Over one million rail tickets will be slashed by up to 50% as the Government and rail industry launch the first-of-its-kind Great British Rail Sale.

The public is encouraged to take advantage of this unprecedented sale, which sees for the first time multiple operators come together to offer nationwide savings.

Savings on offer for off-peak tickets include: 

York to Leeds: was £5.60, NOW £2.80

London to Edinburgh: was £44, NOW £22 

London to Cardiff: was £47, NOW £25

Wolverhampton to Liverpool: was £10.50, NOW £5.25

Manchester to Newcastle: was £20.60, NOW £10.30

Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads: was £25.30, NOW £12.60

Portsmouth Harbour to Penzance: was £45.70, NOW £22.00

Cutting the cost of rail travel will help ease some of the pressure on family finances at a time when inflation is rising around the world. It will also encourage people to visit different places, connect with friends and loved ones, and get out and about around the country. 

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:  

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“For the first time ever, operators across the rail industry are coming together to help passengers facing rising costs of living by offering up to 50% off more than a million tickets on journeys across Britain.

“There’s no better time to visit friends, family or just explore our great country, so book your tickets today.”

 

Jacqueline Starr, CEO of the Rail Delivery Group, said:

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“We want everyone to be able to benefit from travelling by train because it’s more than just a journey, it’s a way to connect everyone to the people, places and things they love.

“As part of the Great British Rail Sale customers will enjoy over 1 million discounted tickets, so they can explore some of the fantastic locations that are accessible by rail”.

 

Tickets can be purchased online from participating retailers with the up to half-price rate applying to a huge range of off-peak tickets spreading the length and breadth of the country. Tickets go on sale from 19th April with discounted tickets available on journeys from 25th April to 27th May. 

The Government is listening to people’s concerns about rising costs, and is taking action worth more than £22 billion in 2022-23 alone – which includes support with the cost of energy bills and to help to ensure people keep more of their money. Offering half-price rail tickets is one of the ways the Government is further supporting families with the cost of living.

Reforms to the rail sector through the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail mean that network-wide sales of tickets can occur more easily in the future.

The MET Police have confirmed that PM Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have all been issued with fines following a Covid rule breaching birthday bash for the Prime Minister held during lockdown.

The PM has confirmed that both he and his wife will not dispute the findings, however, he has dismissed calls for him to step down over the event which took place in Downing Street on Jun 19th 2020.

Reportedly the couple have already paid the fine already, making the Johnson the first sitting PM to break the law in the history of the country.

Mr Johnson that he spoke in 'good faith' when he told the country that he had followed all the guidelines and that he was unaware that he was in fact breaking the law at the time of his Birthday bash as the rest of the country were confined to their homes and prevented from meeting inside.

Opposition leader, Sir Kier Starmer said that the PM has dishonoured all of that sacrifice and dishonoured the office.

Meanwhile, representatives of families who lost loved ones have stated that the PM and his Chancellor can carry on in their jobs after they both broke the law.

There are fresh warnings to dog owners about Alabama Rot after two more dogs have died in the UK this month, taking the total this year so far to five as we head in to what is considered to be the time of year when the rare but deadly disease is most prevalent.

The latest cases have been identified in Bristol and Devon and although infections remain rare, dog owners across the country are being advised on what signs to look for should their dog become ill.

The two new confirmed cases follow 28 throughout 2021 and 47 in 2020, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the UK to 284.

David Walker, RCVS and EBVS European specialist in small animal internal medicine, leads the team at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Winchester, He said:

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“We’re very sad to confirm two further cases of CRGV. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in the time of year when cases are most commonly identified.

“It is understandably worrying for dog owners; however, I must stress this disease is still very rare. We’re advising dog owners across the country to remain calm but vigilant and to seek advice from their local vets if their dog develops unexplained skin lesions.”

 

What is Alabama Rot?

Cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV or ‘Alabama rot’) is a serious disease which has only recently been recognised in dogs in the UK.

It causes lesions on the skin and occasionally in the mouth, which can look like bites, sores, wounds or stings. Some dogs go on to develop life-threatening kidney failure.

Any age, sex, or breed of dog can be affected. CRGV is a disease caused by damage to blood vessels of the skin and kidney. 

