UK unemployment hits 5.2%, highest rate for nearly five years

Becky MortonPolitical reporter BBC The government is looking at the possibility of cutting the rate of VAT on energy bills, Ed Miliband has suggested. The energy secretary said he would not speculate ahead of the chancellor’s Budget in November. But asked if the government would consider scrapping the 5% rate, he told the BBC the…

The co-founder of ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s says that its parent company Unilever blocked it from launching an ice cream flavour that expressed “solidarity with Palestine”. Ben Cohen announced that he will independently create the new flavour as part of a personal series highlighting causes the company has been barred from addressing publicly….

Emer MoreauBusiness reporter Getty Images Construction in November was at its lowest level since the pandemic Activity in the UK’s construction sector shrank last month at the fastest pace since the pandemic, partly due to uncertainty ahead of the Budget, a closely watched survey has indicated. The research from S&P Global said November saw the…

BBC Deputy Rob Ward said the new childcare payments system provided “flexibility” for parents Jersey’s education minister has defended a new scheme that allows parents to claim back childcare costs for toddlers. From next month any parent regardless of income or working requirements will be able to apply to claim up to £6,270 per school…