Living standards have been in the doldrums, a new report has suggested, with calls for any new government to help boost productivity. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), an independent think tank, said income growth had been slow for rich, poor, old and young. While events such as the pandemic and energy price rises had influenced the situation, the UK had fallen behind some other countries,more

A UK supermarket will use lasers to draw barcodes onto some of its avocados instead of using stickers, in a trial designed to help the environment. High-powered lasers will remove a tiny section of the top layer of the skin of extra large avocados sold at Tesco.more

More than 600 households in a Surrey village have been warned not to drink tap water after tests carried out by Thames Water following a previous fuel leak. The water company said it was issuing the advice as a precautionary measure for properties in Bramley, where there has been concerns over several months about the spill from a petrol station. more

A gang of Bulgarian fraudsters who “systematically plundered” the benefit system out of £54 million and enjoyed lavish lifestyles were jailed for between three and eight years on Thursday.more

Until next April people under new system can fill gaps in their NI records going back to 2006-07more

King Charles III of Great Britain will take part in Trooping the Color, a military parade combined with an army review scheduled for June 15 to celebrate the monarch's official birthday, Buckingham Palace announced.more

The trial of three men accused of murdering journalist Lyra McKee in Derry, Northern Ireland in 2019 has begun at Belfast Crown Court.more

The European Parliament elections are getting closer. Poles living in the UK can register and elect an electoral commission until June 4. The Polish Union in Great Britain encourages all compatriots in the UK to vote and reminds us that thanks to this we have an influence on the policy of the European Union.more

New supermarket "challenges" that reward shoppers with extra loyalty points for buying more could lead to overspending, consumer groups have warned. Four of the UK's biggest supermarkets - Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons - are now offering members of their loyalty schemes bonus points if they hit spending targets.more

The Covid pet boom is over and trading is “subdued” at leading player Pets At Home. It saw profits for the year down 14% to £106m in a “pivotal year” as its digital platform was launched to customers. But it thinks this year will be easier and appears unconcerned by a watchdog review into competition in the sector.more

New City Hall analysis shows that the number of no-fault evictions claims against private renters in London has jumped 52 per cent in the last year – more than five times the figure for the rest of England and Wales.more

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised yesterday that if his Conservative Party wins the July election to the House of Commons, he would scrap ‘rip-off’ degree courses, i.e. those with few career prospects, and spend the money saved on funding high-quality apprenticeships.more

London’s Evening Standard newspaper is set to scrap its daily editions in favour of a weekly publication. The newspaper is currently circulated free of charge at the capital’s Underground stations from Monday to Friday.more

GP surgeries can offer appointments with a range of health professionals including a GP, nurse, clinical pharmacist or physiotherapist, depending on your situation.more

The UK Home Office has no credible plan for how it intends to implement its programme to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda, nor can it show where specifically the money has been spent so far, MPs on the Public Expenditure Committee wrote in a report published yesterday.more

Karen's Diner, the dining experience known for its cheeky banter and roasts alongside meals, is set to pop up in London next month. The audacious eatery will be in Romford from on June 8 and 9, promising to deliver as much sass as possible. The sharp-tongued service will kick off with five time slots on the Saturday, starting from 12pm.more

Marks & Spencer has announced plans to open two new food halls in London and to upgrade and modernise 12 existing city stores today (May 29). The plans are part of a £30 million project to renew stores in the capital this financial year which is expected to create 100 new jobs.more

Wealthy white men from rural areas are the UK’s biggest emitters of climate-heating gases from transport, according to a study. Research by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) looked at transport emissions by income, gender, location, ethnicity and age. The study broke down the transport emissions into international and domestic flights, private road transport and public transport.more

Ryanair's hand luggage rules are known to be notoriously strict, and there's one in particular that could leave holidaymakers out of pocket before they've even boarded the plane.more

One of London’s main commuter railways is looking to recruit 600 staff this summer alongside an increase in services. Southeastern, which carries about half a million passengers a day, is launching a recruitment drive next month for an additional 150 trainee drivers, 100 station staff and 50 revenue protection officers.more

Labour has promised to clear the NHS waiting list backlog in England within five years, with Wes Streeting warning that the health service risks becoming “a poor service for poor people” while the wealthy shift to using private care.more

The European Parliament elections will be held in Poland on Sunday, June 9, 2024. Poles living in Great Britain will also be able to vote on the same day. Just register by June 4 via the e-Wybory platform.more

The next government should consider a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools and a total ban on phones for under-16s, a report from MPs says. The House of Commons Education Committee said tougher guidance on mobile phones in schools and how to manage children’s screen time at home is needed to better protect young people.more

Three police officers have been injured during a demonstration in Westminster organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups. One officer suffered a serious facial injury after she was hit with a bottle thrown from within the crowd, the Metropolitan Police said.more

The London Underground is widely considered to be one of the best transport systems in the world, but it can sometimes feel like a maze. Most Londoners might feel like they know the network like the back of their hand, but with its endless escalators, stairs, and lengthy tunnels, there's much more to each station than meets the eye. more