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Austerity And Brexit Not To Blame For Sluggish UK Economy, New Analysis Finds
Image by M. H. from Pixabay
New research from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) by economist Julian Jessop examines two of the most widely blamed causes of the UK's poor economic performance over the past decade and a half: fiscal "austerity" after 2010 and the 2016 vote to leave the European Union. It concludes that the evidence for either being a major drag on growth is much weaker than commonly assumed.
P.ublished 4th September 2026
YouGov/Cebr: Consumer Confidence Increases Amid Rising Optimism Around Business Activity
Consumer confidence increased by 0.9 points movement in August 2026, according to the latest data from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). The Consumer Confidence index rose from 105.5 to 106.4. Any score greater than 100 indicates positive sentiment, while a score of less than 100 indicates negative sentiment.
P.ublished 3rd September 2026
Four In 10 Parents Delaying Saving For Their Children
Image by Nuun Std. from Pixabay
Almost four in 10 parents with children under 18 have no Junior ISA (JISA) open for their children, Scottish Friendly has found. The mutual’s latest Family Finance Tracker research has found that 38 per cent of parents with children under 18 have no JISA in place for any of their children, with everyday pressures and a lack of knowledge among the barriers to getting started.
P.ublished 3rd September 2026
Charity Shops Feel The Squeeze As Donors Turn To Online Sellers
PhotoL Towfiqu barbhuiya on Pexels
Charity shops are under pressure as donors sell higher-value clothes and goods through online platforms such as Vinted, eBay and Depop, rather than donating them, new research from Rathbones, one of the UK’s leading charity wealth managers, shows.
P.ublished 2nd September 2026
Government Now Requires Licenses For One In Five Workers
A new paper published by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) argues that rapidly increasing regulation of the labour market since the 2008 financial crisis is a key part of the explanation for Britain's poor productivity performance.
P.ublished 31st August 2026
Three In Four Brits Call For Plastic-Free Festivals
As festival-goers head to some of the season's biggest events this bank holiday weekend, from Reading and Leeds to Creamfields and Notting Hill Carnival, new research reveals the sheer volume of single-use plastic left behind across a UK festival season.
P.ublished 29th August 2026
Extreme Weather - Cumberland’s Warning For Homeowners
Homeowners are being urged to check their home insurance covers damage caused by extreme weather following this summer’s heatwaves. Research from Uinsure, provided to Cumberland Building Society, reveals 60 per cent of policyholders do not know if their policy covers extreme-heat damage, such as subsidence, cracked walls or damaged pipes and guttering.
P.ublished 27th August 2026
Drivers Face Flash Flooding Risk As Yellow Thunderstorm Warnings Follow Hot Weather, Cautions The AA
Drivers warned to expect sudden surface water and localised flooding as heavy, thundery showers follow the recent hot, dry weather. Hard, compacted ground following prolonged dry conditions can increase surface run-off during intense rainfall. “Conditions can change incredibly quickly when a thundery downpour hits.” - AA expert patrol
P.ublished 27th August 2026
Letter To Editor: Protect Your Hearing Health
Image on Pexels https://kaboompics.com/
Dear Editor, Some of life's best moments come with a soundtrack – whether it's at a music event, a festival or a night out with friends. It's how many people connect, celebrate, and make memories. To keep it that way it's really important to protect your hearing health.
P.ublished 27th August 2026
Caldbeck Transmitter Celebrates 65 Years On Air
The UK’s third tallest structure, Caldbeck transmitter station, is celebrating 65 years of keeping communities across Cumbria and South West Scotland connected through television and radio services. The transmitting station, which first went on air on 1 September 1961, serves around 280,000 homes and has become one of the UK's most important broadcasting locations.
P.ublished 26th August 2026
Computer Says No!
Photo: El Jundi on Pexels
Car tech computer confusion has become one of the UK’s top five causes of breakdowns, the AA reveals. Whilst people might be used to ‘computer says no’ at home or work, many are being flummoxed by the technical complexity of their vehicles.
P.ublished 25th August 2026
Dynamic Duo Dash To £1,500 Hydes Pub Race Victory
Winner Trevor Jones with Luke Tanker (left) and Neil Lawrence (right) of Hydes Brewery​
Independent brewer and pub retailer Hydes has crowned the winners of its summer-long 'Race Across Hydes' pub crawl, with two local men walking away with the £1,500 grand prize after ticking off 27 pubs following a rapid North West dash.
P.ublished 24th August 2026
Britain’s Tax System Has Become More Economically Damaging Since The Financial Crisis, Says New IEA Briefing
Britain’s tax system has become more economically damaging since the financial crisis, says new IEA briefing. The worst may be yet to come. Taxes on investment have risen sharply on two occasions in recent years – immediately after the financial crisis, and once more after the pandemic. This time, there is little prospect that they will fall again.
