UK faces ‘grim winter’ with households already paying £442 extra in bills

Analysts warn cost of living crisis is gathering pace amid fast rises in petrol, food and energy billsWatch out for hidden ‘shrinkflation’ price hikes, analysts warnRising inflation ‘could trigger global sell-off that would harm UK’Households face a “p…

Keir Starmer: universal credit cut is an attack on the poorest

Labour leader says Boris Johnson’s decision to remove £20 uplift comes at ‘worst possible time’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBoris Johnson has been accused by Keir Starmer of “turning on the poorest” as Britain eases out o…

Regulator drops BA and Ryanair lockdown flights refund case

Competition and Markets Authority ends four-month investigation saying it cannot justify expenseCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe competition regulator has dropped its investigation into whether British Airways and Ryanair…

Nearly half of toys from third-party online sellers found to be dangerous

UK industry body warns of ‘wild west of safety’ after investigation into toys being sold on major sitesNearly half the toys purchased from third-party sellers on online marketplaces were dangerous, according to an investigation by an industry body that…

Gordon Brown warns 3.5m households face fuel poverty this winter

Former prime minister says 2021 ‘worst time to be poor’ as he calls for support for struggling householdsThe former prime minister Gordon Brown has demanded fresh government financial support for households struggling to pay energy bills as he warned a…