It causes tiny blood clots to form in the blood vessels which blocks them and can ultimately lead to damage of the affected tissue. In the skin, this causes ulceration; however, in the kidney it can lead to severe organ dysfunction (kidney failure).

What is CRGV? CRGV is a disease caused by damage to blood vessels of the skin and kidney. It causes tiny blood clots to form in the blood vessels which blocks them and can ultimately lead to damage of the affected tissue. In the skin, this causes ulceration; however, in the kidney it can lead to severe organ dysfunction
(kidney failure).

Symptoms

The first symptoms of Alabama Rot are skin lesions, ulcers or sores, not caused by any known injury. These appear on the legs, body, mouth or tongue (see column on right). The dog will lick at the sores. Within days, dogs get symptoms of acute kidney injury (vomiting, reduced hunger or unusual tiredness).

Treatment & Cure?

At the moment there is no vaccination available for the disease as the underlying cause is still unknown.

Sadly 90% of dogs which contract the disease succumb to it, with only 10% making a recovery.

Prevention

At the moment there is no real advice regarding how to prevent your dog catching the disease as the cause of it is still unknown.

If you suspect your dog to have contracted it then you should contact the RSPCA or your local Vet surgery immediately, if you have other dogs then separate them to avoid the infection spreading to them.

It should also be noted that at this time of year ticks and parasites are prevalent and can cause skin rashes and hair loss on dogs. Before fearing the worst, get your pet checked out to be on the safe side.

Italian candy manufacturer Ferrero who make the popular chocolate egg 'Kinder Surprise' has issued a recall notice on some batches of eggs which could be linked to a recent outbreak of Salmonella.

With Easter just a few weeks away, In an alert, the Food Standards Agency said the recall is due to a “potential link to a salmonella outbreak”.

The products affected are the 20g eggs or the three-pack of eggs, all with a best-before date between July 11 2022 and October 7 2022.

20g eggs or three-packs of the eggs with a best before date of all dates up to and including October 7 2022

100g Kinder Surprise best before date between April 20 2022 and August 21 2022

Kinder Mini eggs 75g best before date between April 20 and August 21 2022

Kinder Egg Hunt Kits 150g best before dates between April 21 and August 21 2022.

Kinder Schokobons 200g best before date between April 20 and August 21 2022 

Ferrero has recalled the products and people are being advised not to eat them.

Anyone who has bought products with those use-by dates can contact the Ferrero consumer careline on consumers.uk@ferrero.com or 0330 053 8943 to obtain a full refund.

Consuming the eggs could potentially make you ill so please check the dates before doing so.

The FSA disclosed that the eggs have all been manufactured at the same factory, and other Ferrero products are not thought to be affected.

The investigations has been led by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and Public Health Agency Northern Ireland.

Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever.

While most cases resolve in a few days, symptoms can be severe and lead to hospital admission, especially in the very young and those with weakened immune systems.

Tina Potter, FSA head of incidents, said:

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“We welcome the precautionary approach being taken by Ferrero and are advising consumers not to eat any of the products listed in the FSA alert.

“It is really important that consumers follow this advice to avoid the risk of becoming ill with salmonella poisoning.

“We know that these particular products are popular with young children, especially as Easter approaches, so we would urge parents and guardians of children to check if any products already in their home are affected by this recall.

“The food business involved has voluntarily carried out this product withdrawal and recall and we are working closely with them and their competent authorities to identify the precise cause of this outbreak.”

 

Dr Lesley Larkin, a surveillance lead at the UKHSA, said:

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“Anybody with concerns that they have symptoms of salmonellosis should contact their GP or call NHS 111.

“Salmonella can be spread from person to person, so anyone affected should adhere to good hygiene practice such as washing hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and avoiding handling food for others where possible, if you have symptoms.”

 

Time is quickly running out for those who still have paper £20 notes as the public is warned they will soon not be able to purchase goods with their money.

Just six months from now, the legal tender status will be withdrawn from the old paper £20 and £50 notes.

The new polymer £20 featuring JMW Turner and the £50 featuring Alan Turing will be the only form accepted by retailers.

Despite the newer polymer notes being released some time ago approximately £9 billion worth of the old £20 notes remain in circulation.

Meanwhile the old paper £50 still make up £15 billion of notes in circulation.

