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1996. Wembley Stadium. I’m standing in a sea of England flags and fans, watching the Euros semi-final. As the crowd roars with one voice, it’s electric. Football’s coming home.

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It didn’t of course. But that day, England stood shoulder to shoulder. Beyond the stadium, across the entire country, we shared the highs and lows together.

Being there felt like we were part of something larger than ourselves. An England that belonged to our grandparents and our history, but also to our children and our future. And I felt like I was part of it.

That’s the power of our flag. To make us all feel like part of Team England.

Win or lose, north or south, black or white, old or young. Even Spurs and Arsenal were on the same team that day, cheering on our country.

So I know what a source of pride our flag can be, and what it means to people.

Which is makes it all the more shameful when people exploit that symbol to stoke anger and division.

I know people feel angry that the country they love doesn’t seem to work for them.

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People who feel like they’re doing everything right, but getting nothing to show for it.

Working harder and harder just to stand still, and worried what the future will look like for their kids.

I share that frustration. I’m determined to fix it. But a small minority see instead an opportunity to whip up hatred. To follow and old and dangerous playbook that sets people against one another.

That’s what we’ve seen in parts of the country. Police officers assaulted.

Loutish behaviour on the streets. And people made to feel like they are not welcome or safe here because of their heritage, religion or colour of their skin.

We’ve seen a nine year old black girl shot at in a racist attack. Chinese takeaways defaced. That sends a shiver down the spine of every right-minded Brit. This is not who we are.

When populist politicians, convicted criminals, and foreign billionaires take to the stage to encourage violence, make racist comments, and threaten our democracy, it casts a dark shadow of fear and violence across our society.

They want to drag our country down into a toxic spiral of division and hatred because it’s good for them. But their vile lies are not good for the country.

Here’s the truth. Over the past 15 years, trust in politics has been eroded. the economy became weaker and weaker. Opportunities disappeared as libraries, leisure centres, community spaces shut down during austerity.

Public services like our NHS neglected, neighbourhoods looking more and more tired as high streets shuttered up, anti-social behaviour blighting people’s lives.

Working people were left to scrap over fewer and fewer crumbs.

Now we’re at a crossroads. There is a dark path ahead of division and decline, toxicity and fear.

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A path that relies on destruction and disappointment, because when the damage is done and the graffiti cleaned away, it’s clear the populists  never had anything to offer – no hope, no future, no answers.

Or, there is the patriotic path of national renewal. Every one of us playing our part to renew, restore, rebuild the country we love.

That is the path we choose. 

Because this government is taking responsibility to reverse the decline.

We’re growing our economy so there’s more to go round for everyone, with 5 cuts in interest rates saving families up to £1,000 on their mortgage each year.

We’re building 1.5 million new homes, new towns, hospitals and schools and improving transport across the country. We’re delivering 5.2 million extra NHS appointments.

And we’re saving families £7,500 a year on childcare, giving hard working parents more cash and more time.

Of course we need to deal with the issues the country faces, like illegal immigration, head on.

But the way to be proud of our country again is to be part of the renewal, not the destruction. This is a struggle for the heart and soul of our nation.

But it’s not between ordinary people who simply want a better life for their families. It’s between patriots who care about our country, and populists who only care about themselves.

They want to control a current of tension and fear. I want the electricity I felt in that stadium almost thirty years ago, of a defiant Britain, a nation of decency and diversity, that still dares to stand together and believe in better.

Because this is the country that stood tall – with our allies – against the forces of fascism 80 years ago.

This is who we are. We’ve got the match of our lives ahead. And we need you on the pitch.

Sept. 20 (UPI) — President Donald Trump is instituting two major changes to the H-1B visa process, including the introduction of a so-called “gold card,” the U.S. Department of Labor confirmed in a media release.

Trump signed a pair of executive orders, one of which will institute a $1 million fee for high-skilled workers who pay the amount themselves, with the amount doubling to $2 million if the rate is paid by the person’s employer.

The second order will see the creation of a $100,000 fee for successful H-1B visa applicants.

Both changes were dubbed Project Firewall by the administration, which says the moves are meant to “safeguard the rights, wages, and job opportunities of highly skilled American workers.”

“This program will raise more than $100 billion, which we’ll use for cutting taxes and paying down debt,” Trump said in the Oval Office after signing the executive orders.

“They’re going to spend a lot of money to come in. We need great workers. And this pretty much ensures that this is what’s going to happen.”

Typically, there are 85,000 of the H-1B visas issued each year with a large number going to people working for tech giants such as Amazon and Microsoft, government data shows.

Employers must certify that workers looking to secure one of the visas will be paid a salary similar to what a U.S. citizen would be and that the company is unable to find an American to fill the role.

Prior to the executive order, an employer could pay a $215 registration fee to enter a lottery to claim one of the 85,000 annually issued visas.

“The Trump Administration is standing by our commitment to end practices that leave Americans in the dust. As we reestablish economic dominance, we must protect our most valuable resource: the American worker. Launching Project Firewall will help us ensure no employers are abusing H-1B visas at the expense of our workforce,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement on the department’s website.

“By rooting out fraud and abuse, the Department of Labor and our federal partners will ensure that highly skilled jobs go to Americans first.”

MARK Labbett has hinted that he could quit The Chase after revealing he’s open to new job offers.

The star has become one of the most popular faces from the ITV quiz show and has even starred on both the American and Australian versions.

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But The Beast has now cast doubt on if he will remain with the show by confirming he would quit the “part-time” gig for something more permanent.

The quizzer and TV personality made the confession as he attended the National Television Awards.

Mark said: “I take great pride in being, as I modestly put it, the best Chaser in the world…

“I love my job.”

But he then quickly added to the Daily Express: “At the same time – it’s a part-time gig.

“I won’t deny it if I’m lucky enough to get a good offer somewhere else for a full-time gig.

“But until that time, I’ll keep working.”

He further hinted that he would be open to taking on more opportunities on international versions of the show.

Mark added: “I love doing The Chase in Australia and America – and who knows – maybe New Zealand, maybe.

“They keep sending me, as I’m good at my job.”

Mark recently spread his wings away from The Chase after signing up to find love on E4 reality show, Celebs Go Dating.

However, his mission was unsuccessful as Mark left the programme single.

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A YOUNG woman has moaned about how the Jobcentre has found “yet another way” to get on her nerves. 

Serena Lola, a 23-year-old who receives Universal Credit, described the Jobcentre as “dumb” and “poorly run.”

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The content creator, who is currently unemployed and is “vibing her way through life” took to social media to express her frustration at her situation, leaving many open-mouthed.

As she travelled to her local Jobcentre, she fumed: “The Jobcentre has found yet another way to p**s me off.”

The youngster acknowledged that she was sent money to pay for travel to an interview, but the ticket didn’t cost the full amount she was given.

As a result of being overpaid by the Jobcentre, she now owes them £15.

After receiving a letter requesting the overpaid money back, Serena explained: “They told me that I have to come into the Jobcentre and hand them cash – now this just seems illogical to me, especially in a day and age of technology where we can bank transfer money.

“I’m now having to pay £1.75 to go to the Jobcentre, when I don’t have a job or an income, to hand in cash.

“So now that’s £1.75 I’m wasting to go to the Jobcentre, when that’s something that could be done online.”

Serena was fuming with the circumstances, after being forced to go to a cash point, withdraw money and then “physically trek” to hand the payment back.

While Serena recognised it was a “minor, non-issue,” she was clearly very irritated by the “illogical” situation,.

“But come on – it just shows you how poorly run the system is and they could be doing things a lot better and a lot easier,” she concluded.

Social media users react

Serena’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @serenaxlola, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 359,600 views, 9,177 likes and 445 comments.

Social media users were stunned by Serena’s situation and many flocked to the comments to express their thoughts. 

One person said: “So ridiculous.” 

They have to make everything 10 times more difficult for no reason

TikTok user

Another added: “Ring them and raise a complaint. You are out of pocket for travelling to the Jobcentre to pay them back, defeating the purposes of supporting you in the first place. That’s not okay.”

In response, Serena wrote back and penned: “It’s such a silly system.” 

