UK News

New HMRC service announced for workers to take control of their tax affairs

Workers are set to take control of their tax affairs as the government today (21 July 2025) announces a new online Pay As You Earn (PAYE) service for around 35 million UK taxpayers as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) sets out more than 50 measures to transform the UK’s tax and customs system.

The new online service for all PAYE taxpayers will make it simpler and easier to check and update their income, allowances, reliefs and expenses, and will be available via their Personal Tax Account or through the HMRC app.

This service forms part of HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap...

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2014 confirmed as warmest year on record

Provisional full year figures for 2014 show it is the UK's warmest and fourth wettest year in records dating back to 1910.

It is also the warmest year on record in the Central England Temperature series, which dates back to 1659 and is the world's longest running instrumental temperature series.

The UK's mean temperature for the year is 9.9 °C, which is 1.1 °C above the long-term (1981-2010) average and beats the previous record of 9.7 °C set in 2006.

This year's record means that eight of the UK's top ten warmest years have happened since 2002.

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Can you sponsor a child this Christmas

Anti-poverty charity, ActionAid, has launched an urgent appeal and is looking for just one new sponsor from Exeter to step forward and sponsor Phyo, age 5, as the child of their city this Christmas. By reaching out to sponsor the child of Exeter, residents can help provide a brighter future for a child and their community in one of the world’s poorest countries. Phyo lives in Myanmar, one of the least developed countries in the world with very limited access to the basics – water, education and healthcare. In these communities, one in every ten children dies before the age of five....

Met Office to provide specialist wind forecasts

The new partnership has come about as a result of the growing demand for more specialist tailored forecasts within the wind power market.

The Met Office and WindSim AS have announced a new partnership with the objective of generating more accurate Wind Resource Assessments and Wind Power forecasts to meet increasing industry demand for improved short term power forecasting and longer term power yield analysis.

Accurate short term power forecasts are becoming increasingly important as balancing costs are increasing in many countries in Europe and also with energy traders...

Basic fee-free bank accounts will help millions manage their money

For the first time, basic bank accounts will be truly fee-free, helping people to manage their money without fear of running up an overdraft.

Accounts will be available to anyone who doesn’t already have a bank account or who can’t use their existing account due to financial difficulty.

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury Andrea Leadsom today (15 December 2014) hailed a major agreement between the government and the banking industry to establish new basic bank accounts that will end bank charges if a direct debit or standing order fails.

New basic bank accounts...

£15m roofs scheme for listed church buildings

The Church of England has welcomed a dedicated £15 million fund, announced by the Government on Wednesday 3rd December, for the repair of roofs and rainwater goods on listed church buildings.

The Chancellor announced the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund in his Autumn Statement. Grants between £10,000 and £100,000 will be available to listed places of worship of all faiths and denominations across the UK, where roof and rainwater goods repairs are deemed to be urgent and necessary.

The deadline for applications is 30 January 2015, with awards to be allocated by the...

Warning over fake Frozen merchandise

Hundreds of fake items of children’s clothing and toys carrying images of Disney’s Frozen have been seized by UK border control officers.

Other rip offs include GHD hair straighteners, Ugg boots and North Face coats.

Fake Frozen goods are among the most frequent seizures made at British ports.

These have been judged especially dangerous because poorly-made plastics can be highly flammable, or present choking hazards.

Gavin Terry, joint lead officer for intellectual property at the Trading Standards Institute, said: "Counterfeit goods may seem like a bargain...

Police seize substantial assets under Proceeds of Crime Act

Police Financial investigators in Cornwall have had a number of recent successes in seizing substantial financial assets under the proceeds of Crime Act.

In excess of £150,000 has been seized following three successful cases brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The force will benefit from these successful seizures with a total of £29,000 being returned to the force for use in crime investigation or prevention.

On Friday 7th November 2014 a confiscation order was made against Paul Pitchell aged 47 years, following his conviction for the production of cannabis....

Firefighters to stage 24 hour strike

Firefighters in England today announced a further 24 hour strike to take place from 9am on Tuesday 9 December.

This follows the government’s decision to commence the Parliamentary procedure to implement regulations for an unfair, unaffordable and unworkable pension scheme. After almost three years of discussions firefighters still face a stark choice of either being sacked or a severely reduced pension if they fail fitness tests as a result of naturally declining fitness through age. The evidence presented by the Fire Brigades Union has created considerable political opposition to...

Brewin Dolphin Exeter's Autumn Statement – “Go For Growth”

Ahead of the autumn statement next Wednesday, Brewin Dolphin urges the Chancellor to focus upon growth, which includes creating a new Business EIS, pushing up the JISA allowance and an end to tinkering with pensions.

“ Britain needs to be allowed to grow ,” says Simon Blowey, Divisional Director of Financial Planning. “ By softening HMRC’s stance on legitimate tax planning, allowing the pension system to settle down a bit so that savers can trust it and creating and supporting schemes that encourage taxpayer investment in British business, we believe the government can help it to...

It's not just Japanese Knotweed you could be fined for growing

BBC Breakfast News ran a story on Wednesday about Japanese Knotweed and that news that property owners could now be fined if they do not deal with an infestation on their property. We thought you might like some additional facts.

The new Government guidance advises that Council Officers and police will have the power to issue Community Protection Notices for “invasive non-native species”. So it’s not just Japanese Knotweed. It could be giant hogweed or Himalayan balsam for example.

Community Protection Notices (CPN) are more usually in the news with regard to anti-social...

UK News

New HMRC service announced for workers to take control of their tax affairs

2014 confirmed as warmest year on record

Can you sponsor a child this Christmas

Met Office to provide specialist wind forecasts

Basic fee-free bank accounts will help millions manage their money

£15m roofs scheme for listed church buildings

Warning over fake Frozen merchandise

Police seize substantial assets under Proceeds of Crime Act

Firefighters to stage 24 hour strike

Brewin Dolphin Exeter's Autumn Statement – “Go For Growth”

It's not just Japanese Knotweed you could be fined for growing

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