Helen Rush

The UK’s Labour government has made employment a cornerstone of its economic growth strategy, recognizing the significant social costs associated with unemployment and aiming to increase employment by approximately two million people. To achieve this ambitious goal, the government has allocated £240 million for reforms focused on restructuring the Jobcentre and addressing health-related inactivity. A critical concern for the government …

The UK’s ambitious goal of transitioning to 100% “green” energy by the end of this decade has hit a significant snag. This lofty aspiration, once a cornerstone of the Labour Party’s environmental pledges, has been significantly watered down. Just six months into their term and faced with a budget deficit of tens of billions of pounds, the reality check has …

In the UK, the latest government proposals for salary increases in the public sector for the 2025-26 period have sparked intense debates and criticism from various professional groups. The government has recommended a 5.5% to 6% pay increase for many public sector workers, including teachers, NHS employees, and senior government officials, although some reports suggest a figure as low as …

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is encouraging families in Great Britain to submit their applications for Child Benefit promptly, highlighting the benefits of the new digital platform in accelerating the payment process. However, HMRC has warned that some payments may be delayed due to the holiday season. The introduction of the digital application system has been well-received by parents, with …

The possibility of the UK rejoining the EU’s Erasmus student exchange program has been a topic of discussion, particularly as it could be a component of Keir Starmer’s strategy to enhance post-Brexit relations with the EU. There is growing pressure for the UK to re-enter the Erasmus programme, which was replaced by the national Turing Scheme after Brexit. Proponents of …

The plight of households using prepayment meters (PPM) for their energy needs has been highlighted by leading poverty groups, who warn that these families are often overlooked, particularly in the context of government decarbonisation plans. According to the Resolution Foundation, households relying on PPMs are disproportionately affected by high energy prices, especially during the winter months when energy consumption is …

In Domestic Affairs Retail sector may lose 200,000 jobs due to budget cuts, with independent stores facing average annual losses of over £5,000

The year 2025 is set to bring a array of financial changes that will significantly impact household budgets in the UK. Here are the key details and potential implications of these changes. One of the immediate challenges households will face is the increase in energy bills. As of January 2025, the energy price cap set by Ofgem, the energy market …

The quest for an anti-ageing vaccine to prevent cognitive deterioration has been a long-standing goal in medicine, often considered the Holy Grail of medical research. However, recent advancements suggest that this may no longer be an unattainable dream. The key to this breakthrough lies in the development of “immune system-oriented” therapies, which work by either stimulating or suppressing the immune …

The United Kingdom is implementing a groundbreaking artificial intelligence system called AI Humphrey to revolutionize its public administration and eliminate long-standing inefficiencies in government operations. This initiative, spearheaded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, aims to streamline processes, reduce administrative burdens, and deliver more efficient services to citizens.