A third commented: “They have to make everything 10 times more difficult for no reason.”

To this, Serena responded: “Tell me about it.” 

Meanwhile, someone else questioned: “Can’t they just take it from your next UC payment?”

Clearly baffled by the situation, Serena responded: “That’s what I thought?!? But clearly not.” 

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THERE’S been a lot of talk about bedding plants recently.

Rebranded as ‘Seasonal Interest’ they’ve annoyed some folk in the gardening industry because of environmental concerns.

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You’ll know them better as those lovely flowers in garden centres and supermarkets that bring an instant burst of colour to your outside space – like petunias, marigolds, begonias, nemesia, cosmos and lobelia.

Often you’ll buy them in plugs to plant straight into the soil before the frost sets in.

Naysayers reckon that because they’re not perennial, need a lot of watering and are bred in greenhouses – which use lots of energy – they’re bad for the environment.

But there’s one man in particular who couldn’t have loved them more – holding firm in the face of all the negative comments.

Sun Gardening Editor Peter Seabrook took on Floral Fantasia at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex back in 2019 and right up until his death was championing bedding plants.

I was lucky enough to visit recently and was overwhelmed with the astonishing array of beautiful planting – showcasing swathes of stunning colours and species – which are crucially all affordable.

“‘We sell smiles’ is what Peter would have said,” Mike Smith, chair of the Floral Fantasia Working Group told me.

“His vision was to be ‘the centre of excellence for seasonal plants’ and although we’re not quite there yet – we’re definitely on our way.

“When I first came to Hyde Hall I was in awe of the gardens there, but appreciate they’re quite overwhelming to try and recreate in the average garden that is less than 15 metres square.

“We want to inspire people to have a go, show them something achievable – and this is where the Seasonal Interest comes in.

“They’re not grown in peat any more, they bring happiness to the consumer and they’re manageable.

“But also, it’s worth recognising that ornamental growers add over £1bn to the economy.

“Alan Titchmarsh agreed with Peter, and said after he died: ‘We all need to take up the baton from him to keep fighting our corner and explain what this means and how important horticulture is and it’s value to the British economy.’

“And that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re showing visitors to Hyde Hall the latest UK plants – and we’re celebrating Fleuroselect’s Year of the Begonia with over 150 varieties being trialled in beds and containers – they’re a stunning splash of colour.

“The public get to see all manner of cultivars that they’ve never seen before and everyone comes out smiling.”

Peter’s son Roger Seabrook told Sun Gardening: “‘Floral Fantasia at RHS Hyde Hall meant so much to Dad – he saw the garden as a way to show what could be achieved with seasonal planting and to inspire people to get growing, however small their space.

“He put a huge amount of energy into championing Floral Fantasia and rolled his sleeves up to spend long hours working in the garden himself.

“For this reason it’s a special place for our family and it’s just fantastic to see it looking so vibrant and colourful.

“I’m sure that Dad would have been delighted to see the progress made, a testament to all the hard work of those involved over the years.’

Tim Kerley, of Kerley Plants, Cambridge, which provides blooms for Floral Fantasia added: “They’re bright, cheery flowers that will put a smile on your face all summer long! Modern varieties are low maintenance and thrive in our varied climate.

“They’re great for your mind and pollinators -all for the price of a cup of coffee.”

Annual chrysanthemum’s are also considered bedding plants. And they’re a fantastic way of bringing colour to your garden in Autumn when everything is dying back a bit.

Lidl has one on sale for £1.99 from next Saturday and it’s going to be my cheap secret weapon to bring colour to my outside space.

Also in Veronica’s Column this week

News, top tips, plant of the week and a firepit competition

For more top tips and gardening content follow me @biros_and_bloom

NEWS! THE Cuprinol Shed of the Year results are in – and the winner is engineer Mike Robinson from South East London with his spectacular shed, ‘The Tiny Workshop.
Designed to slot neatly into a garden with limited room, it wowed judges with its imaginative use of space. With off-the-shelf sheds too big for his plot, Mike built the shed using two sets of heavy-duty steel shelving, bolted together and clad with wood’
Two doors flap open at the bottom and top to provide flooring and handy rain protection, with a smart overhanging green roof to store garden tools and welcome nature to the garden.
Mike wins this year’s top prize of an overnight nature getaway, £1,000 cash and £250 of Cuprinol product.

TOP TIP! Time to start thinking about feeding the birds in your garden a little bit more. And Alex Gill, founder of Awesome Wildlife Company, has some unusual advice.
“By providing food and shelter now, we can give birds, hedgehogs, and insects the best possible chance of thriving through the winter, and in turn, we get to enjoy a garden full of life.
“Both dried and fresh fruit works. Apples and pears are very popular with garden birds. If you do choose to put any spare fruit that you might have out, make sure it’s fresh as mouldy fruit isn’t good for birds.
“Dried fruits, like Raisins, are also well loved by some bird’s species. Just remember to be careful and avoid if you have a dog, as raisins are toxic to dogs.
He added: “During the colder months, birds benefit from high-energy foods, such as sunflower seeds, peanuts, mealworms, and suet. These kinds of foods help them build up their fat reserves so that they can survive the colder months.”  

NEWS! THE CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship will be taking place at the Malvern Autumn Show next weekend. It showcases some unbelievably large vegetables – which often break Guinness World records. Taking place at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, you’ll also get the chance to see talks by Monty Don, Adam Frost, August Bernstein, and RHS Ambassador Manoj Malde. And there will be fabulous flowers, plants, bulbs, seeds, tools and equipment to marvel at.

NEWS! BBC TV presenter, keen gardener and National Garden Scheme Ambassador, Fiona Bruce will host a very special National Garden Scheme Ask the Experts event at the Royal Geographical Society, London on Tuesday 2nd December at 7pm. Answering a range of pre-submitted audience questions and covering all aspects of gardens and gardening will be a panel including Arit Anderson, Danny Clarke, Rachel de Thame, Joe Swift.

NEWS! There’s a beautiful new book called The Essential Guide to Bulbs, by Jenny Rose Carey, coming out next month. Published on October 16th by Timber Press, its a fabulous guide to growing bulbs all year round in gardens and containers. The pictures are gorgeous and it’s really informative too, it would make a lovely present for the Gardener in your life.

WIN! As the evenings draw in – warm up with an eco-friendly, low carbon Eco Fuego fire pit worth £179.99 and a wax refill worth £26.99. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/ECOFIREPIT or write to Sun Eco Firepit competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. October 4, 2025. T&Cs apply

PLANT OF THE WEEK! “Verbena Officinalis Bampton” Still flowering now – it’s an unusual looking bushy drought-resistant perennial with small purple flowers on the end of wiry branches. Prefers full sun, south facing borders.

TOP TIP! Raise your pots now to prevent waterlogging – you don’t have to pay for proper feet – you can use bottle caps, coasters, tiles, bricks, or even logs cut to size. There just needs to be drainage space under the pot.

EDDIE Hearn has praised his rarely-seen sister as the “secret star” of his dad’s billion pound sports empire.

But despite Katie’s key role at Matchroom, she won’t be seen by Netflix viewers on the family’s new docuseries, Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen.

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Explaining why to The Sun, Eddie said: “My sister has no interest in the limelight.

“We are chalk and cheese in so many ways.

“She was an A-star student, I really wasn’t and when we did the deal with Netflix they were like, ‘oh and we’ll see your sister as well?’

“But she’s in the office all the time, hiding every time the cameras come in.

“I definitely took the extrovert side out of us.”

Eddie still backs himself as dad Barry’s favourite as he prepares to take over the business.

But Katie is a key player behind the scenes – with 40 years of experience in producing and globally distributing live sporting events.

Since becoming the first female to work on the Premiership and International production team at Sky Sports, Katie is now Director of Programming and CEO of Matchroom Media.

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Eddie added: “Katie’s a massive part of the business. She runs all the TV production and she’s a little bit of a kind secret star.

“She’s very talented, but she wouldn’t tell you how talented she is. I’m not very talented, but I’ll tell you how talented I am.”

Eddie also opened up about the decision not to include his wife and kids in the TV series that shot straight to the top of Netflix’s charts.

