UK News

Devon father one step closer to completing world-first swim to raise awareness of son’s brain condition

A father from North Devon is set to complete the final six lakes in his bid to become the first person to swim Switzerland’s ten largest lakes after his young son was diagnosed with a rare brain-attacking condition PANDAS, that caused sudden onset aggression, OCD and tics overnight.

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Lib Dems announce 5p charge for plastic bags in England

The government plans to introduce a five pence charge for plastic carrier bags in England. The announcement is to be made by Nick Clegg at the Liberal Democrats' annual conference in Glasgow this weekend.

Aimed at discouraging the use and disposal of plastic bags which may have an impact on wildlife and the wider environment, the plans follow figures from Wales which has seen a 75%...

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Liberal Democrats

Ed Davey

Nick Clegg

conference

plastic bags

Bank of England should limit house price inflation, says surveyors' body

Research by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) proposes cap on price growth

The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee should consider limiting annual house price inflation to 5% in order to prevent another housing bubble, reckless bank lending and a dangerous build up in household debt, according to new RICS research launched on Friday 13 September.

RiCs...

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Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

RICS

Bank of England

house price inflation

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Outbreak of salmonella linked to cooked ham bought from independent butchers

Investigations show that an outbreak of salmonella seen in England and Wales has links to the consumption of cooked ham bought from small independent butchers’ shops.

The results of tests carried out by environmental health officers on the product did not show the presence of salmonella although it did reveal other hygiene issues. As a result of this, the supplier has withdrawn certain...

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Salmonella outbreak

Ham

independent butchers

Public Health England

Royal Mail privatisation set to proceed, government announces

The government has given notice of its intention to proceed with the privatisation of what it has indicated will be the majority part of the Royal Mail.

Notice has been given to the London Stock Exchange with the plans set to begin in the coming weeks.

10% of the shares will be given to UK Royal Mail employees - 150,000 given free with a priority offer for additional shares,...

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Bowie comeback named among Mercury Prize shortlist

The 12 shortlisted titles for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Album of the Year were announced on Wednesday (11 September).

Among the long players from the last 12 months nominated for the "music Booker", were debut albums, titles by previous nominees and established artists and one by a legend, David Bowie.

Bowie's excitedly received comeback album - his first in a decade - The...

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Mercury Prize

David Bowie

albums of the year

Unemployment rate in the South West unchanged as UK sees an overall 0.1% fall

The South West continues to see one of the UK's highest rates of employment, despite a slight fall in employment of 0.7% to 73.9% in the period from May to July. The rate of unemployment for the region remained unchanged at 6.2%.

The Office for National Statistics has released both national and regional figures for the last financial quarter.

The overall UK unemployment rate...

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South West

employment

unemployment figures

Plymouth to be consulted on new polymer bank notes

Plymouth is one of the destinations for a public consultation by the Bank of England on the introduction of 'plastic' (polymer) bank notes. The consultation event will be held at Drake Circus on 12 October.

The Bank is undertaking the consultation as part of its process of deciding whether to proceed with printing on the polymer material. This would initially only be for the new-style...

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Government supports will donation campaign

The government has lent its support to encourage people to leave money to charity in their wills.

As part of this week’s Remember A Charity in your Will campaign the Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd will call on UK solicitors to raise the topic with clients.

The joint letter from the minister and Remember A Charity will accompany a nationwide poster campaign and social...

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government

will

Remember a Charity in Your Will

Nick Hurd

Mercury Prize set to announce albums of the year shortlist

The Barclaycard Mercury Prize Albums of the Year 2013 shortlist will be announced at 5.30pm on Wednesday (11 September).

The annual "music Booker" panel select 12 of the best and most significant UK music releases, before judging a winner at a ceremony on Wednesday 30 October.

Previous winners have included Primal Scream, Suede, Elbow, PJ Harvey (the only artist to scoop the...

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Ed Miliband to tell TUC he will build "a new relationship with trade union members"

Ed Miliband will today (Tuesday 10 September) declare his ambition to build a mass membership One Nation Labour Party rooted in the lives of working people and communities across Britain.

In his speech to the TUC in Bournemouth, he will acknowledge that the reforms he proposes are a massive challenge and that some people are worried about change. But he will say the current system of...

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