Two parties held in Downing Street as Queen and country mourned death of Prince Philip
The claim was on Thursday put to Downing Street, where Ms Williams-Walker still works. No denial has been issued. She was jokingly nicknamed “DJ SWW”, a reference…
Bring state pension in line with new inflation figures, ministers told
Pension increases in April should be linked to new inflation forecasts in a one-off effort to tackle the cost of living crisis, campaigners have said. Campaigners and…
What is National Insurance, how does it work and how much should I pay?
Since 1911 workers have paid National Insurance which, as the name suggests, was intended to fund various benefits to support the needy in society. Originally, sick or…
Questor: this trust’s discount has narrowed dramatically – here is why you should still buy
We can’t expect such gains from every one of the trust’s holdings, of course. The point is more that conservatism is built into its NAV figures, which…
‘Should I pay more to fund managers to try and beat the market?’
Rob Burgeman, investment manager at Brewin Dolphin, said: The portfolio is completely invested in stocks, so Mr Davidson can expect a fair amount of volatility along the…
Oil stocks poised for super returns as demand for ‘black gold’ recovers
He said: “Despite rising markets last year, energy share prices remain subdued.” He added that demand for oil would continue to rise until 2030. “Demand will be…
I have dutifully saved for a home using an Isa. Now I am being penalised £1k for buying
But then I noticed the catch: all the money I had slowly funnelled away into the Lisa could only be used on a property worth £450,000 or…
Elderly Britons sacrifice hot food and showers amid mounting energy bill crisis
In a letter to the ministers for business and for pensions, Age UK said thousands of senior citizens were already feeling the pinch including those “who are…
HMRC systems quirk forces self-employed workers to overpay £4,000 in tax
Millions of freelancers who received support grants during the pandemic face paying thousands of pounds more in income tax this year because HM Revenue & Customs’ automatic…
Hyundai Ioniq 5 review: why spending less is more with this retro-futuristic electric car
The boot is shallow, but wide and long, and its space can be enhanced by sliding those rear seats forward; there’s a false floor, too, beneath which…
Why it’s good to be a lightweight
Five years ago, a bottle of Concha y Toro’s excellent Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva was 80g heavier than one sold today. The weight difference comes…
Should I try to catch omicron to get it over and done with?
Almost two years since the start of the pandemic, our country is divided into the haves and have-nots – the have-had-Covids and the have-nots, that is. I…
What should you do if you’re still testing positive for Covid after 10 days?
For much of the pandemic, public health authorities have focused on the question of how to prevent getting Covid. Less attention has been paid to how you…
How Britain’s rivers became a chemical cocktail
For many of these swimmers and paddleboarders, the rising tide of river pollution is a grave concern. A survey of over 4,500 people by Outdoor Swimmer magazine…
Harry and Meghan should follow the Caines when it comes to downsizing
The easiest way to spot a Celebrity Clown, or at least one of the ways, is they live in a 16-bathroom house, and there are two of…
Russia’s alliance with China is beginning to falter
A new era of the Great Game is afoot in Central Asia, only this time the adversaries competing for power and influence in the region are not…
Ronnie Spector’s soulful voice was pure heartbreak to a whole generation
The couple married in 1968, after which he virtually kept her prisoner in their LA mansion, the victim of terrifying jealous rages in which he waved pistols…
Sue Gray isn’t going to end Boris
Hers is the name on everyone’s lips. We should “wait for Sue Gray,” say government ministers when pressed about the Prime Minister’s notorious garden party. Lets “see…
We need an Iron Lady to stand up to the EU
Nearly forty years ago Margaret Thatcher swung her handbag at the intransigent bureaucrats and politicians in the EU Commission and won back a massive rebate on the…
Labour are still borrowing from the ‘Block Brexit’ rulebook
In other news, evil Tory MPs voted to freeze the poorest families in the country to death by opposing Labour’s plans to scrap VAT on energy bills….
The Boris conundrum – why, after everything, do people still love him?
I used to share a commute with Boris. He would sit at the very front of the bus (egalitarian, or perhaps simply skint) and I would observe…
Boris should learn from Major’s mistakes and leave No 10 now
Why look in the crystal ball when you can read the book, was Aneurin Bevan’s wise advice years ago. That is exactly what we should do amid…
Nuclear power is the solution to our energy problems
In a world seeking to emit less CO2 while retaining the means to provide sufficient energy for a population of billions, there has always been one answer:…
‘Covid is cultivating a socialist society, ruled by fear’: Sherelle Jacobs responds to readers
In my column this week, I argued that the rise of the omicron variant has humiliated a dismal pro-lockdown establishment which nevertheless has retained a grip on…
Boris is an obstacle the Scottish Tories are itching to remove
There have been numerous demands from SNP activists, including Alex Salmond, her predecessor and former mentor, for her to hold an illegal or wildcat referendum. The First…