The Bank of England has set a deadline for September 30 2022 for when the old paper notes will withdraw from legal tender.

After the deadline, people with a UK bank account will still be able to deposit the paper notes into their account while the Bank of England will still exchange all paper notes.

The Bank of England’s chief cashier, Sarah John, said:

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“In recent years we have been changing our banknotes from paper to polymer because this makes them more difficult to counterfeit, and means they are more durable.

“The polymer £20 featuring the artist JMW Turner, and the polymer £50 featuring the scientist Alan Turing are now in wide circulation, and we are in the process of withdrawing their paper equivalents.”

 

The Health Secretary has ordered NHS Trusts in England to withdraw free car parking provisions for NHS workers from this Friday and the decision has been met with anger from both NHS staff and the public.

The move has been described as nothing more than profiteering and has reignited the debate as to why staff, out patients and visitors are charged to access vital health services.

Parking fees were waived in 2020 for the “duration” of the Covid-19 pandemic, but now the Health Secretary has advised NHS Trusts in England that this must now come to an end with charges reinstated.

NHS organisations have now been ordered to start charging the majority of staff again from Friday 1 April 2022, which rather ironically is April Fools day.

Health service workers often pay exorbitant fees of between £20 and £65 per month for the privilege of parking just so they can do their jobs.

Health Secretary Savid Javid, said:

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“Free parking in hospital car parks for NHS staff introduced during the pandemic will also come to an end on March 31.

“However, over 93% of NHS trusts that charge for car parking have implemented free parking for those in greatest need, including NHS staff working overnight.”

“On behalf of the Government, I would like to record my thanks to everyone who has worked tirelessly to keep people safe over the last two years and whose efforts have enabled us to move to the next stage of the Covid-19 response.”

However, Nurses United UK have branded the move as "tone-deaf and dangerous" at a time when Covid cases are on the rise again and the country is in the grips of a cost of living crisis which is already impacting families hard and is only expected to get worse in the coming months.

With inflation sky rocketing, it means in real terms that NHS workers have lost over 30% of their wages since 2010.

This latest decision will inflict another pay cut by forcing NHS workers to pay for parking at a time when every penny counts.

The TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said:

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“Our amazing NHS key workers put their lives on the line to get us through this pandemic. Scrapping free car parking in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis is a lousy way to repay that service.

“The government should be giving health staff a proper pay rise - not adding to their bills. And it should be funding our NHS properly so that hospitals don’t have to rely on car parks for income.”

 

Twenty fines are set to be issued as part of the police inquiry into Downing Street parties that breached Covid rules.

If you are interested in knowing who will be receiving a fine in the post, you are out of luck as police will not be naming the individuals or confirming which events the fixed penalty notices relate to.

However, Downing Street has said it would reveal if the prime minister is among those in breach.

In January, the force launched an investigation into 12 events where COVID restrictions may have been breached in 2020 and 2021.

In a statement the Police said:

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“We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed and have completed a number of assessments. However due to the significant amount of investigative material that remains to be assessed, further referrals may be made to ACRO if the evidential threshold is made.

As it has for all fixed penalty notices issued during the pandemic, the MPS will follow the College of Policing Approved Professional Practice for Media Relations which states that “Identities of people dealt with by cautions, speeding fines and other fixed penalties – out-of-court disposals – should not be released or confirmed.”

We will not confirm the number of referrals from each individual event subject to our investigation as providing a breakdown at this point may lead to identification of the individuals.”

 

The Chancellor, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, today presented his Spring Statement to Parliament, announcing the fastest rise in inflation rates for 30-years.

Despite a range of cuts announced to alleviate the burden, the impact is set to cause major problems for the most vulnerable in society.

Responding to the Statement and what it means for unpaid family carers across the UK, Carers Trust’s Chief Executive Officer, Kirsty McHugh, said:

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“Carers Trust research last month showed that unpaid carers are at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis. However, the Chancellor has again missed the opportunity to support unpaid carers, without whom our health and social care system would simply collapse. This is in sharp contrast to the Welsh and Scottish Governments who have recognised the importance of unpaid carers with the announcement of extra financial support.

