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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

Britain’s Tax System Has Become More Economically Damaging Since The Financial Crisis, Says New IEA Briefing

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

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

Leeds Team Delivers UK First With Breakthrough Treatment For Life-Threatening Abnormal Tangle Of Blood Vessels In The Brain

Zehair Ayub photographed in Radiology Theatres, Leeds General Infirmary

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

Refurbished Voyager double set on the Royal Border Bridge Photo: Rob Hinds

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

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'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

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

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

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

Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

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

Pickering Station

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%

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

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

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

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

Image: Jan-Rune Smenes Reite Pixabay

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

Scout Dike Reservoir summer 2026 Photo: Yorkshire Water

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

Image by Narcis Ciocan from Pixabay

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

Image by WikimediaImages from Pixabay

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, 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

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

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".

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

Image by mejiamelissa from Pixabay

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

Image: Enes Beydilli on Pexels

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

Veterinary Summer Schoo

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

Image by Nattanan Kanchanaprat from Pixabay

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

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

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

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

Liz Coggins
Features Editor

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

Liz Coggins
Features Editor

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

Louise Reed in Leeds Photo: Danny Thompson Photography

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

Aidan Monks & Catherine Connor, Lovingly Artisan Photo: Jenny Jones Photography

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

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

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

Burnham Urged To Tackle £125 Billion A Year NEET Crisis With Revolution In Vocational Education

Andy Burnham has been urged to make rewiring Britain’s faltering education system a key priority of his government.

P.ublished 27th July 2026

St John Ambulance Launches Nationwide Hunt For Most Inspirational Lifesaver At Work

St John Ambulance has launched the inaugural Lifesavers at Work Awards. A nationwide hunt is under way for the UK’s most inspirational workplace heroes; people who have used first aid skills to save a life, or support someone in a medical emergency, while at work.

P.ublished 25th July 2026

Traffic Cops Numbers Continue To Fall As More Than Half Of Drivers Say Careless Driving Won't Be Caught – The AA

Latest policing figures show further reduction in Roads Traffic Units. 55% of drivers think middle lane hoggers and tailgaters get away with it. More than eight out of 10 say more traffic police would make communities safer. “The public wants to see a proper visible presence on our roads, not just an assumption that a camera will deal with it” says AA’s head of roads policy

P.ublished 24th July 2026

YouGov: Nearly Three In Ten Britons (28%) Don’t Do Any Financial Planning

New YouGov research reveals that nearly three in ten members of the British public (28%) say they are not planning ahead financially. Of the rest, a fifth plan less than one year ahead (21%) and the same proportion plan 1-3 years ahead (21%). Some 12% plan 3-5 years ahead, but only a quarter (25%) plan more than five years ahead.

P.ublished 23rd July 2026

Remembering Former Anglican Bishop Of Lancaster, Stephen Pedley, Following His Death At 85

Pictured in more recent times is Rt Rev. Stephen Pedley, the former Anglican Bishop of Lancaster, who has died aged 85. Picture: Family handout

The former Anglican Bishop of Lancaster from 1998 to 2005, Rt Rev. Stephen Pedley, has died at the age of 85. Bishop Stephen was also Honorary Chaplain to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth between 1984 and 1998.  A priest's son, Stephen was born in Coventry in 1940 at the height of the Battle of Britain and the subsequent bombing blitz of many British cities.

P.ublished 22nd July 2026

Women Overestimate How Difficult Investing Is – But A New Study Shows That Can Change In Just Seven Days

Image by Nattanan Kanchanaprat from Pixabay

Millions of UK women believe investing is far harder than it really is — and that misconception, rather than any lack of money or opportunity, may be a key driver of Britain's £574bn gender investment gap, according to new research from trading platform eToro.

P.ublished 22nd July 2026

Healey Named Chancellor As Burnham Unveils Front Bench

The Rt Hon John Healey has been confirmed as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first major appointment, ending weeks of speculation and drawing swift reaction from business and rural groups over the direction of the new government's economic policy.

P.ublished 20th July 2026

CBI Urges New PM To Scale ‘Manchesterism’ Nationally

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has issued a "Roadmap for Growth" to incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham, calling on the new administration to abandon political drift and partner with industry to drive national economic renewal.

P.ublished 20th July 2026

UK economy grows 0.1% in May as Middle East tensions cloud outlook

The UK economy grew by 0.1% in May, official figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown, with warm weather lifting retail sales even as renewed conflict in the Middle East threatens to disrupt global supply chains and dampen business confidence.

P.ublished 16th July 2026

End Of The Line For Fare Evaders: New Ticket Barrier Overhaul At Railway Stations Across England

New ticket gates for stations across England with £33 million to crack down on fare evasion and deliver a fairer railway Funding to tackle deliberate fare evasion to recover up to £400 million lost annually and reinvest in better journeys for passengers Passengers already seeing the benefits of a simpler and fairer ticketing system ahead of the creation of Great British Railways with expanded Pay As You Go and digital ticketing trials

P.ublished 16th July 2026

One In Four Parents Sacrificing Their Own Financial Future To Support Adult Children

Image by Versipedia from Pixabay

Parents across the UK are increasingly risking their own financial resilience to support their adult children, according to new research from Aldermore Bank’s latest Savings Tracker¹, highlighting the growing financial pressure facing families across generations. The findings reveal that parents of adult children have given an average of £8,096 from their savings to provide financial support.

P.ublished 15th July 2026

Bank Bonuses Hit £25 Billion As TUC Says Hike In Bank Windfall Tax “Long Overdue

Photo: Markus Winkler on Pexels

New analysis from the TUC reveals bank bonuses have hit a post-crash record – as the union body calls for a hike in the bank windfall tax, which it says is “common sense and long overdue”. Ahead of the Chancellor’s Mansion House speech on Tuesday, the TUC is calling for an increase in the bank surcharge tax to permanently cut energy bills for the majority of households through a social tariff.

P.ublished 14th July 2026

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