UK supermarkets warn business rates rise could push up food inflation Bosses of the UK’s biggest supermarkets are urging the Chancellor to exempt shops from a new business rates surtax, warning that shoppers will bear the brunt of higher costs. A letter, organised by industry group the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and addressed to Rachel
Tories pledge to stop 35,000 crimes if elected The Conservatives have promised to stop 35,000 crimes by deploying more police to violent “hot spots” if they return to power. The pledge came as the party set out further details of its “Policing Plan”, which includes proposals to recruit 10,000 new police officers and treble the
Private clinics carrying out more NHS appointments and procedures The number of NHS appointments, tests and operations delivered by private hospitals and clinics has increased by almost 500,000 this year to 6.15 million. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the policy is tackling a “two-tier” system by cutting waiting times to ensure NHS patients in England have access
Wes Streeting warns over unlicensed weight-loss jabs after illicit factory raid Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned people not to buy weight-loss jabs from unregulated sources after an illegal laboratory was dismantled. Officers from the Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) raided the factory in Northampton and seized
Asylum seeker released in error seen in London area, police say An asylum seeker accidentally released from prison was last seen in the London area, police said, as officers urged anyone who spots him to call 999 immediately. Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, who had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, was
Westminster has failed Scots, says Swinney ahead of Scotland Demands Better demo Westminster has had its chance to improve the lives of Scots and has failed, the First Minister has said as thousands of people prepare to take to the streets of Edinburgh. The Scotland Demands Better march – organised by the Poverty Alliance and
Strictly professionals to wear Britney Spears-inspired looks for icons week The Strictly Come Dancing professionals are to embody the different eras of Britney Spears’ music career as part of the show’s icons week. Their group dance, which contains nods to music videos including Oops!… I Did It Again, will take place during Sunday night’s results
Parents urged to vaccinate children against flu ‘wildfire’ as cases rise Parents are being urged to get their children vaccinated against flu “wildfire” over half-term as cases rise, with pop-up clinics being set up at fire stations and bowling alleys. NHS England said many schoolchildren will already have received flu vaccines at school, but there
Hospital breaks prostate treatment record to tackle backlog A hospital has performed a record number of pioneering prostate procedures in one day in a bid to help curb NHS waiting lists. The majority of men given a robot-assisted waterjet technique for enlarged prostates at Frimley Health NHS Foundation trust on their record treatment day were
Sheffield Wednesday file for administration Sheffield Wednesday have filed a notice to appoint an administrator, court records show. The notice was filed at 10.01am on Friday morning at a specialist companies court. The club’s financial issues under current owner Dejphon Chansiri have been well-documented, with reports that a winding-up order from HMRC was imminent. Now,