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Britain is choosing the animals for its new banknotes: hedgehog, puffin and kingfisher in the final — decision by year end
The Bank of England is preparing the first complete change of banknote theme in decades: British wildlife will replace historical figures on the new notes. Over the summer the public voted on a shortlist of 18 candidates — from the hedgehog and the hare to the Atlantic puffin and the basking shark. The result is promised by the end of 2026. Here is who made the final, and what happens to the current notes.
Paid £90 for a Debt Relief Order? The government is refunding it — claim before the end of the year
The Insolvency Service issued a reminder on 28 September: thousands of people who paid the £90 Debt Relief Order fee between 2016 and 2024 but never submitted an application can get their money back. Around £450,000 remains unclaimed. Letters have been sent several times, but many contact details have changed over a decade — you can claim yourself, by email or post.
Misogyny lessons in England's schools: what RSHE now teaches and what parents can decide
Half of girls hear demeaning comments from classmates in an ordinary school week. The Department for Education has announced a plan: teachers will be trained to unpack 'manosphere' subcultures, £16 million goes into pilot programmes, and the updated RSHE lessons — covering misogyny, deepfakes and online influencers — have been running since 1 September. Here is what it means for parents, and which lessons a child cannot be withdrawn from.
Guaranteed jobs for young people on health benefits: the state will pay six months of wages
The Department for Work and Pensions announced on 27 September a major expansion of the Jobs Guarantee: from April 2027, young people on health benefits will be offered a guaranteed paid job 13 weeks after their Work Capability Assessment. Participation is voluntary, and the government will cover 100% of wages for up to 25 hours a week for six months. Here is who qualifies and what to do now.
Empty homes in England: councils will be able to take over a property after just 6 months
On 27 September the government announced a reform of Empty Dwelling Management Orders: the period after which a council can ask a tribunal to take an empty home into compulsory management is being cut from two years to six months. That comes on top of the council tax premium — an extra 100% after just one year empty. Here is what changes and how to stay clear of the new rules.
Your First Home: buy your first home in England with a 2.5% deposit and a 20% government loan
The government has announced a new scheme for first-time buyers — Your First Home: a deposit from 2.5%, topped up by a government-backed equity loan of up to 20% of a new-build's price, with an initial interest-free period. Compared with a 95% mortgage that could mean saving hundreds of pounds a month. Income and price caps will be set at the Budget on 28 October.
Free clubs in 400 English schools: £22.5m for sport, music and debating — how to check if your school is in
Over 400 secondary schools in disadvantaged areas will get co-ordinators and funding for free extracurricular activities under the £22.5m Enrichment Expansion programme. What appears on timetables, why the state is paying for clubs, and what to ask your school now.
England is recruiting magistrates: no law degree, 13 days a year — who can apply
The MOJ has launched a magistrate recruitment campaign: 21,000 wanted by 2028/29. Volunteer judges decide 95% of criminal cases, no legal training is needed, and employers must give time off by law. The requirements, the allowances and how to apply.
£210m for England's high streets: derelict buildings converted, empty shops let by rental auction
The government has allocated £210m to revive high streets: £125m to buy and convert derelict buildings, £65m to rescue pubs and clubs, £20m for rental auctions of empty premises and co-operatives. Where the money goes — and how a small business can take over an empty shop.
Under-16 social media ban from spring 2027: UK hires 1,000 youth workers and puts £450m into teenagers
On 26 September the government announced 1,000 new youth workers and a £450m fund for clubs and activities — and confirmed the timetable for the under-16 social media ban: regulations before the end of the year, launch in spring 2027. Here is what it means for families, and what 18-to-24-year-olds can already claim.
Empty shopfronts on the high street: £210m to revive them, and how a small business can win a unit at a rental auction
MHCLG announced a £210m package on 25 September, £10m of it for High Street Rental Auctions — a council's power to force a landlord to let premises empty for over a year. An ordinary cafe or shop can win the lease. The conditions: 12 months vacant, 22-24 weeks of process, a 1-5 year tenancy, and one sealed bid only.
SEND in an English school: £200m for teacher training — and how a parent gets support for their child
On 24–25 September the Department for Education published the first free training materials for teachers working with children who have special educational needs. It is the start of a £200m programme, but schools are not obliged to use it. Here is what actually changed, and the deadlines the law gives parents: 16 weeks for the council's decision, 20 weeks for an EHC plan, 2 months to appeal.
