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Rapid rent rises combined with frozen housing benefits are set to push more people into crisis if Labour does not act, a damning new report has warned.The affordability gap between rental prices and support for low-income tenants is set to reach a record 17 per cent next year, findings from the influential Resolution Foundation show. This represents an average shortfall of £104 a month – or just over £1,200 a year – as households are forced to face rising debt or homelessness.Without action the figure will reach 25 per cent by 2029-2030, the think tank adds, meaning an average shortfall of £180 a month.Local housing allowance, which sets housing benefit rates, has been frozen by the Labour government until at least 2026, following a brief unfreeze in April 2024. This is the formula that sets how much funding the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will give each council to administer housing benefit, uprating it to cover at least the cheapest 30 per cent of rents in the area that year.The funding gap for housing benefit is most stark in London, a new report shows More

France may reverse its pledge to forcefully turn back small boats in the Channel, according to reports, in a blow to Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to stem the number of migrants arriving in the UK. France is backing away from the commitment amid political turmoil in the French government, according to sources who have spoken to the BBC.Then-home secretary Yvette Cooper said in April that she had “persuaded France to change its rules”, with the French agreeing to intervene once migrants are in the water to stop the crossings. Previously, French police had not taken active steps against migrants once they were in the water due to the danger to life. Ms Cooper promised in April that the changes would come in “over the next few months”, and French police officers were filmed by media in July wading into shallow waters and using knives to slash an inflatable small boat. Now sources have told the BBC that the plan to intercept the dinghies has halted. One figure linked to French maritime security said it was “just a political stunt”. Migrants try to board smugglers’ boats in an attempt to cross the English Channel off the beach of Gravelines, northern France, in September More

Pressure is mounting on Prince Andrew to give up his Windsor mansion and “take himself off to live in private” as a group of MPs urges the government to formally strip him of his dukedom. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the public is “sick” of the disgraced royal, after it emerged he had paid only a peppercorn rent on his 30-room mansion for more than 20 years. Andrew announced he will give up use of his royal titles amid renewed focus on his links to Jeffrey Epstein. The prince vehemently denies the allegations that Virginia Giuffre, whose posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl was officially published on Tuesday, was forced to have sex with him three times after being trafficked by the billionaire financier.“He’s embarrassed the royal family time and again,” Mr Jenrick said, adding that Andrew has behaved “disgracefully”. “He should really now leave public life forever, stop having any subsidy from the taxpayer whatsoever and go and lead an entirely private life. The public are sick of Prince Andrew and the damage that he’s done to the reputation of our royal family and this country.” Activists from the anti-monarchy group Republic protest on Tuesday at the gates to Royal Lodge where Prince Andrew lives More

British troops will be given new powers to shoot down drones threatening UK and US military bases with plans to extend them to protecting airports.Defence secretary John Healey is set to unveil his vision on how to protect Britain’s most critical military bases in response to a growing threat posed by Russia today in his Mansion House speech.Although the new powers will initially apply only to military sites, the government was “not ruling out working to extend those powers” to other important sites like airports, the Telegraph said, citing a source.Currently, troops can use specialist counter-drone equipment, which can track incoming drones, hijack signals, and divert them.The new proposal will give soldiers or Ministry of Defence Police a “kinetic option” to shoot them on site, which they can only do now in extreme circumstances.Defence Secretary John Healey More

“There is often half the month where I’m making ends meet with my credit card,” confessed Kirsty, a single mother of three. “Money runs out quickly.”She claims Universal Credit and the youngest of her children attends pre-school three days a week, so requires a packed lunch. “I often will spend £10-plus on lunchbox items every few days topping up bread, cheese, butter, crisps, yoghurts, fruit… It adds up very quickly to a very scary amount.”And this situation is likely to continue for hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged young children despite government plans to expand free school meals next year, according to a new report.Around 290,000 children under five are set not to receive free meals as the expansion will not extend to most nurseries and childcare settings, experts from food policy research group Bremner & Co found.Sponsored by The Food Foundation, Impact on Urban Health and the Early Years Food Coalition, the report finds that this will create a “stark disparity” between childcare settings, urging the government to ensure the policy reaches all children.Around 290,000 children under five will not receive free meals, as the expansion does not extend to nurseries and childcare settings More

Ferrari has reduced the number of cars it sells in the UK after wealthy residents are leaving the country following the scrapping of the non-dom tax status. In a bid to prevent a decline in the residual value of the luxury Italian cars, Ferrari said it began limiting the number of vehicles it exported to the UK six months ago. Benedetto Vigna, the chief executive of the carmaker, said the company had seen a “stabilisation” in sales following the reduction of vehicles allocated to the UK. “Some people are getting out of that country for tax reasons,” he told the Financial Times, but added that “there are many different factors” for a decline in residual values. “Maybe when you sell to the UK, that car cannot be sold somewhere else [because of its right-hand wheel],” he said. Benedetto Vigna, the chief executive of Ferrari, says company has seen a ‘stablisation’ following reduction of vehicles sent to UK More