“It was mainly for the children,” he says.

“They already get a load of stick really through being my daughters. I’ve got two daughters and I want them to be able to live as normal a life as possible without someone having a preconceived perception of who they are or what they might be.

“It’s not like they’re hidden away, but I’ve seen some other documentaries where the kids are there and I just feel like it’s a huge amount of pressure, especially at that age, 13 and 15.”

It hasn’t stopped his kids from giving their opinions about his performance on the show.

Eddie laughed: “My eldest is watching the series and her first comment was ‘yeah, it’s good, but you lose a lot in it’.

“But that’s the real part of it. In an ideal world, AJ would have beat Dubois. We would have won the 5v5, but that wouldn’t be a great show.

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“I think it’s good for them to understand as well that it’s not just you go to work, you win, you make money, you go to work, you lose, you have bad days. You have a lot of pressure.”

Asked whether they’re likely to join the family business once he takes the top spot, Eddie added: “I’ve always said no to the thought of my daughters joining the business but as they get a little bit older, I think if they have a passion for it then why not.

“When I left school, I didn’t want to work for my dad. Everyone said to me growing up, ‘well, you’re just going to work for your dad anyway’.

“I thought no, I’m going to go out and I’m going to do my own thing and I did for probably four or five years, but then realised I’m putting all this energy and time into someone else’s company instead of putting that into what my dad built.

“Suddenly it felt like my role and responsibility was to carry on what was important to him.

“So, yeah, if they have a passion for it, then I wouldn’t stop them. But maybe not boxing. I’ll probably keep them away from boxing…”

THE Chancellor has been dealt another setback after borrowing hit the highest level in five years, making Budget tax rises “inevitable”.

The Government borrowed more money than expected last month, at £18billion, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This was £3.5billion more than in August 2024.

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The interest on Government debt soared by £1.9billion to £8.4billion, which added to higher spending on benefits and public services.

This offset any boost from the National Insurance Contributions hike, the ONS said.

It marked the highest August borrowing since 2020, significantly overshooting the £12.8billion expected by economists.

The level of government borrowing was £5.5billion higher than the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast in March.

Meanwhile, borrowing for the first five months of the financial year hit £83.8billion.

This was £16.2billion higher than the same period last year and well ahead of the OBR’s £72.4billion prediction.

Martin Beck, chief economist at WPI Strategy, said: “The £10billion buffer the Chancellor pencilled in against her key fiscal rule in March has almost certainly gone.

“That means tax rises in November look inevitable.”

James Murray, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, insisted the Government “has a plan to bring down borrowing because taxpayer money should be spent on the country’s priorities, not on debt interest”.

He added: “Our focus is on economic stability, fiscal responsibility, ripping up needless red tape, tearing out waste from our public services, driving forward reforms and putting more money in working people’s pockets.”

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

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MILLIONS of Brits who rely solely on the state pension face having to pay income tax within the next two years.

Rises guaranteed under the triple-lock will push many dangerously close to the £12,570 tax threshold.

State pensions rise each year by the rate of either inflation, earnings growth, or 2.5 per cent — whichever is highest.

With wage growth at 4.7 per cent, the full new state pension will rise to £12,535 a year next April.

That is £35 short of the frozen income tax threshold, meaning OAPs in question are certain to be paying up by 2027.

Despite warnings, the Government has made no commitment to raising tax thresholds or making an exemption for Brits who have only the state pension.

A spokesman said: “We are committed to helping pensioners live their lives with dignity and respect, which is why millions will see their pension rise by up to £1,900 this Parliament.”

They also stated that people completely reliant on the state pension would not have to pay any income tax “this year”.

HMRC is expected to deduct tax directly through pension providers — or send pensioners a Simple Assessment tax bill that they have to work out.

Campaigners last night blasted the news, with ex-Pensions Minister Sir Steve Webb calling it a “creeping injustice” due to “drag millions more into the tax net”.

Rachel Vahey, of pensions firm AJ Bell, said it would force many older Brits to fill out their first self-assessment, and warned that present financial woes made reforms on taxes and pensions unlikely.

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NEW YORK — In the days since the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, workers in a variety of industries have been fired for their comments on his death.

It’s hardly the first time workers have lost their jobs over things they say publicly — including in social media posts. In the U.S., laws can vary across states, but overall, there’s very few legal protections for employees who are punished for speech made in or out of private workplaces.

“Most people think they have a right to free speech … but that doesn’t necessarily apply in the workplace,” said Vanessa Matsis-McCready, associate general counsel and vice president of HR Services for Engage PEO. “Most employees in the private sector do not have any protections for that type of speech at work.”

Add to that the prevalence of social media, which has made it increasingly common to track employees’ conduct outside of work or for internet users to publish information about them with the intent of harming or harassing them.

Employers have leeway

Protections for workers vary from one state to the next. In New York, if an employee is participating in a weekend political protest, but not associating themselves with the organization that employs them, their employer cannot fire them for that activity when they return to work. But if that same employee is at a company event on a weekend and talks about their political viewpoints in a way that makes others feel unsafe or the target of discrimination or harassment, then they could face consequences at work, Matsis-McCready said.

Most of the U.S. defaults to “at-will” employment law — which essentially means employers can choose to hire and fire as they see fit, including over employees’ speech.

“The 1st Amendment does not apply in private workplaces to protect employees’ speech,” said Andrew Kragie, an attorney who specializes in employment and labor law at Maynard Nexsen. “It actually does protect employers’ right to make decisions about employees, based on employees’ speech.”

Kragie said there are “pockets of protection” around the U.S. under various state laws, such as statutes that forbid punishing workers for their political views. But the interpretation of how that gets enforced changes, he notes, making the waters murky.

Steven T. Collis, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin and faculty director of the school’s Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center, also points to some state laws that say employers can’t fire their workers for “legal off-duty conduct.” But there’s often an exception for conduct seen as disruptive to an employer’s business or reputation, which could be grounds to fire someone over public comments or social media posts.

“In this scenario, if somebody feels like one of their employees has done something that suggests they are glorifying or celebrating a murder, an employer might still be able to fire them even with one of those laws on the books,” Collis said.

For public employees, including school teachers, postal workers and elected officials, the process is a bit different. That’s because the 1st Amendment plays a unique role when the government is the employer, Collis explains — and the Supreme Court has ruled that if an employee is acting in a private capacity but speaking on a matter of public concern, they’re protected.

However, that has yet to stop the public sector from restricting speech in the aftermath of Kirk’s death. For instance, leaders at the Pentagon unveiled a “zero tolerance” policy for any posts or comments from troops deemed to be making light of or celebrating the killing of Kirk.

The policy, announced by the Defense Department’s top spokesman, Sean Parnell, on social media Thursday, came hours after numerous conservative military influencers and activists began forwarding posts they considered problematic to Parnell and his boss, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

“It is unacceptable for military personnel and Department of War civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American,” Parnell wrote Thursday, referring to the Department of Defense by the name adopted recently by President Trump.

A surge of political debate

The ubiquity of social media is making it easier than ever to share opinions about politics and major news events as they’re unfolding. But posting on social media leaves a record, and in times of escalating political polarization, those declarations can be seen as damaging to the reputation of an individual or their employer.

“People don’t realize when they’re on social media, it is the town square,” said Amy Dufrane, chief executive of the Human Resource Certification Institute. “They’re not having a private conversation with the neighbor over the fence. They’re really broadcasting their views.”

Political debates are certainly not limited to social media and are increasingly making their way into the workplace as well.

“The gamification of the way we communicate in the workplace — Slack and Teams, chat and all these things — they’re very similar to how you might interact on Instagram or other social media, so I do think that makes it feel a little less formal and somebody might be more inclined to take a step and say, ‘Oh, I can’t believe this happened,’” Matsis-McCready said.

Many employers unprepared

In the tense, divided climate in the United States at the moment, many human resource professionals have expressed that they’re unprepared to address politically charged discussions in the workplace, according to the Human Resource Certification Institute. But those conversations are going to happen, so employers need to set policies about what is acceptable or unacceptable workplace conduct, Dufrane said.

“HR has got to really drill down and make sure that they’re super clear on their policies and practices and communicating to their employees on what are their responsibilities as an employee of the organization,” Dufrane said.

