People living in eight areas of England and Wales face eyewatering, inflation-busting price hikes on their council tax by as much as 25% overnight.

The unpopular monthly bill pays for everything from bin collections to gritting, social care and libraries and normally can only be increased by a maximum of 4.99% without special permission.

But as many as eight UK local authorities are seeking much, much higher Council Tax bill increases for 2025 which if approved would see some households’ bills increase by as much as 25% overnight.

Councils in areas from Yorkshire to Birmingham, London and the South as well as South Wales are all looking to push households' Council Tax bills up by much more than 4.99% and if allowed to do so the increases would take effect from April 1, 2025.

These are the councils currently asking the government for permission to increase their council tax bills and by how much:

• Bradford - 14.99%
• Birmingham 10%
• Carmathenshire 10%
• Cheshire East 10%
• Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead 25%
• Slough 7.99%
• Newham, London 10%
• Hampshire 15%

The average council tax for a typical band D property in England is currently £1,668 per year, or roughly £169 per month.

A 25% increase could slap another £42.25 onto that bill, taking the total to £211.25.

Of course, higher bands, typically on larger houses, would be even more expensive than that.

Bradford City Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said the council is seeking permission to raise council tax rate by 14.99%, including 2% on the social care precept, and that the decision has "not been taken lightly".

She said: "After 14 years of reductions in funding from central government we have been left in an unsustainable financial position...we will have to continue to make difficult decisions to ensure a stable financial future.

"This decision to request a one-off increase in council tax beyond the usual 4.99% has not been taken lightly. We realise that no one wants to see an increase in council tax when other bills are also rising.

"That’s why, if approved, we’d put in place a fund to support the least well off."

Councils will need to approach the government's Ministry of Housing and Local Communities, usually in tandem with a local referendum to get special permission for increases.

State pensioners across the UK will get a £470 income boost from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) this year.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in the autumn Budget last year that pension would be uprated by 4.1% in 2025, with Labour committing to the Triple Lock to protect pensioners in their retirement.

The 4.1% uprating will apply to both the basic and new State Pension in the 2025/26 tax year, with the new rates taking effect from April.

It means that more than 12 million pensioners will be £470 better off per year when the uplift kicks in - £275 more than if the State Pension was uprated by inflation at a lower rate of 1.7%, according to the government.

But pensioners should note that the amount of State Pension you get is dependent on your National Insurance record and if you get less than the full amount you might need more qualifying National Insurance years to boost your pension pot.

To get the full basic State Pension you usually need 30 qualifying years of National Insurance if you’re a man born between 1945 and 1951, or 44 qualifying years if you were born between 1945 and 1951. By comparison, women born between 1950 and 1953 usually need 30 qualifying years, while those born before 1950 need 39.

As for the new State Pension, if your National Insurance record started after April 2016 you’ll need 35 qualifying years to get the full rate.

The DWP has confirmed the exact amounts the basic and new State Pension will increase from April, giving retirees who get the full amount up to £9.05 extra per week. The new rates from April are:

New State Pension

Basic State Pension

• Category A or B basic pension - rising from £169.50 to £176.45 per week

• Category B (lower) basic pension - spouse or civil partner’s insurance - rising from £101.55 to £105.70 per week

• Category C or D - non-contributory - rising from £101.55 to £105.70 per week

Further details on Additional State Pension, Increments and Invalidity Allowance are set out on the government website.

The Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee will also go up by 4.1% from April, rising from around £11,400 per year to £11,850 for a single pensioner. The new rates are:

Standard minimum guarantee

Additional amount for severe disability

• Single - rising from £81.50 to £82.90 per week

• Couple (one qualifies) - rising from £81.50 to £82.90 per week

• Couple (both qualify) - rising from £163.00 to 165.80 per week

Further details on State Pension rates from April 2025 is set out on the government website.

Old is now the new new in fashion as millions more buy into a second-hand clothing revolution where the recycling model created by Glass Onion Vintage stands out for delivering benefits far beyond a wardrobe refresh. With three stores in Sheffield and Leeds, event pop-ups, an inhouse sewing factory that upcycles off-cuts into new pieces and an international wholesale sales operation, the UK business saved 1,080,000 litres of water in 2023 that would have been used to produce textiles and diverted 1.1million kilos of clothing from landfill. 

