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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Self employed missing out on tax savings

Experts at leading wealth manager Brewin Dolphin warn that many self-employed workers are not taking advantage of all the tax allowances they can, particularly those ‘olderpreneurs’ who have become self-employed later in life.

“Being self-employed can be great in terms of flexibility and freedom, but it is a double-edged sword,” said Tim Walker, Head of Brewin Dolphin in Exeter.

“Employees who go freelance miss out on employee based benefits such as life and health insurance and pensions, and many do not know how to replace them. By maximising the tax savings from self-...

Hospitals ordered to give the seriously ill parking concessions

Hospitals must offer free or cut-price parking to the seriously ill, the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will say today.

Meanwhile cowboy parking operators can no longer be allowed to impose huge fines for minor infringements.

"Patients and families shouldn’t have to deal with the added stress of unfair parking charges," Mr Hunt will say.

"These clear ground rules set out our expectations, and will help the public hold the NHS to account for unfair charges or practices."

The guidance to health trusts makes clear they will be responsible for the actions of the...

Almost roadwork-free Bank Holiday!

The Highways Agency will be helping holidaymakers have happy holidays by keeping traffic moving over the August bank holiday weekend, ensuring that 98 per cent of England’s motorways and other major roads are free of roadworks. Around 164 miles of roadworks will be completed before the August bank holiday weekend and 110 miles will be suspended between Friday 22 August and Tuesday 26 August, providing extra lane capacity for holiday traffic.

Highways Agency, Director of Traffic Management, Simon Sheldon-Wilson, said: "This bank holiday weekend, over 98 per cent of motorways and...

Workplace pensions now 'the norm'

A survey of working age adults has found that almost 3 quarters of the population are aware of automatic enrolment, the flagship government policy which just last week marked the milestone of seeing 4 million people brought into workplace pension schemes.

It follows an advertising push by the government to encourage people to save more for the future, featuring well known business figures including Dragons’ Den investor Theo Paphitis and vice-chairman of West Ham United and The Apprentice star Karren Brady.

The poll, conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Department for...

PM's pledge on families

The Prime Minister spoke at the Royal College of GPs about how government will put families at the centre of new domestic policy-making.

Here is his speech in full:

It’s great to be here and to have this chance to say a huge thank you on behalf of the whole country for all that you do supporting families in Britain.

Because of the work of organisations like Relate, Marriage Care, OnePlusOne and the Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships, there are thousands of couples today who have stuck together and overcome the pressures that could have pushed them apart....

Gaza: the conflict and the protests explained

If you’re confused about the Gaza conflict, or have wondered about the protests staged in Exeter, Benjamin Howe summarizes events and interviews the protest group to explain.

With the continuation of the destructive conflict in Israel and the Gaza strip, The Exeter Palestine Solidarity Campaign (EPSC) has been protesting the actions of Israel in Exeter this week, with more rallies around Devon. On Saturday (9th August), a fully loaded bus of EPSC members left Exeter to take the protests to London. Silent vigils have been held in Bedford Square along with protest rallies in Exeter...

Make Your Mark... Get set... GO!

Tuesday saw the launch of Make Your Mark, the UK Youth Parliament's annual ballot of the public, giving young people their say on what is debated by their Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) in the House of Commons on 14 November.

The ballot will decide which five topics from a shortlist of ten will be debated in the chamber by elected MYPs. The debate will be chaired by The Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, recorded in Hansard and broadcast live on BBC Parliament. From these, the Youth Parliament will choose its priority campaigns for the year ahead....

Housing Association Unveils Six New Homes In Milton Abbas

The official opening of six new homes at Damer Close, Milton Abbas has been marked by Spectrum Housing Group and North Dorset District Council with a ribbon cutting ceremony carried out by Cllr Su Hunt, Christine Turner, Chairman of Spectrum Premier Homes and Richard Hill, Chief Executive of Spectrum Housing Group.

Christine Turner, Chairman of Spectrum Premier Homes, the development subsidiary of Spectrum Housing Group said: “Damer Close has cost just over £1m to build and we are very grateful for funding from the Homes and Communities Agency to the sum of £225,000 and RCGF (...

Haines Watts Rural Business Summer Bulletin

Are you eligible for Basic Payment Scheme? On the 1st January 2015, Single Farm Payment will be replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Under BPS you will have to be eligible to claim, and greening requirements will make up 30% of your BPS payment.

To be eligible for BPS you will need to: 1. be an active farmer 2. have at least 5 hectares of eligible BPS land 3. have at least 5 BPS entitlements

Greening: Crop Diversification (also known as the three crop rule), is mandatory under the BPS greening rules, which may require farmers to grow a minimum number of different...

Cameron's failure to appoint women adds to a 'backwards step' for gender equality in EU

David Cameron has once again come under fire for his party’s seemingly unfavourable attitude to women.

The recent appointment of Lord Hill of Oareford to the post of European Union Commissioner has garnered criticism from several sources, including the South West MEP, Molly Scott Cato.

Indeed, a recent reshuffle, which was supposed to make the Tory cabinet more inclusive to women, had already come under criticism. Although the Prime Minister announced the appointment of more women to the cabinet, the move was criticised by some as a cynical ploy to boost the party’s...

UK News

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

Self employed missing out on tax savings

Hospitals ordered to give the seriously ill parking concessions

Almost roadwork-free Bank Holiday!

Workplace pensions now 'the norm'

PM's pledge on families

Gaza: the conflict and the protests explained

Make Your Mark... Get set... GO!

Housing Association Unveils Six New Homes In Milton Abbas

Haines Watts Rural Business Summer Bulletin

Cameron's failure to appoint women adds to a 'backwards step' for gender equality in EU

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