Skipton vs Walsall: UK's happiest and most miserable towns compared
A Rightmove study ranked Skipton the UK's happiest town and Walsall the fifth least happy. Our reporter visited both to see if the perceptions hold up.
Category : Political Analysis
State Pension Rise Could Cost £13,112, Fidelity Says
People born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977 face waiting until 67 for their state pension, potentially losing £13,112.66 next year, according to Fidelity.
Private pension access age could rise to 60, warns ex-minister
Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb warns the private pension access age could rise to 60, citing Labour's lack of fondness for pension freedoms, despite current plans for 57 by 2028.
State pension gap widens to £234 a month
A 4.1% wage rise would lift full state pension to £1,004 a month, but basic rate trails at £770, leaving a £234 gap under Andy Burnham's triple lock pledge.
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West Midlands unemployment hits 5.6% in tough job market
West Midlands unemployment rose to 5.6% in the latest figures, above the national average, reflecting a challenging job market in the region.
Birmingham exodus: 80,000 leave, largest outside London
Over 80,000 people left Birmingham in the last year, the largest exodus outside London, with a net loss of 22,000 as residents seek quieter areas.
Aviva CEO urges PM to rule out pension tax raid before Budget
Aviva's Amanda Blanc has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey to rule out changes to the 25% pension tax-free lump sum ahead of the October Budget, warning of unnecessary withdrawals.
Burnham urged to offer pensions-for-OBE scheme to wealthy
Andy Burnham has been urged to let wealthy state pensioners born after 1961 voluntarily sacrifice their state pension for an OBE, under a Compass proposal aimed at cutting costs.
Matt Hudson-Smith plans mayor bid after Birmingham 2026 win
Olympic 400m medallist Matt Hudson-Smith says he wants to become Birmingham's mayor after winning gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, revealing his political ambition in a new interview.
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Burnham Ally Urges BBC Licence Fee Replacement
A report backed by Andy Burnham's ally proposes replacing the BBC TV licence fee with a universal household levy and putting the BBC under public control.
Burnham Bounce Doubles Labour Seats in West Midlands
Labour's projected West Midlands seats double to 13 under Andy Burnham, as Reform UK and Tories lose ground in latest polling.
Burnham tax plan: 52% top rate proposed by think tank
Bright Blue think tank proposes raising top income tax to 52%, scrapping employer NI, and adding a 13% band, sparking political backlash.
Burnham urged to back wealth tax on assets over £10m
According to a new poll, 66% of British adults support a wealth tax on assets exceeding £10m, as Neil Kinnock urges PM Andy Burnham to tax wealth more fairly.
Reform UK's Operation Fortress to stop Channel migrants
Reform UK's Operation Fortress would deploy the Royal Navy to stop Channel migrant dinghies, drawing sharp criticism from experts and Labour.
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Healey Budget Fears Could Cost Pension Savers £63,000
Taking your 25% pension tax-free lump sum at 55 could leave you £63,000 worse off by 65, warns AJ Bell, as Chancellor John Healey faces pre-Budget speculation.
Burnham bounce lifts Labour to 13 West Midlands seats
Labour has jumped from seven to 13 projected West Midlands seats since Andy Burnham became leader, while Reform UK has fallen and the Tories slipped.
Burnham Confirms No State Pension Tax, Triple Lock Boost
Andy Burnham confirms state pensioners won't pay income tax on state pension next year, with Triple Lock lifting full state pension to £291 in April 2027.
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.
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.
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DWP System So Lax Even Social Care Tsar Would Qualify
Baroness Louise Casey criticizes DWP disability benefits, stating 16.8 million people are classified as disabled and she herself would qualify. Andy Burnham links assisted dying debate to fixing social care.
Andy Burnham Urged to Cut State Pension Triple Lock
Experts tell PM Andy Burnham to scrap the triple lock, which would raise pensions by £240 a year, to fund social care; defence spending and assisted suicide also debated.
Welsh business confidence drops to 61%
Just over three-fifths of private business owners in Wales are confident of delivering growth in the second half of 2026, down from 89% at the start of the year, according to KPMG's half-year private enterprise barometer.
Burnham McFadden Wait for Milburn Report on DWP Cuts
The UK government under Prime Minister Andy Burnham will delay Universal Credit and DWP benefit cuts until the final Milburn Report, expected in autumn, confirms Pat McFadden.
Burnham Dismisses Stamp Duty Abolition Speculation
Prime Minister Andy Burnham rules out scrapping stamp duty but pledges fairer taxation, while council tax reform remains under consideration.
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Burnham 'interested' in young people's triple lock
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly interested in a triple lock for young people, proposing discounted train fares, tax incentives and a rent-to-own pathway, as reported by the I paper.
Ofcom Probes Married at First Sight UK Complaint
Ofcom investigates a fairness and privacy complaint about Channel 4's Married At First Sight UK, following rape and sexual misconduct allegations from the BBC Panorama documentary.
Reeves Slaps 59 Cars with £474 Monthly Charge
Rachel Reeves has introduced new car tax rates affecting 59 high-emission vehicles, with a top annual charge of £5,690 (£474 monthly), before reportedly being replaced as Chancellor.
Argentina Faces FIFA Sanction Over Falklands Banner
Argentina faces a £20,000 FIFA fine after players displayed a Falklands banner post-2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England. President Milei defends the act as legitimate.
Descendants Stars Kylie Cantrall and Malia Baker Drama Explained
A video of Kylie Cantrall rolling her eyes at Malia Baker in an interview has gone viral, sparking rumors of a feud over an alleged love triangle with Malachi Barton.
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Man killed amputee with prosthetic leg, court hears
Scott Silkstone, 51, is accused of murdering amputee Dwayne Tuohey, 55, by beating him with his own prosthetic leg before buying a milkshake, Leeds Crown Court hears.
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