Many employers are reviewing their policies on political speech and providing training about what appropriate conduct looks like, both inside and outside the organization, she said. And the brutal nature of Kirk’s killing may have led some of them to react more strongly in the days since his death.

“Because of the violent nature of what some political discussion is now about, I think there is a real concern from employers that they want to keep the workplace safe and that they’re being extra vigilant about anything that could be viewed as a threat, which is their duty,” Matsis-McCreedy said.

Employees can also be seen as ambassadors of a company’s brand, and their political speech can dilute that brand and hurt its reputation, depending on what is being said and how it is being received. That is leading more companies to act on what employees are saying online, she said.

“Some of the individuals that had posted and their posts went viral, all of a sudden the phone lines of their employers were just nonstop calls complaining,” Matsis-McCready said.

Still, experts such as Collis don’t anticipate a significant change in how employers monitor their workers’ speech — noting that online activity has been in the spotlight for at least the last 15 years.

“Employers are already — and have been for a very long time — vetting employees based on what they’re posting on social media,” he said.

Bussewitz and Grantham-Philips write for the Associated Press. AP writer Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed to this report.

STRICTLY Come Dancing star Thomas Skinner has revealed that he had terrifying death threats after meeting up with the vice-president of the United States JD Vance.

The American politician reached out to him after seeing his social media posts saying he admired his positive attitude for life.

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And he invited him to the barbecue of the summer at 18th-century Dean Manor near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds.

But afterwards The Apprentice star and market stall holder proudly posted a photo of them together on social media – and received a shocking backlash.

In an exclusive interview he admits: “Since I posted that picture I’ve had loads of death threats. People saying they want me dead, saying I am this political figure that I’m actually not. I actually really ain’t. I couldn’t tell you what’s going on in the world right now.

“Now the left seems to be attacking me every day on social media. The right seems to see me as this figurehead and it’s all been a bit much for me, if I’m honest with you.

“I was getting death threats and people calling me controversial. I was thinking, what have I ever done? What have I ever said that’s controversial? When you actually go through my tweets, apart from saying that knife crime is bad in London, yeah?

“I’m not this political figurehead that people believe that’s got my hand.

“I’ve had loads of death threats over the years, you know.

“I didn’t see it as anything more than a barbecue, if I’m honest with you. But I’ve been turned into this political figure that I’m actually not.”

But the East Londoner does admit he was nervous after accepting the invite along with Cambridge academic James Orr and Tory MP Danny Kruger.

He said: “I was very nervous about it, I didn’t know what to wear. When I arrived he literally was like, ‘Why have you got a suit on?’

“He was actually a normal bloke. We spoke about English cheese being so much better than American cheese, West Ham United and how they call football ‘soccer’.”

Fry-up fan Thomas was blown away by the food, laid on by the local pub, describing it as “the b******s.”

He said: “There was a pub in the town, and Jay wanted to go to a traditional English pub, but he knew by going to this pub it would obviously have to shut, because I’ve never seen so many security guys in my life… a proper entourage… he didn’t want it to affect the locals.

“So he asked the pub if they would kindly – he paid them a lot of money – bring some of their staff to cook at the place, and they did, they actually left this beautiful pub in the Cotswolds, they’d come round to the garden, and they cooked this fantastic spread, it was steaks, kebabs, halloumi, honestly it was unreal.  Everyone was really friendly.”

He didn’t take pictures, he says, because he didn’t want to “disturb his privacy”.

Joking, he adds: “When Trump comes he might invite me to a BBQ too.”

NO REGRETS

Despite the furore online Thomas insists he doesn’t regret posting the picture. He said: “I don’t regret it, I am a normal bloke and it was an amazing opportunity.

“Put yourself in my shoes. What would you do?  You’re a normal person.  And, I’ve been given this opportunity to sit with the Vice President of the most powerful country in the world, the United States of America. To me that was, “Wow’.

“And I would have gone, whether it was the leader of France, Germany, I think to sit there and learn, and experience that, whether you agree with him politically or not, it wasn’t about that for me, it was literally to say, ‘I’ve sat there and met the Vice President of the United States of America’.”

Yesterday, dad of three Thomas told how he had cheated on his wife – but bitterly regrets his mistake.

Sinead has been by his side since they got together nearly a decade ago.

Thomas began working part time as a market trader at 13 after being expelled from school. He found several businesses before starring on The Apprentice in 2019 after Sinead encouraged him to apply.

Since then he has appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, 8 Out of 10 Cats, and Michael McIntyre‘s Big Show.

But he is also known for his motivational videos on social media where he shares his love of kebabs and pints.

It was his conservative political views that led to US Vice President JD Vance actually getting in touch with him.

SPREADS POSITIVITY

He says he loves spreading positivity.

He said: “Even when JD Vance sent me a DM, he was like, ‘Look I love your energy, keep it up, I love seeing the high energy and the positivity you spread’.

“Which is literally all I do, all I do is share videos of me having a roast dinner, and do a morning video to say, ‘Have a good day’,  because I know what it’s like to wake up and feel like you can’t do this. I’ve been there, and that’s why I won’t ever give up spreading the positivity.”

Throughout the ups and down in his life Sinead – who he dubs Super sensible Sinéad – has been at his side throughout.

He admits the past few weeks have been tough and he has struggled with the public scrutiny.

He said: “It does affect you. I’ve always put on this brave face. But it’s alright to be vulnerable and be down and be upset. There are times I’ve felt low.”

CLOSE PALS WITH RYLAN CLARK

His close pal Rylan Clark also faced backlash recently over his views on migrant hotels which sparked over 700 Ofcom complaints.

Thomas said: “Rylan has been a friend of mine since I was a teenager. I love him. He’s a family friend, he comes to our family events. I go round to his and I bring him round to ours.

“He’s a top guy. And the thing that I just worry about is nowadays, whether someone’s got a different opinion to you, or you say something that might be slightly incorrect or you don’t agree with, everyone should be allowed to have their opinion, and everyone should be allowed to express it and argue it and talk about it.

“But if your opinion is different to someone else’s, people shouldn’t be able to attack you and ram it down your throat, and I think that’s wrong, if I’m honest with you.

“Poor old Rylan got a bashing, and obviously I know what it feels like, because I’ve had a bashing in the last couple of years.”

What Rylan said was: “How come if I turn up at Heathrow Airport and I’ve left my passport in Spain, I’ve got to stand at that airport and won’t be let in? But if I arrive on a boat from Calais, I get taken to a four-star hotel?

“I find it absolutely insane that all these people are risking their lives coming across the Channel like they are. But when they get here, it seems, ‘Welcome, come on in’.”

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He later said he was angry at being “put in a box” over his opinions and called for more intelligent debate. Rylan posted on X: “You can be pro immigration and against illegal routes. You can support trans people and have the utmost respect for women.

“You can be heterosexual and still support gay rights. Stop with this putting everyone in a box exercise and maybe have conversations instead of shouting on Twitter.”

Thomas says the pressure that he and other celebrities receive due to fame can be hard to deal with.

And key to helping keep his mental health stable is the group of friends from the market that he still meets every Friday for “a pint”.

He said: “I think that’s so important, they think it’s funny I’m going on Strictly.

“Every Friday, and I’ve done this for years, you know, since I started out, no matter what, me and my group of little pals have a pint on a Friday afternoon.

“Some of us could be skint on our arse, some of us could be flying, we’re all having the same beer, in the same circle, talking the same thing, and we always, we always talk about what’s been a bad week, sad week, a happy week, a good week, a great week, and we all support each other, and I think that’s so important.”

And his biggest fan – his mum couldn’t be prouder.

Both his parents still work and are real “grafters” – which is where he says he gets his work ethic from.

His mum works in a call centre – but until this week hadn’t revealed who her famous son was, because she says they “never asked”.

He said: “She’s one of the people, when your boiler goes, she’ll ring up, my mum’s the one that you abuse on the phone saying, ‘My boilers gone,” she’s got one of the hardest jobs in the world. bless her.

“When she asked for the day off she said her son was on Strictly. They said, ‘What who’s your son? What do you mean?’ She showed them a picture of me.”

