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BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Teachers to leave Yeadon school after closure threat
Teachers are set to leave a primary school due to its uncertain future despite a council reversing a decision to close it City Council said Queensway Primary School in Yeadon would shut at the end of this school year due to dwindling pupil numbers and financial the decision was put on hold after parents launched legal action. It is the second time the school has been threatened with closure since Mark Duce said he and other staff at the school had now made the "incredibly difficult" decision to leave amid the uncertainty. He said: "Despite the halting of the second consultation to close the school and due to the lack of clarity provided regarding the long-term future of Queensway at this stage, class teachers and myself have had to make the incredibly difficult decision to leave the school at the end of the summer."I am working alongside governors at present to ensure an effective leadership and teaching team is in place for September and will endeavour to share updates as soon as we are able to do so."We thank our parents and potential parents for their patience at this time."Fears were raised for the welfare of children with special educational needs after the council launched a consultation over the school's future. Law firm Irwin Mitchell then successfully challenged the closure decision, saying there were flaws in the consultation process, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Alan Lamb said the council should issue advice for parents of children to the school, which will now be open as normal in at an executive board meeting, he said: "What's been fed back to me is there has been a total lack of clarity. Very limited communication."However, councillor Julie Longworth said apologies had been given for the distress caused to teaching staff and families. "We have been in regular communication and conversation with the leaders in the school and also with the governors," she council said it has launched a "lessons learned" exercise to improve the way it would handle future school decisions.A report and recommendations will also be discussed by councillors on the Children and Families scrutiny board at a meeting on Wednesday 25 June 25. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Glasgow Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow faces higher inheritance tax bills in coming years
A report by Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie and Irwin Mitchell predicts a 29% increase in liable estates, growing from 210 in 2015/16 to approximately 270 by the end of 2026/27. The city's IHT liability is forecast to more than double, from £32 million to £69 million. Roddy Harrison, a private client partner at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie in Edinburgh (Image: Supplied) The average IHT bill per estate in Glasgow could reach £253,000, which is above the Scottish average of £211,000. The report's findings are based on a Freedom of Information request to HMRC, forming part of a broader analysis covering 177,000 estates across 121 UK postcode areas. Read more: 'Established' & popular retailer announces closure of Glasgow Fort store Greggs store closes temporarily - here's why Popular Grammy-award-winning singer announces Glasgow gig Across the whole of Scotland, the total number of IHT-liable estates is projected to reach 1,800 by the end of 2026/27, with a combined tax liability of £389 million. Roddy Harrison, a private client partner at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie in Edinburgh, said: "These figures show that families in Edinburgh and Glasgow are increasingly being drawn into the inheritance tax net. "With liabilities rising sharply and average bills now well above the Scottish average, it's vital that individuals seek tailored advice. "At Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie, we're helping more clients navigate these changes and protect their estates for future generations." From April 6, 2026, significant reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) will take effect. Full 100% relief will be capped at £1 million for combined qualifying assets, with amounts above this threshold receiving only 50 per cent relief. AIM-listed shares will also see reduced BPR eligibility. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that 130 estates will be impacted by APR changes and 1,440 by BPR, generating an additional £200 million in tax revenue in 2026/27. The analysis reflects a broader trend throughout Scotland, where rising property values and frozen thresholds are pushing more families into the IHT net.
