Andy Burnham's administration will cut business rates by 20% for nearly 32,000 pubs, clubs, and live music venues in England from April, as part of a £10m package to support high streets and ease cost of living pressures. The initiative will be funded by reviewing relief for businesses deemed not to contribute positively to communities.
Australian One Nation leader Pauline Hanson faced strong criticism for calling domestic violence a "two-way street" and telling abused women to "just leave." Politicians, advocates, and survivors condemned her remarks as victim-blaming, highlighting the dangers and complexities victims face, while new data showed rising costs for women leaving abusive situations.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced an immediate removal of VAT from electricity bills, reducing them by £45 annually from October. The £850m cost will be funded by scrapping the digital ID scheme, though former chief secretary Darren Jones questioned the funding mechanism.
Royal Navy has few mine-hunting ships to deploy as world leaders discuss how to safeguard shippingThe UK will co-host an international summit of more than 40 nations this week to discuss how to safeguard shipping through the strait of Hormuz when the Iran conflict finally comes to an end.Keir Starmer has said the continuing closure of the waterway is “deeply damaging” and that getting global shipping moving is crucial to ease cost of living pressures. Continue reading...
