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Wednesday, July 15, 2026 pension tax triplelock hmrc statepension dwp retirement inflation pensionpolicy personalfinance

Around 820,000 state pensioners are expected to start paying income tax on their Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) state pension alone within the next two years. This increase is largely driven by the Triple Lock … Read More

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 football preseason birminghamcity solihullmoors friendly kickoff teamnews livestream squad matchpreview sport

Birmingham City is set to face Solihull Moors in their second pre-season friendly of the summer. Fans are eagerly anticipating the match, which promises to provide valuable insights into Birmingham City’s preparations … Read More

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 grandmother stabbing violence birmingham greatbarr knife assault crime sentencing familydispute

Linda Clifford, 61, has been sentenced to prison after stabbing her son-in-law, Richard Evans, in the neck outside his home in Great Barr, Birmingham. The violent incident occurred shortly after her daughter’s breakup, which … Read More

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 westmidlands blackcountry speeding traffic roadsafety speedcameras enforcement commuters fines highways

A notorious one-mile section of the Black Country New Road has become one of the busiest hotspots for speeding violations in the West Midlands. Equipped with average speed cameras, this stretch records thousands of speeding … Read More

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 nhs cancer aewaitingtimes birmingham blackcountry healthcare performance diagnosis treatment nhsperformance

NHS leaders in Birmingham and the Black Country have expressed concerns about the region’s performance in critical healthcare areas, particularly cancer treatment and A&E waiting times. These issues were highlighted … Read More

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 birmingham murder gang crime investigation convictions violence unsolved parry winsongreen

The murder of Gavin Parry, an alleged member of the Burger Bar Boys gang, occurred in 2021 at a car repair unit located in Winson Green, Birmingham. Despite thorough investigations, the case remains unsolved. Authorities have … Read More

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 dudley council refuse collections recycling finance tax service waste funding

Dudley Council has ruled out issuing council tax refunds to residents experiencing delayed bin collections, despite widespread complaints and operational setbacks. During the council meeting on July 13, members of the ruling … Read More

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 assault solihull popworld earbiting attack crime police investigation justice victim

A man who suffered a horrific assault outside Solihull Popworld, where part of his ear was bitten off, says he is still “living with the consequences” more than 16 months later. The attack happened in the early … Read More

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 assault police drinking anger nhs emergency racism wolverhampton court sentencing

An NHS 111 operator in Wolverhampton narrowly avoided jail after assaulting police officers outside his home, triggered by devastating family news and alcohol, a court was told. On August 11, 2024, 36-year-old Aniel Kang’s … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 taxation andyburnham hmrc marginaltaxrate income benefits universalcredit childbenefit taxreform economicgrowth

Andy Burnham, the newly elected Labour MP for Makerfield and likely next Prime Minister, has been urged to tackle a critical tax issue impacting British taxpayers. A recent report from Policy Exchange, supported by former … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 birmingham gaming resortsworld firstroll social games experience entertainment launch adults

Resorts World Birmingham has unveiled an exciting new venue this weekend, promising visitors “a brand new games experience like no other.” First Roll, now open at the shopping centre’s World Bar, offers a fresh take on … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 birmingham summer family free festivals beaches trail outdoorcinema hotairballoon activities

The school holidays can be a challenge when it comes to keeping the whole family entertained — especially without breaking the bank. While theme parks and zoos are fun, their costs can quickly add up. Thankfully, Birmingham … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 yoga wellness wildswimming breastcancer healing community mindfulness nature family health

When Jessica Brown received a breast cancer diagnosis while her children were just three and five years old, her world changed dramatically. Facing this life challenge, Jessica found herself at a crossroads and made a … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 manzambi astonvilla bundesliga premierleague midfielder football transfer switzerland scfreiburg europaleague sport

Aston Villa is poised to finalize the signing of Johan Manzambi from SC Freiburg, securing one of Germany’s most promising young midfielders. The Switzerland international made a significant impact during Freiburg’s run to … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 businessrates onlinetax andyburnham highstreets retail taxreform realratesreformalliance economy digitalsales labourparty

Andy Burnham, the newly elected Labour MP for Makerfield, faces growing pressure to implement a two per cent tax on all online sales to help fund a substantial 37 per cent reduction in business rates for physical stores. This … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 awaabslaw tenantsafety socialhousing landlordrules housingregulations healthhazards dampmould housingassociations ukhousing tenantsrights

Starting 30 November 2026, new regulations under the second phase of Awaab’s Law will expand protections for social housing tenants, targeting a wider range of home hazards with greater urgency. These measures follow the … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 crime drugs birmingham weston-super-mare heroin cocaine sentencing police debt addiction

West Midlands Police have released the first images of three men from Birmingham who were recently sentenced for their involvement in a drug distribution line operating in Weston-Super-Mare. The trio, Zaheer Hussain, 27, … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 andyburnham business energycosts electricity economicgrowth electrification cbi energyuk renewableenergy competitiveness

Andy Burnham, the Labour MP for Makerfield, has been urged to take swift action on his first day as Prime Minister by making three crucial changes to support businesses. Central to these demands is a sharp reduction in … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 alcohol-free beer uk legislation bbpa brewers moderation sales pubs market

The UK may soon see a shift in alcohol-free beer regulations as the Labour Party government faces growing pressure to revise the current definition. This summer, more than 64 million pints of no and low alcohol beer are … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 andyburnham pip disability timmsreview welfarereform assessment dla mentalhealth disabilitybenefits caresupport

Disability campaigners have outlined potential reforms to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system under the new Labour Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, as part of a broader effort to cut costs and improve welfare support. … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 midland smethwick crash accident traumaticbraininjury fatality dangerousdriving prisonsentence roadsafety tragedy

Khushpreet Kaur, a mother from Midland, tragically passed away after months in a coma resulting from a devastating car crash in Smethwick. The horrific accident, which occurred on December 14, 2024, also claimed the life of … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 prison suicide monitoring falsification deportation mentalhealth ombudsman inquest security negligence

Patryk Jalocha, a 24-year-old Polish national previously held at HMP Birmingham on remand for attempted murder, was found dead in his cell at HMP Manchester on November 5, 2024. His death follows a disturbing incident where a … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 pensions dwp retirement valueformoney tpr fca hmt reforms savers financialsecurity

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced significant pension reforms following concerns that some savers have been left up to £5,000 worse off in their retirement pots. In partnership with the Pensions … Read More

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 watersure dwp benefits hosepipeban exemptions affinitywater southernwater essentialneeds drought waterconservation

Families receiving Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits can ignore recent hosepipe bans imposed by two water companies, thanks to new exemptions under the WaterSure tariff. Despite the restrictions coming into … Read More