Blog masonry

National News

Labour steps up attack on Hunts pensions tax break

Labour has stepped up pressure on Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt to drop changes to pension allowances that fail to benefit the “vast majority” of Britons. The Opposition has said it will reverse the Chancellor’s Budget pensions tax break for high earners if it gains power at the next general election. Mr Hunt believes the abolition of the lifetime allowance, forecast to cost £2.75 billion over the next five years, will ease labour shortages, particularly in the NHS. He hasRead More

today 9

Sport

Linnets boss admits his side weren’t at their best in home win

King's Lynn Town may have cruised to a 3-0 victory over Spennymoor Town at The Walks this afternoon, but manager Tommy Widdrington wasn’t pleased with parts of his side’s performance.Adam Crowther gave the hosts a first-half lead before substitute Jordan Ponticelli and Michael Clunan added to the advantage after the restart, as Lynn strengthened their place in second place.The Linnets remain two points behind AFC Fylde – who make the trip to The Walks in a huge game on TuesdayRead More

today 21

National News

Unison members vote to accept Scottish Government pay offer

Members of Scotland’s largest NHS union, Unison, have voted to accept the Scottish Government’s pay offer. In a digital ballot where 54.0% of eligible members voted, 78.5% accepted the offer. Another union, GMB Scotland, accepted the pay offer earlier in the week. The pay offer – which was made to 160,000 NHS staff, including nurses, midwives and paramedics – equates to an average 6.5% increase in 2023/24. It also includes the commitment to modernising Agenda for Change, which is nearlyRead More

today 27

Sport

Linnets pick up crucial win in promotion race

King's Lynn Town 3 Spennymoor Town 0 King's Lynn Town warmed up for Tuesday night's top-of-the-table clash against AFC Fylde at the Walks by ending a three-game winless run in the National League North this afternoon.Defender Adam Crowther found the back of the net for the second successive game to give Lynn the lead against Spennymoor Town at the interval.Substitute Jordan Ponticelli gave the home side the luxury of a two-goal cushion after the break before skipper Michael Clunan wrappedRead More

today 18

National News

Bible of priest who smuggled Charles II out of England to go under the hammer

The bible of the priest who smuggled King Charles II out of England during the Civil War is set to fetch thousands at auction. Father John Huddleston’s bible was bought for the modern equivalent of two and a half pence in the 1950s – but it now has an estimated sale price of at least £2,000. Auctioneer John Crane said the bible is a “very rare” item, and when he first saw it, in the house of a family inRead More

today 26

National News

Indefinite strike to go ahead after bus drivers back industrial action

An indefinite strike by thousands of bus drivers will go ahead from Monday after they voted in favour of industrial action in a dispute over pay. More than 3,000 members of Unite employed by National Express in the West Midlands backed walkouts by 71%. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “National Express is an extremely wealthy company and makes considerable profits from the hard work of our members, who are not paid enough for the difficult and stressful job theyRead More

today 11

National News

Nicola Sturgeons husband Peter Murrell resigns as SNP chief executive

Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell has resigned as the SNP’s chief executive with immediate effect. Reports had suggested members of the SNP’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) threatened a vote of no confidence in him. It follows the departure of the SNP media chief Murray Foote, who left on Friday amid a row over the party’s membership numbers. Mr Murrell has been the party’s chief executive for more than 20 years. In a statement on Saturday, Mr Murrell said: “ResponsibilityRead More

today 15

National News

Home Secretary tours potential migrant housing in Rwanda

The Home Secretary has been given a tour of potential migrant housing in Rwanda as 209 people were confirmed to have made the journey across the Channel on Friday. Suella Braverman embarked on her first full day in the country as Home Secretary on Saturday as she set out to reaffirm her commitment to the Rwanda deportation policy. No migrants have been relocated to the country so far as the deal, which was signed last April by Ms Braverman’s predecessorRead More

today 15

National News

More Passport Office workers vote to go on strike

More Passport Office workers have voted to go on strike in a bitter dispute over jobs, pay, pensions and conditions. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) announced the results of new ballots for industrial action which all showed big votes in favour. PCS members at the Home Office in Northern Ireland, Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Northern Ireland, Heritage Lottery Fund in Northern Ireland and the British Library in London, all voted in favour. They will now be ableRead More

today 28

0%