The under-pressure builder Bellway has hailed the government’s planning system revamp, arguing it will “unlock” new housing across the country, as councils received £68m to construct thousands of homes on disused brownfield sites. In comments released as it reported a sharp fall in revenues and profits, the UK housebuilder said the drive by the deputy…

Keir Starmer has twice refused to rule out a rise in employers’ national insurance contributions in the budget, stressing Labour’s manifesto promise was that it would not raise taxes on working people. His words came as the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, gave a strong hint on Monday that the rise was in her sights at the…

Google has signed a “world first” deal to buy energy from a fleet of mini nuclear reactors to generate the power needed for the rise in use of artificial intelligence. The US tech corporation has ordered six or seven small nuclear reactors (SMRs) from California’s Kairos Power, with the first due to be completed by…

Rachel Reeves has dropped a broad hint that she plans to increase employers’ national insurance contributions as part of a package of measures in the budget. If the chancellor does go ahead with what is in effect a tax on jobs she will be doing so at a time when the labour market is clearly…

I cancelled my RAC membership last year, so I was surprised to receive an email recently that offered me “an extra year’s membership – completely free”. I rang to ensure the offer wasn’t a scam and was told that the year’s membership would, indeed, be free – unless I had a breakdown and required roadside…

Name: Landlines. Age: 148 years old. Appearance: A cable attached to your phone that’s tied to your house. I haven’t had a landline for years. Oh, you young whippersnapper! You’re really missing out. On what, exactly? On so much! Telling the caller your full telephone number when answering the phone, being trapped in a room…