“Overall, unpaid carers will be bitterly disappointed by today’s Spring Statement. There was little announced that shows the Government understands their plight. Many were missing bill payments, cutting back on food and borrowing money before the recent cost of living crisis. Even the minority of unpaid carers who are eligible for Carer’s Allowance face a real terms decrease in what they receive, as the allowance is due to increase by only £2.10 a week from April to £69.70. This nowhere near enough to keep up with inflation.

“In addition, we are worried that there was little in the announcement which will help local carer organisations, without whom many unpaid carers would not be able to cope day to day. Many are coping with spiralling fuel bills and difficulties with recruitment.  We must ensure that the extra funding raised by the forthcoming Health and Social Care Levy helps a transformation in the local social care landscape.”

The primary reason for changing the clocks is to get the most we can out of the daylight. 

The concept was formed back in 1784 by Benjamin Franklin but it was not introduced to the UK until 1916 – during World War One.

The first country wide clock change was introduced by the German government in 1916 during the first world war as a means of saving energy - the longer the daylight hours lasted, the less electricity was required. 

Britain followed suit soon after, and so was born BST, the current system being put in place since 1971. 

The clocks will go forward at 1.00am on the final Sunday of March which this year will fall on Sunday 27 March.

Although this change has no effect on the length of each day, sunrise and sunset each appear an hour later in the summer. 

Most devices with an internet connection, such as smartphones, computers and other digital devices should automatically update.

Some watches and clocks in cars and kitchens for example, may not change automatically, so make sure you are ready to wind back.

Package of over £150m provided by Government to support vital bus and light rail services across the country 

Funding builds on unprecedented Government support for buses and light rail throughout the pandemic  

New deal ensures services will continue running as operators and local authorities work towards a sustainable future

Bus and light rail operators across England will benefit from over £150 million of Government support, ensuring services continue to run and millions of passengers can continue to get around as the country emerges from the pandemic. 

Today’s funding package builds on almost two years’ worth of unprecedented Government support to keep bus and light rail networks running, with around £2 billion made available to over 160 operators during the pandemic. This represents the final tranche of pandemic-related support to operators and will run for six months until October 2022.

Not only will this new funding support operators and authorities as they adapt to changing travel patterns, but it will also help the continued delivery of Enhanced Partnerships, with local authorities working closely with bus companies to draw on their operating knowledge and marketing skills.

Additionally, it will support local authorities and operators across England as they continue working on Bus Service Improvement Plans and delivering substantive improvements to local services.

This additional package will help millions of passengers get around as they return to the network.  

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

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“The funding I’ve announced today will ensure millions of us can continue to use vital public transport services, and brings the total we’ve provided to the sector to keep services running throughout the pandemic to over £2 billion.

“Not only that, as we look ahead and continue our work to overhaul services and build back better from the pandemic, this funding will also help authorities and operators work together to provide even better services for people right across the country.”

 

The Government is investing over £3 billion into bus services by 2025, including £1.2 billion to improve fares, services and infrastructure, and a further £525 million for zero emission buses. 

Roads minister Baroness Vere said:  

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“Millions of people rely on buses and trams to get them to work, school and the shops, which is why we have already provided billions of pounds of support for the sector throughout the pandemic.

“This latest funding builds on that support and will help keep services running as we emerge from Covid and ensure networks meet passenger demand.”

 

Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) said:

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“This welcome funding will help operators have the certainty they need to run an extensive network of services over the coming months as we all adjust to life after the pandemic.

“In the longer term the bus network will need to adapt to meet passengers’ new travel patterns. Over the coming months operators will be working closely with local authorities to plan future bus networks and introduce plans to grow passenger numbers. To aid these local efforts we look forward to working with the Government to loudly promote bus travel.”

 

This funding is dependent on local areas and operators co-designing a financially sustainable and passenger focussed public transport network, that works for changing travel patterns post-pandemic.  

More details on the allocation of this funding will be provided in due course.

White Ribbon UK was one of the voluntary sector organisations that contributed to the development of the new national communications campaign – ‘Enough’ – launched by the Home Secretary on 1 March 2022– to raise awareness of the different forms of violence against women and girls and the simple acts that anyone can take to challenge perpetrators of abuse. Forms of violence against women and girls represented include street harassment, coercive control, unwanted touching, workplace harassment, revenge-porn and cyber-flashing.   

