UK inflation eased more sharply than expected last month, falling to 2.8% in the year to April from 3.3% in March, but economists have cautioned that the respite for hard-pressed households would prove fleeting as the inflationary aftershock from the conflict in the Middle East continues to build.

The Ben Kinsella Trust has announced that Knife Crime Awareness Week 2026 will take place from 18 to 24 May alongside National Police Chiefs’ Council Sceptre Week, combining policing, prevention and community action in a coordinated effort to tackle knife crime.

Labour has suffered a harrowing defeat as Green Party leader Zach Polanski declares that two-party politics is “dead and buried”. Keir Starmer takes the loss on the chin and declares that he “won’t walk away”.

37% of grassroots youth music projects have considered closing due to funding pressures Over two-thirds (67%) unable to meet demand from young people More than 33,500 young people are currently on waiting lists for grassroots music projects Nearly 40% expect their financial position to worsen in the next 12 months Youth Music has raised £1 million through its Rescue the Roots campaign, but warns the sector remains under severe strain

The Church of England in Lancashire is playing a key role in this year’s Christian Aid Week, with the Bishop of Blackburn and a county priest appearing in separate videos during the campaign on the charity’s social channels, to encourage donations. There will be campaign content on Christian Aid’s channels every day from May 10-16, for what is Britain’s longest-running fundraising week.

74% of carers in employment say being able to work supports their wellbeing, offering a break from caring, boosting confidence and social contact Despite this, nearly half (47%) of carers who are employees are considering cutting their working hours or giving up work altogether. Giving up work to care can also have a significant financial impact New research from Carers UK examines the ‘tipping point’ at which unpaid carers feel that they have no choice but to give up work to care

Prostate cancer patient Neil Connolly, will be appearing alongside award winning writer and BBC Radio 4 comedian Jon Holmes in a brand new quiz style podcast to support prostate cancer patients.

One of the UK’s most important broadcast sites, Winter Hill was first commissioned on 3 May 1956, and has played a central role in the development of television and radio broadcasting for seven decades.

Consumer confidence continued to decline in April 2026, according to the latest data from YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). Headline figures fell from 105.8 to 102.4 (-3.4) as nearly every metric deteriorated. Any score greater than 100 indicates positive sentiment, while a score of less than 100 indicates negative sentiment.

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.

It might be the Leeds Tattoo Expo’s 11th year at Leeds First Direct Arena, but there are plenty of new attractions at this year’s cutting-edge event. Firmly established as a must-do for tattoo and alternative culture enthusiasts across the UK and beyond, around 220 of the industry’s best artists will showcase their skills.

Dear Editor,  As a deaf person in the UK, navigating everyday life in a hearing world can be a struggle. Common activities like shopping, visiting a hospital or socialising are often full of challenges.  When people aren’t deaf-aware, it can make life a lot more difficult. It can be so isolating and really knocks your confidence.

Bestselling crime writers Clare Mackintosh, Vaseem Khan and C.L. Taylor have joined forces with the banking industry’s Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to create a trilogy of original short stories designed to protect the public from scams

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.

The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) says that, despite a small reduction in the number of recorded shoplifting offences in England and Wales, the figures are still shocking.

Sara Cox is today announced as the new host of the weekday Breakfast Show (6.30-9.30am) on BBC Radio 2, the UK’s most popular single radio station, with a weekly audience of 12.7m (RAJAR, Q4, 2025). Sara, who currently hosts the station’s weekday Teatime show (4-7pm), will launch her first show this summer.

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”.

Entrepreneurs behind ground-breaking agricultural innovations will be celebrated at the Great Yorkshire Show, to inspire new ideas for game-changing farming practices. Entries are open until 11 May 2026 for the Great Yorkshire Show Innovation Awards across five categories.

New survey asks 2,085 business decision makers about their confidence, their major concerns, and technological adoption The survey finds a negative view of the economic outlook, with those working in SMEs more pessimistic.However, when asked about their own prospects for the next 12 months, business decision makers are broadly positive. More than half (56%) say they are concerned about business costs and interest rates. UK businesses are more likely to expect a rise in revenue rather than a decline over the next 12 months

Invalid Care Allowance, now Carer’s Allowance, was first introduced at the rate of £7.90 a week in 1976. Fifty years on Carer’s Allowance, paid to those caring for a minimum of 35 hours per week, is worth £86.45 a week (2026/27 financial year). If Carer’s Allowance had kept pace with increases in earnings, carers would receive an extra £36.93 each week or £160.46 a month on average.

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.