P.ublished 24th August 2026
Twenty One Week Driving Test Backlog Locks Neets Out Of A Job, New Research Reveals
Britain’s young people are being locked out of work by an entrenched driving test backlog, a leading think tank has revealed. Learners in England must now look around 21 weeks ahead to find an available driving test, more than four times the five-week wait in 2020, according to analysis of new Department for Transport data by the Centre for Social Justice.
P.ublished 24th August 2026
Leeds Team Delivers UK First With Breakthrough Treatment For Life-Threatening Abnormal Tangle Of Blood Vessels In The Brain
A man from Bradford has become the first patient in the UK to benefit from a groundbreaking new treatment for a disabling and life-threatening arteriovenous malformation (AVM).
P.ublished 24th August 2026
CrossCountry To Run A Full Train Service On Monday 24 August
Long-distance train operator CrossCountry will run a full train service on Monday after a power outage affecting its control centre resulted in major disruption across the network on Sunday 23 August. The operator plans to run a very limited number of trains from around 18:00 today and a full service tomorrow (Monday 24 August).
P.ublished 23rd August 2026
428,000 Miss Making Tax Digital’s First Filing Deadline – Azets
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Almost half the people eligible for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax have missed the first filing deadline, according an analysis from international accountancy and business advisory group Azets. Figures from HMRC showed 436,000 taxpayers filed their first MTD for Income Tax quarterly update on time on August 7 – 50.5% of those who should have.
P.ublished 21st August 2026
Revolutionary Yorkshire Water-Saving Device To Feature On National Television
Jason and Belle Richardson
Jason and Belle Richardson's SealStop device, born out of a smallholding frustration, has already picked up 12 awards and sales in six countries — now it's heading for prime-time television. A device dreamed up to solve an everyday nuisance on a Pocklington smallholding is about to be pitched to some of the sharpest minds in British business.
P.ublished 21st August 2026
Three In Ten Drivers Now Have A Dashcam And Are Using Footage To Support A Claim – The AA
Image: Bruno Massao on Pexels
A study carried out by The AA’s Accident Assist claims service found that 30% of drivers now have a dashcam, compared with 20% in 2018. This 10 percentage-point rise means dashcams are becoming an increasingly common source of potential evidence following road collisions.
P.ublished 21st August 2026
Matalan’s Confidence Caravan Heads To Preston To Give Children Back-To-school Confidence Boost
Families in Preston are being invited to give their children an extra confidence boost ahead of the new school year, as Matalan’s Confidence Caravan arrives at its Bamber Bridge store on Saturday 22nd August.
P.ublished 21st August 2026
Aldi Calls On Families To Apply For Its New Superfam Pass
Families can now apply to get their hands on Aldi’s brand-new Superfam Pass, which offers one lucky household a full year of free groceries. Aldi is launching a Superfam Pass to give one lucky household a full year of free groceries. Britain’s biggest discounter is on the lookout for a household of devoted Aldi shoppers, offering them the chance to have a year’s shopping covered.
P.ublished 21st August 2026
Live Facial Recognition To Be Used At Leeds Festival
West Yorkshire Police will deploy Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology on the external perimeter of Leeds Festival for the first time this year as part of the wider operation to help keep festivalgoers safe, prevent crime and create a secure environment for everyone attending.
P.ublished 20th August 2026
UK Inflation Rises To 2.9% As Energy Bills Bite — Economists Split On What Happens Next
Experts agree the jump was driven by the Ofgem price cap rise, but disagree sharply on what government and the Bank of England should do about it UK inflation rose to 2.9 per cent in July, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, with economists and commentators broadly agreed on the cause but divided on the remedy.
P.ublished 19th August 2026
North Yorkshire Moors Railway Opens Its Doors For Heritage Open Days 2026
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is inviting visitors to discover the people, places, and stories that have shaped the heritage railway as it takes part in Heritage Open Days 2026 with a programme of free events across Pickering, Goathland, and Grosmont.
P.ublished 19th August 2026
Young Savers Twice As Likely As Baby Boomers To Delay Life Events Due To Money Worries: 67% Vs 31%
Alex Beavis
Two-thirds of young savers have postponed a significant life event they could genuinely afford, held back not by a specific bill or shortfall but by a broader unease about their financial position, new research from LHV Bank has found.
P.ublished 19th August 2026
Job Vacancies Sink To Near Six-Year Low As Pay Squeeze Tightens
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Unemployment holds at 4.9% but economists warn of a "stuck" labour market, with private sector wage growth at its weakest since 2020. Britain's jobs market showed fresh signs of strain this morning as official figures revealed vacancies have fallen to their lowest level in more than five years, even as pay growth in the private sector slowed to a near six-year low.
