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Waves Of Strike Action Not ‘Going Away’, Warns Unite General Secretary

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The wave of strikes across the UK “isn’t going away” the leader of the Unite union has warned, as figures showed December saw the highest number of working days lost to strike action for more than a decade.

About 843,000 working days were lost to labour disputes in the month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Tuesday.

It said this represents the heaviest impact from strike action during a month since November 2011, when 997,000 working days were hit.

Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, told the government that unions were not about to back own.

“The latest record strike figures announced today are a warning to the government and employers,” she said.

“The wave of industrial action across the UK isn’t going away. In the face of the cost of living crisis workers now have no option but to fight for better wages.

Graham accused Rishi Sunak of acting like the “captain of the Titanic” by “rearranging the deck chairs in his latest cabinet reshuffle” rather than trying to resolve the strikes.

The surge in lost days came after rolling industrial action involving Post Office, rail and NHS workers among others.

ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan said: “The number of working days lost to strikes rose again sharply in December.

“Transport and communications remained the most heavily affected area, but this month there was also a large contribution from the health sector.”

Last week the ONS released separate data which showed that the vast majority (97%) of working adults have not missed work as a result of the strikes, with just 3% saying they had.

It came as the ONS also said that regular pay growth reached 6.7% over the three months to December.

However, once consumer prices index (CPI) inflation is taken into account, regular pay fell by 3.6% in the three-month period, compared with the previous year.

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Why Your Council Tax May Go Up – And What It Means For Your Bills

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Millions of homes will face a hike in their council tax bills from April onwards as the UK economy continues to falter.

According to the County Councils Network (CCN), three-quarters of English councils with social care duties are going to increase council tax by 5%.

That’s the most each council can increase it by without taking a local vote from residents.

Out of the 114 councils who offer social care and have published their 2023/24 budget proposals, 84 are planning to go with the maximum hike – that’s almost three in every four.

Only Central Bedfordshire council plans to keep tax at its current rate.

The remaining councils are still yet to reveal their plans, although Croydon, Thurrock and Slough have permission to go above the 5% threshold because they are particularly low on funds.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is council tax?

It’s a compulsory charge on all properties in England, Scotland and Wales, which is the main source of income for most councils.

Local authorities decide how much residents need to pay based on how much they want to spend on the services in their area.

These services include rubbish collection, libraries, police and fire services, snd libraries.

It also fluctuates according to each home’s value. They are all graded into different bands at a certain time, with more expensive properties being higher grades. Find out what your property’s is here, on the government website.

The average property in England – which will have been valued on April 1, 1991 – is and D. The yearly council tax for that is £1,966.

Scottish councils can set their own rates with complete independence, while in Wales, the government can cap the council tax rises if they are seen to be “excessive”.

Councils also receive some funding from business rates, and central government grants.

Average rise in council tax in England.

PA Graphics via PA Graphics/Press Association Images

Average rise in council tax in England.

Who pays council tax?

Almost everyone over 18 who owns or rents a home has to pay council tax – that means tenants, not the landlords, are responsible for footing this bill.

If you live alone you can get a 25% discount, and student homes are exempt, as are those living in halls or residence or care home.

If you work away from home and your property is empty you can get it half price.

Why is the bill going up?

The UK already has the highest tax burden in 70 years.

The government has also agreed to let local authorities spend an extra £5.1 billion next year (that’s a 9% rise for local authorities), with the most deprived areas of England set to receive 17% more per household this year than the least deprived.

But, council leaders say they have “little choice” but to raise the tax to protect the services offered to residents.

Labour vice-chair of CCN, leader of Cheshire East Council, Sam Corcoran, said: “With inflation reaching levels not seen for over 40 years and with demand-led pressures for care services showing no sign of abating, local authority leaders are setting their budgets in the most difficult circumstances in decades.”

He said that while the cost of living crisis is affecting every household, particularly those on low incomes, many local authorities are “reluctantly opting for maximum rises”.

