3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on You’ll face rotting rubbish for a MONTH under Labour’s new bin rules – all while council tax soars by £109
HOUSEHOLDS could face piles of rotting rubbish for weeks under Labour’s new bin rules – all while council tax bills are set to soar by an average of £109.
Ministers have quietly axed Tory plans to ensure fortnightly rubbish collections, opening the door to three-weekly or even monthly pickups.
Simon JonesThe Tories had announced in May plans to ensure fortnightly rubbish collections[/caption]
Environment Secretary Steve ReedAlamy
The scrapped proposals had aimed to prevent bad smells and vermin by setting a “minimum backstop” for councils to follow.
Rather than reviving them, Labour’s new guidance – slipped out during Friday’s assisted dying debate – gives town halls freedom to set their own schedules, with no minimum frequency.
Leaked plans from Green-run Bristol already propose reducing black bin collections to once a month, sparking fury among residents.
And Labour-run Wales has made monthly or three-weekly collections the norm, with council bin bureaucrats claiming the cuts are needed to hit net zero targets.
The new guidance also comes as households brace for a 5 percent council tax hike – the maximum allowed without a local referendum.
For the average Band D bill, currently £2,171, this would mean an extra £109 next year, pushing annual payments to over £2,280.
Communities Secretary Kevin Hollinrake told The Sun: “Despite promising to freeze Council Tax, Keir Starmer has allowed councils to raise them by an average of £110 per year and will now allow them to leave rubbish rotting for a month.
“Brits deserve better than this garbage, and Labour needs to do what they were elected to do; stand up for citizens not simply roll over for their union paymasters.”
Labour hit back, insisting their new rules will simplify recycling and reduce the burden on households.
Under the shake up, councils will be told to give people up to four bins per house as a “default” to separate waste.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed blasted Tory plans to force families to juggle seven bins by 2030 as a “fiasco” that would have caused chaos across the country.
He said: “This Labour Government is introducing a streamlined approach to recycling to end to the postcode lottery, simplify bin collections and clean up our streets for good.”
Councils had been left in limbo after Rishi Sunak abandoned a Conservative policy that would have required local authorities to collect waste in up to seven separate containers.
A survey by the Taxpayers’ Alliance found that residents in Blaenau Gwent, Cotswold, and Merthyr Tydfil were using as many as ten bins, whereas those in Gosport had only two.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Home Bargains is selling ‘stunning’ real Christmas trees for just £12.99 – they’re tall & bushy & last for weeks
WHEN it comes to Christmas trees, opting for a real or fake one is a choice that will forever divide opinions.
If you’re of the school of thought that says nothing will ever come close to the fresh, piney scent smell of a real Christmas tree, then you’ll definitely want to know about this deal on at Home Bargains.
FACEBOOKThe real trees start at £12.99 at Home Bargains[/caption]
FACEBOOKOne happy customer’s tree was so big it had to go outside[/caption]
FACEBOOK
Some customers suggested the quality of tree wasn’t as good as last year[/caption]
The Liverpool-founded chain store is renowned for its discount buys, with savvy shoppers often raving about their latest Home Bargains haul.
And you can bet there are plenty of unmissable offers available in-store this Christmas – like the £12.99 real tree that customers are currently rushing out to buy.
Taking to Facebook, one bargain-hunter showed off a picture of her purchase, writing, “Home Bargains are selling Christmas Trees for £12.99. Very happy with mine.”
Her snap showed the results of her now-decorated tree sitting proudly in her home, dressed in chic white and silver decorations – and a cute Santa jumper and hat as the tree topper.
“So beautiful,” replied one person, with another posting, ‘They always look so lovely and healthy.”
It didn’t take long for others to chime in and share theirs, proving that the bargain tree is very popular in stores right now.
“They’re stunning aren’t they… this is mine,” someone else posted, with a picture of their tree decked out in rose gold and white baubles.
“I’ve had it two weeks and it’s still as nice as the day I got it, well worth £12.99,” they added.
“They are amazing for £12.99, absolutely in love with mine,” wrote another woman, who showed off her version adorned with a more maximalist assortment of quirky decorations.
Elsewhere, one shopper admitted the tree was too oversized for their home – but managed to find a solution.
“This is mine. It was too big for my space so popped him outside,” they wrote.
Their image shows the tree looking more minimalist outdoors, with simple warm fairy lights adding a twinkling festive touch to their garden.
Opinions were slightly divided as to how long-lasting the tree will be.
“Happy with mine for £12.99 but my goodness has it dropped a lot of needles. Can’t complain for the price though,” wrote one person.