P.ublished 18th August 2026
Record Number Of Patients Wait On Trolleys In England’s A&E, Overcrowding Remains Widespread
Image: Pixabay
The latest Emergency Department (ED) performance figures from NHS England, covering July 2026, show that last month was the worst July on record for 12-hour waits, with over 150,000 patients waiting more than half a day in major (Type 1) EDs. It also shows that more than 47,000 patients who attended major EDs spent over 12 hours waiting on a trolley.
P.ublished 18th August 2026
‘It Was My Twin Brother’, TPE Reveals Excuses Heard From Customers Travelling Without A Valid Ticket
Revenue Protection Image: © TransPennine Express
From blaming a twin brother to eating the evidence, TransPennine Express (TPE) has revealed some of the more unusual excuses its revenue protection team has heard from customers travelling without a valid ticket. Among them was a customer caught using a child ticket for the second time.
P.ublished 17th August 2026
Government Must Be Honest About UK Energy Demand In Its Response To Rosebank Consultation
The government must be honest about the UK’s energy demand in its response to the public consultation on the Rosebank oilfield, says David Whitehouse chief executive of Offshore Energies UK The government response to the public consultation which closes today [Monday August 17th] will set the direction of the UK’s future energy policy, industrial resilience and its route to net zero.
P.ublished 17th August 2026
Fifth Heatwave Set To Increase Water Demand As Yorkshire Water Urges Using Water Wisely
Yorkshire Water is reminding customers to use water wisely as the UK’s fifth heatwave of the year arrives, with temperatures in the region set to reach more than 30 degrees. Yorkshire Water is preparing for the increased demand expected during the latest heatwave.
P.ublished 14th August 2026
The Government Has Moved Power North. Now Britain's High Streets Need Better Local Intelligence
Devolution has just gained a scoreboard.
P.ublished 14th August 2026
Vet Issues Urgent Warning To Dog Owners After Toxic Giant Hogweed Discovered In Preston
Following reports of giant hogweed being found in Preston, dog owners are being urged to learn how to recognise the dangerous plant and know what to do if their pet comes into contact with it.
P.ublished 13th August 2026
Armexis Urges Swift Action To Keep The UK Safe
ARMEXIS team with unmanned ground vehicles
ARMEXIS, the Harrogate-based armoured vehicle designer and manufacturer, has called for the UK to move swiftly beyond spending announcements and to rebuild its defence manufacturing capacity to keep the country safe.
P.ublished 13th August 2026
Alison Brooks Architects To Lead £30m Restoration Of Gisburne Park Estate
Aerial view of Gisburne Park Estate. Image courtesy of Alison Brooks Architects.
Grade I-listed Ribble Valley hall set for hotel, members' club and wellness centre, with planning applications expected in November Alison Brooks Architects has been appointed to lead a £30 million redevelopment of Gisburne Park, a 1,000-acre estate near the Ribble Valley, converting the historic house into a members' club, boutique hotel and wellness centre.
P.ublished 12th August 2026
Aldi Urgesshoppers To Donate These Everyday Items To Help Local Foodbanks This Summer
Photo: Aldi
Foodbanks are calling for donations of everyday essentials this summer as families face extra pressure during the school holidays. To help shoppers support their local communities, supermarket Aldi has revealed the products charities say are needed most, making it easier for customers to donate while doing their weekly shop.
P.ublished 12th August 2026
Property Expert Warns Affordability Remains Biggest Obstacle As "Cautious Optimism Returns To UK Housing Market".
Image: Lewis Kang'ethe Ngugi on PExels
A property expert says improving confidence is encouraging buyers back into the market, but affordability remains the biggest barrier to a sustained recovery. Jonathan Rolande believes the UK housing market is showing signs of stabilising after a prolonged period of uncertainty.
P.ublished 12th August 2026
Almost A Fifth Of Britons Have No Clear Long-Term Financial Priority
Almost a fifth (18 per cent) of UK adults do not have or cannot identify a long-term financial goal, new research from Scottish Friendly has found. Nearly one in five people surveyed told the mutual they did not know what they wanted their finances to achieve over the next five years or more, according to its latest Family Finance Tracker research.
P.ublished 11th August 2026
Britain Spends More On Planning Applications Than Japan Spends On Extending High-Speed Railways Through Earthquake-prone Mountains
New research from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) reveals the true scale of Britain's infrastructure crisis, showing that the UK pays several times more than its European and Asian peers to build major transport infrastructure, and waits far longer for it to open.