Her son is still a market trader with his own stall selling mattresses and pillows. He survives on just five hours sleep a night and even when rehearsing for the BBC show he says he will set up his stall first.

He still loves his work and feels proud to be helping Britain’s High Street.

Thomas said: “I’m going to try and set up at 6am. Markets help the shops, but then the shops are suffering, the high street’s dying.”

One thing that isn’t dying is his fan base.

Thomas confesses that he has been inundated with direct messages from celebrities on social media offering support for the new dance show.

He said: “I’ve had hundreds of messages, footballers, TV stars, all sorts.

“But I don’t think it’s fair to say who, because they’ve said that to me confidentially, and I respect that.

“People like my energy and the positivity I spread, which is literally all I do.”

Thomas has experienced financial highs and lows, and even homelessness.

He said: “I know what it’s like to have a few quid in my pocket, when everything’s going well, and your business is flying, and you’ve got everyone around you.

“But I also know what it’s like to be on your a***, not having anywhere to live, and not knowing how you’re going to pay your next bill. I’ve been at both spectrums.

“It’s taught me to be strong, and taught me to try and help other people, because life can be so hard.”

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Ancestry has uncovered which Downton Abbey actors’ real-life family stories mirror their characters ahead of the hit ITV show’s upcoming third and final film

New research shows some of the cast of Downton Abbey have real life similarities in their families compared to their on screen roles

With a new third and final film about the ITV period drama released into cinemas this week on September 12, the results from family history site Ancestry uncover which actors’ real-life family stories mirror their characters and which tell a very different story.

Michael Fox who plays butler Andy Parker has a three-times-great-grandfather who was a butler and great-great-grandfather a chauffeur. It seems he was almost destined to play a loyal footman. This was uncovered using marriage and census records.

Allen Leech is well known as Chauffeur turned Estate Manager Tom Branson. Like Branson, Allen comes from a family of principled public servants. Using an obituary from the Drogheda Independent in 1962 it can be revealed his great-grandfather Thomas Leech was an Irish peace commissioner known for his honesty and integrity, and may well have inspired one of Branson’s iconic speeches.

Lesley Nichol’s character Mrs Patmore had a loveable role in the Downton kitchen, in real life her ancestors were shepherds, butchers and wine merchants showing a real-life passion for food and drink that mirrors Mrs Patmore.

The 1911 Census of England and Wales record shows Henry Thomas Isaac, butcher.

Harry Hadden-Paton was Bertie Pelham in the ITV series and Bertie is an expert at estate management.

This is similar to Harry’s three-times-great-grandfather, a banker called Henry G Marquand involved in major railroad interests who might have been able to save the Crawleys from financial ruin. This was discovered via a report in a copy of a Chicago Tribune newspaper from 1902.

Laura House, DNA and Family History Expert at Ancestry, said: “Downton Abbey has captivated audiences with its stories of class, conflict, and connection.

“These real-life discoveries show just how closely some of the cast’s personal histories align with the roles they play. From wartime heroes to world-travelling diplomats and hardworking cooks, it’s a reminder that fascinating stories lie in all of our family trees waiting to be discovered.”

The new third film follows the much-loved Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s.

Lady Mary finds herself at the centre of a public scandal going through divorce, the family faces financial trouble, and the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace.

The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future and off into the sunset.

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A P Louise employee has set the record straight after their “manifesting” on a recent live stream saw them “torn apart” by cruel trolls.

Declan was one of those leading the make-up company’s stream over the weekend, when he caused controversy among the thousands watching.

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Some even went as far as to allege that he looked as though he may have been under the influence of a dangerous substance.

“Glad it wasn’t just me thinking it,” one person commented.

“There was a lot of going off screen, coming back and nose wiping.”

“I was in the live last night, there was definitely something off,” another said.

“Declan couldn’t even get his words out.”

“I cannot believe what I just watched,” a third wrote.

“I was in this live, they didn’t have a clue,” someone else added.

While another claimed Declan was “off his face”.

Others defended him, with Declan then releasing his own video on his TikTok page to set the record straight on what had actually happened.

“In the last 24 hours I’ve been going through a lot of hate and kind of abuse on the internet, on TikTok especially, and it’s been a lot,” he said.

“I just kind of want to talk about things and kind of just where my head’s at.”

He explained that he’d worked at P Louise all day, then gone onto the livestream and worked from 4pm to midnight.

“And from this live, people have been making, you know, I’ve taken videos and taken like screenshots and all this stuff of me manifesting,” he said, referring to a moment where he had closed his eyes and held his hands in a meditative pose.

“And been saying that I’ve been abusing drugs, taking drugs on a livestream, doing all this stuff.

“And it’s like, I just don’t get it. Like this, this has affected me…

“The live just, it turned dark very quickly at one point.”

He also claimed it’s the same “collective of people” that have been “tearing me apart on the Internet” over the past few months that continue to spread the nasty comments and false rumours.

“This isn’t fun. This isn’t easy,” he sighed.

“This is my life… think about what you guys actually put on the Internet.

“Think about what you guys are doing to someone because you don’t actually know what people are going through.

“People don’t know my actual struggles. I don’t owe it to a lot of people what I actually have been through.

“And I’ve been through a lot, okay?”

Declan, who has ADHD, autism and depression, also thanked those who have come out in support of him – including company founder Paige Louise.

And he concluded by saying: “If you guys don’t like me, that’s okay – I know who I am as a person.

“Just think about what you guys are doing.”

“Explaining a few things that’s happened,” Declan captioned the video.

“Must say thank you to everyone that has reached out and supported me.

“And thank you @Paige Louise, love you guys.”

“You’re also absolutely beautiful,” Paige added in response.

“I’ve watched clips and still don’t understand what the hate is about??” someone else wrote in the comments section.

“Please don’t ever let people get you down. You are so much better than them.

“Hold your head high, straighten that crown and show everyone how strong and powerful you are.”

“What a sad world we live in,” a third told Declan.

“My darling you are a beautiful person , with a beautiful soul, with so much to give.

“I am so so proud to have watched you grow into the person you are . This is not okay.

“But you speaking up shows a lot of strength, and also remember how many people you inspire and have inspired.

“Sending love my darling.”

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IT was perhaps the most famous poster in election history. “Labour Isn’t Working,” proclaimed its simple slogan above a photo of a long, snaking queue outside an unemployment office. 

The image helped Margaret Thatcher’s Tories to win a decisive victory in 1979. 

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That poster could be revived today as the beleaguered Labour Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, seems to be trapped in a kind of doom loop created by his party’s epic mismanagement of the economy. 

Growth is anaemic, the tax burden colossal. Just like in the late 70s, Britain is gripped by rising debt, inflation and unemployment, as well as increasing militancy in the public sector workforce, where recent generous pay settlements have fuelled a mood of greedy irresponsibility. 

Only yesterday the distinguished business leader Lord Stuart Rose, the former head of Marks & Spencer, warned that Starmer and his bumbling Chancellor Rachel Reeves had dragged Britain “to the edge of crisis.” 

In a bleak analysis, Lord Rose argued that because “there is no growth in the economy,” neither wealth nor jobs are being created. 

The parallel with the 1970s is at its most stark in the hostility to hard work. Fifty years ago Britain became known as “the sick man of Europe” because of its addiction to strikes, with an astonishing 29million working days lost in 1979 alone. 

Modern Britain has yet to plumb those depths, though the pig-headed unions are trying to go in that direction, as shown by the current miserable strike on the London Underground, which has paralysed the capital this week. 

What makes this strike so ridiculous is that the Tube drivers are extremely well-paid, typically earning around £72,000-a-year, and enjoy excellent job security, pensions, hours and holidays. Yet they act like they are oppressed members of the proletariat. 

The same is true of the resident doctors who went on strike last month in support of an outrageous 35 per cent pay claim. 

These grotesque demands are part of a wider culture of self-serving entitlement that is destroying Britain’s work ethic, reducing productivity and weakening the dynamism of business. 

That destructive spirit can be seen in the recent surge of sick leave in the national workforce, a phenomenon caused not by harsher conditions but by more indulgent management, and the fashion for treating normal emotions as mental health problems. 

