Blog masonry

National News

Energy bill cuts and home insulation plan needed says Lib Dem leader

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is calling for a cut to energy bills and a plan to insulate homes, ahead of the party’s Scottish conference. The Scottish Liberal Democrat spring conference will take place on Friday and Saturday in Dundee. Ahead of the gathering, Mr Davey said his party would pay for a cut in energy bills with a tougher windfall tax on oil and gas companies. He also called for the Scottish Government to launch an emergency nationwideRead More

today 13

National News

Manchester United bounce back with comfortable victory over Real Betis

Manchester United showed their character by comprehensively beating Real Betis 4-1 in the Europa League four days on from their humiliating defeat at Liverpool. Sunday’s 7-0 collapse at their bitter rivals equalled the club’s record competitive defeat and left manager Erik ten Hag calling for a response from an unacceptable loss that he labelled “unprofessional”. The United boss stuck with the same starting line-up that was annihilated at Anfield and the players repaid their manager’s faith in a 4-1 victoryRead More

today 14

National News

Emma Raducanu delivers composed display in comeback win against Danka Kovinic

Emma Raducanu marked her injury comeback with a fine 6-2 6-3 win over Danka Kovinic in the opening round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Raducanu’s participation in her first match since losing to Coco Gauff in the second round of the Australian Open in January had been doubt after she revealed the wrist problem she was troubled by last season has returned. But the British number one, who withdrew from last week’s event in Texas and anRead More

today 18

National News

356000 extra mortgage borrowers could face payment difficulties by mid 2024

An extra 356,000 mortgage borrowers could face payment difficulties by the end of June 2024, in addition to those who are already behind, according to the City regulator. This has been reduced from a previous estimate made last September that an additional 570,000 mortgage borrowers could become financially stretched by the end of June 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said. The FCA defined mortgage borrowers as being financially stretched if more than 30% of their gross household income wasRead More

today 13

National News

Scientists call for global action to tackle space junk

An international team of experts said there are around 100 trillion pieces of old satellites circling the planet that are not being tracked Scientists are calling for a legally-binding treaty to protect the Earth’s orbit from the dangers posed by space debris. An international team of experts said there are around 100 trillion pieces of old satellites circling the planet that are not being tracked. As the global space industry continues to expand, the team said there are fears thatRead More

today 17

National News

Parts of the HS2 rail link are set to be delayed

That's according to the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper Transport Secretary Mark Harper has said the Government will delay building the Birmingham to Crewe leg of HS2 by two years. In a written ministerial statement, he said: “The Government is committed to delivering HS2 Phase 2a between Birmingham and Crewe. “We have seen significant inflationary pressure and increased project costs, and so we will rephase construction by two years, with an aim to deliver high-speed services to Crewe and the northRead More

today 32

National News

Braverman says Lineker comments diminish tragedy of Holocaust

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has accused Gary Lineker of diminishing the tragedy of the Holocaust as ministers engaged in an open row with the BBC presenter over his criticism of their asylum plans. Commons leader Penny Mordaunt accused Labour of “borrowing from the Gary Lineker playbook” by being the “party of goal hangers” taking easy shots against the Government. The former England striker hit back at her “clumsy analogy”, saying he was “just happy to have been better in theRead More

today 28

National News

Womens Tour at risk of cancellation over lack of new sponsorship

This year’s Women’s Tour is at risk of cancellation if fresh sponsorship cannot be found. Britain’s longest-running major international stage race, which counts Lizzie Deignan, Marianne Vos and Elisa Longo Borghini as former winners, is in peril after the loss of key partners has left a £500,000 shortfall in funding. Organisers Sweetspot announced the route for this June’s race on Thursday but also warned the popular event “urgently requires additional commercial income for the 2023 edition”. The race went aheadRead More

today 37

National News

Dogs donning colourful outfits strut their stuff as Crufts returns

Dogs donned bright coats and knitted hats as they battled the snow to be named best in show at Crufts. Annual dog show Crufts, which is taking place between March 9 and 12 this year, welcomed back to the ring a host of animals, all vying to take home the win. In a bid to impress judges, the furry competitors turned up to the event in their finest outfits. One dog wore a bright yellow knitted hat, as well asRead More

today 35

0%