News
Packets of cigarettes are set for ‘biggest price rise ever’ next month
Sad news for smokers!
Packets of cigarettes will see the ‘biggest price rise ever’ next month, with costs expected to increase by 12.7%.
The move comes after Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said he wants to raise tobacco duty in line with inflation in next month’s budget on March 15th. Due to inflation being at its highest rate in years, many smokers had hoped the Chancellor would put a hold on the hike.
If you were planning on giving up this expensive vice, whether that be to improve your health or your purse, now might just be the right time. For those who wish to be free to choose to continue with their habit, it looks like you will be paying out more.
Smokers will see a packet of 20 go up by £1.15, meaning they will have a tobacco tax of at least 2% and levies of 12.7 %. As reported by the MailOnline, cigarettes make 1.2% of all tax revenue, which equates to almost £11 million in taxes.
The government is trying to discourage new people taking up the habit and ultimately hoping that the number of smokers in the UK will continue to fall to less than 5% of the population by the end of the decade.
The news might not come as a surprise to many because they are such a big money maker for the government through taxation, and they usually go up to meet inflation.
As reported in The Mirror, The Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) group has come forward to oppose the level of increase, stating that the ‘primary purpose’ of increasing tax above inflation is to reduce the affordability of tobacco products. The group pointed out that RPI is ‘not a good measure of affordability’ at the current time when peoples’ wages are not inline with inflation.
In a statement, ASH said: “A better measure of affordability is average earnings, as is used in Australia and we recommend that the UK switch from using RPI to average weekly earnings increase as the foundation for the tobacco tax escalator.
“The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates that average weekly earnings will have grown by 5.4% in the fiscal year 2022-3, and are expected to grow by 4.2% in 2023, while the figures for RPI are 13.0% and 8.3%.”
In the Spring Statement last year, then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that cigarette prices were not going to rise as part of his budget. This meant that the last time cigarette prices were increased was in October 2021 when 88p was added to the most expensive pack increasing it from £12.73 to just over £13.60.
Over the last couple of decades, the government has actively worked to prevent more smokers with the introduction of several new laws, such as smoking no longer being allowed in ‘enclosed’ or ‘substantially enclosed’ public places and workplaces, and health warnings having to be displayed on packets.
Currently, the UK is working toward making the country ‘smoke-free’ by 2030 which would mean that less than 5% of UK adults would partake in the habit.
The Spring Budget is set for March 15th 2023 and currently, it is expected that the Chancellor has planned a ‘slimmed down’ budget with no immediate tax cuts.
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
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