Displaying items by tag: United Kingdom

The Bank of England's interest rate hikes, aimed at reducing inflation, have led to a slowdown in the UK housing market. Recent data reveals a significant drop in house prices, the largest since October 2011. This decline, most pronounced in London, reflects the impact of pandemic-driven price surges. Despite this decrease, the housing market faces long-term challenges. Interest rates have risen, functioning slowly like drip filter coffee, and have a delayed effect on the market. This delay is due to the time taken for banks to adjust mortgage rates and for these changes to be reflected in official statistics. The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a 1.2% drop in house prices over a year, marking the fastest decline in over a decade. Financial markets anticipate rate cuts next year, which could revive the market. However, the overall cost of living remains high, with increased expenses from food to household bills. Over a million people will face higher mortgage costs next year.

Penny Mordaunt, a UK cabinet minister, has revealed that her WhatsApp conversations with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, relating to Covid, were mysteriously deleted from her phone. She provided this information in her evidence to the Covid inquiry, and mentioned that the former chief of staff at No 10, Dan Rosenfield, did not respond to 14 requests for a meeting to discuss the missing communications. This adds pressure on Johnson, who previously informed the inquiry that around 5,000 messages from his old phone, covering January to June 2020, could not be accessed. His lawyers suggested an automatic factory reset of the phone might be the cause. Mordaunt expressed willingness to have her phone examined by the inquiry if it would help. Johnson himself speculated at the inquiry that the disappearance might be due to the WhatsApp app malfunctioning and automatically erasing messages. He claimed that he had not removed any messages and had provided all relevant information to the inquiry.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, has warned that upcoming strikes by junior doctors could push the NHS to a tipping point early in the new year. The strikes coincide with typical winter pressures, including cold weather illnesses, bed shortages, and increases in norovirus cases, potentially overwhelming the health service. Junior doctors in England have been on strike this week, and are planning a six-day stoppage from 3 January. The strikes have already led to the postponement of outpatient appointments and operations, with Cheltenham general hospital closing its A&E unit due to staff shortages. The dispute centres on their demands for a 35% pay rise. Recent talks between the British Medical Association and the department of health have not resolved the issue. Dr Vivek Trivedi, for the BMA, argues that the Government's offer of an additional 3% pay rise is insufficient. He emphasises that junior doctors need fair pay to prevent them from seeking employment abroad, and believes the public still supports their right to strike.

The UK government is introducing a law allowing police to run facial recognition searches on a database of fifty million driving licence holders. This change, part of a new criminal justice bill, will enable the police to match images from sources like CCTV and social media with driving licence records. Privacy campaigners warn that this effectively places all UK drivers in a 'permanent police lineup' without clear limits or independent oversight. There are concerns about the lack of public debate and consultation on this significant expansion of police powers. The technology's potential for false identifications, particularly among black and Asian faces, adds to the controversy. The change also raises questions about the legitimacy and proportionality of such widespread surveillance. The Home Office maintains that Clause 21 in the bill merely clarifies police use of DVLA records but does not grant automatic access for facial recognition. However, the move comes as part of broader efforts to integrate various databases into a single system for easier image-matching.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, seems to be cautiously moving towards a deal that could see his party return to Stormont. He acknowledges the final stages of negotiation as the most challenging, hinting at internal party disputes. This development follows the collapse of Northern Ireland’s government in February 2022 over post-Brexit trading arrangements, known as the Irish Sea border. The key issue is the proposed UK Internal Market Act amendment, ensuring Northern Ireland businesses can access the UK market. However, this primarily addresses goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, not the reverse, which involves checks and paperwork under the Windsor Framework. The DUP appears open to some checks to prevent criminality and smuggling. Additionally, measures to reinforce Northern Ireland's union status, such as a new East-West council, are being discussed, but their decision-making power is uncertain. The government is eager for a quick decision, with a potential financial incentive of above £2.5 billion. If no agreement is reached soon, secretary of state Chris Heaton may need to take decisive action, potentially concluding negotiations with the DUP and revealing the proposed deal.