“We’re a much-needed link in the chain that reuses, remakes and recycles so vintage is accessible, affordable and aspirational,” says owner John Hickling who over two decades has turned a hobby into an enterprise now generating annual growth close to 25 per cent and employing 65 in south Yorkshire.

Glass Onion buys from recycling companies with charity shop surplus stock. Then in its factory and 30,000 sq ft warehouse it cleans, assesses, reworks or spruces up the heritage and designer pieces as appropriate before distributing them for sale. Japan has 80 stores taking the clothes and Scandinavia is another enthusiastic market. Among the items vintage denim jeans are the ones with enduring appeal while demand is currently strong for on trend loose-fitting blazers. 

It is currently exploring the authenticity and return of a 150-year-old jacket from an indigenous people in Canada - one of its most astonishing finds.

The start of a year is usually peak clear-out season and Glass Onion’s customers are mainly in the under-35 age bracket. “When I started I was in a very niche sector,” reflects Hickling whose down-to-earth personal preference is for workwear. “People are much more aware of the impact on the environment,” he explains. "The stigma of second-hand has gone forever. But the change in the last 10 years has been incredible. People are much more aware of the impact on the environment. The stigma of second-hand has gone forever.”

A winner of the British Fashion Council’s changemaker award, he also attributes part of Glass Onion’s success to him “having a good eye for putting thing together into a sellable package and understanding how the flow of clothing works”. Partnering with high street chains in 2010 was a turning point,” he adds, “vintage was becoming mainstream and we learned how to professionalise our processes.”

Technology has been key in empowering Glass Onion which uses Lightspeed, a one-stop commerce platform that unifies online and physical operations such as multichannel sales, expansion to new locations, global payments, financial solutions, and connection to supplier networks. Its research has revealed that nearly eight in 10 Brits (79%) currently shop in physical stores, with four in 10 planning to increase their shopping on the high-street in the coming year. “This offers optimism for the retail sector, as merchants look for ways to attract and retain consumers.”

“With this we can keep track and punch above our weight,” confirms Hickling who also recognises the support the business has received from its bank NatWest as it navigates numerous exchange rates.

Rising costs, including a £120,000 increase in national insurance, remain its biggest challenge, but this year it plans to open more stores and develop an ecommerce offering. “We are a fashion brand that does not produce new clothing”, declares Hickling and in a world where some 20 per cent of new clothes are never worn he has plenty to be proud of. https://glass-onion.com,    https://www.lightspeedhq.co.uk/

 

As the mercury drops once again, many households are wondering how they'll keep warm without forking out hundreds on energy bills. But one furniture retailer has shared tips on how to keep warm while maintaining your thermostat at a low temperature.

Its main advice is to check for draughts coming from unexpected places - from keyholes and pet doors to pipes and recessed lighting. Draughts can make their way into homes through gaps, cracks or poorly insultated areas, making the task of keeping the house warm even harder than normal.

But addressing these trouble spots can make a significant difference to comfort during the winter months. Checking windows and doors are a good place to start, the team at posh.co.uk has said.

It's also suggested looking at pet doors and electrical outlets. The furniture retailer said the seemingly small gaps can let in enough cold air to keep your living space feeling chilly and force your heating system to work harder.

Thankfully, there are a range of draught-proofing measures you can take to prevent chilly breezes from entering. These include sealing cracks, adding weatherstripping, and installing draught excluders.

Andy Ellis, home and garden expert at posh.co.uk, said homeowners often underestimate how much cold air can sneak in through the smallest of gaps. He said “Taking the time to identify and fix these draughts can significantly reduce heating costs, especially during the winter months when energy bills tend to rise. A little preventative maintenance now can save a lot in the long run."

He shared the ten most common draughty spots in a home and how to fix them.

Internal and external doors

Looking at internal and external doors is the natural place to start. If your door isn't fit snugly within its frame, cold air can easily seep through. Andy said installed a draught excluder or fitting a brush strip along the bottom on your draughty doors should help. 

He also suggested weatherstripping around the edges of external doors to help seal any gaps.

Keyholes

Keyholes on external doors are notorious for letting in small but noticeable draughts. A simple keyhole cover can block the airflow when the key is not in use.

Windows

Another logical place to look is your windows. These are a common source of draughts, especially if your windows are old or single-glazed. Air will simply enter through the cracks around any frame or vent left open.