“With councils facing multi-million funding deficits next year, the alternative to council tax rises would be drastic cuts to frontline services at a time when people at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis need us to be there for them.

“With the financial situation for councils looking extremely tough for the next few years, we will be calling on the chancellor for further help in the March budget.”

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) says this will raise £3.3billion in 2026/27, and will increase to £4.8billion in 2027/28.

What does this mean for your bills, in real terms?

It would add £98 a year to bills for the average Band D properties.

Band D properties in England already pay £1,966 per year – so from April, this will probably be around £2,064.30.

The council tax amount varies from property to property. To find out how yours might change, calculate 5% of your annual rate (find it here) and then add it on to your current bill.

What does the government say?

The government made it possible to increase the council tax levy by 5% without a vote last autumn.

Before that decision from chancellor Jeremy Hunt, local authorities needed to hold a referendum to raise the levy by more than 3%.

The government also seems to have encouraged councils to apply this money pressure to residents.

A Levelling Up department spokesperson said: “Our approach to council tax balances the need to deliver vital services while protecting residents from excessive increases.

“We expect local authorities to take into consideration the challenges many households are facing.”

Levelling up minister Lee Rowley is also reviewing the council tax system, after complaints about different amounts being raised in different parts of the country.

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Banksy Unveils Powerful New Valentine’s Day Artwork Themed Around Violence Against Women

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Banksy has revealed he was behind a powerful new piece of street artwork which centres around domestic violence against women.

The mural in question appeared recently in Margate, Kent, depicting a traditional 1950s housewife with a swollen eye and missing tooth.

In the piece – which is seemingly titled Valentine’s Day Mascara – the abused female figure is shown pushing her husband into a freezer, which sits in front of the wall art.

Posting a photo of his latest creation on his Instagram page, the anonymous street artist zoomed in twice to show a close-up of the woman’s smiling face.

A new artwork by street artist Banksy, titled 'Valentine's Day Mascara' on the side of a building in Margate, Kent.
A new artwork by street artist Banksy, titled ‘Valentine’s Day Mascara’ on the side of a building in Margate, Kent.

Gareth Fuller – PA Images via Getty Images

The piece also features a variety of rubbish on the ground in front of the artwork, including a broken white garden chair, a blue crate and an empty beer bottle.

It is set on a white wall backdrop, with users online speculating it is off Grosvenor Place in the seaside Kent town.

Comments about the post have suggested the Bristol-born artist is referencing fighting violence against women on Valentine’s Day.

Undated handout file photo of one of the new works by Banksy, appears to show a 1950's housewife, wearing a classic blue pinny and yellow washing up gloves, with a swollen eye and a missing tooth seemingly shoving her male partner into a chest freezer, the piece is set on a white wall backdrop in Kent. Issue date: Tuesday February 14, 2023.
Undated handout file photo of one of the new works by Banksy, appears to show a 1950’s housewife, wearing a classic blue pinny and yellow washing up gloves, with a swollen eye and a missing tooth seemingly shoving her male partner into a chest freezer, the piece is set on a white wall backdrop in Kent. Issue date: Tuesday February 14, 2023.

Banksy via PA Media

In December, the elusive graffiti artist announced they had created 50 screenprints which would be sold to raise funds for a charity supporting the people of Ukraine.

Banksy previously confirmed they had spent time in Ukraine after posting a video of an artist spray-painting designs in the war-torn country and speaking to locals.

The artist has managed to conceal his identity despite his work’s popularity, with former Art Attack favourite Neil Buchanan being forced to issue a statement insisting that he is not Bansky back in September 2020.

Help and support:

If you, or someone you know, is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. If you are not in immediate danger, you can contact:

  • The Freephone 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run by Refuge: 0808 2000 247
  • In Scotland, contact Scotland’s 24 hour Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline: 0800 027 1234
  • In Northern Ireland, contact the 24 hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline: 0808 802 1414
  • In Wales, contact the 24 hour Life Fear Free Helpline on 0808 80 10 800.
  • National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0800 999 5428
  • Men’s Advice Line: 0808 801 0327
  • Respect helpline (for anyone worried about their own behaviour): 0808 802 0321
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Caroline Flack’s Family Receive Apology From Metropolitan Police Over Lack Of Records

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The Metropolitan Police have apologised to Caroline Flack’s family for not keeping a record about why they charged her with assault.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had recommended the former Love Island presenter receive a caution following an incident with her boyfriend Lewis Burton.

