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With all alcohol now being taxed by its strength, rather than type and increasing with inflation, many drinks could now cost more.

Alcohol rates have remained frozen since August 2020 but from today duties on non-draught alcohol will be uprated by inflation and these duties will reflect the alcohol content in the drinks.

The duty on still wine has increased by around 30% since 2015 and nearly 58% since 2010.

People preferring beer or spirits will also see an increase of 14% on 2015 duty levels.

Since 2010, that is an increase of 21% and 33%, respectively.

Stuart Adam, senior economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies said: “It’s not a tax increase overall, it’s increased some types of (alcohol) and reduced others which I think is a sensible reform. It’s now going to reflect more closely the alcohol content of different drinks, as it should.

“It’s worth making the point that previous years have seen a nominal freeze in duty, which has meant a real terms reduction in price due to rising inflation, but today’s decision changes that policy.”

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The government will also increase the value of draught relief from 5% to 9.2% for qualifying beer and cider products and from 20% to 23% for qualifying wine, and other fermented products.

While an increase in draught relief may bring down some prices, the increase in duties on other products will still mean pubs will face continuing pressures.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “Today’s increase means beer duty is now the highest it’s ever been. The continued draught relief freeze is welcome to try and help pubs at the heart of communities across the country, but the fact remains that today’s changes will add £225m worth of costs a year across our industry and this will be felt at the bar.”

Tobacco duties

While duties on many drinks have increased today, other items like tobacco have had even bigger rises.

Since 2015, tobacco duty has increased by 56% since 2015. That’s 26 percentage points higher than the increase in still wine in the same period.

From May 2017, the duty on cigarettes is either the specific duty per 1,000 cigarettes plus 16.5% of the retail price or the minimum excise tax per 1,000 cigarettes – whichever is higher.

Fuel duties

Along with duties on recreational pastimes there have also been changes in duties paid on fuel and travel.

Fuel duty has decreased for various fuel types. Before 2022, fuel duty last changed in 2021 and March 2011 before that, but the duty rates stayed the same for leaded, unleaded and diesel fuels.

From March 2011 to 2022, fuel duty decreased by 7% for leaded fuels and 9% for unleaded and diesel fuels.

Air passenger duty

For people traveling by air, the standard Band A (a journey of 0 to 2,000 miles) rate for air passenger duty hasn’t changed since 2015, staying at £26.00.

The standard Band B rate (2,001 to 5,500 miles) has increased by more than a third.


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Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

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Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

A body has been found in the search for 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall. 

She was last seen leaving her home in Barracks Farm, County Durham, in her car just after 3pm on Tuesday.

Police said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances after a body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale on Sunday morning, five days after she went missing.

Jenny Hall. Pic: Durham Constabulary
Image:
Jenny Hall went missing on Tuesday. Pic: Durham Constabulary

“We’re sorry to report that officers searching for missing woman Jenny Hall, have sadly found a body,” Durham Constabulary said in a statement.

“Officers carried out an extensive search alongside specialist partners and have been working around-the-clock to locate Jenny after she went missing on February 18.

“The body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale just after 9.30am today.

“Formal identification has yet to take place. Jenny’s family have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers. They have asked for privacy at this devasting time.

“It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A major police search was launched after Ms Hall’s disappearance.

Her car, a red Ford Focus, was found on Wednesday parked on the B6278, near remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope.

Mountain rescue teams, specialist drones and sniffer dogs had been combing the Hamsterley Forest and the surrounding areas, where there are a number of running trails, this week.

Digital intelligence officers also carried out extensive inquiries into Ms Hall’s mobile phone, smart watch and running apps.

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Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

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Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

A fresh amber weather warning for heavy rain has been issued by the Met Office – with much of the UK already on alert for high winds and showers.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK’s west coast and the Midlands have yellow warnings for wind on Sunday – meaning the possibility of transport delays and short-term power cuts.

There are also rain warnings in place for several parts of western UK.

The new amber warning has been issued for rain in south and central Wales and is in force from 3pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday.

An amber warning means danger to life from floodwater, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, and there is a chance some communities will be cut off.

Winds across the west of the UK will increase throughout the morning with gusts up to 70mph in exposed areas, the Met Office said.

Zoe Hutin, a meteorologist at the forecaster, said Sunday is expected to be the “worst day” before conditions improve.

“The wind warning itself for the mainland UK ends at 6pm, but we can expect to continue to see quite blustery conditions even into the evening as the mainland rain itself pushes through.”

She added: “By the time people get up on Monday, we’ll still have some of the residual rain from that front in the far south-east of the country, and quite cloudy across England as well.

“But actually elsewhere, it could be a decent start.”

The Met Office’s yellow weather warnings for much of England and Scotland came into force at 6am and are expected to run until 6pm on Sunday.

A separate yellow warning for Northern Ireland came into force at 3am and runs until 3pm.

Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK
Image:
Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK

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People who have noticed some slightly higher temperatures the last couple of days may be dismayed at the latest predictions.

“Through the week, those temperatures are trending back down,” Ms Hutin said.

“And so it will be getting cooler each day, but they will actually just be recovering to around average for the time of year. So it won’t be cold.

“It will just be returning back to where we would expect to be for this time of February.”

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Starmer says ‘US is right’ about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

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Starmer says 'US is right' about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

Sir Keir Starmer has said the United States “is right” about the UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence and security.

The prime minister, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow on Sunday, said he is clear Britain “will take a leading responsibility” in protecting the continent.

“Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores,” he said.

“And this is a generational moment. I’ve been saying for some time that we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security. The US is right about that.”

He added “we can’t cling to the comforts of the past” as it is “time to take responsibility for our security”.

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Donald Trump sparked an emergency meeting of European leaders this week after he said European NATO members should spend more on defence, while the US should spend less.

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Sir Keir has said he will set out a path for the UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, up from the current 2.3%, but has not indicated when that will be.

It is believed he may announce the details when he visits Mr Trump in Washington DC on Thursday, bringing forward the announcement that was expected in the spring when a defence spending review is published.

The prime minister reiterated the UK will “play our role” if required in Ukraine following a peace agreement after he earlier this week said the UK would send troops to be part of a peacekeeping force.

Pic: AP
Image:
Sir Keir will meet Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday. Pic: AP

However, his comments caused a row with Germany and Italy who said it was premature to commit to boots on the ground, although France agreed with the UK.

Sir Keir said: “As we enter a new phase in this conflict, we must now deepen our solidarity even further.”

He added: “There can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine.

“And the people of Ukraine must have long-term security.”

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This week has seen US officials meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine – which has been met with indignation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as none of his team were invited.

No Europeans were invited either, sparking concern the US is pandering to Vladimir Putin.

Sir Keir has promised Mr Zelenskyy he will make the case for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty when he meets with Mr Trump, who has called the Ukrainian president a dictator.

Mr Trump also said Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit the White House too this week, “haven’t done anything” to end the war.

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