To solve this, add some self-adhesive foam tape or silicone sealant around the window edges. For single-glazed windows, upgrading to double or triple glazing is an effective - albeit expensive - long term solution.

Floors and walls

If you've got hardwood flooring then you've likely got a draughts entering through small gaps in the ground. The same goes for skirting boards or cracks in walls. To overcome this, fill any gaps in floorboards with flexibile filler and seal the edges where skirting boards meet the floor using caulk.

If cracks are visible in walls, repair them with a suitable filler or plaster to prevent air leakage.

Pet doors

What may be convenient for your four-legged friend may not be so for you. Pet doors are, unsurprisingly, a serious source of draughts. Over time, the flap may warp, becoming loose or fail to close properly. 

To resolve this, make sure your pet door is properly aligned and replace the flap if it's old and manky. For added piece of mind, consider upgrading to a pet door with a magnetic or insulated flap that seals securely when closed. Otherwise, use a temporary covering during those colder months.

Chimneys

They may look fashionable but unused or unsealed chimneys act as a funnel for cold air, especially in older homes. To stop this, consider using a chimney balloon or a removable draught excluder designed for chimneys. These block airflow when the chimney isn't in use and can easily be removed.

Recessed lighting

Also known as spotlights, recessed downlights are ubiquitous in homes across the UK. You can often find them in kitchens, bathrooms and in living rooms but the lights often penetrate the ceiling, creating gaps.

If you want to avoid this, look for airtight, fire-rated or IC-rated recessed lighting fixtures and seal any gaps with fire-rated caulk or foam. IC-rated lighting fixtures - short for Insulation Contact-rated lighting fixtures - are designed to safely come into direct contact with insulation materials without causing a fire hazard.

Lofts and roof spaces

Loft hatches that don’t fit tightly or lack insulation are a frequent source of draughts. Gaps in roof tiles or damaged flashing can also let in cold air.

Fit an insulated draught-proofing strip around the edge of the loft hatch and check your roof for missing or damaged tiles. Repair any gaps with roof sealant or call a tradesman, if necessary.

Pipes and cables

Pipes and cables that pass through walls often leave small gaps that let air in. These gaps are commonly found around heating pipes or outdoor water taps. To fix this, use expanding foam or silicone sealant to fill the gaps and prevent airflow.

Ventilation

Last, but not least, is ventilation. Ventilation systems like extractor fans and air bricks are absolutely necessary for airflow but can also help draughts enter your home if they've been poorly designed.

For extractor fans, ensure they have a backdraft shutter installed. With air bricks, you can purchase covers that allow air circulation while reducing cold air intake.

Internet and TV provider Virgin Media has announced price rises for broadband and TV customers for 2025 - with the exact amount changing depending on when you took out a contract.

The provider, which runs Virgin Media broadband as well as offering TV and entertainment packages, has told customers that anyone who took out a contract after January 9, 2025, will pay an extra £3.50 per month from April 2025.

Those who took out a contract before January 9 will pay an increase of RPI inflation plus 3.9%. 

The most recent RPI rate published was 3.5% in December, so Virgin customers could be looking at up to 7.4% increases from April although the final figure has not yet been released by Virgin.

Virgin Media said: “We know that price changes are never welcome, but like many other businesses we’re seeing increased costs while investing to keep up with growing demand.

“If you joined or took out a new contract with Virgin Media before 9 January 2025, your price is adjusted based on the UK government’s Retail Price Index (RPI) rate of inflation. 

“If you joined or took out a new contract with Virgin Media from 9 January 2025, your price will increase each April by £3.50.”

New rules, issued by regulator Ofcom, have banned mobile and broadband firms from increasing their prices according to inflation (plus extra on top), and ruled that from today, January 17, customers must be shown the exact increases they face mid-contract in pounds and pence.

This is why the way your increase is calculated will change based on when you took out a contract.

For customers who took out a contract before January 9, 2025, which will be most customers, Virgin said: "Unless we’ve told you otherwise, your Virgin Media agreement states that the monthly subscription charges for your main services will increase every April.

"Here are the main points: The amount the monthly subscription charge for your main services will increase by will be the Retail Price Index (RPI) rate of inflation plus an additional 3.9%. This increase will apply to the monthly subscription price you’re paying at that time and to the monthly price payable after the expiry of any applicable offer or discount.

