Government

Jeremy Hunt will announce the Autumn Statement today. Credit: Getty/Adobe/Mark Hall

Watch the Chancellor's autumn statement speech here

King Charles has delivered his first King's speech in the Houses of Parliament today - the first 'King's Speech' for 70 years, with a focus on tougher sentencing for serious crimes and a smoking ban. (Getty Images)

Council leader responds to King Charles' first State Opening of Parliament

Thousands of Wakefield children needing extra protection or support

A newborn baby in the maternity ward at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey on May 22, 2020 in Frimley, United Kingdom. (Stock Image. Credit: Steve Parsons - Pool/Getty Images)

Bereaved families call for inquiry into NHS maternity services

Simon Lightwood said he is delighted that the threat of closure for ticket offices, including Wakefield Westgate, has been withdrawn.

Simon Lightwood MP's 'delight' at Wakefield Westgate ticket office u-turn

Parents who are out of work and claiming benefits will now have to spend twice as long each week looking for employment.

DWP confirms major change affecting thousands of parents on Universal Credit

Heat pumps grant rises to £7.5k as UK Government warned it won’t meet 2050 net zero target

UK government increases heat pumps grant in effort to achieve net zero

A general view of scaffolding at Balbardie Primary School on September 04, 2023 in Bathgate, Scotland, after its buildings were found to contain RAAC. Credit: Getty Images

43 more schools found to have crumbly RAAC concrete

Cllr Maureen Cummings and Kevin Dobson, Project Manager of The Community Awareness Programme which was funded by The Household Support Fund.

Wakefield residents can get cash from £6million fund for struggling households

Greta Thunberg was among those speaking at the protest in central London. Credit: XR/Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images.

'Oily Money Out': Greta Thunberg joins protesters in central London

Four British nationals who were being held in Taliban custody in Afghanistan have been released and are set to return to the UK on a flight

Four British men freed by Taliban after being detained in Afghanistan

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer pledges to tackle NHS wait times with £1.5bn plan

Dale Vince joins Just Stop Oil activists during a protest by the environmental campaigners in central London. Picture Date: Thursday June 8, 2023. Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Just Stop Oil donor pulls funding over ‘pointless’ further protests

Combustion engine cars would be banned by 2030 but it has been pushed back to 2035. Photo: Adobe

Going Green: Government U-turns are going to cost us

Castleford will recieve £20 million in funding as part of the government's new 'levelling up' scheme.

Castleford to be given £20million funding by Government to 'level up' town

Rishi Sunak has refused to say whether he's axing the HS2 route from Birmingham to Manchester. Credit: Mark Hall/Getty

Northern leader hits out at PM’s ‘lies’ over rail projects and HS2
Rishi Sunak has come under fire over HS2 during the first day of the Tory party conference

Rishi Sunak's government will preside over the highest tax rises on record, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. (Credit: Getty Images)

Sunak's government will oversee highest tax rises on record

The UK's first drug consumption room in Glasgow has been given approval. (Credit: Getty Images)

UK's first drug consumption room gets approval to open in Glasgow

According to a leaked photograph, the government is said to be possibly planning on scrapping the Birmingham to Manchester HS2 phase in order to cut down on costs. (Credit: PA)

Labour mayors join forces to urge Sunak not to scrap HS2 Northern link

Millions of people are receiving payments to help with high bills amid the cost of living crisis - what further support is coming in 2023?

Cost of living payment: What other support is coming in 2023?

The DWP will pay more than seven million households and HMRC will follow with around 830,000 more, taking the total number of households eligible for the cost of living payment to around eight million.

Cost of living payment: Exact date £300 boost will be paid this autumn

39% of children can't see a dentist - and it's worse for adults

Insulators on an electricity sub station are seen near homes in Manchester.

Homes to save £100s on energy as new scheme begins - are you eligible?

Doreen Thompson adjusts her thermostat at her home as she limits her use of heating to keep up with her increasing energy bills, at her home in south London.

Ofgem chief’s warning energy bills could be ‘even higher’ this winter

An open cash register containing pound coins and notes is pictured in a convenience store in London

DWP confirms £300 cost of living payment in update on £94bn support

Stock image

Wakefield branch of Wilko closes its doors

A helicopter can be seen transporting sections of the mast to the ground as workers use wires and ladders to access the upper levels of the temporary mast.