A government-backed scheme to fit homes with external wall insulation has left thousands of households worse off, with many experiencing damp, mould, and other serious issues.The National Audit Office found almost all homes fitted under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme – which was launched under the previous Tory government – are facing major issues and need major repairs due to poor oversight.Independent readers criticised the scheme, arguing that older UK housing is often unsuitable for such retrofits. Some even suggested the country needs a complete refresh of its housing stock rather than doubling down on “dangerous” modifications.While some acknowledged that new builds now meet higher insulation standards, others argued Britain overvalues older properties at the expense of safety and efficiency. Many emphasised that insulation alone cannot solve issues such as condensation, urging households to combine ventilation, heating, and lifestyle changes.Many also felt that the inadequate work backed by the scheme was an inevitable consequence of favouring large, distant contractors over local tradesmen, leaving smaller firms excluded and households with limited support if problems arise. Several readers blamed civil service incompetence, saying officials must be held accountable to prevent repeated failures.Here’s what you had to say:Condensation requires more than insulationInsulation on its own is not the answer. To avoid condensation and mould growth, adequate heating and ventilation must be provided too, along with a change in lifestyle. Windows must be opened when bathing, showering, or cooking. Clothes should not be dried indoors, and the home should be properly aired once a day. I know this always results in long faces and excuses from householders, but it is the only way to combat condensation and mould growth in homes. Fur-QThe structure of the schemes need to be changedThis scheme, like most government schemes of the sort, cannot be accessed by the smaller (and therefore more local) tradesmen. This is probably not important in London, where most civil servants believe the population lives, but out in the sticks it means that anyone in Cumbria, Durham, or Northumberland can only be serviced by firms based in Newcastle. If I were spending my own money, I would never use such a company, whatever their reputation, because it is more important to have a local base to contact in case of trouble. The structure of the schemes needs to be fundamentally changed to be fully supportive of the local building industry. MorphanielGoals not realisticThis is a result of the desired result not being realistic nor achievable. Just because old housing is not suited to heat-loss reduction doesn’t mean it can be retro-adapted. A lack of awareness on the part of those who set these goals. They should be publicly named as an example to future governments. McCluskey seems to have put his head on the block. Geoff AllibonePerhaps we need new housingHonestly, if so many homes have been made worse or dangerous because of these works, instead of assuming every installer is an incompetent cowboy, maybe UK homes just do not work with this type of work and should be pulled down and replaced with new housing. Obviously, this could not happen overnight, but plans should be put in place immediately to refresh our housing stock. daysocksCivil service incompetenceAnother example of civil service incompetence. We really need a fundamental change that enables prosecution of officials as they do in the US. All that will happen is another enquiry where lawyers get rich, and no one is held accountable. From Grenfell to grooming gangs to the Post Office again and again, we are let down and lives ruined by public officials. JSMill88What a mess. I know people who’re still waiting on problems caused by cavity wall insulation being remedied. So God knows how long this mess will take to rectify. Works are not being properly supervised or inspected. SweetswingNew buildsWe have neglected installing proper insulation for far too long. It should surely be installed as standard on all new builds, and we should install solar panels on all south-facing roofs in new houses. 49ninerLevel older propertiesWe do have decent insulation standards on new builds, and solar panels must be fitted on all new build homes by 2027. Part of Britain’s problem is that we fetishise older properties on spurious “heritage” grounds when we should be levelling them and starting over. Once upon a time, “slum clearance” was seen as a desirable objective. SteveHillSome of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity.Want to share your views? Simply register your details below. Once registered, you can comment on the day’s top stories for a chance to be featured. Alternatively, click ‘log in’ or ‘register’ in the top right corner to sign in or sign up.Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. For a full guide on how to comment click here. More

Sir Keir Starmer is looking to cut “red tape” believed to impede pubs from hosting live music and food pop-ups. The prime minister, calling pubs “the beating heart” of UK communities, has launched a four-week “blitz” survey of landlords, customers, and neighbours. This initiative could lead to a bonfire of old licensing rules, amid fears some historic venues have shut due to noise complaints or advertising concerns.It also means pubs could be granted extended opening hours, allowing them to keep serving longer into the night, according to the BBC.Under current licensing rules, English and Welsh pubs do not have universal opening hours. Local authorities are responsible for granting licences to individual pubs.“Pubs and bars are the beating heart of our communities,” Sir Keir said, and added that the government was “backing them to thrive”.He continued: “This review is about cutting red tape, boosting footfall, and making it easier for venues to put on the kind of events that bring people together.“When our locals do well, our economy does too.”Business and trade secretary Peter Kyle said: “This review will help us cut through the red tape that has held back our brilliant hospitality sector, giving them the freedom to flourish while keeping communities safe.“That is the balance we’re trying to strike.No more last orders? Pubs could be allowed to keep serving pints longer into the night More