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I stayed in a dirty four-star hotel in Turkey and almost died'
Richard was ill when he got home and was rushed to hospital, where he was placed into a coma A dad-of-two says he nearly died after contracting a rare disease from a 'dirty' 4-star hotel while on a sunshine break in Turkey. Richard Moore, 55, began suffering from a fever and chest pains after returning from a five-day holiday with partner Julie, 50. The chef became so ill he was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma and his wife and kids told he may not survive. Doctors confirmed he was suffering from potentially deadly Legionnaires' disease and he needed five days of hospital treatment, antibiotics and an IV drip. Richard, of Blyth, Northumberland, said: 'This holiday was meant to be a short break before I started a new job as an executive chef. Instead, it cost me my dream job, my health and very nearly my life. As a result of the memory loss, I can't recall much of my time in hospital, but when I was admitted, I remember the fear and not knowing what was wrong. 'I'm lucky to be alive but it's so upsetting to think my family were told I might not live. I never realised Legionnaires' disease was so serious and I want to tell my story to make other people aware of the symptoms and the dangers. 'I wouldn't want to think that other people were going off on a holiday unaware of what they could be walking into. If there are issues with the hotel then that needs looking at urgently. 'I feel fortunate to have pulled through. However, I do worry that someone else might not be as lucky as I was.' Richard and his family paid £2,000 to stay at the four-star hotel. After arriving at the hotel on August 18 last year, Richard said he thought the hotel was dirty, old and dated. He also noticed that the room felt damp and had grim fusty smell. He said: "I can't specifically pinpoint to one thing but the water temperature fluctuated a lot in the shower. The bathroom and hotel generally looked run down and the sofa in hotel room beneath the air con felt damp throughout the holiday which made me think it was leaking." Days after returning to the UK, Richard's began suffering from flu-like symptoms. On August 30 he developed chest pains, shortness of breath and a fever and was admitted to hospital. He spent a month in hospital and has been unable to start a new job as an executive chef that he was due to commence. Richard still continues to struggle with lethargy, weakness and mobility issues linked to Legionnaires' disease. He has now instructed travel illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the cause of his Legionnaires' disease. Jennifer Hodgson, representing Richard, said: 'Richard's first-hand account of his experience at the hotel and contracting his illness is deeply disturbing. 'Legionnaires' disease is an incredibly serious condition, and it can take several days from coming into contact with Legionella bacteria before symptoms of the illness start to appear. As Richard has since discovered, the effects of the disease can be long-term. 'Nothing can make up for the impact the illness has had and continues to have on Richard, but we're determined to provide him with the answers and specialist support he deserves. Public buildings, such as hotels and offices, can have complex water systems, so it's vital that all precautions are taken to prevent the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease developing. 'As part of our work and to assist with our investigations, we would be keen to hear from anyone else who may also have been affected by illness.'
Telegraph
02-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Double-digit rise in northerners paying inheritance tax
Northern households are increasingly being caught in the Government's inheritance tax raid, new data shows. Since 2015, there has been a 40pc surge in the number of families in the North West forced to pay death duties due to the Government's frozen thresholds. This was the biggest increase of any region in England. Properties in the north of the country are far cheaper than in the south, yet frozen thresholds coupled with house price inflation mean smaller estates are being dragged into inheritance tax. The top three postcodes which saw the sharpest rise in families paying inheritance tax between 2015 and 2022 were Wolverhampton, Bradford and Dundee, according to data from HM Revenue and Customs obtained by the law firm Irwin Mitchell in a Freedom of Information request. The number of London families dragged into the net rose by only 4pc over the same period. Each individual can leave behind up to £325,000 without paying inheritance tax, however, this tax-free allowance has been frozen since 2009 despite soaring house prices. Had the Government increased the threshold in line with inflation, it would be worth almost £520,000 today. It means families who might not consider themselves wealthy are increasing forced to pay the 40pc charge. The modest rise in Londoners paying inheritance could reflect the use of tax avoidance strategies among the wealthy elite, according to Irwin Mitchell. Despite this, the amount of tax paid by Londoners still leapt by over 40pc due to the number of high value estates in the capital. Families in inner London forked out £831m in 2015, but Irwin Mitchell predicts this will hit £1.6bn by 2026-27. Meanwhile, it expects the tax haul in Wolverhampton to soar from £8m in 2015-16 to £38m by 2026-27 – an increase of 375pc in just over a decade. England has long suffered from a North-South divide, with workers in the South East earning on average £12,800 more than in