The Financial Conduct Authority has said as many as 30 million motor finance agreements issued between 2007 and 2020 could qualify for redress. The regulator is carrying out an industry-wide consultation on a compensation scheme after findings that some lenders or dealers did not properly disclose commissions paid to car dealers that sold the loans. The FCA said discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs) were involved in about 14.6 million deals in […]

Labour's deputy leadership contest has four MPs in the running after Lucy Powell became the latest to declare. Powell, the Manchester Central MP who was dismissed by Sir Keir Starmer as leader of the Commons last week, said she had decided to stand 'after much encouragement' from colleagues. She added that her politics are rooted in the everyday hopes and fears of people and that, as deputy leader, she would […]

Pret A Manger will test a meal‑deal format in the final three months of this year as it seeks to boost its lunchtime trade and offer better value for customers. The sandwich and coffee chain said trials will start next week and will include deals such as a croissant with a drink, and a sandwich, drink and crisps, with prices tested to gauge consumer response. The move follows long‑running meal […]

England's Department of Health and Social Care has published the first quarterly league tables ranking NHS trusts by performance. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the rankings will highlight where urgent support is needed and help end the postcode lottery in care. The measures cover finances, patient access, waiting times for operations and A&E, and ambulance response times, with trusts organised into four performance bands. Top performers include Moorfields Eye Hospital […]

Thames Valley Police has outlined a 24/7 policing operation using drones over Windsor during the US president’s state visit. Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are due to be hosted at Windsor Castle from 17 to 19 September, with a ceremonial welcome and state banquet. A temporary airspace restriction will be in place from 16 September, when the visit rehearsal takes place, until 18 September, preventing non-police drones and […]

Ofsted will roll out a new-look set of report cards for England’s schools from November. The cards will use a colour-coded five-point scale to rate areas such as attendance, behaviour and inclusion, and the grades will be urgent improvement, needs attention, expected standard, strong standard and exceptional. The aim is to give parents more detail and a clearer picture of how a school performs. Inspectors will assess multiple areas, with […]