Bus fares in England fall to a £2 cap from 1 January 2027 — and how to check your route
The Department for Transport reported on 25 September that children made 14.5 million free bus journeys in August. The same release confirmed what matters next: from 1 January 2027 a single bus ticket in England outside London will cost no more than £2, down from today's £3. Here is what applies now, what you have to apply for, and who travels free all year.
The government built a free CV tool: 20,000 CVs through Work Hub — and how to use it
On 25 September the DWP published the first results from Work Hub, the free job-search platform it calls a “jobcentre in your pocket”. The CV builder is open to everyone, not only people on benefits. Here is what is inside, where to find it and what not to expect.
Two-thirds of UK fraud comes from abroad. How to get your money back from the bank: 5 business days and an £85,000 cap
On 24 September the Home Office announced an agreement with Cambodia against scam centres: more than two-thirds of the fraud affecting the UK originates overseas. ONS figures for the year to March 2026 show 3.8 million victims, up 10% on the year before. Here is where to report after 4 December 2025, and how mandatory bank reimbursement works: 13 months to claim, 5 business days to pay, an excess of up to £100 and an £85,000 cap.
New Vocational GCSEs in Britain: first subjects from 2029 and 200,000 work experience placements
On 23 September the government announced Vocational GCSEs, which will sit alongside traditional GCSEs and replace Technical Awards. The first subjects are promised from as early as September 2029, with technical pathways starting in September 2028. Employers are being asked for an extra 200,000 work experience placements for 14 to 16-year-olds.
Child Trust Fund: 827,000 people have not claimed their money — £2,310 on average
HMRC said on 23 September that almost 3 million Child Trust Funds have been claimed, but around 827,000 matured accounts are still untouched, worth £2,310 on average. An account was opened for everyone born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. Here is how to trace yours in five minutes, and what you can do with it at 16 and at 18.
Long-term sick leave in the UK: after a year off, fewer than half return to work
On 23 September the government published the plan for Britain's first Workplace Health System. Around 300,000 people a year leave work because of ill health, at a cost of £212 billion a year. What it means if you are an employee.
First convictions for missing Companies House ID checks: what it costs now, and how long is left
On 16 September a City court fined three directors — one of them for failing to stop an unverified colleague from acting. The Companies House transition year ends on 18 November 2026; after that come penalties of £250 to £2,000, a note on the public register and a block on filing for your company.
Help to Save: the government adds 50p to every £1 you save — £300m in bonuses paid out
HMRC said on 21 September that more than £300m in Help to Save bonuses has now been paid, across 656,700 accounts and £676.7m of deposits. You can put away £1 to £50 a month and the government adds up to £1,200 over four years. The catch is the entry rule: you must be on Universal Credit and have had at least £1 of take-home pay in your last assessment period.
HMRC is signing up sole traders and landlords to Making Tax Digital automatically — next deadline 7 November
Since 6 April 2026, anyone with more than £50,000 of income from self-employment and property must report four times a year. Those who did not sign up are now being enrolled by HMRC itself: letters started going out in September, after the event. 436,000 people have filed a first update; the next deadline is 7 November 2026.
Primary school applications close on 15 January: only 85% of Inner London children get their first choice
Applications for a Reception place from September 2027 are open now and close on 15 January 2027. They cover children born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023. Offers land on 16 April. Across England 92.4% get their first preference; in Inner London it is 85.0%. And separately: school is not yet compulsory at four.
London Fashion Week: public events on 20 September
London Fashion Week runs from 17 to 21 September 2026, but most runway shows are invitation-only. The official programme also includes places open to the public: a free King’s Cross exhibition, Saul Nash’s Shoreditch pop-up, a charity fashion sale, Ahluwalia’s Westfield programme and the BFC jewellery showcase.
HMRC to issue tax calculations on bank interest from late September: what to check in P800 and PA302
HMRC says it will start issuing P800 calculations and Simple Assessment notices (PA302) from late September 2026 for tax due on bank and building society interest earned between April 2025 and April 2026. A second notice for the same year may include tax already paid, so the figures should be checked against bank statements before payment.