the lowest paid areas of the country such as Burnley and Huddersfield, according to research from Centre for Cities. The average property in the North West sells for about £250,000, almost half the value of a typical home in the South East. Chris Etherington, of accountants RSM, said the number of northerners paying inheritance tax will rise again because of the changes to business tax relief announced in the October Budget. As part of her maiden budget, Rachel Reeves slashed tax relief for business owners and farmers while also making pensions liable for the 40pc charge, dragging an estimated 10,000 new families into the net. Mr Etherington said: 'There are significant numbers of privately owned businesses in the North that will be impacted by the changes to inheritance tax reliefs from April 2026, and it is inevitable more estates will have a tax bill to pay as a result. 'There are thriving entrepreneurial businesses in the North, in particular in industries such as manufacturing and technology, and many business owners are still unaware of the inheritance tax implications that lie ahead.' This comes as a study by Family Business UK warns that the new inheritance tax rules for family businesses and farmers could wipe almost £15bn off the UK's economic activity. Andy Butcher, of wealth manager Raymond James, said: 'How are business owners supposed to plan for their succession when the business will now likely have to be sold on their death to cover inheritance tax? It's a short-term cash grab which will cause significant damage to the UK economy in the longer term.' Homeowners passing on their main property can claim an additional £175,000 allowance called the residence nil-rate band. Couples can share their allowances which means they can protect up to £1m from the 40pc charge.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Double-digit rise in northerners paying inheritance tax
Northern households are increasingly being caught in the Government's inheritance tax raid, new data shows. Since 2015, there has been a 40pc surge in the number of families in the North West forced to pay death duties due to the Government's frozen thresholds. This was the biggest increase of any region in England. Properties in the north of the country are far cheaper than in the south, yet frozen thresholds coupled with house price inflation mean smaller estates are being dragged into inheritance tax. The top three postcodes which saw the sharpest rise in families paying inheritance tax between 2015 and 2022 were Wolverhampton, Bradford and Dundee, according to data from HM Revenue and Customs obtained by the law firm Irwin Mitchell in a Freedom of Information request. The number of London families dragged into the net rose by only 4pc over the same period. Each individual can leave behind up to £325,000 without paying inheritance tax, however, this tax-free allowance has been frozen since 2009 despite soaring house prices. Had the Government increased the threshold in line with inflation, it would be worth almost £520,000 today. It means families who might not consider themselves wealthy are increasing forced to pay the 40pc charge. The modest rise in Londoners paying inheritance could reflect the use of tax avoidance strategies among the wealthy elite, according to Irwin Mitchell. Despite this, the amount of tax paid by Londoners still leapt by over 40pc due to the number of high value estates in the capital. Families in inner London forked out £831m in 2015, but Irwin Mitchell predicts this will hit £1.6bn by 2026-27. Meanwhile, it expects the tax haul in Wolverhampton to soar from £8m in 2015-16 to £38m by 2026-27 – an increase of 375pc in just over a decade. England has long suffered from a North-South divide, with workers in the South East earning on average £12,800 more than in the lowest paid areas of the country such as Burnley and Huddersfield, according to research from Centre for Cities. The average property in the North West sells for about £250,000, almost half the value of a typical home in the South East. Chris Etherington, of accountants RSM, said the number of northerners paying inheritance tax will rise again because of the changes to business tax relief announced in the October Budget. As part of her maiden budget, Rachel Reeves slashed tax relief for business owners and farmers while also making pensions liable for the 40pc charge, dragging an estimated 10,000 new families into the net. Mr Etherington said: 'There are significant numbers of privately owned businesses in the North that will be impacted by the changes to inheritance tax reliefs from April 2026, and it is inevitable more estates will have a tax bill to pay as a result. 'There are thriving entrepreneurial businesses in the North, in particular in industries such as manufacturing and technology, and many business owners are still unaware of the inheritance tax implications that lie ahead.' This comes as a study by Family Business UK warns that the new inheritance tax rules for family businesses and farmers could wipe almost £15bn off the UK's economic activity. Andy Butcher, of wealth manager Raymond James, said: 'How are business owners supposed to plan for their succession when the business will now likely have to be sold on their death to cover inheritance tax? It's a short-term cash grab which will cause significant damage to the UK economy in the longer term.' Homeowners passing on their main property can claim an additional £175,000 allowance called the residence nil-rate band. Couples can share their allowances which means they can protect up to £1m from the 40pc charge. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