"The RPI rate will be the January RPI rate that’s announced by the Office for National Statistics in February of that year.

"If RPI is 0% or less, your price will increase by 3.9%.

"We’ll publish the relevant RPI rate on our website as soon as it’s available. Virgin said that the price increases don’t apply to its social tariffs, called Essential broadband."

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that people in over 160 postcodes are eligible for a Cold Weather Payment.

The new areas cover the Home Counties, Norfolk, Essex, Kent, and almost down to the South Coast in Sussex, making the third payment for some households this winter.

Roughly 170,000 low-income households will subsequently receive a £25 payment to help with heating costs following the DWP's Thursday announcement.

There are 4,000 eligible households in Cumbria, and they are due to receive their third payment of the winter, this time totalling £25.

Eleven other areas, including Kendal, Keswick, and Windermere, will receive a payment of £75 following previous cold spells in November and earlier this month.

This comes after the DWP announced on Wednesday that nearly one million households in 517 postcodes across Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, and the West Midlands were eligible for the payment.

So far this winter, 1.4 million Cold Weather Payments have been made available, which has cost the taxpayer around £35 million.

The payments are designed for people in England and Wales who receive various benefits, and there is a separate scheme in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, support for heating bills is paid every winter and is not linked to specific cold weather periods.

Roughly 3.9 million people are eligible for the DWP's payment scheme, 1.2 million of which receive pension credit. Last year, 364,000 Cold Weather Payments were made across England and Wales, costing £9.1 million.

Charlwood weather station (51,000 households)

BN5 - Henfield, West Sussex

BN6 - Clayton, West Sussex

BN44 - Steyning, West Sussex

GU5 - Wonersh, Surrey

GU6 - Cranleigh, Surrey

ME6 - Snodland, Kent

ME14 - Maidstone, Kent

ME15 - Maidstone, Kent

ME16 - Maidstone, Kent

ME17 - Leeds, Kent

ME18 - West Farleigh, Kent

ME19 - West Malling, Kent

ME20 - Ditton, Kent

RH1 - Reigate and Banstead, Surrey

RH2 - Reigate and Banstead, Surrey

RH3 - Brockham, Surrey

RH4 - Dorking, Surrey

RH5 - Capel, Surrey

RH6 - Horley, Surrey

RH7 - Lingfield, Surrey

RH8 - Limpsfield, Surrey

RH9 - Godstone, Surrey

RH10 - Crawley, West Sussex

RH11 - Crawley, West Sussex

RH12 - Horsham, West Sussex

RH13 - Southwater, West Sussex

RH14 - Wisborough Green, West Sussex

RH15 - Burgess Hill, West Sussex

RH16 - Haywards Heath, West Sussex

RH17 - Cuckfield Rural, West Sussex

RH18 - Forest Row, East Sussex

RH19 - East Grinstead, West Sussex

RH20 - Storrington, West Sussex

TN1 - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

TN2 - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

TN3 - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

TN4 - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

TN5 - Wadhurst, East Sussex

TN6 - Crowborough, East Sussex

TN7 - Hartfield, East Sussex

TN8 - Edenbridge, Kent

TN9 - Tonbridge, Kent

TN10 - Tonbridge, Kent

TN11 - Tonbridge, Kent

TN12 - Yalding, Kent

TN13 - Sevenoaks, Kent

TN14 - Dunton Green, Kent

TN15 - Wrotham, Kent

TN16 - Greater London

TN17 - Cranbrook, Kent

TN18 - Four Throws, Kent

TN19 - Burwash, East Sussex

TN20 - Mayfield, East Sussex

TN22 - Uckfield, East Sussex

TN27 - Smarden, Kent

 

Andrewsfield weather station (47,000 households)

