75 minutes ago Streeting revives claim that some patients face avoidable ‘death sentence’ due to current state of NHS – UK politics live

Health secretary says NHS is going through the ‘worst crisis in its history’In the past the weirdest budget tradition was the convention that the chancellor is allowed to drink alcohol while delivering the budget speech. But since no chancellor has taken advantage of the rule since the 1990s (and no one expects Rachel Reeves to be quaffing on Wednesday week), this tradition is probably best viewed as lapsed.But Sam Coates from Sky News has discovered another weird budget ritual. On his Politics at Jack and Sam’s podcast, he says:Someone messaged me to say: ‘Did you know that over in the Treasury as they’ve been going over all these spending settlements, in one of the offices, its full of balloons. And every time an individual department finalises its settlements, one of the balloons is ...

Politics

85 minutes ago Virgil van Dijk talking to ‘the right people’ about extending Liverpool contract

The Dutch defender is one of a number of high-profile Reds players whose deals expire next summer.

Politics

99 minutes ago Five ways to avoid festive scams as millions of people duped by criminals in last year

Citizen's Advice research suggests around nine million people have been tricked into handing over personal or financial information to fraudsters.

Events

1 hour ago Cosy London restaurants for the Autumn, from Smoking Goat to the French House

As Autumnal weather advances, pop into a cosier dining spot for warmth and succour

Society

2 hours ago Strictly's Pete Wicks granted break from Strictly training for special reason

Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks has been allowed a brief break from training for a heartwarming reason, according to his best friend Sam Thompson

Politics

2 hours ago JD Wetherspoon and Pizza Pilgrims among 170 businesses calling for action on business rates relief as Labour's Autumn budget loom

JD Wetherspoon and Pizza Pilgrims are among 170 businesses which are calling for action on business rates relief, warning of 'failures' as Labour's Autumn budget approaches.

Economics

2 hours ago Tram workers in Edinburgh claim victory in dispute over toilet and rest breaks

Unite says Edinburgh Trams has backed down and members will now be allowed breaks

Politics

2 hours ago Bad buffet behaviour is out of control. So should we be fined for our food waste? | Emma Beddington

I have unbridled lust when faced with a buffet – as do many others. But penalties for overfilling our plates are only one possible answer ...Should you be penalised for having eyes bigger than your belly? A Cornish pub is trying it out: Mark Graham, the landlord of the Star Inn, now charges £2.40 a person for buffet “excess leftovers”. “A few spuds is obviously no problem,” Graham told a customer who complained, but said that buffet behaviour was out of control, citing a plate “piled so high you could put a ladder and a flag on top of it”.I can believe it. I lose my mind faced with a buffet, although I usually clean my plate (gravely regretting my choices in the hours that follow). Are we our best selves as we take up tongs in the glow of the heating lamps? That depends which side of th...

Politics

2 hours ago Three essential tasks you need to do this month to ensure 'even bigger' hydrangeas next year

Experts say there are three 'essential' jobs which should be done in autumn to allow you to enjoy 'stunning flower heads' next year.

Politics