Tag: News Story

STORY

Business and consumer confidence remained subdued in May, although some indicators showed a modest improvement, according to a House of Commons Library economic briefing. The briefing said that, in the two weeks ending 17 May 2026, 16.7% of businesses responding to the ONS Business Insights and Conditions Survey expected their performance to increase over the next 12 months, while 16.8% expected it to decrease. Confidence surveys are watched closely because they are often published before official economic data and can provide early indications of changes in the wider economy.

The CBI Industrial Trends Survey also suggested that manufacturers remained cautious. In May, more manufacturers expected output to fall over the next three months than expected it to rise, with a balance of -13%. This was an improvement on April’s figure of -20%, but still pointed to continuing weakness in expectations for industrial output.

Consumer confidence also remained negative, despite improving slightly. The GfK Consumer Confidence Index rose to -23 in May, up two points from April, which had been the lowest level since October 2023. The index measures expectations about the general economic situation, household finances and views on making major purchases.

STORY

Retail sales in Great Britain fell in April, with the total quantity of sales volumes down by 1.3% compared with March, according to figures summarised by the House of Commons Library. The fall followed a 0.6% increase between February and March, while the total value of retail sales stood at £9.3 billion per week, down from £9.4 billion the previous month.

The briefing said sales volumes were still 1.1% higher in the three months to April 2026 than in the same period last year, and 0.5% higher than in the previous three-month period. However, overall sales volumes remained 1.7% below their pre-pandemic level in February 2020, underlining the continuing pressure on parts of the retail sector.

Food store sales increased by 0.8% between March and April, but non-food stores saw sales fall by 1.0%. Clothing stores were particularly affected, with sales down 2.4% to their lowest level since June 2025. Retailers attributed the decline to variable weather, lower demand and greater consumer price sensitivity. Internet sales averaged £2.7 billion per week in April, excluding fuel, accounting for 28.1% of all retail sales.

STORY

The Government has announced a £30 million fund to restore and create wildlife habitats across some of England’s best-known protected landscapes, including National Parks, National Landscapes and the Broads.

The Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund will provide £10 million a year from 2026 to 2029 and is intended to support thousands of hectares of new or restored habitat. Ministers said the funding would help species including hedgehogs, hazel dormice, water voles, curlews and turtle doves, which have been affected by habitat degradation.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said the programme would help restore nature “field by field” across England’s most iconic landscapes. The funding forms part of the Government’s wider Wild Again programme, which aims to halt species decline by 2030 and support the UK’s international commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by the same year.

Projects will be delivered through the existing Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, with 36 of England’s 44 protected landscapes participating in the first year. The Government said schemes would be rooted in local priorities, working with conservation groups, farmers, land managers and communities, and would contribute to the Environment Act target to restore more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042.

STORY

The Public Accounts Committee has said the Government wrote off close to £7 billion of public money in losses during 2024-25, describing the figure as an example of poor value for the taxpayer.

The committee’s report, drawing on National Audit Office work, said £6.6 billion represented spending that had not achieved its intended objectives or created value. It also raised wider concerns about the quality and timeliness of Government financial reporting.

The report adds to pressure on ministers over public sector efficiency and Whitehall accountability. The committee said Government spends around £1.1 trillion a year, making accurate and timely reporting essential for parliamentary and public scrutiny.

STORY

The European Parliament has called on the European Commission to assess whether there could be a clear risk of a serious breach of EU values by Slovakia’s Government.

In a resolution adopted by 347 votes to 165, with 25 abstentions, MEPs said they were deeply concerned about the deterioration of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Slovakia. They also warned that systemic deficiencies could endanger the protection of the EU’s financial interests.

MEPs reiterated their call for the Commission to use the tools available to it, including infringement procedures and the rule of law conditionality mechanism. The resolution referred to concerns over criminal law reforms, judicial independence, anti-corruption safeguards, whistleblower protection and the use of EU funds.

STORY

Shropshire Council has said its newly agreed Corporate Plan will support a long-term programme to rebuild the authority’s finances, organisational capacity and local services.

The council said the Liberal Democrat administration’s first year in office had focused on restoring stability after a difficult period financially and organisationally. It said adult and children’s social care accounted for around three quarters of the council’s budget, making financial sustainability a central priority.

The authority said key measures had included declaring a financial emergency in September 2025, introducing a council-wide improvement plan, securing exceptional financial support from Government and strengthening financial management. It said budget monitoring returns submitted on time had improved from around 40% to more than 95%.

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Essex County Council has promised to challenge the Government’s decision to cancel a new primary school planned for Witham.

The Lodge Farm Free School had been expected to provide 420 primary school places for children on the 750-home Lodge Farm development in the north of the town, along with a 56-place nursery. The council said the Government notified it in December that it planned to cancel the long-awaited project, before confirming that decision on 21 May.

Councillor Peter Harris, the council’s leader-elect, described the decision as disappointing and short-sighted, saying it would affect a rapidly growing community already under pressure for school places. Essex County Council said it would write directly to the Government to challenge the decision and continue making the case for local investment.

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Councillor Graham Harrison has been confirmed as the new leader of Hartlepool Borough Council following the authority’s annual council meeting.

The Reform UK councillor, who was elected earlier this month for the Burn Valley ward, said his first priority would be to understand the council’s financial position. He said residents expected public money to be managed responsibly and that he wanted a clear and transparent review of the authority’s finances.

Councillor Harrison said the new administration would look for opportunities to deliver services more efficiently, while acknowledging that many councillors were newly elected and still learning how the council operates. He said the council would focus on serving all parts of Hartlepool fairly and treating residents with respect.

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Suffolk County Council has elected Councillor Michael Hadwen as its new leader, with the authority saying he has become the youngest leader in its history.

Councillor Hadwen used his first speech at the council’s annual general meeting to pledge that communities would be at the centre of the new administration’s work. He said the council would focus on better services, living within its means, less bureaucracy, greater accountability and leadership that prioritises the people of Suffolk.

The new Cabinet includes portfolios for adult social care, finance and economic development, children’s services, education and SEND, transport and highways, planning and devolution, public health, coastal affairs, waste and rural affairs. Councillor Hadwen said difficult decisions lay ahead, but promised to protect frontline services, support sustainable growth and reform the way the council operates.

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Hampshire County Council has confirmed its new administration and Cabinet team after the 7 May local elections left the authority under no overall control.

Councillor Nick Adams-King was elected as leader at the council’s annual general meeting on 21 May, continuing in the role after discussions between political groups on how the county authority would be governed. The council said the administration would oversee services affecting around 1.4 million residents, including schools, roads, social care, countryside access, waste sites and libraries.

The new Cabinet includes executive roles covering universal services, children’s services, adult social care and public health, highways and passenger transport, education, finance, people and local government reorganisation. Councillor Adams-King said the administration would be collegiate, cooperative and transparent, while also pursuing a judicial review of the local government reorganisation outcome.