9 h. ago Millions of people over State Pension age set to pay tax in retirement this year

HMRC estimates 8.7 million pensioners will pay tax for the 2025/26 financial year.

Economics

52 h. ago Salford's jungle garden with banana plants that's so cool people pay to visit

Tracey and Tony have spent more than a decade transforming their corner of the city

Economics

2 d. ago Ambulance services hit with bills totalling £27.5million to transport increasing numbers of obese patients

Bosses have been forced to splash out on specialist ambulances and lifting equipment or pay private providers to carry people who are too large for standard vehicles.

Economics

7 d. ago ITV's Dr Amir Khan shares 5 signs in your eyes that could mean something's wrong

NHS GP Dr Amir Khan has urged people to pay more attention to their eyes, as they can be the first thing to tell you that something is wrong in your body and you need medical help

Politics

8 d. ago How did John Oliver become the moral compass of the US? | Arwa Mahdawi

He and other late-night hosts are rare voices when it comes to honest discussion of Gaza and Trump – which says something frightening about our public discourseSome time ago, an acquaintance sent me a cryptic text message. “Thought of you after I saw one of your recent articles,” they said. “Thank you for saying it.”I write columns regularly. Some are about vaginas; some are about the genocide in Gaza. Was this person thanking me for drawing attention to the desperate plight of people on eBay who are prepared to pay five times the original sales price for Gwyneth Paltrow’s delisted This Smells Like My Vagina candle? Or were they referencing Gaza? Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Thousands of people in one age group could get pay rise under new plans

The Government have set out plans to increase the pay of young workers across the UK

Politics

8 d. ago Warning for savers as 300,000 more people set to pay tax on their savings

Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves urged to act as experts warn many ordinary savers being ‘pulled into paying tax on their hard-earned savings’

Events

3 w. ago 14 ways to keep your houseplants alive while you’re on holiday (and how to revive them when you get back)

Heading off for summer? From self-watering pots to plant straws, these expert hacks will keep your plants hydrated and happy• Beat the heat: expert tips for keeping cool in hot weatherSummer holidays are a joy for us, but not always such a thrill for our houseplants. Few things are worse than returning home to discover a horticultural graveyard. Plants can survive unsupervised during the winter, but heatwaves, a lack of ventilation, and no one around to water mean summer holidays are a recipe for disaster.But fear not. A bit of planning and the right kit can make all the difference between a happy homecoming and a shrivelled mess. Whether you go full-tech or just trust in a good soak and a friend, there’s a holiday plant-care method for every budget and plant. Regardless of how long you’re going away for, here are some of the best tips and tricks to keep your houseplants alive, hydrated and happy in your absence. Continue reading...

Society

3 w. ago Voices: Young people! Here’s what you need to know about ‘buy now, pay later’ loans

They’ve exploded in popularity particularly with 25 to 34-year-olds. But do they really know what they’re getting into – and is new regulatory oversight helping them make the right decisions, asks James Moore

Economics

3 w. ago Martin Lewis issues warning to anyone who uses buy now, pay later

The FCA has revealed there will be stricter affordability checks next year for people using buy now, pay later providers

Events

3 w. ago Starmer defends lowering voting age to 16, saying people old enough to pay tax should have a say – UK politics live

Plan to give 16 and 17-year-olds vote across UK means nearly 1.5 million more people will be to have say at general electionWhile Rushanara Ali is answering the urgent question in the Commons, Keir Starmer is speaking at the event where he is announcing a “civil society covenant”.There is a live feed here.Why does this government think a 16-year-old can vote but not be allowed to buy a lottery ticket or an alcoholic drink, marry or go to war, or even stand in the elections they’re voting? It isn’t the government’s position on the age of maturity just hopelessly confused? Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Disabled people want to live a full life. Instead, we’re forced to scrap over our right to food and a wash | Frances Ryan

Britain’s political and media class advocate policies that leave disabled people hungry and dirty. Why are we expected to settle for this?There is a longstanding practice in UK politics and media to force disabled people to fight for their basic rights – a kind of gladiatorial scrap in which the Colosseum is replaced by the set of Good Morning Britain.With the government’s welfare reform bill just passed by MPs, this has felt all the more stark. In the last week alone, the leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, has used a speech to declare she does not “believe” that one in four people are disabled, as if the Equality Act were based on vibes. “Twenty-eight million people in Britain are working to pay the wages and benefits of 28 million others,” she went on. “The rider is as big as the horse.”Frances Ryan is a Guardian columnist. She is the author of Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girls’ Guide to Life Continue reading...

Society

last month Shh, don't tell anyone about the wealth tax! Reeves stays tight

Chancellor Rachel Reeves pointedly only committed to holding rates on 'taxes that working people pay' amid mounting alarm.

Economics