The RSPCA has labelled today (1 May) an “historic day for pet ownership” as a new law comes into force that will give more people than ever before in England the opportunity to own an animal. Landlords can presently impose blanket bans on the keeping of pets in private rental properties - without providing a justifiable reason.

Voters without ID have just one day left to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate to use at the upcoming May local elections in England. To vote at a polling station, voters must present an accepted form of photo ID. A Voter Authority Certificate is a free form of ID available to anyone who does not have another accepted form of ID or prefers not to use it.

An estimated 2 million UK children are being locked out of live music, with cost and location preventing access for two in five primary school pupils, according to new research from music charity Playground Proms.

A major Cochrane review of 17 clinical trials involving over 20,000 people shows that the new anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s drugs do not deliver meaningful clinical benefit.

New TUC survey findings published today reveal 8 in 10 workers have experienced abuse at work in the past year. 45% of surveyed workers have experienced threats of physical harm in the last 12 months. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak says “ministers must prioritise HSE funding to keep workers safe”.

Landmark new public opinion research published by the Institute of Economic Affairs has found that the British public overwhelmingly supports economic growth. Eighty-seven per cent say the country should focus more on growth, with just 9% saying the country is already wealthy enough.

Equity markets rally after US and Iran agree a two-week ceasefire with FTSE 100 opening up 1.5%. UK Gas prices fall sharply but still remain a third higher as Shell forecasts a cut to gas production in the first quarter. Brent Crude initially falls sharply, as Strait of Hormuz is set to reopen but has been rising again. Inflationary pressures still remain, given energy costs are still significantly higher compared to before the outbreak of war. There are warnings that the jet fuel squeeze will continue for months even if there’s a longer-term agreement.

‘What stops you from despairing?’ The woman who recently asked me that question was part of a group of older people I was chatting to on a Parish visit. There were eight or nine of them and they were anxious. They were worrying about the conflict in Iran and whether it would spiral out of control.

YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) release latest consumer confidence index data, covering March 2026. Forward looking measure of how people see their household finances records biggest drop since August 2022. Job security perceptions for the past thirty days were both negative and lower than the previous month

WASPI CAMPAIGNERS have launched a fresh national lobbying tool in their quest for compensation, ahead of a crucial set of elections on Thursday 7 May.

Today’s data from the Office for National Statistics showed that annual rate of CPI inflation holding at 3.0% in February 2026. The outlook for inflation has changed markedly. The hit to global energy supply so far from events in the Middle East has been profound and the warnings from the International Energy Agency over its “unprecedented” nature are stark.