Second homes bid on Bilston pub site rejected
Walsall Council rejects second application to build nine homes on the site of the fire-destroyed Travellers Rest pub in Bilston, citing parking shortfall and biodiversity concerns.
Category : Politics
Piddington votes for symbolic 'independence' in asylum protest
Piddington villagers voted 285-26 for symbolic 'independence' from the UK over plans to house 1,256 male asylum seekers at a former MoD base near Bicester.
Berkeley urges stamp duty cap for first-time buyers and downsizers
Berkeley Group urges the Government to cap stamp duty at 1% for first-time buyers and downsizers, and remove the 5% investor surcharge, to help meet the 300,000 new homes target.
Sandwell councillors to decide on McDonald's drive-thru plan
Sandwell councillors will make the final call on plans to demolish a motorbike garage for a McDonald's drive-thru on St Annes Road, Cradley Heath, despite a 600-signature petition against it.
Soho Road aparthotel refused amid MP objections
Birmingham City Council has refused plans for an 'aparthotel' on Soho Road after dozens of objections, including from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
Waitrose Wellness Bays launch in 52 supermarkets
Waitrose has launched dedicated Wellness Bays across 52 shops, online and via on-demand grocery, offering over 40 premium wellness products, with exclusive formats and smaller pack sizes.
Nationwide keeps all 605 branches open until 2030
Nationwide will keep all 605 branches open until 2030, becoming the UK's largest branch network as rivals close. Branch usage rose 21% in current accounts.
HMRC to Claw Back Winter Fuel Payments from High Earners
HMRC will claw back Winter Fuel Payments from state pensioners earning over £35,000, deducting about £33 monthly in 2027-28 for typical £200 payments.
Coffey urges double lock to replace state pension triple lock
Baroness Therese Coffey has told the House of Lords she would favour a 'double lock' mechanism over the state pension triple lock, warning the current pledge may need to be scrapped.
DWP confirms State Pension age rise for post-1960 births
The DWP confirms State Pension age increases for people born after September 6, 1960, with rises phased between 66 and 67 from 2026 to 2028.
Walsall Reform leadership accused of abandoning democracy
Councillor Bella Simon accuses Walsall Reform leadership of abandoning democracy and free speech after her July removal, following third resignation in four months.
Prince Harry's UK return: first public engagements revealed
Prince Harry's team has confirmed his first public engagements since returning to the UK, including the Invictus Spirit Awards and WellChild, amid the ongoing row with the Royal Household.
Hotel and Airbnb stay tax powers for mayors confirmed
Mayors in England could gain powers to charge a nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb stays under new Labour plans, with Angela Rayner expected to outline the change on Thursday.
Walsall housing plan faces scrutiny over 15,000 homes
Five Conservative councillors call in Reform's approval of Walsall's Local Plan, which allocates 14,943 homes, leaving a 6,083 shortfall against the government's 21,026 target.
Birmingham safe centre for vulnerable children reaches milestone
Birmingham Council has approved plans for the West Midlands Safe Centre in Erdington, a secure children's home for vulnerable children, creating 187 jobs.
DWP urged to adopt UC essentials guarantee backed by 59%
A thinktank proposes a legal minimum for Universal Credit so claimants can afford essentials. Polling shows 59% public support, rising to 72% among Labour 2024 voters.
Compass urges DWP to adopt £120 weekly Universal Credit minimum guarantee
Compass thinktank urges DWP to introduce an Essentials Guarantee, ensuring Universal Credit never falls below £120 weekly for singles and £205 for couples, costing £15bn initially.
2% wealth tax proposed for Burnham on assets over £10m
Compass, led by Neal Lawson, proposes a 2% annual wealth tax on net assets over £10 million to Andy Burnham, affecting 22,000 people and raising £24bn yearly.
Aldi Lower Gornal seeks alcohol licence for 6am daily sales
Aldi has applied for a premises licence to sell alcohol from 6am to midnight daily at its Lower Gornal store, with public representations due by September 29.
BCC urges DWP to scrap pension triple lock for inflation rise
The British Chambers of Commerce has called on Chancellor John Healey to replace the state pension triple lock with an inflation-only increase, a change that could save the Treasury £3.3billion over two years.
UK clocks go back earlier in 2026: date and petition update
UK clocks go back at 2am on Sunday, October 25, 2026, a day earlier than in 2025. A petition to end the twice-yearly change could trigger a Commons debate if it reaches 100,000 signatures.
Reform UK pledges £15,000 tax-free allowance, saving most £500
Reform UK has pledged to raise the HMRC personal tax-free allowance to £15,000, saving most taxpayers £500 a year and lifting 2.9 million out of income tax, funded by £80bn spending cuts.
Welsh Government consults on national energy company
The Welsh Government has launched a public consultation on plans for a state-owned national energy company to reduce costs and boost Welsh ownership of energy projects.
Clocks go back October 25 - earlier than last year
Clocks go back on October 25, a day earlier than last year, giving an extra hour of sleep. Sunset will fall to 5.07pm that day.
Starbucks loyalty change: 20 more stars needed for free drinks
From Thursday 3 September, Starbucks UK loyalty members will need 20 additional stars to claim the cheapest coffee and tea rewards, requiring more spending for the same perks.
Asda completes eSEL rollout across 517 Express stores
Asda has completed the rollout of electronic shelf edge labels across all 517 Express stores, investing over £7.5m to install 1.2 million labels, replacing 120,000 paper price tickets weekly.
HMRC warns £1,406 Child Benefit payments at risk
HMRC confirms Child Benefit payments of up to £1,406 a year can restart if parents tell them about teens in education or training, with claims backdated three months.
DWP confirms £10 Christmas Bonus for pensioners
Millions of state pensioners will automatically receive a £10 Christmas Bonus from the DWP before the end of the year, paid into bank accounts in December.
DWP confirms £150 Warm Home Discount for four benefits
Millions of UK households on Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, ESA or Pension Credit will get a £150 Warm Home Discount from October, with most payments made by January.
Farage promises legal help for Raise the Colours flag group
Nigel Farage has promised legal support to Raise the Colours founder Ryan Bridge, who faces a £2.6 million injunction from Birmingham City Council over flag placements on lampposts.
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