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Councils three-times more likely to deny people social care in some areas of England than in others amid brutal postcode lottery
Analysis has found stark regional disparities in how English councils handle applications for social care, with some local authorities up to three times more likely to turn down requests than others. The findings point to a so-called “postcode lottery” in access to support for elderly and disabled people, raising concerns about fairness and consistency in…
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Key Burnham ally puts pressure on for 2% ‘wealth tax’ on the richest – plus more state regulation of media
An ally of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is pushing for a 2% wealth tax on Britain’s richest as part of a broader set of policy demands, which also include tighter state regulation of the media. The proposals reflect ongoing pressure from Burnham’s camp to shape Labour’s domestic agenda around wealth redistribution and media oversight, positioning…
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Sheffield park fight, US “no tax on tips” and Medicaid fears, sunlight-mirror satellite approved
The first item appears to misidentify the location: the police appeal published on 10 August concerned a large fight at the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham, not Sheffield. Nottinghamshire Police said the incident happened shortly after 23:00 on 1 August and involved a group of men. A 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy, both said…
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The day small boats crisis became a BIG boats crisis: Forty-nine foot mega-dinghy carrying 230 migrants – more than a Boeing 737 – reaches Britain
A record number of migrants – 230 people – crossed the English Channel in a single crossing aboard an oversized 49-foot dinghy, described as carrying more passengers than a Boeing 737 aircraft. The crossing marks a significant escalation in the small boats crisis, prompting criticism that Labour’s “smash the gangs” strategy is failing to curb…
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GB’s Hunt wins European 100m gold
Great Britain’s Amy Hunt won the 100m title at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, securing the host nation’s first gold of the event and her first senior international title. The 24-year-old, who had previously claimed world 200m silver in Tokyo and Commonwealth 100m silver just two weeks earlier, finally converted her run of near-misses…
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Burnham to give councils more powers to block vape and betting shops
Andy Burnham has announced plans to give local councils in England, Wales and Scotland greater powers to block new betting shops, adult gaming centres and vape shops from opening on high streets. The move would scrap the “aim to permit” rule in the Gambling Act 2005, which currently obliges councils to approve new gambling premises…
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Crackdown on vape shops and bookies as Burnham gives councils power to choose what is on their high streets
Andy Burnham has announced plans to give councils greater powers to block new betting shops and vape stores as part of a government drive to revive Britain’s declining high streets. The changes will scrap the “aim to permit” rule, introduced under Tony Blair’s gambling law reforms in 2005, which currently restricts town halls’ ability to…
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Crackdown on vape shops and bookies as Burnham gives councils power to choose what is on their high streets
The government is set to give English councils greater powers to reject licences for betting shops, vape stores and venues with round-the-clock slot machines, as part of a drive to revive Britain’s “hollowed-out” high streets. Deputy Prime Minister Andy Burnham will scrap the “aim to permit” rule, introduced under Tony Blair’s 2005 gambling liberalisation, which…
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Great Britain win mixed 4x400m relay silver
Great Britain claimed the mixed 4x400m relay silver medal at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, marking the team’s first medal of the tournament. The team finished second behind Norway in the final, giving the host nation an early boost on day one of the competition. The mixed relay is typically one of the…
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Now Britain’s largest teaching union distances itself from ‘Prof plagiarism’ solidarity letter as it calls for ‘fair and transparent investigation’
Britain’s largest teaching union has distanced itself from a solidarity letter that had defended a professor accused of plagiarism, instead calling for a “fair and transparent investigation” into the allegations. The move signals the union stepping back from an earlier show of support, reflecting sensitivity around how academic misconduct claims are handled and a wish…