But another shopper had a completely different experience, posting that they’d bought the Home Bargains tree again this year and it’s even better than the 2023 offering.
“My tree is fab, better than the last year’s one. No needles dropped yet,” they said.
However, if one thing is for sure, it’s that real Christmas trees do take some careful looking after to ensure they last the distance over the festive period – so make sure you check out our guide below for some top tips.
Not everyone loves the real thing, though.
“I must be the only one who doesn’t like a real tree,” wrote one Facebook user, and another person agreed, “Nope I’m not keen either.
“I also couldn’t be doing with mess and having to dispose of it after,” they added.
Luckily, Home Bargains also has fake tree fans covered, as it’s selling a 6ft artificial tree online for just £9.99 – which is guaranteed to fly out fast.
How to look after your real Christmas tree
HERE'S what you need to know if you're buying a real Christmas tree:
First thing’s first: buy a pot (if it doesn’t come in one already).
You’ll need to treat your tree just like a houseplant and give it water and attention.
Make sure the container has good drainage – and it’s a good idea to put something underneath to catch the excess water.
Check the soil everyday to make sure it’s not drying out.
If it feels dry, give it some water. If it still feels moist, leave it alone as too much water can also kill a tree.
Also check the LED bulbs on your tree lights aren’t too hot as they could burn it, and keep your tree away from radiators.
When Christmas is over, try planting it in the garden so you can dig it up and use it again next year.
It’s a good idea to take it out of its pot when you do re-plant it though, as large trees don’t survive well in pots as their roots need space to grow.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Aldi shoppers race to grab £7 perfume dupe of £145 Burberry Goddess & say it smells ‘better than the original’
IF you’re a fan of designer fragrances but not the price tag, then we’ve got good news for you, as the Aldi dupes just keep on coming in.
Shoppers are racing to grab a bottle of Radiant Majesty from the retail giant’s own beauty brand, Lacura – which at just £6.99, is said to be a dupe for the far pricier Burberry Goddess.
Facebook/Monica GuldenOne shopper shared her find on Facebook, saying it smells better than the Burberry version[/caption]
PERFUMESHOPBurberry Goddess retails for £145 for a 100ml bottle[/caption]
Burberry Goddess currently retails at £145 for a 100ml bottle, so it’s no wonder bargain-hunting perfume fans are keen to make a £138 saving, just in time for Christmas.
Taking to social media to share her find, one shopper claimed the 100ml perfume smells “better than the original” and called it “divine”.
“It’s just like the original but at a fraction of the price. I bought the two bottles that were left in store,” Monica Gulden wrote in a Facebook group.
And someone replied to Monica: “Ooh, I’ve only just come across the Burberry Goddess and fell in love with it, so will have to try this out.”
While another simply wrote: “Omg need!!!”
But it seems some shoppers are having trouble finding the fragrances.
Luckily, Monica shared her tips – it seems they aren’t always in an obvious place, so her insight will come in handy if you plan to nab a bottle yourself.
“They can be found in the Superbuy aisles but will most likely be hidden next to something really random,” she advised.
“You have to look everywhere, otherwise you’ll miss them.
“I was so lucky to find mine at the second store I tried. Hope you find one!!”
Whilst some beauty fans say the scent doesn’t last for hours, Fabulous’ Associate Editor tried Radiant Majesty – and the other two fragrances launched at the same time – and had a different opinion.
Rebecca Miller said: “With a powerful blend of Vanilla, Lavender, Ginger, and Cacao, Radiant Majesty is said to be a “quintessentially British [and] elegant” fragrance.
“I’m not usually one for sweet scents but Radiant Majesty is not sticky or cloying like many can be.
“The fragrance reminds me of an English rose garden in summer.
“It smells youthful and expensive – a perfect Christmas pressie for a money-conscious mum with a beauty-obsessed teen.”
There are also men’s fragrance dupes, with a version similar to Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male as well as three Givenchy dupes of Gentleman, Gentleman Reserve Privee and Gentleman Intense.
ALDI has become well-known for its affordable beauty dupes that often rival high-end brands in terms of quality and effectiveness.
Here are some of the best Aldi beauty dupes that have garnered rave reviews:
Lacura Healthy Glow Exfoliating Tonic
Dupe for: Pixi Glow Tonic
Price: £3.99 (compared to Pixi’s £18)
Description: This exfoliating tonic contains glycolic acid and works to gently exfoliate and brighten the skin. It’s a fantastic, budget-friendly alternative to the popular Pixi Glow Tonic.