Warning to residents near Emley Moor as helicopters dismantle transmitter
Work has started to remove the broadcasting equipment from the temporary mast at Emley Moor.

A general view of branch of Wilko on August 04, 2023. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Wilko job cuts put on hold as new bid considered by administrators

The Kennel Club has welcomed support from Wakefield MP Simon Lightwood's support for a ban on shock collars.

Kennel Club welcomes MP Simon Lightwood’s support of electric shock collar ban

The ban will cover the use of e-collars on dogs and cats.

Wakefield MP supports ban on the use of pet electronic shock collars

Survey reveals the booziest UK cities - is your area on the list?

In Knottingley the Addy has been supporting hundreds of children each day over the summer holidays.

Column: Politically Speaking with Yvette Cooper MP

Colm Gildernew MLA has called on Allied Irish Bank to improve services and saving rates for customers following the extortionate profits it has made so far this year. Credit: marcin jucha - stock.adobe.com

Parents urged to claim benefit worth thousands as criteria extended

MPs are warning the Government to do more to tackle the increase in smart devices being used in domestic abuse cases

MPs warn of baby monitors and smart speakers enabling domestic abuse

How much wine, beer & spirits will cost after government tax increase

Schools across England will face major disruption today as teachers strike over pay (Photo: Getty Images)

Back to school - teachers strikes finally over

The former ABC cinema has been demolished and the site cleared in preparation for city centre housing.

'Positive interest' from developers hoping to build new homes on ABC site

We have to adapt to changes and become more resilient to weather. Photo: Adobe

Going Green: Pledge to protect lives and wellbeing in UK

A host of Vevor DIY and electrical appliances have been recalled after putting users at risk of electric shock

Warning as 34 branded DIY items recalled due to risk of fire

UK Weather: Flood alerts issued for parts of the UK

NHS patients in Wakefield have reported mixed satisfaction ratings for local doctor’s surgeries in the area, according to the latest GP Patient Survey.

Every doctor surgery and practice in Wakefield rated – find how yours compares

Keir Mather won the Selby and Ainsty by-election.

It’s time for a fresh start - we need a general election now

The 1975's set in Malaysia was cancelled after Matty Healy and Ross McDonald kissed on stage - Credit: Getty

The 1975 set stopped after Matty Healy kisses bandmate in Malaysia

Asian hornets have been spotted in the Dover area in Kent

Public warned as Asian hornets spotted in Dover

Councils have called for a total ban on disposable vapes by 2024

Local councils call for total ban on disposable vapes by 2024

Tens of thousands of children are being taken on holiday during term time as parents look to save money

More parents opt to take children out of school for holidays

Raising the value of benefits would have been preferable to sending out a string of lump sum cost of living payments to households, according to a leading UK economics thinktank which has dubbed the sporadic cash boosts an “ineffective sticking plaster”.

Cost of living payments are ‘ineffective sticking plaster’, warns IFS

The UK is not on track to reach legally binding targets to reduce carbon pollution. Photo: Adobe

Going Green: Where does the UK sit in the world rankings?

Orchard Care Homes, which runs Lofthouse Grange, has apologised and insisted it’s since put in place new measures to prevent a repeat.

Wakefield care home firm ‘deeply sorry’ after resident found ‘soaked in urine’

Empire Cinema group enters administration - full list of closures

Striking teachers from the National Education Union (NEU) hold a rally in Parliament Square on 5 July 2023 in London, United Kingdom. NEU members are striking to win a fully-funded, above-inflation pay rise for all educators. (photo by Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images)

Teachers walk out for second day this week over pay

Sir Keir Starmer heckled on stage by green protesters who demand ‘no more U-turns’ from Labour leader

Watch: Sir Keir Starmer heckled on stage by green protesters

Councillor Maureen Cummings, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Poverty and Health.

Council launches healthy 'ready, set, summer' campaign

A Just Stop Oil protester runs onto Court 18 and releases confetti

Just Stop Oil disrupt Wimbledon with ‘orange confetti & jigsaw pieces’

Secondary school children will now get to have their flu vaccinations to reduce the risk of transmission to more vulnerable groups. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

Flu vaccines to be offered to secondary pupils from September