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Can the Government now set how much rent people pay? Tribunal sees landlord forced to cut it by £200 a month after a tenant challenge
A Manchester tenant challenged a proposed £50 monthly rent increase, and a tribunal set the rent at £1,450 a month, £200 below the existing rent. The case has renewed debate over whether the Renters’ Rights Act gives tenants stronger protection against rises or amounts to rent control by the back door. The tenant said the…
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Burnham approves Jackdaw – and Labour’s unity on climate action is imperilled with the stroke of a pen | Zoe Williams
The article argues that approving the Jackdaw gasfield weakens the UK government’s credibility on climate action and risks undermining Labour’s unity on the issue. It says the decision sends a damaging signal while people are being urged to take personal and collective action to reduce emissions. Jackdaw is described as a relatively small field whose…
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QUENTIN LETTS: Mount Hoyle erupted! Dark smoke started rising, then the top of the Speaker’s head shot hundreds of feet in the air
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle angrily rebuked the Government after Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh missed a Commons statement on the Jackdaw gas field. His outburst highlighted his view that announcing the decision to newspapers before informing MPs, then sending a junior minister in her place, showed disrespect to Parliament. The article says Fahnbulleh was in Aberdeen…
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Chapman urges universal price cap for essential household energy
Dr Alex Chapman argues that the government should guarantee every household affordable access to essential energy, rather than create a targeted social tariff for vulnerable people. He says means testing would add a complex benefits system to the privatised energy market and could unfairly divide households. Chapman proposes that the Treasury fund a price cap…
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Russia ready to resume talks with Ukraine and US to end war
Vladimir Putin’s top aide, Yuri Ushakov, says Russia is ready in principle to restart talks with Ukraine and the United States on ending the war. The suggestion follows a meeting between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg and could mark a return to negotiations suspended in February. Ushakov said a new round…
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Woke NYC congressional hopeful who wants to abolish police says it is unconstitutional to deport migrants convicted of committing crimes
New York congressional nominee Darializa Avila Chevalier has argued that deporting non-citizens convicted of crimes adds an unconstitutional layer of punishment based on birthplace. She says people should face the criminal justice system in the same way regardless of immigration status, a position that has drawn criticism and renewed attention to her views on immigration…
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Nicko McBrain says Trump and associates should face jail
Former Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain says he declined an invitation to play golf with Donald Trump and believes the president and his associates should be jailed. He cited Trump’s perceived narcissism, controversy over the Epstein files and the war in Iran, making clear his remarks reflect his personal political views. McBrain, 74, said a…
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Met investigates rape allegation against former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson
Police are investigating an allegation that former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson raped a woman in the party’s Westminster offices in 2016. The Met says he is to be interviewed, the investigation is at an early stage and no arrests have been made; the allegation matters amid Donaldson’s recent conviction for child sex offences. The woman…
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Macron rebukes foreign leaders over false claims about French unrest
Emmanuel Macron has criticised what he called “stupid comments” by foreign leaders about unrest in France, accusing some of repeating false or AI-generated claims for political purposes. His remarks followed Donald Trump’s claim that migrants, jihadists and communists were responsible for the rioting; Macron said he was referring to Trump among others. France has seen…
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Speaker vents at Labour minister for running off to Aberdeen to unveil Jackdaw drilling on TV – leaving her deputy to face angry MPs
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh was criticised by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle after the Government announced approval for North Sea drilling at the Jackdaw gas field to the media before informing MPs. Fahnbulleh was in Aberdeen giving television interviews, leaving her deputy, Michael Shanks, to answer questions in Parliament. Hoyle said the House had been…