Thameslink to Replace 60,000 'Ironing-Board' Seats From 2027
Thameslink will replace 60,000 'ironing-board' seat cushions across its Class 700 fleet from 2027, with new spring and memory foam cushions, winged backrests and seat back tables.
MenB Behind 97% of Meningococcal Cases in 15 to 24s, UKHSA Says
UKHSA figures show MenB caused 97% of invasive meningococcal disease cases in 15 to 24 year olds in England in 2025 to 2026: 93 of 96 cases. A time limited NHS MenB vaccination programme for school leavers and first year students is under way.
CMA Warns Heating Oil Suppliers Over Unfair Cancellation Terms
On 10 September 2026 the CMA published an open letter to heating oil suppliers, reminding them that contract terms must be fair and transparent.
iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro UK Prices: From £1,199 to £3,199
Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, starts at £1,999 in the UK, rising to £3,199 for 2TB. Pre-orders open 1pm BST Friday 16 October 2026, with on sale Friday 23 October. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at £1,199, and the Pro Max at £1,299.
England landlord register starts 15 December 2026
England's landlord registration service launches 15 December 2026 in the West Midlands, rolling out over 12 months with a deadline of 14 November 2027 for all letting landlords. HMRC's Valuation Office will decide rent increase challenges.
PIP award lengths: what DWP data shows and how the June 2026 extension rules work
DWP figures show 1,804,025 of 3.9 million PIP claimants hold awards of five years or more. New regulations in force since 2 June 2026 let the DWP extend fixed-term awards instead of reassessing them on schedule.
Triple lock: what Tuesday's earnings figure means for the 2027 state pension
State pension spending is set to hit £154bn this year and the IFS says the triple lock has added around £16bn a year since 2010. The ONS earnings figure due 15 September will set the April 2027 rise.
UK investors pull £601m from UK equity funds in August
Calastone data shows UK investors pulled £315m from equity funds in August 2026, with UK equity funds losing £601m. Equity outflows since June 2025 now total £15.16bn as bond and money market funds attract cash.
Council merger plans paused: what it means for council tax and 2027 elections
Council mergers in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk are withdrawn and 14 more areas paused for legal review. May 2027 elections stay on existing boundaries; only Surrey's reorganisation continues.
Whitbread shuts all 89 Brewers Fayre sites; Beefeater next
Brewers Fayre shuts all 89 UK sites today and Beefeater's 106 follow on 10 September. Whitbread expects around 3,800 roles to go from a 30,000 workforce as sites become Premier Inn rooms.
Growth speech: what it signals for the October Budget
The Chancellor's growth speech sets up the Budget on 28 October 2026. What was committed to, what was left open on tax, and what it means for households and businesses.
JLR cuts 4,000 roles: what voluntary redundancy means
JLR will cut around 4,000 roles over two years via voluntary redundancy, targeting £1.7bn of savings. How voluntary terms differ from statutory redundancy, and how the payment is taxed.
Self Assessment: register by 5 October or face a penalty
First-time Self Assessment filers for 2025-26 must register with HMRC by 5 October 2026. Who needs to register, and how failure to notify penalties are calculated.
Immigration rules HC 584: what changes on 8 October
Statement of Changes HC 584 was published on 3 September 2026, with most changes in force from 8 October 2026. Which routes are affected and where transitional protection does not apply.
Minimum wage: 658 employers named, how to check your pay
658 employers were named on 3 September 2026 for minimum wage underpayment, returning around £4m to over 27,000 workers. How to check your own pay and claim arrears.
Gatwick runway closure: your flight delay rights
A 50 minute runway closure at Gatwick on 4 September 2026 delayed more than 330 flights. Why cash compensation is unlikely, and what airlines still owe under duty of care.
iTalk Telecom administration: what customers should do
iTalk Affiliate Telecommunications Ltd entered administration on 28 August 2026. What happens to broadband service, direct debits, contracts and switching rights.
Winter Fuel Payment Opt-Out Deadline 2026: Key Facts
The Winter Fuel Payment opt-out deadline for 2026 is not yet confirmed, but in previous years it has been around 20 September. Eligible households born between 28 Sep 1946 and 27 Jun 1960 may receive £200. Check your eligibility and decide whether to opt out.
HMRC to review 107,000 tax calculations after error
HMRC is manually checking 107,000 tax calculations from 2025-26 after a five-year-old allowance ordering fault. Who is affected, how to check a calculation and how to reclaim an overpayment.
Primera Sports Closure: How Deposit Customers Can Reclaim
Bournemouth bike retailer Primera Sports has ceased trading after 34 years. What deposit customers should do to reclaim, and why the card route beats the administrator.
Wayfairer Travel Collapse: How to Get Your Refund
Wayfairer Travel has suspended all services and customers departing on or before 30 September 2026 are told not to travel. Refund routes by booking type, ATOL, bonding and Section 75.
Am I Being Paid Minimum Wage? The Named List and Checks
The UK minimum wage is £12.71 (21+) from April 2026. The Fair Work Agency named 658 underpaying employers. The three ways you can be underpaid without realising, and how to reclaim.
Before You Act on Pension Transfer Advice: Check the Adviser
Before acting on pension transfer advice, check your adviser is a qualified Pension Transfer Specialist with FCA permissions. Advice is required for transfers of £30,000 or more; how to verify free.
SLC Business Plan 2026/27: Maintenance Grants Return in 2028, LLE From January 2027
SLC's 2026/27 plan: Lifelong Learning Entitlement live for January 2027 starts, maintenance grants back for 2028/29, Alternative Student Finance after the LLE, a £324.8bn loan book and 91% repayment-efficiency target. What each change means for students and graduates, with the numbers from the plan.
LGBT Veterans: Claim Up to £70,000 by 12 December
LGBT veterans affected by the pre-2000 armed forces ban can claim up to £70,000 in financial recognition. Who qualifies, the two payments, and how to apply free before 12 December 2026.
Range Rover Electric: £154,070 to Buy, What It Costs to Run, and How It Compares With Rivals
Range Rover Electric is on sale from £154,070, £6,390 above the V8 Autobiography, with SV models from £215,670: 550PS, 372 miles WLTP, 22-minute rapid charging. What it costs to buy, tax, insure and charge, and how it lines up against the Mercedes G 580, BMW iX and Porsche Cayenne Electric.
Gamma's £1.02bn Epiris Takeover: What It Means for Business Users
Epiris is buying Gamma Communications for 1,120p a share, valuing it at £1.02bn. What the take-private means for Gamma's business phone, SIP and UCaaS customers and resellers.
Waste Crime Heat Maps: How They Work and What They Reveal
A waste crime heat map turns 10,238 public reports into a density picture of England. How the Environment Agency builds one, what it reveals, its blind spots, and how to report.
Vaping Products Duty: The 2.20 Tax and Duty Stamps Explained
Vaping Products Duty starts 1 October 2026: £2.20 per 10ml on all vaping liquids, nicotine or not. What changes for prices, plus the business deadlines and duty stamps.
Premium Bonds Prize Checker: How to Check If You Have Won
Premium Bonds are drawn on the first working day of each month. Check free with the NS&I prize checker. Odds are 21,000 to 1 per £1 bond, with tax-free prizes from £25 to £1 million.