P.ublished 10th August 2026
Young People Given A Break Into Veterinary Careers In Lancashire Project
A pioneering summer school aimed at breaking down barriers for young people aspiring to become vets is taking place this week (starting 3rd August) in Preston, backed by one of the country's largest veterinary firms.
P.ublished 6th August 2026
Younger Savers Turning Back On ‘Outdated’ Rainy Day Savings Approach, Research From LHV Bank Reveals
Younger savers increasingly feel the concept of ‘saving for a rainy day’ is outdated, and are focusing their efforts on saving for specific goals, new research from LHV Bank has revealed. The survey of more than 2,000 savers found 44% of respondents aged 18-24 felt the idea of rainy day savings was outdated.
P.ublished 5th August 2026
Waspi Campaigners “Absolutely Determined” In Fight For Justice As Calls For Talks With New PM Grow
Picture courtesy of WASPI
Campaigners have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey, urging them to meet for talks on compensating millions of WASPI women. In a letter sent today, WASPI chief Angela Madden presses the new Labour leadership to urgently meet with campaigners to ensure 1950s-born women receive “fair redress”.
P.ublished 4th August 2026
Mothers’ Union Members From Lancashire Celebrate 150 Years
Blackburn Cathedral Photo: Ronnie Semley, Blackburn Diocese
This coming weekend members of Blackburn Diocese Mothers’ Union from across Lancashire are holding an all-age local celebration and a special service - all to mark the 150th anniversary of the worldwide organisation.
P.ublished 4th August 2026
YouGov/Cebr: Consumer Confidence Index: Perceptions Of Household Finances Improve
Overall consumer confidence saw incremental movement in July 2026, according to the latest data from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). The index rose from 105.3 to 105.5 (+0.2). Any score greater than 100 indicates positive sentiment, while a score of less than 100 indicates negative sentiment.
P.ublished 3rd August 2026
Britain's Housing Crisis "Entirely Self-Inflicted" Warns Economist
Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay
A new briefing from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Buildings: In defence of ‘stupid growth, is written by Kristian Niemietz, the IEA's Editorial Director, and forms part of a forthcoming IEA book, The Great Stagnation: Why Britain Stopped Growing, which brings together contributions from multiple authors, each examining a different explanation for Britain's growth malais…
P.ublished 3rd August 2026
Switch On Star Revealed
BBC Radio 2’s Paddy McGuinness is set to light up Blackpool’s biggest night of the year on Friday 4 September. Beloved television and radio presenter, comedian and author Paddy McGuinness will perform the honour of switching on the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations at this year’s Switch-On event on Friday 4 September 2026.
P.ublished 1st August 2026
The Worlds Finest Civilian And Military Aircraft Come To Blackpool
It’s just one week to go until the skies above Blackpool are filled with spectacular aerial displays from some of the world’s finest military and civilian aircraft. The Blackpool Air Show takes place on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August, and the full flying programme has now been revealed. Crowds will be treated to a display by a MiG-17.
P.ublished 1st August 2026
Prime Minister – If You Care About Rough Sleepers, Focus On 5 Things
Focus4Hope’s CEO and founder Louise Reed works with West Yorkshire’s most vulnerable people, including those who are homeless. Here’s her message for Andy Burnham. 1. Prevent homelessness – don’t just react to it. The fallout that follows homelessness, including addiction, plummeting mental health and exploitation, is far more costly in human and financial terms than prevention.
P.ublished 31st July 2026
Northwest Bakery Wins Four National Accolades At Great Taste Awards
Four wins and two of them the coveted two-star kind — Altrincham-based Lovingly Artisan Bakery has enjoyed one of its finest showings yet at this year's Great Taste Awards. The Guild of Fine Food has revealed its 2026 winners, with the Northwest bakery — which operates across Altrincham, Manchester and Kendal in the Lake District — picking up two two-star awards and two one-star awards.
P.ublished 30th July 2026
Wigan Grandfather's Sight Saved By "Life-Changing" Eye Test After Sudden Vision Loss
(L-R)Irem Ahmed, optometrist, Edwin Causey, Customer and Angela Higson, senior optical assistant
A 78-year-old Wigan man is urging others to act fast on sudden eyesight changes after a routine trip to his local optician uncovered a serious, life-threatening condition. Edwin Causey, of Warrington Road, Wigan, woke on Saturday, June 27, to find he had completely lost the vision in his right eye.
P.ublished 29th July 2026
CrossCountry Launches Industry-First Digital Priority Seating Card To Support Accessible Travel
CrossCountry launches industry-first digital Priority Seating Card to support accessible travel
Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has launched an industry-first digital Priority Seating Card, making it easier for customers who need additional support to discreetly communicate that they require a priority seat onboard.
P.ublished 28th July 2026
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