Millions of Universal Credit households to get £150 discount
Over six million households will receive £150 off energy bills this winter, as the Warm Home Discount now covers all Universal Credit claimants.
Category : Politics
Burnham axes two-child cap, boosting Universal Credit
Universal Credit households with three children now receive an extra £304 monthly, with £608 for four kids, after Labour scrapped the two-child benefit cap.
Green Belt homes approved despite 70 objections and MP
South Staffordshire planning committee approves 90 new homes on West Midlands Green Belt despite 70 objections and MP Mike Wood's opposition.
Andy Burnham Keeps £35,000 Winter Fuel Payment Threshold
Under new PM Andy Burnham, the £35,000 income threshold for Winter Fuel Payments remains, meaning around 3 million over-65s no longer receive the payment.
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State Pension Rises £575 for Some, £440 for Others
The state pension rises by £575 for new retirees in 2026/27, but pre-2016 pensioners receive only £440 more, widening the gap under the triple lock.
Fuel duty rise scrapped but 22p per mile risk remains
Petrol drivers risk paying 22p per mile as Andy Burnham faces pressure to cut fuel duty, despite a planned September rise being scrapped until January.
Pensioners with Small Private Pensions Face Income Tax
Hundreds of thousands more pensioners with small private pensions face income tax as the £12,570 allowance stays frozen; Burnham pledges to 'look at it'.
HMRC Child Benefit Early Payment for August Bank Holiday
HMRC will pay Child Benefit early in Scotland for the August bank holiday, meaning families due cash on Monday 3 August get it sooner, up to £180 a month.
Andy Burnham's tough new driving rules for over-70s
Drivers over 70 will lose their licences and be banned from the road if they fail new mandatory eyesight tests under Andy Burnham's safety crackdown.
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Andy Burnham's £225 car tax charge from 2001
Owners of cars built after 2001 face tax bills from £20 to £790, with Band F vehicles charged £225, under Andy Burnham's new emissions-based road tax system
Burnham VAT cut leaves households £48 worse off
From October 1, VAT on electricity is cut to zero, but Martin Lewis warns the price cap rise will wipe out savings, leaving typical households £48 worse off.
Council tax shake-up: Burnham hints at band reform
Andy Burnham signals potential overhaul of council tax bands A-H, saying outdated 30-year-old valuations leave some London homes under-taxed.
Burnham council tax plans to add £555 to band A bills
New Treasury figures reveal council tax take will rise 43% by 2030, with band A bills up £556 and Band D up £556 under Andy Burnham's plans.
Burnham confirms income tax share for mayors next spring
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed mayors will receive a share of income tax and business rates from next spring, in a historic devolution shake-up.
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Council refuses HMO plans for former Walsall ambulance depot
Walsall Council has refused plans to turn the former ambulance depot on Bloxwich Lane into an eight-bedroom HMO, saying a full planning application is required.
Pensioners face record £29.8bn tax bill despite pledge
New HMRC data shows retirees paid a record £29.8bn income tax in 2024-25, up 40% in two years, as 9.5m pensioners face tax despite Labour's state pension pledge
Birmingham Draft Plan: 87,700 Homes and Growth Zones
Birmingham's draft Local Plan sets out 87,700 new homes and 16 growth zones; final six-week consultation opens before December submission.
Birmingham bins U-turn as flats return to weekly collections
Birmingham council U-turns on fortnightly bins for flats, restoring weekly waste collections after pilot complaints. Recycling continues fortnightly.
West Midlands Mayor Vows New Tax Powers for Jobs and Homes
Richard Parker will use new tax powers from Prime Minister Andy Burnham to boost jobs, affordable housing, and transport in the West Midlands, leveraging a share of income tax and business rates.
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Protest Planned Against Reform UK Conference in Birmingham
Stand Up To Racism will stage a major counter-protest outside Reform UK's party conference at the NEC in Birmingham, opposing the platform given to French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella.
Love Island's Yasmin and Tommy Still Together
Despite being dumped before the final, Love Island's Yasmin Hadlow and Tommy Stagg are still together. They share their future plans and thank fans.
Burnham's New Tests for Over-70s May Lead to Driving Bans
Andy Burnham's Labour Government introduces mandatory eyesight tests for drivers over 70, risking licence revocation if failed. Over 10,000 licences already revoked.
DWP £10k Rule Under Burnham Benefits 22 Million
Over 22 million employees are now saving into workplace pensions under the DWP's £10,000 earnings rule, frozen since 2014/15, with experts calling for policy changes to boost lower earners' retirement outcomes.
HMRC Penalises Innocent Errors on Tax Returns
HMRC plans to penalise careless errors on self-assessment returns, with fines potentially reaching 30%, expanding its definition of deliberate mistakes to include innocent errors.
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Stop £12,860 Pension Rise, Burnham Told
Thinktank director Stephen Millard warns Andy Burnham to scrap the triple lock to fully fund social care, as the state pension rises to £12,860.
Andy Burnham to Announce Council Tax Rebate Plan
Prime Minister Andy Burnham will tomorrow unveil plans to give regional mayors control over local income tax, potentially leading to household rebates.
Nine Million Pensioners Get HMRC Bills Despite Pledge
Despite Labour's pledge that pensioners solely reliant on the state pension would not pay income tax, new figures show 9.6 million pensioners are now paying income tax in the 2026/27 tax year, sparking questions about implementation.
DWP Urged to Cut £4 Weekly from State Pensioners Over 73
Andy Burnham's government faces calls to scrap the triple lock, cutting £4 weekly from state pensions for those over 73, to fund social care reforms and reduce national debt.
Three Mandatory Tests for Drivers Over 70 Under Burnham
Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces decisions on three mandatory tests for drivers over 70: eyesight checks, cognitive assessments, and roadside tests, as part of a Road Safety Strategy.
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DWP confirms 76 PIP eye and ear conditions as Burnham plans cuts
The DWP has published the full list of 76 eye and ear conditions qualifying for PIP as PM Andy Burnham signals welfare cuts to fund social care.
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