Author: britishbulletin.com

Rachel Reeves is said to be considering a 2p rise in income tax rates — a move that could push the effective tax burden for some higher earners to 65 per cent and break Labour’s election pledge not to raise taxes on working people.Under the reported plans, workers earning between £100,000 and £125,140 would face an effective 63 per cent income tax rate, alongside two per cent National Insurance contributions.Pensioners would face a huge hit if rumours of a 2p income tax rate rise become reality, especially if it is offset by a National Insurance cut.This is because pensioners do…

Prince William will become an Honorary Citizen of Rio de Janeiro following his visit to Brazil last week, the city’s authorities have confirmed.The initiative is being led by Rio City Council President Carlo Caiado and Mayor Eduardo Paes.The proposal has been co-signed by the Council’s Executive Board, along with the Committees on Constitution and Justice, and on Education.Prince William, heir to the throne, spent five days in Brazil to attend the Earthshot Prize awards and participate in the Cop30 climate summit preparations in Belém.Mr Caiado praised William’s engagement with environmental work and his conduct during the visit.He said the future…

British Gas has been appointed to take on around 23,700 customers after the collapse of energy supplier Tomato Energy. The failed firm owed more than £3million in unpaid debts when it ceased trading last week.Ofgem confirmed on Sunday that the transfer covers 15,300 household and 8,400 business accounts. The regulator said its action would ensure customers continue to receive energy without interruption.Tomato Energy employed about 100 people and is expected to enter formal administration within days. Its collapse is the latest in a series of supplier failures seen across the market in recent years.Ofgem said all power supplies would remain…

Manchester’s cold weather plans to help get people rough sleeping indoors and out of freezing temperatures are now operational. Every year plans to provide a warm space for people who want to come inside during periods of severe cold weather are put in place. The Council, working alongside Manchester Homelessness Partnership and health services, provides additional accommodation which this year includes an additional number of women-only accommodation spaces in addition to the general accommodation options. Although during winter people are more likely to accept an offer to come inside, help is available all year round at Etrop…

BBC chairman Samir Shah has apologised for an “error of judgment” in editing a speech by Donald Trump during a ⁠Panorama documentary, following the resignations of the broadcaster’s director-general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turnes.In a letter sent on Monday to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairman Dame Caroline Dinenage, Mr Shah said the BBC had reviewed the edit of the US president’s speech on January 6, 2021 and promised drastic action to save broadcaster from crisis.You can read the full 24-page letter below in full…Dear Board Members,You may know that I have been one of the…

The stubborn fat that sits around the body’s midsection isn’t just frustrating – it’s genuinely dangerous. Known as visceral fat, the lipids that sit deep inside your abdomen, where you can’t pinch it or see it properly.It’s the kind that wraps around your organs and causes real trouble, raising our chances of developing serious conditions, including heart problems, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, metabolic disorders and fatty liver disease. That’s why keeping it under control matters so much.But much of what we’re told about losing this risky fat might actually be wrong. Some supposedly “bad” habits could be exactly what…

Julian O’Neill News NI crime and justice correspondentPSNIAlexander McCartney was sentenced in October 2024An investigation into prolific online sex abuser Alexander McCartney was delayed by “under-resourcing”, a report by the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland (PONI) has found.It also said the management of his bail conditions was “ineffective”.McCartney, 27, was given a life sentence last year, with a minimum of 20 years in jail, for the online abuse of children and the manslaughter of a 12-year-old girl.The ombudsman found the ability of police to “keep children safe” had been “significantly compromised”.McCartney, from outside Newry, is recognised as one of the…

Transgender women are reportedly set to be banned from competing in female competitions.The International Olympic Committee is set to announce a ban early next year.It follows a science-based review of evidence on the permanent physical advantages of being born male.Previously, Olympic sports had the power individually to decide whether transgender women could compete with reduced testosterone levels.This will now be changed, according to The Times.Athletics and swimming already have bans in place for athletes who have been through male puberty, but many events haven’t implemented the changes. IOC president Kirsty Coventry is likely to have been behind the changes after…

A Reform UK-led council is spending £1.4million to carry out a cost-cutting review.Leicestershire County Council, which is under no overall control but Nigel Farage’s party, is three seats short of holding a majority, and announced it was launching a “top-to-bottom” analysis of its £1.3billion annual spending. External consultancy company Newton has been commissioned to carry out the task as opposed to the members of the party’s much promoted own Department of Government Efficiency “Doge” team.Council leader Dan Harrison said the exercise would identify savings many times higher than the fee being paid to the firm, however opposition leaders questioned if…

Nigel Farage welcomed Checkatrade founder Kevin Byrne on stage as he delivered Reform UK’s plan to back small British businesses.Speaking to an auditorium packed full of small business owners, Mr Byrne told the press conference: “We feed you, we clothe you, we entertain you, absolutely the backbone of the UK and yet the neglect from this Government and previous Governments is absolutely staggering.”You’ll know as a businessperson as self-employed you don’t work from 9 to 5. I got up in the morning, opened my laptop and when I finished for the day at 12 o’clock at night I would close…