CB1 - Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire

CB2 - Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire

CB3 - Hardwick, Cambridgeshire

CB4 - Impington, Cambridgeshire

CB5 - Stow cum Quy, Cambridgeshire

CB10 - Saffron Walden, Essex

CB11 - Newport, Essex

CB21 - Balsham, Cambridgeshire

CB22 - Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire

CB23 - Highfields, Cambridgeshire

CB24 - Over, Cambridgeshire

CB25 - Lode, Cambridgeshire

CM1 - Chelmsford, Essex

CM2 - Great Baddow, Essex

CM3 - Danbury, Essex

CM4 - Ingatestone, Essex

CM5 - Ongar, Essex

CM6 - Great Dunmow, Essex

CM7 - Braintree, Essex

CM8 - Witham, Essex

CM9 - Heybridge, Essex

CM11 - Essex

CM12 - Billericay, Essex

CM13 - Brentwood, Essex

CM14 - Brentwood, Essex

CM15 - Brentwood, Essex

CM16 - Epping, Essex

CM17 - Harlow, Essex

CM18 - Harlow, Essex

CM19 - Harlow, Essex

CM20 - Harlow, Essex

CM21 - Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire

CM22 - Great Hallingbury, Essex

CM23 - Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire

CM24 - Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex

CM77 - Braintree, Essex

CO9 - Sible Hedingham, Essex

RM4 - Stapleford Abbotts, Essex

SG8 - Melbourn, Cambridgeshire

SG9 - Buntingford, Hertfordshire

SG10 - Much Hadham, Hertfordshire

SG11 - Standon, Hertfordshire

 

Brize Norton weather station (18,000 households)

OX1 - Oxford, Oxfordshire

OX2 - Oxford, Oxfordshire

OX3 - Oxford, Oxfordshire

OX4 - Oxford, Oxfordshire

OX5 - Kidlington, Oxfordshire

OX11 - Didcot, Oxfordshire

OX12 - Wantage, Oxfordshire

OX13 - Marcham, Oxfordshire

OX14 - Culham, Oxfordshire

OX18 - Carterton, Oxfordshire

OX20 - Woodstock, Oxfordshire

OX25 - Chesterton, Oxfordshire

OX26 - Bicester, Oxfordshire

OX27 - Fringford, Oxfordshire

OX28 - Witney, Oxfordshire

OX29 - Eynsham, Oxfordshire

SN7 - Shellingford, Oxfordshire

 

Tibenham weather station (50,000 households)

NR1 - Norwich, Norfolk

NR2 - Norwich, Norfolk

NR3 - Norwich, Norfolk

NR4 - Norwich, Norfolk

NR5 - Norwich, Norfolk

NR6 - Norwich, Norfolk

NR7 - Norwich, Norfolk

NR8 - Taverham, Norfolk

NR9 - Marlingford, Norfolk

NR10 - Hevingham, Norfolk

NR11 - Erpingham, Norfolk

NR12 - Smallburgh, Norfolk

NR13 - Blofield, Norfolk

NR14 - Alpington, Norfolk

NR15 - Hempnall, Norfolk

NR16 - Old Buckenham, Norfolk

NR17 - Attleborough, Norfolk

NR18 - Wymondham, Norfolk

NR19 - Scarning, Norfolk

NR20 - Swanton Morley, Norfolk

NR21 - Fakenham, Norfolk

NR22 - Walsingham, Norfolk

NR23 - Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

NR24 - Briston, Norfolk

NR25 - Holt, Norfolk

NR26 - Sheringham, Norfolk

NR27 - Cromer, Norfolk

NR28 - North Walsham, Norfolk

NR29 - Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

NR30 - Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

NR31 - Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

NR32 - Oulton Broad, Suffolk

NR33 - Oulton Broad, Suffolk

NR34 - Weston, Suffolk

NR35 - Bungay, Suffolk

Shap weather station (Third £25 payment this winter for 4,000 households)
CA10 - Cliburn, Cumbria

CA11 - Catterlen, Cumbria

CA12 - Keswick, Cumbria

CA16 - Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria

CA17 - Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria

LA8 - Kendal, Cumbria

LA9 - Kendal, Cumbria

LA10 - Sedbergh, Cumbria

LA21 - Coniston, Cumbria

LA22 - Lakes, Cumbria

LA23 - Windermere, Cumbria

The number of higher-rate taxpayers is set to surge by 2.5 million in 2025-26 as more are dragged into paying more.

Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates show that seven million will pay 40% tax in the coming tax year, 2.5 million more than if income tax thresholds hadn't been frozen.

Various tax thresholds were frozen by then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2022, and the freeze is expected to remain until April 2028.

Branded a "stealth tax", freezing tax thresholds increases people's taxable income without rates increasing, thus taking more from taxpayers' pockets to add to the Government's coffers.