Mental-health crisis 

Yesterday a study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development revealed that employees are now taking an average of nearly two weeks off sick every year. 

Only two years ago absenteeism stood at an average of 7.8 days a year. Now that figure has risen to 9.4 days a year, with the mental-health crisis the key driving force. 

All too predictably, the record of the public sector is much worse than the private sector. That is not because work on the state payroll is tougher. Just the opposite is true. 

The heavily unionised culture of public employment, with its emphasis on workplace rights and victimhood, promotes weak management and a lack of accountability. 

The rise in absenteeism is mirrored by the growth in welfare dependency where ever increasing numbers of people think that the state owes them a living. Social security is no longer just a temporary safety net but has become a comfortable lifestyle choice. 

There are now 6.5million adults of working age who are claiming out-of-work benefits, while some forms of incapacity payments have become a sort of subsidy for early retirement. 

As Lord Rose puts it, “We have arrived in a situation in Britain today where there is effectively no obligation to work, absolutely none.” 

In a recent newspaper interview, one claimant called Clare Russell gave an insight into the mentality of some of the worst freeloaders. 

Labour likes to boast that it is the party of ‘working people’. Now it should live up to that description. 

Ten years ago she gave up work at the age of 46 and since then has lived off the disability benefits she receives for a bad back, as well as a substantial rental income from some property, plus a carer’s allowance to look after her mother who lives 30 miles away. 

In her sickening interview, she said that she has “a lovely life, thanks to the great British taxpayer.” 

Just to heighten the outrage she added, “when I am at the gym, I watch young people scuttle past the window on the treadmill of work and I must admit to feeling smug.” 

The disappearance of the work ethic is neither morally defensible nor financially affordable. 

The disability benefits bill is expected to reach £100billion by 2030 while the overall cost of welfare is forecast to go up from £210billion a decade ago to £380billion by 2030. 

The welfare leviathan is tracking us ever deeper into debt and towards national bankruptcy. 

In the depths of its current political crisis, France — which has an even more lavish benefits system than Britain — shows what can happen when the cost of welfare spirals out of control. 

We were the nation of the industrial revolution. We must revive that kind of drive and determination. This should be an absolute priority for the new Labour cabinet. 

Reform of welfare and the workplace is not an option, it is a necessity. 

Labour likes to boast that it is the party of “working people”. Now it should live up to that description. 

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One person determined to get away despite the cost is Lauren Wright. The 20-year-old from Essex started working at 15 purely to fund her travels, juggling several jobs at the same time

A woman worked five jobs to save up to travel the world.

Going on holiday is not cheap. Research commissioned by travel insurance provider Staysure showed that families have had to slash their holiday budgets by an average of £941 in recent years, with the cost of a holiday now just over £2,800. As a result, 44% are now more likely to opt for a staycation than a trip abroad.

The desire to travel is still incredibly strong despite the costs going up. Holiday bookings have risen by about 10% in the UK this year, according to the Advantage Travel Partnership, despite overall growth hanging around close to zero.

One person determined to get away despite the cost is Lauren Wright. The 20-year-old from Essex started working at 15 purely to fund her travels.

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“I am very fortunate to have such supportive and loving parents who made my saving process easier than most. I had very minimal outgoings, and therefore, every penny I made, I was able to save for my trip. I reached out to friends who had taken very similar trips and asked how much they had saved, setting myself a goal of around £14,000 as I never wanted to run out of money or feel like I couldn’t participate in a once-in-a-lifetime activity while I was away. I have always been good at saving my money, saving more than spending, from the time I started working at 15,” Lauren told Omeo.

“I combined the money I had been saving since the age of 15 with the money I made during the six months I spent working various jobs, in order to make sure I had the money I needed in the pot. I worked as a lifeguard, duty manager, team leader, receptionist and recreational assistant in various roles, most of them being zero-hour contracts, which allowed me to work as much or as little as I wanted. I jam-packed those six months, sometimes working 60-hour weeks and 18-hour shifts, going straight from one job to another throughout the day.”

Saving to travel didn’t come without sacrifices, either. Lauren cut back on a number of things she considered luxuries in order to keep her savings pot growing.

“I stopped eating out as much, reduced the amount of takeout coffee I would buy whilst out and about and started making more at home to save money. I also reduced the number of pub trips I went on with friends. Most importantly, I stopped all unessential shopping unless I was buying something that I was going to be able to take on my travels,” she continued.

Lauren’s best advice for those wanting to save money to travel the world is to research other people’s journeys on social media, especially TikTok.

“I did a lot of TikTok research, watching videos on how much money people spent per location and for their entire trip. I used all these figures to set a budget for myself. I budgeted around £30 a day while I was in the more ‘budget-friendly’ countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Laos. This £30 a day would include my hostel or hotel, food, activities and basic fees such as my SIM card and laundry. I had a separate budget for activities, which was definitely needed to make the most of my trip,” Lauren added.

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“In the more expensive countries like Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia, I would attempt to budget by seeing how much I was spending daily and trying to stick to that average, like £60 a day, which also included accommodation, which was much more expensive in these countries. I also didn’t eat out as much in Australia and New Zealand, and often opted for grocery shopping and cooking in the hostel’s kitchen.

Thanks to her savvy saving, Lauren has managed to visit many countries around the world.

“I have backpacked to Dubai, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, as well as being lucky enough to travel a huge chunk of Europe, too. I initially started travelling with my boyfriend, but we broke up on the trip, causing me to travel solo, which taught me so many lessons and helped me to meet amazing people I may not have met otherwise. I wouldn’t change my travels for the world, and I can’t wait to see even more of the world as I continue to grow,” she said.

WETHERSPOONS is opening 15 new pubs in a tie-up with a firm known for its chain of fish and chip shops. 

The budget boozer will launch the venues across the UK as part of a new franchise working with The Papas Group. 

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The first will open on October 1 in Gateway Park, Lincoln, and will be called The Hykeham Manor. 

A further three will open in October and November at sites in Annitsford, Northumberland, Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham, and Emersons Green in Bristol. 

The pub chain’s commercial director, Michael Barron, said: “We are delighted to have signed agreements with The Papas Group.

“We are looking at further opportunities and are confident that more franchise agreements will be signed.”

The Papas Group is a family-owned business which runs casual dining restaurants such as Papa’s Fish and Chips and Wendy’s, mostly in the north of England. 

Wetherspoons already has several franchise agreements. They include tie-ups with the holiday park operator Haven and the universities of Newcastle and Hull — running a pub at each campus. 

These arrangements are common in the hospitality sector and allow an independent operator to run an established chain using their brand and products. 

Wetherspoons has opened pubs at several locations this year, including in Fulham, West London, and Kenilworth, Warwickshire. 

LOW-DEPOSIT DEALS RISE 

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THE number of low-deposit mortgages has hit the highest level in 17 years, according to Moneyfactscompare. 

There are currently 1,360 90 and 95 per cent deals available, representing 19 per cent of the residential mortgage market. 

The news comes after Homes England, the Government’s housing agency, and Countryside Properties signed a long-term deal to build more homes. 

The partnership will be backed by £150million of investment and will focus on building houses as part of the Government’s housebuilding target. 

SUNNY SALES 

RETAIL sales were up 3.1 per cent in August driven by good weather and an interest rate cut, official figures show. 

The year-on-year uptick beat last August’s 1 per cent. Tech items did well but school uniforms and shoes disappointed as families tried second-hand, said the British Retail Consortium-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. 

Home appliances, DIY and garden goods all saw sales growth last month. 

OIL PRICE HIKE 

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OIL prices rose by more than a dollar a barrel yesterday as increases in supply looked set to stall and Russia braced itself for the impact of new EU sanctions. 

OPEC countries have voted to lift production by 137,000 barrels per day in October — far less than previous monthly increases. 

Experts have warned of a glut of oil next year as demand falls. Nevertheless Brent crude rose to $66.70 per barrel. 

PRET A Manger is set to launch meal deals in a bid to take on major supermarkets, which have been offering them for years.

The high street sandwich chain’s move comes after Tesco and Sainsbury’s hiked their prices on lunchtime meal deals.