UK retail sales up 0.5% in August — but shoppers are spending 6% more for 2.4% more goods
ONS data for August: retail sales volumes rose 0.5% on the month and 0.9% over three months. Over the year volumes are up 2.4% while the value of sales is up 6.0% — a 3.5 percentage point gap that is pure price. Online accounts for 27.4% of sales, peaking every November. Next release: 23 October.
Bank of England holds Bank Rate at 3.75% — three of nine voted to raise it to 4%
The decision came at noon on 17 September: Bank Rate stays at 3.75% for a fourth meeting in a row. The vote was 6–3, with three members backing a rise to 4%. Inflation hit 3.1% in August and the Bank warned it is "likely to rise further over coming quarters". Nothing changes today for trackers and SVRs, but if your fix ends this autumn, do not count on cheaper deals arriving by themselves. The next decision is 5 November, with new forecasts.
UK rents hit £1,400 a month, £2,332 in London — £79 a month more than a year ago
ONS August data: average private rent across the UK is £1,400 a month, with annual growth up from 3.7% to 3.8%. London is £2,332 and accelerating from 3.0% to 3.5% — about £950 a year extra for the same flat. The fastest rises are not in the south but in the north: 5.8% in the North East and North West.
£150 off your electricity bill: entitlement was fixed on 23 August, letters arrive in November — and it is not just for pensioners
The Warm Home Discount reopens in October for the 2026/27 winter. About 6 million households will get it, 96% of them automatically with no application. Universal Credit and Housing Benefit qualify, not only Pension Credit. But the electricity account must be in your name, and the qualifying date — 23 August 2026 — has already passed.
Secondary school applications close on 31 October: in London only 70% of children get their first choice
Applications for Year 7 entry in September 2027 close on 31 October 2026 — a Saturday, six weeks away. It covers children born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016. Late applications are handled second, once the popular schools are full. Across England 83.6% of children get their first choice; in London it is 70.5%. And separately: a school cannot demand immigration documents.
UK inflation accelerates to 3.1% as diesel jumps 14 pence in a month — a day before the rate decision
The ONS has published August data: consumer prices rose 3.1% over the year against 2.9% in July, a third consecutive rise. The cause is almost entirely fuel: motor fuels are up 23% over the year and petrol is at 161.3 pence a litre, the dearest since November 2022. A full tank of diesel costs £7.10 more than a month ago. Core inflation and services, meanwhile, did not move, and food has held at 1.3% for a third month.
UK state pension set to pass £13,000 — and overtake the tax-free allowance for the first time
The ONS has published wage growth for May to July: 3.9% including bonuses, the weakest since 2020. It is the first of the triple lock's three numbers, and on it the full new State Pension rises from £241.30 to £250.70 a week from April 2027 — £13,037 a year. The Personal Allowance is frozen at £12,570, so a pensioner with no other income gets a tax bill for the first time: around £93.
UK tax return: you must tell HMRC by 5 October or face a penalty for staying quiet
Self-employment above £1,000, rent, savings interest, dividends or money from abroad in 2025/26 means registering for Self Assessment by 5 October 2026. The return comes later — 31 October on paper, 31 January online. The penalty for registering late is calculated on the tax you still owe and lands separately from late filing penalties.
UK job vacancies are lower than in any year since 2014: what the ONS figures of 15 September mean if you are looking for work
The ONS published its labour market data at 7am on Tuesday. Vacancies stand at 702,000 for June to August, down 8,000 on the quarter; outside the pandemic slump the last comparable level was in 2014. Unemployment is 4.9%, but 145,000 fewer people are on a payroll than a year ago. Private sector pay is rising 2.9% a year — more than twice as slowly as public sector pay.
What changes from 1 October: six things that will touch almost everyone
Energy bills rise £60 a year, but VAT on electricity goes to zero. Right-to-work checks extend to couriers and subcontractors. The tribunal time limit doubles to six months. Date by date — plus three deadlines to meet.
You can leave the passport at home: from 15 September your phone proves your age — but showing the screen is useless
Pubs and shops in England and Wales may now accept digital proof of age. Only services on the government register count, the check must be scanned rather than eyeballed, and it still proves nothing about your immigration status.