The OBR forecasts that 3.5 million workers will start to pay income tax in the tax year 2025-26 due to the freeze, with 2.5 million dragged into the higher tax band, which applies to those who earn more than £50,270.

Another 400,000 will start paying the additional rate threshold, which sees 45% paid on earnings above £125,140.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves decided not to unfreeze the thresholds in her maiden Budget. Had she increased them in line with inflation from March 2021, then the personal allowance would rise from £12,570 to £15,540 in April, and the higher rate band would be set at £62,340, OBR figures show.

A spokesman for the Treasury said: "We are committed to keeping taxes low for working people, which is why we protected payslips from tax rises and are not extending the freeze on personal tax thresholds past 2027-28."

Sarah Coles, Head of Personal Finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "More of us are taxpayers now, and more pay tax at higher rates. Gone are the days when being a higher-rate taxpayer was the preserve of the very wealthy – now, around a fifth of taxpayers pay higher or additional rates.

"Between us, we’re paying billions more in tax than we did this time last year, and it’s only going to get worse because those tax thresholds have been frozen until April 2028. It means the idea of generating a tax-free income has become even more attractive."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer insisted in the Commons on Wednesday that the Government can't tax its way out of the problems it faces.

He also strongly supported Ms Reeves after doubts were raised over whether her future in Number 11 is guaranteed amid high Government borrowing costs.

Sir Keir sought to dampen talk of an emergency Budget after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch questioned if one was expected.

The PM defended the Budget, adding: "When it comes to tax, [Mrs Badenoch] knows very well the limits of what I can say from this despatch box, but we have an ironclad commitment to our fiscal rules.

"We can't just tax our way out of the problems that they (the Conservatives) left us, which is why we put in place tough... spending decisions. They wouldn't take them, and we'll stick to those spending decisions and our focus is absolutely on growth."

It was her first big announcement and was designed to show financial markets that she was willing to play hardball with the UK finances, no matter what the political cost.

Treasury calculations suggested that she would save the nation £1.4billion a year. Which sounds a lot but is nothing compared to the sums she has subsequently squandered by her inept handling of the economy.

If she’d made a better fist of things, she’d have been able to retain the Winter Fuel Payment without breaking any of her blessed fiscal rules.

By my calculations, she could even have lifted it £1,800 a year.

In practice, Reeves saved less than the £1.4billion originally claimed because at the same time, she urged the poorest pensioners to claim means-tested state benefit Pension Credit.

A successful Pension Credit claim secures the Winter Fuel Payment and gives pensioners £3,900 in additional extra state benefits on average as well.

Think tank Policy in Practice reckons there were 158,000 more Pension Credit claims than the Treasury expected, at a cost of £246million.

Which cuts the Winter Fuel Payment saving to around £1.15billion.

That pales in comparison to the fortune Reeves wasted by allowing the economy to slither out of her control.

Scrapping the Winter Fuel Payment wasn't the only mistake she made. I put my thinking cap and quickly came up with 20, and there have been more since.

Talking down the economy, terrifying the nation with Budget tax threats and hitting businesses with £40billion of tax hikes are among the worst.

Reeves also rewrote her own “non-negotiable" fiscal rules to justify borrowing another £30 billion, leaving the nation’s finances on a knife edge.

She left herself with "fiscal headroom" of just £10billion. That's now been wiped out by the surge in gilt yields, as bond investors demand more to borrow from the UK because they don't trust Reeves to do her sums correctly.

Sanjay Raja, chief UK economist at Deutsche Bank, said the rise in gilt yields could add £10billion a year to cost of paying interest on the UK's annual debt.

That money comes from our taxes, remember.

In its original form, the Winter Fuel Payment cost the UK around £2billion a year. If Reeves hadn't squandered that £10billion she could have raised it sixfold and still broken even.

That would have been enough to increase the Winter Fuel Payment to £1,200 a year, up from £200 today.

And she could have increased the higher rate for the over 80s from £300 to £1,800.

I'm not saying Reeves would or should have done that. But it shows how the relatively tiny savings from the Winter Fuel Payment have been thrown away many times over.

Which won't please the estimated two million low income pensioners shivering at home because their annual income is just above the Pension Credit claims cut-off.

Nor does it justify the extra 4,000 deaths caused by scrapping the benefit, according to Labour's own calculations.