The NHS is confronting escalating A&E wait times as it faces one of its most difficult winters. In England, only 69.7% of patients were seen within the four-hour target last month. Ambulance delays have worsened, with one-third of patients experiencing waits of more than 30 minutes at hospitals. The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) reported significant ambulance service delays, leading to 149,000 lost hours and potential harm to 37,000 patients. The College of Paramedics highlighted the urgent need for investment in ambulance services and emergency department improvements. Despite preparations, the NHS's situation remains challenging compared to last year. The Health Foundation notes that its performance this winter depends on weather and seasonal viruses. Lib Dem spokeswoman Daisy Cooper criticised the government for inadequate preparation. NHS England's medical director and PM Rishi Sunak acknowledged the challenges, mentioning government efforts in early planning and funding to enhance A&E, ambulance services, and patient discharge processes.

The Bank of England has maintained its interest rate at 5.25% for the third consecutive meeting. This decision reflects the Bank's stance that borrowing costs need to remain high for an extended period to combat inflation, which is still well above the target rate. Unlike the US Federal Reserve, which hinted at potential rate cuts next year, the Bank of England, led by Andrew Bailey, suggests that the UK is not yet in a position to consider such reductions. Bailey expressed that it is too early to speculate about cutting rates, emphasising the need for more progress in controlling inflation. The decision was not unanimous, with three members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) arguing for a rate increase, but they were outnumbered by the six others. Despite faster-than-expected inflation drops and signs of economic weakness, the Bank is cautious about reducing rates too soon, fearing a resurgence in inflation. Bailey noted that while significant progress has been made in reducing inflation from over 10% in January to 4.6% in October, there is still a journey ahead to reach the 2% target.

Charities have expressed outrage as the Government demoted the disability minister role - during Disability History Month. The vacancy arose when Tom Pursglove became legal migration minister. Mims Davies, the new appointee, will maintain her focus on social mobility from her previous role as minister for social mobility, youth, and progression. Disability charities criticised the move, highlighting it as the longest gap without a minister in thirty years. Downing Street refuted claims of downgrading the position, insisting that a minister for disabled people would remain. However, the charities argue that the minister should not have divided responsibilities and demand the restoration of a dedicated minister of state. James Taylor from Scope emphasised the need for a full-time leader for disability strategy in government. The National Autistic Society's Tim Nicholls called for clarity on the role's scope and reassurance that disabled people's needs are a priority. Meanwhile, a government spokesperson stated that  Davies would continue supporting disabled people, noting achievements in employment and financial aid for the disabled.

After an expensive 2023 harvest, this autumn's weather has not been kind to farmers. Very dry conditions quickly turned to very wet. Crops thought to be safely growing have been overwhelmed by waterlogging and even flooding, with slugs and flea beetles adding to the damage. The political backdrop to this is a fundamental change in the way farming is funded. The Basic Payment Scheme, which has supported farmers to produce food, is being phased out in favour of incentives which exclusively support environmental benefits. However, while adjusting to the new situation, we give thanks to the Lord for 'Natural England' and 'Catchment Sensitive Farming', which are doing a great job of educating farmers and signposting available support, and for 'Farming Community Network', which provides practical help to those in difficulties. Pray for all in farming who are feeling weighed down by the burdens of weather, finance and regulation, for Christian farmers seeking to farm to God's glory, and for those who open their farms to schoolchildren and others.

A 17-year-old English boy, Alex Batty, who went missing in Spain in 2017, has been found in the town of Revel, France, six years after his disappearance. He is in good health, and is now awaiting the arrival of British authorities. His mother and grandfather, who took him on holiday and do not have parental guardianship, remain wanted in connection with his disappearance. Alex had been living in a spiritual community in Morocco, as his grandmother, his legal guardian, had previously suggested. He decided to leave the community and embark on his own path, eventually making his way to France. After walking through the Pyrenees foothills for days, he was spotted by a local delivery driver who picked him up. The area is known for attracting people in search of alternative lifestyles.