The Guardian2 hours agoNottingham named worst UK city for broadband outagesverified_publisherThe Guardian - Mark SweneyAlmost 11 million consumers have suffered a broadband blackout lasting more than three hours over the last year, with Nottingham named Britain’s “outage capital”. The average UK household lost a total of almost two days of internet time as a result of loss of service, power cuts and maintenance, …
The Guardian10 hours agoSunak to consider fuel duty cut amid claims petrol prices are ‘pump fiction’verified_publisherThe Guardian - Alex Lawson Energy correspondentRishi Sunak has promised to consider another cut to fuel duty amid claims that prices at forecourts are “pump fiction” as they fail to reflect wholesale costs. The chancellor said on Tuesday that he would examine whether to reduce the levy further after cutting it by 5p a litre in March. Sunak is …
The Guardian19 hours agoI’m desperate after being without a UK passport for 12 weeksverified_publisherThe Guardian - Zoe WoodI am a 54-year-old Spaniard who recently became a naturalised British citizen after 25 years living in England. In March I applied for my first British passport. I was required to send my Spanish passport and naturalisation certificate as supporting documentation. When I applied on 21 March there was …
The Guardian20 hours agoCancelled flight? Shoddy clothing? Disappointing meal? Blame skimpflation, the hidden curse of 2022verified_publisherThe Guardian - Zoe WoodDid your flight get cancelled in the school holidays? Has the delivery of your new sofa been delayed? Was your last meal out disappointing? Are your new socks see-through? Are you reading this while you are on hold to customer services? Does everything feel just a little bit worse? The cost of …
The Guardian1 day agoHow pensioners have been left in dire straitsverified_publisherThe Guardian - LettersI was disappointed to see Nils Pratley (The chancellor’s position on lifting the state pension makes no sense, 23 June) support the contention that the UK can’t afford a cost of living increase in pensions . A 10% rise in the state pension of £9,500 is £950 – compare that with the likely £1,800 …
The Guardian3 days agoHMRC sent in the heavies even though I paid tax for mother’s carerverified_publisherThe Guardian - Simon HattenstoneIt was my worst nightmare. Setting a payroll, sorting out holidays and tax and national insurance for other people. Becoming an employer. But that’s what it had come to. At 93, my mother, Marje, was no longer capable of looking after herself but she didn’t want to leave Manchester to live with me or …