However, this was overturned after an appeal from the Met Police who instead charged her with assault by beating.

Caroline was found dead in February 2020 at the age of 40.

A coroner later ruled she took her own life after learning that prosecutors were going to press ahead with an assault charge.

Caroline Flack pictured in 2018.
Caroline Flack pictured in 2018.

Ian West – PA Images via Getty Images

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the force was ordered to apologise to Caroline’s family following a review by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which found there was not a “record of rationale” to appeal against the CPS decision.

He said: “We have done so and acknowledged the impact that this has had on them.

“Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Ms Flack’s family for their loss.”

After an initial investigation by the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) found there was no misconduct, Caroline’s family escalated their concerns to the IOPC, which ordered the Met to reinvestigate complaints relating to the process involved in appealing against the CPS decision.

A spokesman said: “That investigation by the DPS concluded in May 2022 and found that the service provided was acceptable.

“The (Met) identified some learning around using IT systems to record appeal decisions and the use of decision models for cautions, which are being implemented.”

In June last year, Caroline’s family appealed the outcome of the DBS investigation to the IOPC, who carried out a review which did not identify any misconduct but concluded that an officer should receive “reflective practice”.

The spokesman added: “This was about the requirement to review all case material and record a balanced rationale, demonstrating objective decision-making by exploring aggravating and mitigating factors, when appealing a CPS decision.”

The force await recommendations from the IOPC for “organisational learning”, a spokesman confirmed.

Christine Flack, the mother of Caroline, has been contacted for comment.

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Adele At Sports Matches Remains Our Favourite Genre Of Meme After Super Bowl Moment Goes Viral

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Well, she’s gifted us a moment that has surpassed that at this year’s Super Bowl.

The Someone Like You was in attendance at Sunday’s game in Arizona, and the camera once again caught her serving up an absolute moment.

Wearing a stunning grey blazer, hooped earrings and a camp pair of oversized sunglasses, Adele was seen appearing to tell the men stood either side of her to zip it.

Cameras caught the moment as she waved her hands and gestured to her companions to be quiet, before smacking her lips and staring straight ahead with a full, unbothered pout.

Naturally, the internet had a lot of fun with the clip…

The highly-choreographed performance saw her take fans through some of her biggest hits including Bitch Better Have My Money, Only Girl (In The World), Work and Umbrella in a 12-minute set.

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Labour Accuses Ministers Of Living ‘Luxury Lifestyle’ At Taxpayers’ Expense

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Taxpayers’ money has been used to fund five-star hotels for ministers “living the high life” on overseas trips, Labour has claimed following an analysis of government spending.

In July 2021, the Treasury, then under Rishi Sunak, spent £3,217 on accommodation at the five-star Hotel Danieli in Venice, and £1,361 at the four-star Hotel Bonvecchiati, for the then chancellor and 11 other government representatives at a G20 meeting.

Tory party chairman Greg Hands stayed in a £318-a-night five-star hotel in Germany while he was energy minister in July 2022, while Alok Sharma’s 66 trips as president of the Cop26 climate summit cost taxpayers £220,817 just for his own travel and hotels.

The details were uncovered through analysis of official figures and a string of parliamentary questions on the use of government procurement cards (GPCs), with Labour promising to publish a dossier on their use on Monday.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “As Conservative ministers once again reach into the pockets of taxpayers to dine out on five-star luxury lifestyle, families up and down the country are sick with anxiety about whether their pay cheque will cover the weekly shop.

“Britain is facing the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades and Rishi Sunak doesn’t seem to have noticed.

“Far from actually governing, Conservative ministers are living the high life and treating taxpayers like a cash machine.

