An estimated £3.8bn will be spent on 26 December, down almost 4% on last year
Retailers are preparing for a quieter Boxing Day this year despite freedom from pandemic restrictions as the cost of living crisis weighs on shoppers’ budgets.
Spending is expected to hit almost £3.8bn on 26 December, according to research by GlobalData for Vouchercodes.
Continue reading...UK Foreign Office is seeking further information about detainees, who include several dual nationals
Seven people with links to Britain have been arrested by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards over anti-government protests that have snowballed across the country in recent months, according to reports.
The people arrested, some of whom are dual nationals, were detained while trying to leave Iran, according to Reuters, citing a statement published by state media.
Continue reading...Monarch pays tribute to the volunteers and charity workers helping those in financial difficulty
King Charles has highlighted the cost of living crisis and the “great anxiety and hardship” of many struggling to “pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm” in his first Christmas broadcast.
In the message, with the nation in the grip of economic woes and against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the king dedicated a major part of his broadcast to those helping to ease the plight of others.
Continue reading...Monarch reflects on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in first Christmas Day broadcast
I am standing here in this exquisite Chapel of St George at Windsor Castle, so close to where my beloved mother, the late Queen, is laid to rest with my dear father.
I am reminded of the deeply touching letters, cards and messages which so many of you have sent my wife and myself and I cannot thank you enough for the love and sympathy you have shown our whole family.
Continue reading...Half the Hareth family obtained visas, but three sons faced years of danger and uncertainty, until they were recognised as refugees
A refugee family have celebrated their first festive season safely together in two and a half years after the Home Office abandoned threats to deport three of them because they arrived in the UK on a small boat.
The Hareth family – mother, Ferdowz, and father, Hussein, both 55, Hamzah, 27, Hassan, 25, Hazem, 24, and Azzam, 14, fled war in Yemen, but had very different journeys to the UK and contrasting experiences of dealing with the Home Office even though their circumstances were identical.
Continue reading...Royal Gibraltar police ask British counterparts to investigate alleged data breach in interests of ‘transparency’
UK police have been called in to lead an investigation into a data breach in a public inquiry concerning alleged corruption at the top of Gibraltar’s government.
The development is the latest twist in the inquiry, which is to hear explosive allegations by the British overseas territory’s former police chief, Ian McGrail.
Continue reading...Pontiff says world suffering from ‘famine of peace’ as Justin Welby praises example of late monarch
The archbishop of Canterbury and Pope Francis have used their Christmas addresses to call for an end to the war in Ukraine.
During his sermon, Justin Welby also spoke of those suffering “immense anxiety and hardship” during the cost of living crisis and made reference to the “desperate struggles of hospital wards”.
Continue reading...Ofcom reviews longstanding rules that allow pay-TV companies more ad minutes than public service rivals
The pay-TV provider Sky could lose as much as £150m a year in TV advertising revenue from proposals aimed at enabling the UK’s biggest free-to-air broadcasters to make more money and better compete with streaming services.
The broadcasting regulator, Ofcom, is reviewing historical rules that restrict the UK’s public service broadcasters (PSBs) – ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 – from running as many minutes of advertising on their main channels as rivals such as Sky are allowed.
Continue reading...Frodsham golf course joins growing number of sites being put to new, more community friendly use
It was once an immaculate golf course where footballers such as Michael Owen and Dietmar Hamann teed off.
These days, the only holes are those made by badgers and woodpeckers. Instead of golfers, self-sown silver birch saplings march over the greens.
Continue reading...Paper’s apology followed piece in which columnist said he ‘hated’ Meghan
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has said an apology by the Sun over a column in which Jeremy Clarkson said he “hated” Meghan is “nothing more than a PR stunt”.
The column has become the Independent Press Standards Organisation’s (Ipso) most complained about article, with more than 20,000 people contacting it over the piece, according to Ipso.
Continue reading...Vehicle belonging to motor neurone disease fundraiser was targeted on Friday evening in West Yorkshire
The former rugby league star Rob Burrow’s wheelchair accessible van was vandalised while his family were out for a Christmas meal, his father has said.
Geoff Burrow said his son, who played for Leeds Rhinos between 2001 and 2017, had been out in Castleford, West Yorkshire, on Friday when the vehicle was targeted.
Continue reading...Dance group announces death of singer, saying he was ‘a lovely human being with time for everyone’
Maxi Jazz, the lead singer of the dance group Faithless, has died aged 65.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, the group wrote: “We are heartbroken to say Maxi Jazz died last night. He was a man who changed our lives in so many ways.
Continue reading...Exclusive: those covering for staff have no power to stop suspected criminals if they have valid travel documents
Soldiers and sailors covering for striking Border Force staff at passport control do not have the power to detain people they suspect of criminal activity, leaked documents show.
Emails reveal that people suspected of crimes such as carrying a false passport, drug smuggling, people trafficking and victims of modern slavery cannot be stopped by members of the armed forces if they hold valid travel documents.
Continue reading...Traffic blocked after vintage vehicle carrying several Santas gets wedged in narrow lane
A vintage armoured vehicle filled with Santas had to be freed by police after getting stuck in a Cornish lane.
The Santas, who were believed to be on a pub crawl, got wedged in a hedge at Marsh Lane, near Hayle.
Continue reading...Sympathy and irritation from public as thousands of RMT union members at Network Rail prepare to strike
Rail passengers were facing delays as they rushed to get the last trains before Christmas Eve services came to a halt, while Britain’s roads were braced for extra traffic as a result of the strikes on the railways.
People embarking on festive getaways or heading home for the holidays gathered on the concourses of major stations including London Euston and Birmingham New Street.
Continue reading...PM filmed asking man if he would like to ‘get in to’ financial services during visit to London shelter
Rishi Sunak has been criticised over an awkward exchange with a homeless person while volunteering at a soup kitchen in front of television cameras.
The prime minister visited a shelter on Friday, where after a brief exchange he asked the man whether he worked in business. The man replied that he was homeless. Sunak then discussed his background in the finance industry and asked if it would be something the man would “like to get in to”.
Continue reading...Phoebie Turley pays tribute to Gaby Hutchinson, saying they ‘would have done anything for anyone’
The partner of one of the people who died after the O2 Brixton Academy crush has demanded justice for the victims of the disaster, insisting someone needs to be “accountable” for what happened.
Gaby Hutchinson, 23, died after fans tried to get into a show by the Nigerian artist Asake at the south London venue on 15 December.
Continue reading...People who quit during pandemic may be offered ‘midlife MOT’ as way to address labour shortage
Plans to coax middle-aged retirees back into work to boost the economy are being considered by the government, according to reports.
Older people who have given up work could be offered what is being described as a “midlife MOT” to entice them back into employment, the Times has reported.
Continue reading...Spectator political editor and Times columnist is friend of prime minister’s
Rishi Sunak has hired a close friend and journalist as a senior political aide as he prepares to focus on immigration, the NHS and education to arrest his party’s slump in support.
The prime minister has hired James Forsyth, the political editor of the Spectator, as his political secretary.
Continue reading...Met Office warning for snow and ice in place for most of Scottish Highlands and some lowland areas
The Scottish Highlands could be in for a white Christmas, forecasters have said.
A Met Office yellow warning is in place for most of the mountainous region and some lowland areas from 9pm on Christmas Day to 6pm on Boxing Day.
Continue reading...