EU diplomats are to hold a series of meetings to plan for the UK leaving the bloc without a deal. The no deal seminars are being arranged as time runs out for Prime Minister Theresa May to secure agreement on the terms of the UK’s departure. There are just 148 days left before the UK […]
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Chancellor Philip Hammond declared that austerity is coming to an end as he unveiled a package of spending in his 2018 Budget. His pledges included billions for road improvements, social care, the controversial universal credit system and business rate relief for small companies. There was also £400m for schools and a commitment to raise the income […]
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Fertility treatment is being denied to couples by the NHS in parts of England in direct contravention of national guidelines, according to a campaign group. Grounds for refusal include the man being too old or overweight, one of the partners having a child from a previous relationship or the woman’s hormones not being at a […]
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Homes, roads and farmland around Britain’s coast will be claimed by the sea due to climate change, a Government advisory group has warned. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) says it will be ‘unaffordable’ to protect a third of the UK’s coastal property and infrastructure as sea levels rise. In its latest report, the CCC […]
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Developers should be hit with tough new penalties for ‘hogging’ development land at record levels according to a new study. The analysis found that so-called ‘land banking’ is at record levels with the worst-ever gap between planning permissions being granted and homes being built. Data from the housing ministry revealed that in 2016-17, planning permission […]
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The EU should begin making contingency plans for a second EU referendum in the UK, the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable says. Sir Vince met Michel Barnier in Brussels last week and told him that support for a ‘People’s Vote’ on the terms of the UK’s departure from Europe was steadily growing. He and […]
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The Welsh Assembly has taken a step closer to giving the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds from 2022. They are also considering renaming the Assembly ‘The Welsh Parliament’ as part of a package of reforms due to be put before AMs for approval. If 40 of the 60 AMs say yes, Wales will follow Scotland […]
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Hundreds of homeless people have died in the UK over the past year, an investigation has discovered. More than 440 people have died on the streets or in temporary accommodation since October 2017. They include a former soldier and an astrophysicist who died in shop doorways, in tents in woodland and hostels. The figures, compiled […]
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Chancellor Philip Hammond must come up with £2 billion in this month’s budget to help businesses prepare for life after Brexit, say industry leaders. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has called on Mr Hammond to set the cash aside to increase investment, improve skills and cut business rates. Mr Hammond will deliver the budget […]
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The much-delayed Virgin Galactic space craft will lift off in weeks, its billionaire owner Richard Branson has predicted. He told CNBC that he hoped the first paying passengers would be on board within months if all went well. Branson’s ambitious project is part of a private space race between Virgin Galactic, Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos’ […]
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