Reeves destroyed Labour's early popularity for tiny gain. Her subsequent errors have cost us a lot, lot more. And there are plenty more to come.

After last year's election PM Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Deputy PM Secretary Angela Rayner thought they were top dogs, but they're no longer in charge of events.

So who is telling the UK what to do?

President Donald Trump and US tech billionaire Elon Musk are giving it a go, but it’s not them. It isn't Nigel Farage either.

For years, Euro sceptics accused the EU of bossing us about, but it's not them either.

Our real lords and masters like to keep their heads down, but now they've been forced to give our government a public dressing down.

Rachel Reeves’ ears are still ringing, and will continue to ring until she’s fired.

So who is dictating UK economic and political policy?

The same people who’ve been running it for years. A shadowy group of international investors who go by the name of the bond market.

You didn't vote them in and you certainly cannot vote them out. Bond market representatives do not sit in Parliament or write the laws that govern our country.

They don't have a name, a face or an institutional body that sets out their policy or handles queries and complaints.

But we’re stuck with them, like it or not.

The bond market is made up of a global band of institutional investors such as big pension and sovereign wealth funds who buy government debt including UK gilts.

Governments rely on bond investors to fund spending and plug deficits, so have to keep them sweet.

If they turn against us, we're doomed.

This was the lesson that former Tory PM Liz Truss learned in September 2022, when she announced £43billion of unfunded tax cuts.

His mini-Budget fiasco triggered a bond market strike, as investors lost confidence in her handling of government spending and debt.

Yields on 10-year gilts rocketed to 4.22% and Truss was gone. The UK did as it was told.

The bond market has that power. In 1998, US President Bill Clinton’s political adviser James Carville called it more powerful than presidents and popes.

And now Reeves has handed it yet more power, with her Budget fiasco.

Reeves plans to borrow £297billion this year. That's a mind-boggling sum, and the only place she can raise it is the bond market.

So she needs to win its trust.

Instead, she's thrown it away by losing control of tax and spending, just like Truss did.

She's not up to the job and the bond market knows it.

As a result, so-called "bond vigilantes" are demanding higher rates of interest to buy UK government bonds. Yields on 30-year gilts have climbed to 4.89%. That's the highest since 1998.

This will cost taxpayers an extra £12billion a year in extra interest. Soon gilt yields could climb past 5%, costing us even more.

It's not all Labour's fault. The Tories piled up the debts during their 14 years in charge.

But Labour is the last straw. The UK is now the bond vigilantes' number one target.

Reeves is a mere puppet Chancellor. The bond market is her master now. And ours. Let's hope it doesn't cut the strings.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that over 1.1 million adults across Great Britain are now receiving support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for more than 85 musculoskeletal conditions. This refers to injuries and disorders affecting the body's movement or musculoskeletal system, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs, and blood vessels.

Arthritis is a broad term with common ones includes osteoarthritis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, gout, polymyalgia rheumatica, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis - to name a few.

You can claim for PIP to help with any of these conditions meaning that if you're over 16 and under State Pension age, it's woerth checking just in case. PIP - or ADP in Scotland - can help if your ability to work is limited due to your symptoms, you could qualify for 'new style' Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

A successful claim for PIP is currently between £28.70 and £184.30 each week in additional financial support. As the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £114.80 and £737.20 every pay period, reports the Daily Record.

In good news, payments are set to rise by 1.7 per cent from April. The average processing time for new PIP claims is 15 weeks, meaning applications submitted before the end of this month could be processed - and back payments issued - by the end of April.

New claims for ADP currently take an average of 10 weeks to process, so a new claim submitted this month could be processed by the end of March. The latest data shows that at the end of October 2024, over one million people were receiving support through PIP for Musculoskeletal conditions.

You can find the full list below of 87 musculoskeletal conditions which can potentially result in financial help such as daily living, mobility needs or both. It is not definitive, so if your condition does not appear, don't be put off making a claim as an award for PIP or ADP is about how the condition affects you, not the condition itself.

