21 h. ago ‘This is ideal for them’: business is booming for Birmingham’s ‘rat king’

The Guardian joins a pest controller on the city’s streets as residents fear a rise in rodents during bin workers’ strikes“They’re not fussy,” said Martin Curry, describing the far from epicurean appetites of the scurrying rodents that the residents of Birmingham fear could flood the streets of their city.“Rats all have their own personal tastes but if food is scarce they’ll eat anything,” he said. Curry, who has been called the “rat king” locally, runs MC Environmental Pest Control. He has been on the frontline of stamping out the rodent threat amid a weeks-long bin strike that has caused bins to pile up on Birmingham’s streets. Continue reading...

Economics

27 h. ago Rats in Birmingham running riot along 'super highway' under rubbish in their 'millions'

An estimated 17,000 tones of waste has piled up across Birmingham following the bin strikes - residents have complained of horrendous smells in the city and rats 'the size of cats'

Politics

32 h. ago Cannibal rats 'the size of cats' are 'getting bigger' and 'could attack kids', expert claims

EXCLUSIVE: Changes to the way urban rats consume food is leading to the unwanted pests growing in size, with one expert warning it is also harder to exterminate them

Events

45 h. ago What will Trump do when his tariffs backfire? | Nils Pratley

The US president’s tariffs are almost certain to have dire consequences and he is not impervious to market decline or public opinionSo much for the idea that “liberation day” would free financial markets from their fear of the unknown. Publication of precise tariff rates, went a cheerful line of advance thinking, would at least allow investors to assess the probable trade effects on the basis of hard information. True optimists clung to the idea that Donald Trump would not wish to risk a truly severe market reaction.That narrative was blown apart when the president reached for his pub-style display of wares. This really was a case of going back to the tariffs rates of the 1920s or 1930s. Not even the penguins of Heard Island and the McDonald Islands were spared. Continue reading...

Politics

65 h. ago Glasgow locals fear rat invasion as 'putrid' bins not emptied in a month

They fear the area will soon by taken over by rats and other vermin after telling how they hadn't been emptied by city binmen since the beginning of March.

Events

9 d. ago Where tourists seldom tread, part 16: a trio of small historic cities

From Swansea, with its sweeping bay and artistic soul, to Doncaster’s Roman heritage and Carlisle’s literary past, this selection proves size doesn’t matterWhere tourists seldom tread, parts 1-15Whenever this town-focused series includes a city, prideful hollering ensues. The English distinction – not tied to a cathedral, a certain form of local government, nor population size – is whimsical, even if signed off by royalty. This selection of destinations is not about alpha cities. The smallest is ancient; the other two newly minted. None merit bypassing. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago The hidden labour cost looming for thousands of UK businesses

There are fears that business rates payments increasing could be the final straw for some

Economics

2 w. ago Birmingham bin strikes: Residents swarm lorry in city plagued by 'rats the size of cats'

Birmingham locals have been left desperate following a week's worth of strikes, with footage capturing people running at the few rubbish trucks still carrying out their rounds

Events

2 w. ago Birmingham bin strikes: 'Rats the size of cats' plague city covered by 'stench of rubbish'

Birmingham locals have been left desperate following a week's worth of strikes, with footage capturing people running at the few rubbish trucks still carrying out their rounds

Events

2 w. ago By order of the Squeaky Blinders: Tory MP shares fears of rats ‘size of cats’ in Birmingham

A Tory MP has shared fears of rats appearing Birmingham that are "the size of cats" — rodents she dubbed the "Squeaky Blinders" — as a result of the city’s bin strikes.

Politics

2 w. ago Bin strikes spark chaos in Birmingham: Moment desperate residents swarm a bin lorry in bid to offload their rotting waste in city plagued by 'rats the size of cats'

A rubbish collection in Birmingham descended into chaos as rubbish-laden residents swarmed a bin lorry amid ongoing strikes by refuse collectors which have reportedly led to rats the size of cats.

Events

2 w. ago Bank of England holds interest rates at 4.5% amid 'Stagflation' fears: Cuts paused as wages surge despite economic slowdown driven by Labour's tax raid and Trump's trade war

The Monetary Policy Committee announced the base rate is being kept on hold at 4.5 per cent after its latest meeting.

Economics

2 w. ago Rats known as ‘Squeaky Blinders’ not welcome beyond Birmingham border, says MP

‘Let’s be quite certain, the Squeaky Blinders are definitely not welcome,’ Wendy Morton said.

Politics

2 w. ago Bank of England set to snub pleas for interest rate cuts TODAY amid 'Stagflation' fears

The Monetary Policy Committee is widely expected to keep the base rate on hold at 4.5 per cent when its decision is announced at noon.

Politics

2 w. ago Is Harry Potter a Tory? Why people believe fictional heroes share their political views

Researchers say the phenomenon is fuelling political polarisation

Politics

3 w. ago UK GDP: What now for interest rates as shock contraction sparks recession fears?

“These are not the figures the Chancellor would have wanted ahead of a raft of tough spending decisions” – Kevin Brown, Scottish Friendly

Events

3 w. ago FTSE 100 Live 14 March: Recession fears mount after surprise GDP fall, Berkeley urges rate cut clarity

Recession fears stalked the City today after official figures showed the UK economy went back into reverse in January.

Politics

3 w. ago Glasgow mum discovers 'disgusting' rat's nest in back garden with rodents 'size of cats'

She described the rats as being "like cats" as she revealed she found them in her toilet and hears them in the walls.

Politics

3 w. ago Record five million are forced to pay higher rate tax as fears grow Chancellor Rachel Reeves will extend 'absurd' threshold freeze in mini

Shocking official figures showed that an extra 680,000 workers were dragged into the 40 per cent tax bracket compared to a year earlier.

Economics

3 w. ago Invasion of the 'squeaky blinders': Birmingham overrun with rats 'the size of CATS' feasting on food left in mounds of bin bags piled up because of bin strikes

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Rodents 'the size of cats' have been sighted by Birmingham residents scurrying around mountains of garbage that have built up since the start of the year

Events