“A Labour government will get tough on waste, with an Office of Value for Money upholding transparency and high standards for all public spending, including on government procurement cards.”

The findings show Lord Grimstone, a former business and trade minister, and an aide stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in Jeddah in October 2021 while attending the Saudi Investment Initiative, at a cost of £3,041 for four nights’ accommodation, or £760 per night.

Labour acknowledged that overseas travel is an essential part of the job for many ministers and officials and they should be able to stay in hotels where they can get a good night’s sleep and be safe, but insisted the most cost-effective options should be chosen.

The opposition’s investigation also uncovered evidence of large sums spent on domestic travel.

The Treasury hired a £3,600 chauffeur service for ministers and officials visiting Cop26 around the Finance Day addressed by then chancellor Mr Sunak on November 3 2021, claiming that no government cars were available.

In May 2022 then home secretary Priti Patel and an aide spent a combined total of £823 on two return train tickets to Stoke, described in the Home Office’s accompanying GPC transparency data as necessary expenditure for “urgent ministerial meetings”, even though it was a scheduled Cabinet away day.

A senior Conservative source said: “Awkwardly for Labour HQ they’ve forgotten that they introduced these ‘civil servant credit cards’ in 1997.

“By 2010 Labour was spending almost £1 billion of taxpayers’ money on everything from dinners at Mr Chu’s Chinese restaurant to luxury five-star hotels.

“The Conservatives swiftly stopped their absurd profligacy, cutting the number of cards, introducing a requirement for spending to be publicly declared and putting in place controls.

“Typically, Labour’s ‘big idea’ is to spend millions of taxpayer cash to establish yet another quango, stuff it with thousands of bureaucrats and give them gold plated pensions.”

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Tory Splits Have Erupted Over Tax Cuts Ahead Of Next Month’s Budget

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Deep Tory splits have burst into the open as pressure mounts on Jeremy Hunt to cut taxes in next month’s budget.

Right-wing backbencher John Redwood today urged the government to “get on with it” and said the majority of Conservative backbenchers agree.

But development minister Andrew Mitchell said immediate tax cuts were “extremely hard to justify” and backed the chancellor and Rishi Sunak, who have said tax cuts are unaffordable at the moment.

The clash came in the wake of official figures which confirmed the UK economy flatlined in the final three months of 2022.

Hunt will deliver his Budget on March 15, but has repeatedly insisted that inflation must come down before taxes can be cut.

Supporters of former prime minister Liz Truss have formed the Conservative Growth Group to put pressure on the chancellor and PM to change course.

Redwood, who is a member of the group, said the government should start by cancelling the planned rise in corporation tax – which companies pay on their profits – from 19p to 25p in the pound.

He said: “We want to see sensible, targeted tax cuts that will boost self-employment, boost investment and help solve the problem of recruiting and retaining doctors and other skilled staff, and will add to the idea of growth.

“All the evidence is in the past, when Conservative governments have had the courage to cut corporation tax rates, it raises more money.”

The Wokingham MP also called for VAT to be removed from domestic fuel bills.

He added: “The growth group is gathering strength as we speak. There are dozens of Conservative MPs who take the view that the growth strategy the government has headlined needs some more positive measures behind it.

“I think you’ll find a majority of Conservative backbenchers agree with what I’m saying today – that they want targeted tax cuts and there will be a range of views on which are the best targeted tax cuts to choose.

“The majority believes that you don’t get growth without more realistic tax levels.

“Many are very worried that Britain is in danger of becoming uncompetitive because of the higher taxes the government is wishing to impose.”

But Andrew Mitchell rejected Redwood’s ideas and said taxes could only come down when the government can afford them.

He said: “In the end, if we make tax cuts which are not properly funded, it’s borrowing and it’s taxation deferred for the next generation. Many of us are very concerned about inter-generational fairness in Britain – the position of our children and our grandchildren.

“So I think tax cuts are very important, but they’ve got to be done at the right time and I think that the philosophy and argument that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has set out is absolutely right.