Speaking as the campaign launched, Anthea Sully Chief Executive of White Ribbon UK said:

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'White Ribbon UK fully supports this important campaign and is pleased to have contributed to its development.

'White Ribbon UK works to end violence against women and girls by engaging with men to consider their own behaviour and positively influence that of others.

‘We specifically call on men to take on board the message of the campaign that 'enough is enough'.

'All men can bring an end to violence against women by being aware and taking steps to call out abusive and harassing behaviour when they see it.’

She did state a word of caution:

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‘Campaigns such as this are an essential tool in raising awareness, however, they need to be backed up with funding for preventative work, especially in schools, so that there can be lasting culture change.’

Soaring energy costs will lay bare Britain’s longstanding failure to better insulate its housing stock, according to new research published today by the Resolution Foundation.

Families living in EPC E-rated or worse homes are set to face annual heating bills at least £320 higher than those living in EPC C-rated homes when the price cap jumps in April, with the total cost at £3.9 billion.

Shrinking footprints – the 16th report for The Economy 2030 Inquiry, a collaboration with the LSE, funded by Nuffield Foundation – examines how the next stage of the UK’s net zero transition will directly affect families via the homes they live in, the cars they drive, and the food they eat.

By far the biggest areas of decarbonisation over the next decade will come via residential buildings (to fall by 44 per cent by 2035) and surface transport (a 64 per cent reduction by 2035).

While the focus has been on the kit used to reduce emissions in these areas – such as Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and heat pumps – the most significant challenges will be delivering the less glamorous infrastructure around these technologies – an accessible charging network and home efficiency upgrades – to ensure that everyone benefits from using them.

The report says that the government’s ‘prime-pumping’ strategy of requiring new builds to have heat pumps from 2025, while subsidising some wider early adoption, should boost take-up and help achieve the target for heat pump costs to equal those for gas boilers by the end of the decade – a target backed by industry experts.

But heat pumps are less effective in poorly insulated homes, and 80 per cent of the investment in home insulations will be needed by 2035. Despite this urgency, the number of roofs and walls being insulated today is down 90 per cent on a decade ago. As such, a clear priority is to reverse the previous decade of abject policy failure on home insulation.

Poorly insulated homes have always cost more to heat, but the scale of this ‘leaky homes surcharge’ will surge when the energy cap rises in April. Families living in the UK’s 4.2 million E-rated homes will face bills that are £320 a year higher than those in C-rated homes, while families living in the 1.5 million F-G-rated homes will face a surcharge of £390. The total cost across all D-G-rated homes will be £3.9 billion.

The government plans to better insulate private rented accommodation by requiring properties to attain a C-rating by 2028. However there are no plans to cover the two-thirds of households who own their homes.

This is a particular challenge for low-income homeowners, says the report, 72 per cent of whom will need their homes improved, and where the potential cost of insulation upgrades (£8,600) are just £500 less than their annual after housing costs incomes (£9,100).

On transport, the report notes that the rapid take-up of BEVs shows that the UK is well-placed to make progress on reducing emissions, and delivering significant cost savings for road users.

For example, the cost of charging a BEV via public charging points is – at £712 a year – 25 per cent less than the equivalent cost (in terms of mileage) of filling up a petrol car (£1,100 a year). Charging costs can be further reduced through home-charging (£389), and overnight home-charging (£139).

However, these huge cost differences risk creating a new ‘charging divide’ – as those without off-street parking (such as private renters) will miss out on hundreds of pounds of annual savings compared with home-owners (81 per cent of whom have off-street parking, compared with 51 per cent of private renters).

Finally, the report notes that reducing emissions from aviation and food will require significant behavioural change in the years ahead. The government need not rush to put up the price of (carbon-intensive) meat, given that poorer households spend more of their household budgets on food, and people are already reducing their consumption significantly.

However, higher prices are more likely to be needed when it comes to flights, given the longer term trend of rising demand. But with richest tenth of households flying as frequently as the poorest half of households combined, even excluding business trips, the Foundation argue that it should be possible to discourage flying without disproportionately affecting low-and-middle income households.

Jonny Marshall, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said:

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“Until now, Britain’s net zero transition has largely been hidden from households. This will change in the 2020s as our carbon footprints are reduced via the homes we live in, the cars we drive, and the food we eat.