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Pret plans to trial the meal deal format in the final three months of the year.

Boss Pano Christou said the chain’s focus is on “offering great value for money” as part of its medium-term strategy to grow and return to sustainable profits.

Details on pricing and locations for the trial have yet to be revealed.

While major supermarkets have long offered meal deals – typically including a sandwich, snack and drink – Tesco recently hiked its price by 25p, blaming ongoing food inflation.

Pret’s latest accounts showed a pre-tax loss of £525.2 million for the year to January 2 – largely due to a £552.9 million write-down after a reassessment by owner JAB, which bought the chain in 2018.

This followed a £61.7 million loss the year before.

Despite the losses, Pret said its earnings before adjustments rose 36 per cent to £98 million for the year.

Meanwhile, total revenue dipped 4.2 per cent to £868.4 million compared to the previous year.

Like-for-like sales grew by 2.8 per cent, helped by an 11 per cent expansion to 717 shops as the business continued to grow internationally.

Pret said it is keen to expand further in the US, especially around city centres and travel hubs.

Christou, Pret’s CEO, said: “2024 was another year of growth for Pret, where we took disciplined decisions to protect sales, despite intense strains on the hospitality industry.

“Going forward our priority will be to drive transactions and sustainable growth by offering great value for money for Pret customers.

“Our focus will be on growing Pret’s market share in the UK and internationally, prioritising city centres and travel hubs, backed by the experience and expertise of additional world-class board members and a strengthened management team.”

Pret opened its first shop in London in 1986 and now employs 12,500 staff across over 700 locations in 21 countries.

Christou, who has been the chain’s CEO since 2019, started out as an assistant manager at a central London branch aged 22.

The minicab driver’s son, now 45, grew up in Tooting, South London – and earns over £400,000 a year.

The Luxembourg-based firm JAB Holding – which also owns Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Keurig Dr Pepper – bought Pret for £1.5 billion in 2018.

But the pandemic hit hard, with the chain posting a £343 million loss in 2020 as its key customers – office workers and commuters – stayed home.

To win them back, Pret launched cut-priced food and coffee subscription services, which helped sales jump 20 per cent in 2023.

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HIGH streets across the UK are facing more closures as major retailers shut their doors today. 

 Poundland, Game, and The Original Factory Shop are among the chains cutting back on stores, leaving shoppers with fewer options. 

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These closures are part of wider restructuring plans as businesses adapt to changing shopping habits and financial pressures.

Here are all the stores shutting on your local high street today.

Game

Game is closing its Metrocentre store in Gateshead today (September 7).

The closure is part of changes by its owner, Frasers Group.

The company is reducing the number of stores as more shopping moves online and into concessions.

The chain has around 240 stores across the UK. Another store in the Galleries Shopping Centre, Bristol, will close on September 25.

However, a Game concession inside the Sports Direct store in the same shopping centre will stay open.

Both closing stores are holding big sales to clear stock.

Shoppers can get discounts of up to 20%.

Poundland

Poundland’s Pontypool store is set to close today (September 7), followed by the closure of its Irvine branch on 14th September.

Recently, discount chain avoided going into administration by getting creditors to agree to restructuring plans, which included closing stores and cutting jobs.

Poundland’s restructuring will see the chain close a total of 68 stores.

The restructure also includes rent cuts at up to 180 stores and the closure of its frozen food and online shopping.

Meanwhile, the Darton frozen food distribution centre will shut later this year.

This will mean online shopping and frozen food will no longer be offered by Poundland.

The Bilston national distribution centre is also set to close in early 2026.

Come September 16, shoppers will no longer be able to buy products online and its loyalty scheme, Poundland Perks, will be axed.

Customers who have signed up to the Poundland Perks app have until January 15, 2026, to use their reward vouchers.

But Poundland plans to expand its £1 product range and focus on womenswear and seasonal items if the restructure goes ahead.

Original Factory Shop

The Original Factory Shop has been closing stores across the UK as part of a major restructuring plan.

Branches in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Normanton, West Yorkshire, and Kirkham, Lancashire, are among those that have already shut their doors.

Next in line are the Chard store, which closed today (September 7) and the Market Drayton branch, set to shut on September 20.

The Original Factory Shop was bought by Modella Capital, a private equity firm, in February.

Modella is known for taking on struggling retailers and has also recently bought Hobbycraft and WHSmith’s high street shops.

The firm quickly launched a restructuring effort to renegotiate rents at 88 The Original Factory Shop stores.

At the end of April, Modella drew up plans to initiate a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for the retailer.

Companies often use CVAs to avoid insolvency, which could otherwise force stores to close or trigger the collapse of the entire business.

They allow firms to explore different options, such as negotiating reduced rents with landlords.

But The Original Factory Shop previously told The Press and Journal that a “number of loss-making stores would have to close” in the restructuring.

What else is happening on the high street?

Bodycare, which begun as a market stall in Lancashire back in the 1970s and has 147 UK stores, appointed administrators from Interpath Advisory on Friday.

Exactly 32 stores closed with immediate effect, with around 450 employees made redundant.

Currently, 115 stores remain open and are trading as usual while administrators explore options for the future of the business.

However, if a buyer cannot be found, further store closures may occur.

Like many of its peers, Bodycare has felt the burn of risings cost coupled with shoppers having less money to spend at the till.

Recently, River Island avoided going into administration by getting creditors to agree to restructuring plans, which included closing stores and cutting jobs.

River Island will close up to 33 stores in January to help write off the fashion brand’s debts.

Locations in major UK cities including Edinburgh, Leeds, Oxford, Brighton and Perth are all expected to close.

Meanwhile, fashion retailer New Look has closed a dozen sites in the UK this year and also exited Ireland.

Last month, Claire’s also collapsed into administration and stopped online orders for its customers.

Plus, H&M-owned fashion chain Monki closed the last of its high street stores in August.

Sept. 5 (UPI) — The job market continues to slow, according to a report released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing that only 22,000 jobs were created in August.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 22,000, which is well below the Dow Jones expectation of 75,000. The July increase was 79,000 and was revised up by 6,000. June saw a net loss of 13,000 after the estimate was dropped by 27,000.

Friday’s BLS report is lower than Thursday’s ADP Employment Report for August, which showed a private payroll gain of 54,000.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement that Americans are “benefiting from strong and consistent hourly wage growth, which is up nearly 4%. The price of goods has increased globally over the past year, but the U.S. is bucking that trend with lower inflation, thanks to the return of America First leadership.”

She also touted the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.

“Additionally, second-quarter GDP smashed many economists’ expectations, demonstrating strong growth and resilience. All job growth this year has been in the private sector among native-born Americans,” she said.

The GDP, which is a measure of all goods and services produced in the American economy, rose to an annualized rate of 3.3% from April to June instead of its earlier estimate of 3%, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said. It had declined by 0.5% in the first quarter.

The July report was slower than expected and heavily revised, leading to the firing of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer. This is the first report to come out since her ouster. The July report showed 73,000 new jobs, which is less than half of the initially reported 147,000 jobs created in June.

“Today’s jobs numbers were rigged in order to make Republicans and me look bad,” President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Aug. 1.

He said the BLS likewise produced a false jobs report in the days leading up to the Nov. 5 general election that were favorable to the Biden administration.

Friday’s report showed that the unemployment rate, at 4.3%, and the number of unemployed people, at 7.4 million, changed little in August.

Health care added 31,000 jobs, below the average monthly gain of 42,000 over the previous 12 months. Employment continued to trend up over the month in ambulatory health care services, a gain of 13,000; nursing and residential care facilities, up 9,000; and hospitals, up 9,000.

On Thursday, Trump told reporters that the “real” jobs numbers will come out a year from now. He hosted more than two dozen tech executives at the White House for dinner.

He said that when “huge, beautiful places, the palaces of genius” open, job numbers will improve. He didn’t say what those places will be.

“When they start opening up … I think you’ll see job numbers that are going to be absolutely incredible,” Trump said. “Right now, it’s a lot of construction numbers, but you’re gonna see job numbers like our country has never seen.”

Daniel Zhao, chief economist at Glassdoor, told CNBC that the outlook is rough.

