Citroen and Vauxhall have announced a recall for the C3, C3 Aircross and Frontera models after a fault could detach the brake pedal. Citroen has ordered a stop-drive action for owners of the latest generation of the C3 and C3 Aircross while inspections take place. The issue concerns right-hand-drive versions of the C3 and C3 Aircross, where the pedal box may not meet UK specifications and could lead to a […]

GfK's Consumer Confidence Index for September shows a fall in overall confidence as expectations for the general economy weaken. The index dropped two points to minus 19, with all components lower than in August. Expectations for the general economy fell to minus 32, two points down from August and markedly weaker than the minus 11 recorded 15 months earlier. The forecast for personal finances over the next 12 months is […]

The Scottish Government has faced criticism for exempting mid-market rent (MMR) and build-to-rent (BtR) homes from rent controls in the Housing (Scotland) Bill. Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan confirmed the exemptions in a letter to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, and later told the PA news agency that caps could hinder necessary housebuilding. The bill would let councils designate rent-control zones, with annual increases capped at inflation plus one […]

Sanctions for doctors found guilty of sexual misconduct may be too lenient in a significant minority of cases, a new review suggests. Nearly 24% of such doctors were allowed to continue practising after a suspension, despite the General Medical Council calling for erasure from the medical register. Researchers analysed 222 new Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service cases from August 2023 to August 2024, of which 55 involved sexual misconduct, including rape, […]

A migrant Eritrean man is to be deported to France on Friday after the High Court refused to pause the Government’s 'one in, one out' removal scheme. The removal is due to take place at 06:15 on 19 September 2025. The claimant, who cannot be named, arrived in Britain by small boat last month and lodged a claim against the Home Office ahead of the scheduled removal. In London, his […]

The Bank of England has kept the Bank Rate at 4%. The Monetary Policy Committee voted to hold after its 0.25 percentage point cut in August. The decision comes as the MPC remains cautious about lowering borrowing costs until there is clearer evidence that inflation pressures are easing. Governor Andrew Bailey said inflation is not yet back to the 2% target and any future reductions will be gradual and careful. […]

A charity says privately educated people continue to dominate the UK’s most influential positions and is calling for employers to report the socio-economic backgrounds of their staff. The Sutton Trust found that the most influential figures in Britain are around five times more likely to have attended a private school than the general population, a pattern it says mirrors its 2019 findings. Among UK-based FTSE 100 chief executives, 34% attended […]

Stormont has approved Northern Ireland's first Peatland Strategy, designed to address biodiversity loss and the climate crisis while improving water quality. Minister Andrew Muir said peatlands, which cover around 12% of the region, have significant potential as the plan was unveiled. The strategy outlines five objectives and 26 actions over 15 years to conserve, restore and manage peatlands to boost carbon storage and support biodiversity and water quality. It notes […]

US investment totalling about £150 billion has been announced as part of President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK. The government says the plan would create around 7,600 high-quality jobs across the country. Firms named in the pledge include Blackstone, which plans £90 billion in new funding on top of £10 billion previously announced to develop data centres; Prologis with £3.9 billion and Palantir with £1.5 billion. The […]