“We will get them when we can, but I think at the moment it’s extremely difficult to justify them.”

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Denise Welch Shuts Down Rumours Of ‘Backstage Feuds’ Among Loose Women Stars

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Denise Welch has dismissed speculation about fall-outs behind the scenes of Loose Women.

Over the years, the ITV daytime show has been at the centre of several ‘feud’ reports, which the long-serving panellist has admitted “upsets” her.

Speaking to The Sun, Denise insisted that while her co-stars can get involved in some “very feisty debates”, they are all “great friends”.

“I’m not afraid to be passionate and committed about something, we all have different views, we’re great friends,” she said.

“I do get upset that people are trying to make out that we’re always in some backstage feud. I haven’t fallen out with any of them in 20 years – but we have very feisty debates.”

Denise added: “It’s a show that encourages and appreciates older women, so we’re all going to be a bit set in our ways because we all have our own opinions.”

Denise admitted the reports "upset" her
Denise admitted the reports “upset” her

Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

The former Coronation Street actor is the latest in a line of Loose Women stars to publicly refute claims of drama backstage on the show.

Jane Moore told OK! magazine last year: “In the ad breaks, we’ll say, ‘that [debate] was a bit fiery, wasn’t it?’. [But] I have an issue when people say, ‘Jane Moore and Nadia Sawalha cat fight on Loose Women’. Please, come on, we’re past that.

“They never do it about two blokes on a news programme and it’s so lame. Let’s move on, we’re not in the 1950s anymore. But we take it in our stride and get on with it.”

Meanwhile, anchor Charlene White branded claims about feuds “absolute nonsense”, insisting: “When you’re on the outside looking in and you see all those stories… written about the ladies on the panel, you have an impression of what it’s going to be like. Then you walk into this amazing group of women and realise that everyone’s incredibly supportive.”

Frankie Bridge also called out the double standard when it comes to reporting about the Loose Women panellists.

“I think it’s sad that this doesn’t happen on something like A League of Their Own with a group of men. It’s just not mentioned. And coming from a girl band, it’s exactly the same thing,” she said.

“Everyone always wants women to fight and it’s a real shame that it undoes all the good that Loose Women does.”

Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.

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Lizzo Reveals Love Island Fandom – But There’s One Phrase From The Show That’s Left Her Confused

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Love Island can count another big A-list star among its fans after Lizzo revealed she’s been watching the reality show.

The About Damn Time singer joins the likes of Margot Robbie and Amy Schumer in her fandom of the ITV2 reality show, which is currently airing its ninth series.

Appearing on The Graham Norton Show on Friday night, Lizzo admitted she had been learning British slang while watching Love Island – although there is one phrase that has her pretty confused.

“I watch Love Island,” she told the host. “There’s a lot of ‘mug off’, ‘I feel like a mug’.

“I’m like, what’s a mug? A mug is what you drink coffee out of… How can you feel like a ceramic cup?!” she said.

Lizzo was a guest on The Graham Norton Show on Friday
Lizzo was a guest on The Graham Norton Show on Friday

Ian West via PA Wire/PA Images

Last year, Lizzo admitted she’d once put Love Island on to “fall asleep” to and praised contestant Indiyah Polack.

Margot Robbie has previously been among Love Island’s most high-profile fans.

In 2020, the Hollywood actor made headlines when she was caught on camera gleefully meeting former contestants at the Birds Of Prey premiere in London.

After posing for snaps with the group, it was revealed she later slid into Lucie Donlan’s DMs to invite the group back to a post-film event, which later saw them heading back to her apartment for an after-party.

She also themed her 31st birthday party around Love Island, with an outdoor bash inspired by the hit reality show.

Last year, Margot also revealed that she and The Suicide Squad director James Gunn also chatted about the villa drama during filming for the DC film.

She told ITV’s Lorraine: “We probably spoke about Love Island more than we spoke about this film while we were on set.”

The Graham Norton Show airs on Fridays at 10.35pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

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