Author: britishbulletin.com

A mortgage option many borrowers assumed was fading into history is making a comeback, and I don’t think it will go unnoticed by the wider market.Competition between lenders has largely centred on fixed-rate pricing in recent years.A lender cuts a two-year or five-year deal, moves up the sourcing tables, and its competitors respond. That battle is still running, but the latest move I’ve seen suggests it’s no longer the only game in town.West Brom Building Society has just brought interest-only and discount variable mortgages back into its residential range, alongside cuts of up to 0.24 percentage points on selected three-year…

Former Gogglebox star Amy Tapper took to Instagram on Wednesday to showcase the remarkable results of her eight-stone weight loss journey, sharing striking before and after photographs with her followers.The 26-year-old reality television personality, who first appeared on screens as a teenager, has shed an impressive five dress sizes by combining the weight loss medication Mounjaro with a dedicated fitness regime.Her Instagram post was flooded with complimentary messages from admirers describing her as “gorgeous” following the dramatic transformation.”A little reminder to take the before photos and videos. Thank you @myBMI for being part of my journey. #ad,” she wrote alongside…

Drivers in Oxford have been warned of further disruption after the reopening of Botley Road was delayed again, resulting in the city’s temporary congestion charge continuing.Network Rail has confirmed the key route will remain closed beyond the end of August after additional gas network measures were revealed during construction.It now means Oxfordshire County Council’s planned traffic filter trial cannot begin on September 14, as previously announced. The trial was due to replace the temporary congestion charge, but would only be able to start once Botley Road reopened.A new date for the reopening has not yet been confirmed. The temporary congestion…

Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been stripped of his knighthood by the King.Donaldson, who was an MP from 1997 until 2024, was convicted in June of 18 counts of sex abuse including one count of rape, which he committed against two women when they were children.In the aftermath of his conviction he asked to be removed from the Privy Council and for his knighthood to be forfeited.On Thursday a notice was published in The Gazette, external – one of the UK’s official journals of record – stating that Charles III had directed the cancellation of Donaldson’s…

Arsenal have signed “extremely versatile attacking player” Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for £34m.The 24-year-old Greece international has joined the Premier League champions on what they describe as a “long-term contract”.Tzolis scored 43 goals and provided 45 assists in 108 appearances for Club Brugge.He joins Arsenal after the departure of Belgium forward Leandro Trossard to Besiktas earlier this month”Christos naturally operates on the left but is comfortable across the front line,” said Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta.”He’s an excellent finisher with both feet, thrives in tight spaces, and possesses incredible technical ability.”Christos has produced outstanding numbers in terms of goals…

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to announce significant cuts to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits as part of plans to tackle rising welfare costs and youth unemployment.The Prime Minister, who entered Downing Street on July 20, is expected to use a speech next week to argue that expanding further education opportunities for young people is key to reducing both economic inactivity and the growing welfare bill.The address will be one of the first major policy announcements of Mr Burnham’s premiership and is expected to signal that welfare reform will be a central part of the Government’s domestic…

The UK’s largest gas storage site will close next year without Government intervention, the owners have warned.Centrica, which operates the Rough gas storage facility in the North Sea, has said it will not seek to continue production beyond April 2027. Without a £2billion redevelopment, the “important strategic asset” is at the limit of what it can deliver, said chief executive Chris O’Shea. Rough accounts for half of the UK’s gas storage capacity. Centrica says an expanded facility would bolster UK energy security, lower our exposure to volatile prices and support jobs. But it wants price guarantees on its gas from…

Lord Alan Sugar has sparked a flood of outraged X responses after the star of The Apprentice took to the social media platform to complain about paying £5 a month for what he deemed a “sneaky” ITVX subscription.The 79-year-old, who is estimated to be worth around £1 billion, complained that he paid the fee to avoid seeing adverts, but he alleged the streaming service still interrupted his content with in-house commercials.Earlier this week, the business magnate wrote in view of his four million X followers: “Watchout. I subscribed to ITV X agreed to pay £5 a month not see adverts.”However…

Drivers have been warned that the cost of dropping off passengers at some of the UK’s busiest airports has increased by one-third over the past year, forcing motorists to pay extortionate prices. According to new research, 16 of the UK’s 20 busiest airports have increased the charges drivers must pay to drop passengers close to their terminals.The report detailed how the average cost has risen by £1.70 since last summer, reaching £7 for a drop-off in a “kiss-and-fly” zone. London Gatwick and London Stansted were found to be the most expensive airports for drivers dropping passengers off, with both charging…

Millionaires including former footballer Gary Lineker and music producer Brian Eno have written to new prime minister Andy Burnham asking to be taxed more.In an open letter, 120 well-off Britons told Burnham: “We can afford it. We’re not talking about higher taxes on those who get up and go to work for their income every day, but on the very richest whose income is derived from the wealth they hold.”Organised by Patriotic Millionaires, the letter said it would lead to a more equal society, and urged a “devolution of wealth and power from the very richest”. People can already give…