Musculoskeletal Conditions - General

Osteoarthritis	Osteoarthritis of Hip
	Osteoarthritis of Knee
	Osteoarthritis of other single joint
	Primary generalised Osteoarthritis
Chronic pain syndrome	Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
	Fibromyalgia
	Pain syndromes - Chronic - Other / type not known
Inflammatory arthritis	Ankylosing spondylitis
	Arthritis - Psoriatic
	Arthritis - Reactive
	Inflammatory arthritis - Other / type not known
	Juvenile chronic arthritis (Still's disease)
	Rheumatoid arthritis
Crystal deposition disorders	Crystal deposition disorders - Other / type not known
	Gout
	Pseudogout
Osteonecrosis and osteochondritis	Osteochondritis
	Osteonecrosis
Metabolic and endocrine disorders	Osteomalacia
	Osteoporosis
	Other metabolic and endocrine disorders of musculoskeletal system
	Paget's disease
	Rickets
Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations	Achondroplasia
	Epiphyseal dysplasia - multiple
	Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations - Other / type not known
	Hereditary multiple exostosis (diaphyseal aclasis)
	Hypermobility syndrome
	Marfan's syndrome
	Osteogenesis imperfecta
Benign tumours of bone	Tumours of bone - benign
Fracture complications	Compartment syndrome (Volkmann's ischaemia)
	Fracture complications - Other / type not known
	Sudek's atrophy
Other generalised musculoskeletal conditions	Generalised musculoskeletal disease - Other / type not known

Musculoskeletal Conditions - Regional

Shoulder disorders	Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
	Rotator cuff disorder
	Shoulder disorders - Other / type not known
	Shoulder instability
Elbow disorders	Elbow disorders - Other / type not known
	Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis)
	Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Wrist and hand disorders	Carpal tunnel syndrome
	Dupuytren's contracture
	Tendon lesions
	Tenosynovitis
	Wrist and hand disorders - Other / type not known
Neck disorders	Cervical disc lesion
	Cervical spondylosis
	Neck disorders - Other / type not known
	Whiplash injury
Non specific back pain	Back pain - Non specific (mechanical)
Specific back pain	Back pain - Specific - Other / type not known
	Kyphosis
	Lumbar disc lesion
	Lumbar spondylosis (OA spine)
	Schuermann's disease
	Scoliosis
	Spinal stenosis
	Spondylolisthesis
Hip disorders	Dislocation of the hip - congenital
	Hip disorders - Other / type not known
	Perthes disease
	Slipped upper femoral epiphysis
Knee disorders	Bursitis
	Chondromalacia patellae
	Knee disorders - Other / type not known
	Ligamentous instability of knee
	Meniscal lesions
	Osgood schlatters disease
	Osteochondritis dissecans
	Patellar dislocation - Recurrent
Ankle and foot disorders	Ankle and foot disorders - Other / type not known
	Club foot (talipes)
	Fore foot pain (Metatarsalgia)
	Hallux valgus /rigidus
Amputations	Amputation - Lower limb(s)
	Amputation - Upper limb(s)
	Amputations - Upper & Lower limb/s
Injuries/fracture/Dislocation	Abdomen - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
	Lower limb - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
	Multiple - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation
	Pelvis - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
	Spine - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of
	Thorax - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of
	Upper limb - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of
Other regional musculoskeletal disease	Musculoskeletal disease - Regional / Localised - Other / type not known

Who is eligible for PIP?

To be eligible for PIP you must have a health condition or disability where you:

You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply.

In addition to what we have outlined above if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP.

• preparing, cooking or eating food
• managing your medication
• washing, bathing or using the toilet
• dressing and undressing
• engaging and communicating with other people
• reading and understanding written information
• making decisions about money
• planning a journey or following a route
• moving around

There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the GOV.UK website here.

DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at:

• whether you can do it safely
• how long it takes you
• how often your condition affects this activity
• whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment

How are PIP and ADP paid?

PIP and ADP are usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account. ADP is paid at the same rates as PIP.

What are the PIP and ADP payment rates?

You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support.

PIP is made up of two components:

• Daily living

• Mobility

Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.

You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:

Daily living

Mobility

How you are assessed

You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments.

It's important to note that the health professional and DWP decide which type of assessment is best suited for each claimant. You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here.

How do you make a claim for PIP?

You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the GOV.UK website here.

Before you call, you will need:

• your contact details

• your date of birth

• your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits

• your bank or building society account number and sort code

• your doctor or health worker’s name, address and telephone number

• dates and addresses for any time you’ve spent abroad, in a care home or hospital