift in tenant-landlord relations since 1988. It will ban ‘no-fault’ evictions, a leading cause of homelessness, replacing…