“Much of the focus has been on take-up of low-carbon technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps. But the key to their success will ultimately depend on delivering the infrastructure around them – such as better insulating Britain’s housing stock.

“This long-term insulation challenge will be brought home to households very soon when energy bills rise by 50 per cent in April. Almost six million households will face a £320 ‘leaky homes surcharge’ on their energy usage as a result.

“It is vital that the Government ramp up progress in insulating homes and reducing the costs of public charging points for electric vehicles so that the whole of society can benefit financially from a low carbon economy.”

 

Free Lateral Flow and PCR Testing Axed From April 1st, Legal Self Isolation To End This Thursday 24th Feb, Sick Pay Downgraded From 24th March as Boris declares England to be past peak Omicron.

In a dramatic statement in the commons, Boris Johnson tore up the laws as he confirmed that those who have the covid virus will no longer be required to stay at home in England, However government guidance is still for people to stay at home if they Covid, rather than going to work and infecting their colleagues.

He told MPs:

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"It is time that we got our confidence back. We don't need laws to compel people to be considerate to others.

"We can rely on that sense of responsibility towards one another by providing practical advice in the knowledge that people will follow it to protect their loved ones.

"So let us learn to live with is protecting ourselves and others without restricting our freedoms."

 

The Government is now focussing on monitoring the virus with an emphasis on keeping a watchfull eye on emerging variants, however the infrastructure will be kept in place should we need a quick response in the future.

The cost of testing alone is estimated by some financial analysts to be around £2bn per month and is deemed to be unsustainable, although it will be kept for those over 80-years. 

Despite the huge cost of testing, experts have voiced caution about cutting the provision as well as fears that the removal of restrictions to soon could bring further outbreaks.

The PM told the house that Covid has not gone away but that at this point the country needs to now learn to live with it in the same way we live with seasonal Flu strains.

Mask wearing has already been scrapped in most venues in England when the Plan B measures were axed.

Although there are still some venues where they remain legally enforceable, but soon face the chop.

Currently people are still asked to cover up in health and care settings including hospitals, GP surgeries and pharmacies, and nursing homes.

Schools also currently still have the power to order mask wearing in communal areas like corridors and canteens to fight local outbreaks should they occur.

Mass vaccination as well as the more dominant Omicron strain being milder has lead to a situation in which England is in a good place to be able to re-establish more of the freedoms we have had to give up over the past 2-years.

he PM, Said:

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"Today will mark a moment of pride after one of the most difficult periods in our country’s history as we begin to learn to live with Covid.

"It would not be possible without the efforts of so many – the NHS who delivered the life-saving vaccine rollout at phenomenal speed, our world-leading scientists and experts, and the general public for their commitment to protecting themselves and their loved ones. 

"The pandemic is not over but thanks to the incredible vaccine rollout we are now one step closer towards a return to normality and finally giving people back their freedoms while continuing to protect ourselves and others."

 

Reacting to the PM's statement, Opposition Leader Sir Kier Starmer, said:

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"What I can't understand is why the PM is taking away the tools that allow them to do that, he says.

"Free testing can't go on forever, but if you're 2-1 up with 10 minutes to go you don't sub off one of your best defenders.

"Sir Keir says the PM is also removing self-isolation support payments that allow people to isolate and 'weakening' sick pay.

"These decisions will hit the lowest-paid the hardest, It is all very well advising workers to self-isolate but that won't work unless all workers have the security of knowing they can afford to do so."

 

He went on to call for the Government to release the scientific data used when deciding on his latest measures.

It is being reported that documents submitted to court in the U.S. pertaining to the civil sexual abuse claim against the Queens second eldest son 'Prince Andrew', have been settled in principle for an undisclosed sum.

The sum of money agreed between the two parties may never be released, but had been speculated to be up to £14million.

The document submitted to the court discloses that lawyers acting for both Prince Andrew and Ms Giuffre have reached 'in principle' an out of court settlement with promises by the Duke to make a donation to a victims charity, but falls short of an admission of sexual assault as claimed by his accuser who claims that he sexually assaulted her on a number of occasions whilst she was subjected to sex trafficking by Epstein and Maxwell aged 17.

Giuffre sued Andrew last August - the first time she had brought action against him after going public with the allegations in 2011.