“The job market is stalling short of the runway,” he said. “The labor market is losing lift, and August’s report, along with downward revisions, suggests we’re heading into turbulence without the soft landing achieved.”

Sept. 5 (UPI) — The chief executive of PBS said Thursday that the company was cutting 15% of its workforce due to an elimination of federal funding of public broadcasting.

There were 34 people laid off Thursday, and with the elimination of vacant positions and the loss of a federal grant, it means more than 100 jobs were lost.

PBS Chief Executive Paula Kerger said the organization has lost 21% of revenues.

“In this unprecedented moment we remain focused on what matters most: ensuring our member stations can deliver quality content and services to communities across America,” a PBS spokesperson said.

Kerger said in an email to general managers that the PBS foundation had received a “significant grant” from a major donor to support PBS News Hour and PBS Kids, but they still needed to make “significant changes in our staffing and operations.” The job reductions include those tied to Ready to Learn, which had Department of Education funding that also was eliminated, Deadline reported.

In July, Congress voted to rescind $1.1 billion in funds to public broadcasting.

Public media had used an advanced appropriations cycle, which means Congress had already allocated funds through 2027. President Donald Trump threatened to withhold support for anyone in Congress who didn’t vote for the rescissions bill.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes grants to public media outlets, is shutting down at the end of the year. It was created by Congress in 1967.

PBS only took a small portion of direct funding from the CPB, but stations also paid dues to PBS, which distributes shows like PBS News Hour and Masterpiece. Stations in rural areas and smaller cities relied more on federal funds, according to public media advocates.

Some stations, including KQED in San Francisco and GBH in Boston, have had layoffs.

NPR CEO Katherine Maher has said she will cut the network’s budget by $8 million to give savings to public stations most affected by the cuts.

On the CBS Late Show, Maher told Stephen Colbert that an estimated 70 to 80 of NPR’s 246 member stations may have to shut down.

Public radio stations typically take about 10% of their revenues from the CPB and pay NPR for the right to broadcast its shows, NPR reported.

For some stations, particularly those serving rural and Native American audiences, reliance on federal money was far greater.

HOUSEHOLDS across the country are being warned to brace for a financial squeeze as the cost of government borrowing skyrockets to levels not seen since 1998.

This now directly threatens to push up mortgage rates and could usher in a new wave of tax hikes.

1

The pound has tumbled in response to the growing unease, highlighting investor concern over the UK’s economic stability. 

At the heart of the issue are government bonds, known as “gilts,” which the government issues to borrow money.

These bonds offer investors a return, referred to as the “yield.”

In recent weeks, gilt yields have been rising rapidly, making it more expensive for the government to borrow.

This morning, yields soared further, with 30-year gilts reaching 5.72% – the highest level in nearly 30 years – while 10-year gilts climbed to 4.85%.

This spike signals that investors are nervous.

They are demanding a higher return to lend to the UK, worried about stubborn inflation and a gaping £51billion hole in the nation’s finances.

The rise in government borrowing costs is putting serious pressure on household budgets in two key ways

Firstly, it’s driving up mortgage rates.

The link between government gilt yields and mortgage rates is direct and unavoidable.

Lenders use “swap rates,” which closely track gilt yields, to set the prices of fixed-rate mortgage deals.

As these rates climb, fixed mortgages become more expensive.

Since August 1, two-year swaps have risen from 3.56% to 3.74%, while five-year swaps have gone from 3.63% to 3.83%.

Major lenders like Barclays have already started increasing rates, and even a small rise can add significantly to monthly payments on a typical £200,000 mortgage.

With swap rates continuing to rise in recent weeks, experts warn that mortgage rates are likely to increase further.

Separately, Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces a difficult challenge in her Autumn Budget, scheduled for November.

Higher borrowing costs are eating into public funds, and many economists believe tax increases will be necessary to fill the financial gap.

Although the government has promised not to raise income tax, national insurance, or VAT for “working people,” other tax measures are reportedly being considered.

One proposal is applying National Insurance to rental income, which critics fear could result in landlords passing on the cost to tenants through higher rents.

Another idea being debated is replacing stamp duty with an annual property tax, which could affect homeowners.

There are also rumours of reducing pension tax relief or cutting the tax-free lump sum, moves that could generate billions but might hurt savers.

Plus, there’s speculation about lowering the VAT threshold, which would bring more small businesses into the tax system.

This could increase their costs and potentially lead to higher prices for consumers.

Reeves is expected to make economic growth the centrepiece of her next Budget, warning that Britain’s economy is “stuck” and in need of bold solutions.

What can you do about it?

None of the proposed changes have been confirmed yet, and the government hasn’t ruled them out either.

However, any new measures won’t take effect until after the Budget in November.

It’s important not to make rash decisions based on speculation.

If changes are announced, you’ll have time to act and protect your finances before they come into effect.

For instance, if stamp duty is replaced by an annual property tax from a certain date, you could move house before the deadline to avoid the extra cost.

Similarly, if the government introduces capital gains tax on high-value properties, you might consider downsizing to a smaller home before the change is implemented.

 Rob Morgan, chief analyst at Charles Stanley, said: “Taking pre-emptive action can outright backfire.

“Last year some people were concerned about restrictions around taking tax free cash from pension and took withdrawals they wouldn’t have otherwise made.

“This removed the money from a tax-efficient environment and potentially stored up tax issues that will come back to haunt them.

“Instead, it’s best to wait to see what happens, consider the consequences, and take advice as required before acting.”

Most of the proposed measures are likely to affect only the very wealthy, so you may not be impacted at all.

If you’re concerned, there are steps you can take to prepare and safeguard your finances.

Check your financial health

If you are worried about your finances then you should speak to a financial adviser.

They will be able to offer you advice about your situation and explain if any of the measures will affect you.

You can find one using unbiased.co.uk – but remember, you will pay a fee.

It’s good practice to sit down and take stock of your finances every six months and work out a plan.

Work out all your bills and outgoings and what income you have and factor in any changes, such as bills going up or new income streams.

Think about what you need to do to make the most of your money. For example, do you need to prioritise paying off debts or saving for a house deposit.

Our guide to paying less tax legally could help you avoid giving away more cash to the tax man than necessary.

Review your mortgage deal

If your mortgage deal is coming to an end soon, act now.

Locking in a fixed rate could shield you from rising rates and market uncertainty.

Aaron Strutt, of mortgage broker Trinity Financial, said “For the moment there have not been significant price hikes but it’s probably worth locking in a mortgage rate if you are buying somewhere or due to remortgage, to try and keep away from any market turbulence.”

If you are coming to the end of a fixed deal, most lenders let you lock in a new rate up to six months beforehand, which can be worth doing.

If rates fall after you agree a new deal, some lenders will let you sign a new one at a lower rate.

Think when investing

Gold prices surged to a record high of $3,546.99 per ounce (£2,643.82) on Wednesday, marking its seventh consecutive daily rise.

Investors are flocking to the precious metal as a safe haven amid inflation fears and fiscal uncertainty.

However, financial advisers suggest maintaining a balanced and diverse investment portfolio as a better strategy for managing market volatility.

A small allocation to gold (5-10%) can be useful, but it shouldn’t be the core of your investment plan, according to Charles Stanley.

Don’t forget a will

If you’re concerned about potential changes to inheritance tax, it’s essential to have a will in place.

Without a will, your estate will be subject to intestacy rules, which could result in a higher inheritance tax bill.

This is especially important for unmarried couples, as they won’t automatically inherit from each other, even if they’ve lived together for years.

Check how to make one in our guide.

Make your savings work harder

More than 31million bank customers have £186billion in savings accounts earning just 1.5% interest, according to banking app Spring.

These accounts generate £2.3billion a year in interest, but savers could earn over three times more by switching to accounts offering up to 5% interest, The Sun can reveal.

The average bank customer has around £10,000 in savings, according to Raisin.

If that £10,000 is kept in an easy access account earning 1.5% interest, it would generate just £150 in interest each year.

But switching to Cahoot’s 5% easy access account would boost that to £500, earning you an extra £350.

If your savings account pays less than the current inflation rate of 3.8%, it’s time to look for a better deal.