Free NHS flu jab from 1 October: who is on the list — and why 56% of eligible adults skip it
The national booking service opened on 17 August, children and pregnant women have been vaccinated since 1 September, and everyone else on the list can book from 1 October. Almost 19 million jabs last season prevented an estimated 104,000 hospital admissions — yet only 44% of at-risk adults aged 18 to 64 took one.
Premier League: Arsenal stay perfect as Liverpool and Chelsea drop points
In Saturday’s round on 12 September, Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-0 to keep a flawless record. Liverpool could not break down Fulham, Chelsea let a win over Hull City slip, and Tottenham and Everton played out a goalless draw.
Great North Run: fourteen seconds between first and second, a tenth title for Weir and McColgan out
The world's biggest half marathon ran for the 45th time, 63,000 people from Newcastle to South Shields. Zouhair Talbi won in 59:47, Brigid Kosgei in 1:06:15. The 2027 ballot is already open.
A Punjabi artist headlines Wembley for the first time: Diljit Dosanjh fills the 90,000-seat stadium
The 12 September concert ran for more than two hours and closed with fireworks. Panjabi is the third most common main language in England and Wales — which explains how a non-English-language bill filled the national stadium.
Rybakina beats Sabalenka in the US Open final and becomes world number one
The New York final ended 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. It is Elena Rybakina's third Grand Slam title, her first US Open and the first WTA world number one ranking in Kazakhstan's history.
Open House: nine days of free access to London’s closed buildings
The 35th Open House Festival runs from 12 to 20 September, opening buildings across all 33 London boroughs, free of charge. The London Design Festival runs alongside it, also until 20 September. Some venues take walk-ins, others require booking.
The Autumn Budget lands on 28 October: what is already confirmed
The Budget is set for Wednesday 28 October 2026 and will be delivered by Chancellor John Healey — his first as Chancellor. Several measures are already named: £2 single bus fares in England outside London from 1 January 2027, zero VAT on electricity from 1 October, and a 20% business rates cut for pubs from April 2027. The rest is still rumour — and that is where the biggest sums sit.
An expired BRP stops working on 31 December 2026
The plastic BRP cards have expired and been replaced by eVisas. An old card is still accepted, but only for three things and no later than 31 December 2026. For entering the country it is already useless.
Energy price cap rises 4% from 1 October: £1,723 a year for a typical home
Ofgem lifts the cap from £1,663 to £1,723 a year — £60 more, about £5 a month. Gas is the driver, with its unit rate up almost 9%. Electricity barely moves, because VAT on it drops to zero on 1 October.
Winter Fuel Payment 2026: who gets £100–£300, and who has to give it back
This winter’s heating payment goes to everyone born on or before 27 June 1960 who lives in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. For most people no claim is needed — the money arrives in November or December. But if your own income is above £35,000, HMRC takes it back through the tax system. Opting out: by phone until 6pm on 18 September, online until 11:59pm on 20 September.
From 1 October, right to work checks reach couriers, subcontractors and platform workers
The illegal working regime expands: employers must verify the status not only of employees but of anyone on a worker’s contract, through an agency, a subcontracting chain or an online matching platform. The penalty is up to £60,000 per worker.
UK student visa: from 30 November you must show 14,130 pounds in the bank
The Home Office has raised the maintenance funds a prospective student must hold before applying. London goes to 1,570 pounds a month from 1,529; the rest of the country to 1,203 from 1,171. Across the standard nine months that is 14,130 and 10,827 pounds. The new figures bite on 30 November 2026, and it is the application date that counts, not the course start date.
A new sculpture on Trafalgar Square: Tschabalala Self’s Lady in Blue
Unveiled on the Fourth Plinth on 10 September — a bronze figure of a young Londoner, patinated lapis lazuli blue. What the plinth is, why it stood empty for a century and a half, what was there before, and how to see it for free.
The 31st National Television Awards: the winners in full, and what to watch
The NTAs were handed out at The O2 on 8 September — the only British television awards decided by the public rather than a jury. Special Recognition for Alan Carr, TV Presenter for Sir David Attenborough, Comedy for Mrs Brown’s Boys, Talent Show for Strictly. The full list, six programmes for newcomers, and where to watch them free.