The disgraced Duke is said to regret his association with Epstein and promises to make amends with a donation to a victims' charity but does not admit sexual assault, instead he commends the bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others.

A second joint letter addressed to US judge Lewis A Kaplan advises of the in principle settlement, outlining intent to dismiss the case within 30 days.

The document submitted earlier today goes on to say:

The prince has never intended to malign Ms Giuffre's character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks.

He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims.

It is unclear if the Duke will return to the Royal fold after being stripped of his HRH title and duties by the Queen last month.

The avoidance of clearing his name in court will not placate critics against him.

A YouGov poll commissioned by animal protection charity Open Cages in December 2021 has found that a staggering 78% of British people oppose factory farming practises which cause animals to experience pain or suffering as a means of producing affordable food, with a majority strongly opposing.

Respondents were given examples of typical factory farm practises, such as breeding chickens to grow 400% faster than they did in the 1950s, leading to a slaughter age of just 35 days old, and keeping large volumes of animals inside large, crowded facilities for their entire lives.

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"There's a common attitude of seeing consumers as too cheap to support a move to higher standards."

The poll was conducted to explore how Brits balance concern for animal welfare with desire for affordable food. Higher prices are generally recognised as the main obstacle to improving farm animal welfare. Intensive animal farming is specifically designed to minimise the costs of rearing and slaughtering the animals.

Dozens of undercover investigations published in recent years have suggested that animal suffering is commonplace on British farms, contrary to the "high" welfare standards claimed by the big retailers and industry schemes like Red Tractor. Over 70% of farm animals in the UK are kept in intensive facilities.

Animal charities are urging food businesses to take note, arguing that these revelations strongly challenge a “common" industry justification of factory farming: that British consumers are too cheap to pay higher prices for animal products.

Open Cages CEO Connor Jackson comments: 

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“Over one billion chickens are raised for meat in Britain each year. 95% of them have been artificially bred to grow too big, too fast, leading to a plethora of painful welfare issues, whilst squeezed into factory farms by the tens of thousands. Very few people find these practices morally acceptable. So why do supermarkets like Morrisons continue using them? Behind the scenes, there's a common attitude of seeing consumers as too cheap to support a move to higher standards. This poll suggests that the vast majority of British consumers aren't interested in such a trade off: they don't want cruelty to be the price. It blows this outdated attitude out of the water.”

“Consumers struggle to fully act on this belief because, in my opinion, the facts about how the animals on British shelves live are intentionally obscured by the retailers themselves. When Morrisons’ chicken is sold as "welfare assured" – even when it's not – consumers cannot make truly informed choices. On the contrary, when we know that the product in our hands is a product of animal suffering, it upsets us and we don’t want to support it. I hope retailers are taking note: whoever signs the Better Chicken Commitment next will have the support of the British people. Just like they're supporting the transition to cage free eggs.”

 

Photo: Open Cages - opencages.org

The AA has issued a warning as prices at the fuel pumps hit an all time high this month with an average price of £1.48.02p for a litre of Unleaded and £1.51.57p for a litre of Diesel.

AA fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet commented:

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"The cost of living crisis has been ratcheted up yet another notch, tightening the vice on family spending when it faces other pressures from impending domestic energy cost and tax increases." 

Rising tensions between Russia and the Ukraine as well as the industries recovery from the effects of the pandemic have had an impact on the markets causing the cost of a barrel of oil to increase. 

Oil prices reached £70.12 ($94.76) a barrel for Brent Crude today with speculation oil will soon pass the $100 threshold, pushing fuel prices even higher over the coming months.

The increase and added costs will cause misery for households who face a rise in energy costs in April due to the raise in Ofgem's energy price cap in April.

The average household energy bill is set to rise to £1,971 a year while April also sees the introduction of a hike in National Insurance by 1.25 percentage points.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a dramatic speech to parliament during PM's Questions, declaring that he expects all remaining coronavirus restrictions will come to an end by the end of February, almost a month ahead of shcedule.

As part of the governments approach on living with the virus, the legal requirement to self isolate for as many as ten days or five with two negative tests, is expected to also come to an end.

This development comes as data shows a consistent daily drop in cases partly due to both the over 138 million vaccines having already been administered across the UK, as well as because the more easily spreadable Omnicron variant of the virus has been shown to be much milder, resulting in less hospitalisations and in turn fewer deaths.

