Close Britons paying higher tax: PM defends changes despite rising living costsSign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy noticeRachel Reeves has been accused of misleading the country over the state of public finances in the run-up to the Budget. Paul Johnson, a former head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank, said “it probably was misleading”. “It was designed to confirm a narrative that there was a fiscal black hole that needed to be filled with significant tax rises,” he told The Times. At the Budget on Wednesday, Ms Reeves hiked taxes by £26 billion, including by freezing thresholds on income tax.

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Billionaire Mittal chooses Dubai’s Naïa Island over UK / Image: FileWhy did the World's wealthiest choose Dubai? Naia IslandUltra-Exclusive Hospitality: The island will host the region's first Cheval Blanc Maison , part of the prestigious LVMH luxury group. This anchor provides residents with intimate, hotel-standard luxury services, from concierge to curated wellness and fine dining. The Cost to Naia IslandLooking aheadSteel magnate Lakshmi Mittal has stepped back from full-time UK residency and will spend far more time in Dubai and Switzerland as Britain tightens tax rules for the super-rich. By making Dubai his main residence, Mittal benefits from a system built on certainty and growth, most crucially offering zero inheritance tax.

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The Rt Revd Bruce Cameron writes:“I ALWAYS valued his wisdom and his wit in matters of our church and the life of Scotland,” said the Bishop of Brechin, the Rt Revd Andrew Swift, on the death, on 11 November, of one of his predecessors, Bishop Bob Halliday, aged 93. At Holy Cross that encompassed the Halliday family of his wife, Gina, and his young daughter, Fiona. In Scotland, there were various initiatives to bring churches closer together, and Bob Halliday actively contributed to them. In 1990, Bob Halliday was elected as Bishop of Brechin, a position that he held until his retirement in 1996. Words from a church member in Brechin diocese speak for many of us who experienced the wisdom and wit of Bob Halliday: “Rest in peace, Bishop Bob, you served us well.”

It is now looking to continue this progress at pace in 12 more areas across the country. This is part of efforts to move the UK away from copper cables towards fibre and Digital Voice Calling technology. BT's Openreach service has issued a "stop sell" order, which gives broadband providers a deadline to stop selling older products. This project will take place over four phases, with the entire project expected to be completed by the early 2030s. Here are the 12 areas to be affected by BT's next phase of landline shutdownsThese are the 12 areas to be affected by BT's next phase of landline shutdowns.

River Island bag recalled due to serious chemical hazard (Image: River Island)A statement on the River Island website says: "We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and will, of course, offer you a full refund." "While these areas are limited in size, they are considered accessible during use and therefore do not meet our strict safety standards." Recommended reading:It is being recalled as "the product presents a serious chemical risk as the soldering on the metal chain contains an excess concentration of lead". The Office for Product Safety and Standards says: "We recommend that consumers stop using the product immediately and return it to River Island for a full refund. For both instore and online purchases, consumers are advised to return the product to: River Island Customer Service Parcels Freepost, MK17 8EW."

Proposals to 'scrap jury trials' apart from serious casesMr Lammy, who is also deputy prime minister, wrote in a memo seen by The Times that there was “no right” to jury trials in the UK. He added that the changes to jury trials would not compromise a suspect’s rights. The Justice Secretary also wants to ask Parliament to end jury trials for defendants who would be jailed for up to five years, according to the BBC. Proposals to axe jury trials have faced opposition from legal professionals, including from the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales. "We have not seen any real evidence that expanding the types of cases heard by a single judge will work to reduce the backlogs.

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– What is the latest estimate of net migration? Net migration to the UK stood at an estimated 204,000 in the year to June 2025. Net migration is the difference between the number of people moving long-term to the UK and the number of people leaving the country. An estimated 898,000 people immigrated to the UK in the year to June 2025 while 693,000 emigrated, producing a net migration figure – after rounding – of 204,000. Dr Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said: “Net migration has fallen substantially, but this will not necessarily be sustained long term.

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For weeks, we have been told that today’s Budget was a make-or-break moment for the chancellor, the Government and the economy. Higher tax revenues as a result of higher wages offset much of the impact of a downgrade to productivity forecasts to take account of the damage from Brexit and the global financial crisis. But the bulk of those tax rises will come in the form of freezes in personal allowance for three years after 2028. Nonetheless, backdating tax rises to pay for higher welfare today is not without risks. According to Deutsche Bank, 47% of the tax rises will not come until the last year of the current parliament.

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