After the departure of his chief of staff and a series of internal rows, No 10 insiders say Keir Starmer has signalled a firmer public stance and will test that approach at the Gorton and Denton byelection.
Ofgem will require suppliers including British Gas, Octopus, EDF and Ovo to pay customers an automatic £40 if they wait more than six weeks for a smart meter appointment, if an installation fails due to a supplier fault, or if a reported smart meter problem is not met with a resolution plan within five working days.
Essex Police reported that officers, the RSPCA and council staff found deceased animals and unsanitary conditions at the Save A Paw rehoming centre in Carys Hill, Billericay, and 41 pets were recorded as dead across visits. A man, Oaveed Rahman, was convicted and sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering in relation to some animals and admitted fraud; further details about any next legal steps are undetermined at this time.
Hong Kong proposes about HK$4 billion to buy out owners of homes at the Wang Fuk Court complex, damaged in a November fire that killed more than 160, and has offered an apartment exchange programme for affected tenants.
Volunteers in Bath are holding a Lunar New Year festival at Percy Community Centre on 21 February to help Hongkongers feel rooted and share cultural traditions; the community-run event has taken place for three years and includes crafts and a Lion Dance.
The BPI announced in 2023 it will open a Bradford Brit School for 500 pupils aged 16–19, with the first students expected near Bradford Interchange in 2028, and local musicians and educators say the campus may boost performance venues and industry links.
Communities across Yorkshire are marking the Lunar New Year with parades, Qilin and lion dances, workshops and musical performances; the two-week festival began on 17 February and includes major events this weekend.
A Bampton fundraiser reached its goal after more than £70,000 was raised over a decade to restore the 17th-century Bampton Grammar School, which featured as Downton Cottage Hospital; the restored building now hosts a tourist shop, an updated library and a community events room.
Gary Lawson of Crook has driven gritters for Durham County Council since 1986 and was presented with an award by manufacturer Econ for 40 years of service, during which he has helped rescue people, livestock and emergency vehicles.
The new Scrubs series on Disney+ reunites the original leads and, after two episodes, finds a familiar comic tone with John C. McGinley's Dr Cox singled out as a highlight.