Plan B requirements to work from home were dropped last month, along with most facemask rules and the much maligned covid passports, as predicted doomsday forecasts of thousands of deaths per day due to the new variant failed to materialise. 

However, the government has stressed that infected people should still refrain from entering places of work until they are no longer contagious.

Mr Johnson, said:

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'Mr Speaker I can tell the house today, that it is my intention to return on the first day after the half term recess to present our strategy for living with Covid,' Mr Johnson told MPs.

'Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self isolate if you test positive, a full month early.'

 

The move has been widely welcomed by both parliament as well as businesses who have struggled to cope as restrictions impacted on their takings.

New research from Choose.co.uk finds 66% of people believe the support the Government is offering on energy bills will not be enough to help them keep the heating on this year.

28% say they are already cutting back on heating or other essentials, with 36% already struggling to afford their energy bills and 4% already in energy arrears.

In order to keep the heating on this year, respondents said they would need to make changes to their lives:

• 5% may have to move home due to energy costs
• 30% will cut back on food to keep the house warm
• 18% will cut back on broadband and mobile phones

The survey also found significant numbers of respondents are concerned and confused about the energy bill loan and other support on offer:

• 21% say the £200 energy loan won’t be enough to help with their energy bill
• 49% worry they will struggle to repay the £200 loan, or it will cause them difficulty in the future
• 34% would rather opt-out and not be given this loan at all with only 17% saying they wanted the help and wouldn’t mind the five-year repayments

In addition, 33% do not understand what’s been announced or how it will help, suggesting communication from the Government on the new policy has been ineffective.

Choose also questioned whether energy customers are aware of the Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme and whether they are eligible for it:

• Only 10% receive the WHD to help with their winter bills
• 24% do not know what the eligibility of the WHD scheme is
• 18% are not aware of the WHD scheme at all
• 47% are not eligible for the WHD scheme

With more than 40% of respondents either unaware of the WHD scheme at all or uncertain whether they are eligible for it, there are clear knowledge gaps around the support available from the Government.

The full report is available on Choose: Affordability in the UK energy market

Lyndsey Burton, MD of Choose.co.uk said:

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“Despite a media blitz over the last week, major elements of the Government’s policy to support energy customers are being shown as ineffective by those who really know – energy customers themselves.

“There is clear confusion about how the policies are going to help but, more importantly, customers believe the support isn’t going to be enough. For all the Government’s rhetoric about helping customers with the rising costs of energy, customers are still left making impossible choices between keeping warm and cutting back on other things like food, broadband and mobile.

“The Government’s failure to tackle spiralling energy bills in a straightforward way that customers can understand and that won’t leave them worried about repaying an unwanted loan is damaging to households across the country. Even if customers manage to pay their energy bills, the knock-on effects to other parts of their life will be as damaging or even more so.

“It’s time for the Government to think again and look at a more comprehensive support package that will help energy customers without confusing them and leaving them with a debt they don’t want.”

 

Motorists looking to fill up at Morrisons petrol pumps may be in for a bit of a shock as they face a new £100 pending charge on their bank accounts.

The supermarket has made changes to its pre-authorisation charges at its pay-at-pump service from £1 to £100 which means that unless you have the money in your account to cover it, your transaction will be declined.

Although the money never actually leaves your account, the retailer requests a ringfence be put around it until the transaction is completed. It will appear as a pending charge on statements and will mean that the money will not be allowed to be spent until its pending status is ended, this can be as short as an hour or as long as 48 hours depending on your bank.

This means that you may not have enough in your account to cover the costs of other things like shopping as customers wait for the pending period to clear.

The change has been forced by credit card companies Visa and Mastercard and comes despite a huge backlash when Asda trialled the charge at its pay-at-pump sites in 2018.

Tesco and Sainsburys have already introduced a higher charge last year.

Drivers are being advised that they can avoid the ringfence by paying at the counter inside the station for petrol rather than at the pump.

Alex Neill, who is CEO of complaints and claims specialists Resolver, urged customers to flag the issue as soon as possible.

He said:

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"If you find that the charge has not been released or refunded after a day or two contact your bank or credit card provider immediately, explaining what has happened.

"You should get an immediate reversal of the funds."