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National News

Household energy bill cap frozen for further three months Hunt announces

A major expansion of free childcare and an extension in support for household energy costs will help ease the cost of living as Jeremy Hunt sets out a “Budget for growth”. The Chancellor confirmed that the energy price guarantee, which caps average household bills at £2,500, will be extended at its current level from April to June. It had been due to rise to £3,000 in April and the cost

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National News

More than 300 experts sign letter against Governments unworkable migrant Bill

More than 300 academic experts in migration have signed a joint letter to the Government to object to the UK’s Illegal Immigration Bill, arguing the policy is not “evidence based, workable, or legal under human rights law”. The scholars, from mostly British universities, warned the Bill will not stop small boats crossing the Channel, but would, however, increase “the chance of death” as people were funnelled into more dangerous journeys.

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National News

Home owning still cheaper than renting overall but difference reduced study

The cost of a mortgage on a first home is typically around £42 per month cheaper than renting, but the difference has reduced and in some parts of the UK renting may be the less expensive option, analysis suggests. First-time buyers could typically pay around £971 per month for a three-bedroom home, while renters would potentially be forking out around £1,013, according to calculations by Halifax. The difference of around

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National News

Chancellor set to deliver back to work Budget amid push for growth

It is one of a number of announcements to be made in the Commons on Wednesday Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will pledge to tackle labour shortages and get people back to work when he delivers his Budget on Wednesday. Announcements on energy bill support, benefits reform and pensions allowances are all expected to form part of the Budget package when Mr Hunt addresses MPs on Wednesday afternoon, even if he is

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National News

Putting vapes in plain packaging reduces their appeal to children

The findings come in a new study by experts from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London and Action on Smoking and Health Putting vapes in plain packaging reduces their appeal to children and could even stop them taking up vaping in the first place, a major new study has found. Researchers discovered that removing bright colours, pictures and fancy lettering from packaging made youngsters less

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National News

Facebook owner Meta to axe another 10000 jobs

It comes just four months after it axed 11,000 workers Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has revealed it plans to cut around 10,000 jobs globally, just four months after it axed 11,000 workers. The group’s founder and boss, Mark Zuckerberg, told staff in a company blog that Meta is also looking to ditch about 5,000 open job vacancies as part of his Year Of Efficiency push

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National News

250 million sewage penalties too high says Environment Agency chairman

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said penalties of £10-20 million would be more appropriate   The Environment Agency (EA) should not be issuing penalties of £250 million to water companies who dump sewage, its chairman has said. Speaking to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Alan Lovell said penalties of £10-20 million would be more appropriate, and stressed there was a difference between an EA penalty and a

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National News

GP who ran clinic for trans patients awaits ruling after challenging suspension

Helen Webberley who founded GenderGP, was found to have committed serious misconduct by a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel in June 2022   A GP who ran an online clinic for transgender patients is waiting for a High Court judge’s ruling after challenging a tribunal decision to impose a two-month suspension. Helen Webberley, founder of a website called GenderGP, was found to have committed serious misconduct by a Medical Practitioners

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National News

NatWest limits cryptocurrency payments amid scam concerns

The bank says the cost-of-living crisis is also having an impact, with promises of high returns used by criminals to entice investors NatWest is imposing cryptocurrency payment limits amid concerns over rising numbers of scams. The cost-of-living crisis is also having an impact, with promises of high returns used by criminals to entice investors, the bank said. A daily limit of £1,000 and a limit of £5,000 over a 30-day

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