Royal week: Prince George starts at Eton, Prince William at King Harald's funeral
On 8 September the eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales began at Eton, as his father did in 1995. On 9 September Prince William represented King Charles III at the funeral of King Harald V in Oslo, with the Princess Royal attending as godmother to the new King Haakon VIII. We are starting a standing royal file.
English mayors to get the power to charge a tourist tax — with no cap on the rate
The government has confirmed new powers for mayors: a levy on overnight stays in hotels and short lets, set as a percentage of the bill, with no upper limit. London has floated 3%, worth around £350 million a year. Hoteliers and family resorts object and business travel wants an exemption. Who pays, and how much.
Russia's digital rouble goes live: 12 banks, a 300,000-rouble cap and what it means from the UK
From 1 September the digital rouble has left the pilot stage: the twelve largest banks open wallets, retailers turning over 120 million roubles must accept it, and top-ups are capped at 300,000 a month. No interest, no cashback, and transfers cannot be reversed.
We have launched a calendar: holidays, filing deadlines and official events
A UK calendar is now on the site. Bank holidays, tax deadlines, Bank of England decisions and the dates new rules take effect — in one grid, each with a link to its source.
Letting a room? The check is compulsory, and the penalty runs to £20,000
Every new tenant must be checked, and only the landlord can do it. Two things are needed: the tenant’s share code and their date of birth. Checking only the people who “look foreign” is a separate breach of the law.
Directors have ten weeks left to verify their identity
The Companies House transition year ends on 18 November. Every director and every person with significant control must verify by their own due date. Miss it and you commit an offence, face a financial penalty, and cannot file anything for your company.
October: employers start answering for how customers behave
From 30 October part of the Employment Rights Act 2025 takes effect: employers must take “all reasonable steps” against sexual harassment and become liable for harassment by third parties — customers, visitors, contractors. And from 1 October the tribunal time limit rises from three months to six.
£450m a year of reporting to be stripped from companies
The government has announced an overhaul of corporate reporting: the directors’ report goes, and exemptions from the strategic report and from audit are widened. The consultation runs to 30 November and anyone may respond.
Tell HMRC by 5 October that you need to file a tax return
Registration for Self Assessment for the tax year that ended on 5 April 2026 closes on 5 October. Miss it and you still have to file, and still have to pay by 31 January — only now with a penalty risk attached.
You can now post a listing straight from Telegram
We have launched @onlyway_news_bot: ten steps on buttons, photos from your phone, published without an email confirmation. Listings are free and run for 60 days.
HMRC advisory fuel rates from 1 September: diesel down, large petrol up
HMRC has revised the advisory fuel rates for company cars. Diesel at 1601-2000cc and above 2000cc each fall by a penny; petrol above 2000cc rises to 27p a mile. Electric is unchanged at 7p at home and 15p on public charging.
VAT on electricity goes to zero on 1 October — and the bill still goes up
VAT on domestic electricity falls from 5% to nothing, taking about £45 a year off the Ofgem cap. At the same time the cap itself rises 4%, to £1,723 a year for a typical home. Net effect: you pay more, but less than you would have.
No more stamps: how the EU border works now
The Entry/Exit System became fully operational on 10 April 2026. Fingerprints and a facial image replaced the passport stamp, and a computer now counts your days. ETIAS is expected to follow later this year.
Bank Rate: the decision lands on 17 September, with inflation rising again
Bank Rate has stood at 3.75% since 30 July. Annual CPI inflation rose to 2.9% in July from 2.6% in June. The Monetary Policy Committee announces at noon on 17 September.
The Bank of England announces its rate decision on 17 September
Bank Rate has stood at 3.75% since the decision of 30 July. The next Monetary Policy Committee announcement is on 17 September.
Making Tax Digital: the next quarterly update is due by 7 November
Digital reporting has been compulsory since April for sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000. Year one carries no penalty points — but the annual return has not gone away.
The cyber security bill reaches committee stage in the Lords
Regulation would extend to data centres and managed IT service providers. Small businesses will meet it indirectly — through their contracts with suppliers.
Assured shorthold tenancies are gone: how renting works now
Since 1 May, England has had neither assured shorthold tenancies nor section 21 evictions. A landlord must now name a ground.
Director identity checks: the transition year ends in November
Identity verification at Companies House has been a legal requirement since 18 November 2025. The twelve-month transition period runs out this autumn.
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