Shoppers are waking up to a grim council budget fight in west London as Kensington and Chelsea consults on how to plug a £130m gap, with proposals that could affect everything from free staff flu jabs to targeted domestic violence support. Here’s what residents need to know, why it matters,…

Shoppers and residents are watching closely after a high-profile local switch, as Hounslow councillor Vickram Grewal left Labour to join the Conservatives , the fourth resignation from Hounslow Labour in seven days and a flashpoint ahead of the 2026 local elections. The move ramps up debate about council finances, local…

Shoppers are turning their attention to NHS accountability as a coroner blasts disjointed care at King’s College Hospital after Joan Talbot, 74, died of sepsis following recurrent infections and radiation damage. The Prevention of Future Deaths report raises concerns about poor continuity between teams and delayed investigations that may have…

Shoppers and drivers are watching as Transport for London trims the electric vehicle (EV) congestion charge exemption, a move that changes discounts from January 2026 and matters for motorists, couriers and businesses across the capital. Here’s a clear, practical guide to the changes, why critics say it’s a backward step,…

Shoppers and commuters are noticing the conversation about the Freedom Pass heating up. London councils are facing a roughly £40m jump in costs next year, and with 1.2 million passes in use the scheme’s future matters to anyone who commutes, shops or visits family across the capital. Budget pressure: The…

Shoppers are turning their attention to mental health campaigns as Bipolar UK pushes a clear message: maybe it’s bipolar. The charity warns that around one million people in the UK could be living with bipolar disorder and many are undiagnosed, with diagnosis taking an average of nine-and-a-half years , a…

Shoppers are turning to practical answers as schools, parents and politicians spar over whether to ban mobile phones in classrooms. Private school leaders say Labour should resist an outright ban, arguing policies must suit local communities, while ministers press for tighter controls to protect pupil wellbeing and behaviour. Local nuance…

Shoppers are waking up to worrying figures as lung problems drive a surge in emergency NHS admissions this winter, leaving hospitals at risk of being overwhelmed. Patients, clinicians and Asthma and Lung UK say patchy routine care and higher viral activity have combined to create repeat A&E visits and dangerous…

Shoppers? No , communities are turning to a new plan. Ministers have unveiled England’s first Men’s Health Strategy, promising targeted support for men in ex‑mining and industrial towns, with a £1 million boost to spot and treat respiratory illness where it matters most. Targeted cash injection: £1 million added to…

Shoppers and commuters are celebrating after Barnet Council scrapped plans for a controversial Finchley bus lane, but questions remain about who pays and why the reversal happened. Residents say the U‑turn matters for traffic, parking and neighbourhood life , and many want clarity on the cash already set aside for…

Shoppers of financial data and market-watchers are tracking a legal twist in London after the Financial Conduct Authority asked a court to lift the suspension on the UK’s bond consolidated tape award. The move could restart plans to stream all UK bond trading data into one feed, a potentially big…

Shoppers, commuters and first-time buyers are watching new planning changes that mean a “default yes” for housing within a 15-minute walk of well‑connected train and tram stations. Owners, councils and developers in England are braced for faster decisions, fewer formal consultees and fresh powers for ministers , all aimed at…