Lacura Q10 Renew Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream
Dupe for: Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream
Price: £1.45 (compared to Nivea’s £10)
Lacura Caviar Illumination Day Cream
Dupe for: La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream
Price: £6.99 (compared to La Prairie’s £292)
Lacura Hot Cloth Cleanser
Dupe for: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Kate’s family have been so pivotal in this traumatic year – royals will reward them at Christmas
PRINCESS Kate has had a tough year with her cancer struggles, and her Middleton family have been “pivotal”, according to experts.
Carole and Michael Middleton are said to have been “very welcomed into the royal fold”, and will be rewarded this Christmas.
SplashPrincess Kate has had a challenging year with her health, but has finished her chemotherapy treatment[/caption]
SplashCarole and Michael were seen at Kate’s Together at Christmas carol concert on Friday[/caption]
SplashCarole and Michael, pictured with Kate’s sister Pippa, her brother James and his wife Alizee Thevenet[/caption]
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Vanity Fair’s royal correspondent Katie Nicholl said: “The Middletons have been very, very welcomed into the royal fold.
“They have a very close relationship, and they had a lovely relationship with the late Queen.
“And I think there’s, I think there’s a good relationship between the King and the Middletons.
“The Middletons have been so pivotal and important this year.”
Royal reporter Richard Palmer said that the Middleton family could even be invited to stay at Sandringham with the royal family this Christmas, due to their close bond.
Katie continued: “I think it’s a very real possibility if there’s space, because that’s the problem with Sandringham.
“It sounds ridiculous. There’s not enough space, but why not?
“But there are outhouses, and Anmer Hall is only a stone’s throw from Sandringham.”
Typically the Prince and Princess of Wales stay at Anmer Hall with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis over the festive period.
However, Kate’s younger brother James – who is married to French financier Alizee Thevenet, and dad to son Inigo, one – revealed that the Middletons have stayed at Sandringham in the past.
Richard pointed out: “James Middleton’s book was really interesting, I thought, because I’ve always been led to believe that the Middletons stayed at Anmer Hall but he talks about staying at Sandringham.
“I don’t think he specifies whether it was Christmas, but he talks about staying at Sandringham and the Queen making sure they can take his dog with him.”
Katie asked: “Well, they went on shoots, didn’t they?”
AFPKing Charles and the Middletons have a ‘good relationship’, according to Katie Nicholl[/caption]
Kensington PalaceCarole and Michael featured in Kate’s ‘cancer-free’ video[/caption]
Kensington PalaceKate’s parents were seen playing games with the family[/caption]
Kate and Pippa have always shared a close bond and have gone from sharing a flat in London’s fashionable Chelsea in their 20s to Pippa now living not far from the Princess’s home in Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate.
The Middletons have been so pivotal and important this year
He wrote: “Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too.”
The siblings have supported each other over the years, with James previously admitting that both Kate and Pippa attended therapy sessions whilst he struggled with clinical depression.
Instagram/@jmidyJames Middleton took to posting a picture of the pair when the Princess revealed her cancer diagnosis in March[/caption]
Family first
Despite playing a role largely behind the scenes, Carole has spoken about how family comes first for her.
Carole, who has seven grandchildren, previously told The Telegraph that her “family are paramount” and that they “come first”.
In an interview with Good Housekeeping, she said she still feels young and wants to “run down the hills, climb the trees and go through the tunnel at the playground”.
She said: “As long as I am able to, that’s what I’ll be doing.
“I cook with them, I muck around dancing, we go on bike rides.”
GettyTypically Kate and William stay at Anmer Hall over Christmas but experts think Carole and Michael could stay at Sandringham with the royals[/caption]
Max MumbyCarole Middleton is said to be a ‘second mum’ to Prince William. Pictured at Royal Ascot this year[/caption]
George’s close bond
Royal expert Phil Dampier previously told Fabulous: “Prince George goes out a lot with his grandmother Carole.
“They go to the beach there and they are very close.
“Carole has taken the kids to Party Pieces and they played shopkeeper there with all the stock.”
Angela Levin, a royal biographer, told The Sun in 2021 that she believes that William’s “dysfunctional family background” gave him “barely a clue of what a normal family life was like”.
Getty Images - GettyKate’s parents are often invited to royal events[/caption]
Inside Kate Middleton's £4.2millon Bucklebury family home - owned by Carole and Michael Middleton
IT may not be a royal palace, but Kate Middleton’s parents’ £4.2million home is also very impressive.
Carole and Michael Middleton bought the grand Bucklebury Manor in 2012 and it has a number of impressive features.
The grade-II listed Georgian property boasts seven bedrooms, five reception rooms – including a drawing room and library – and 18 acres of land complete with a tenniscourt and outdoor swimmingpool.
Traditional log fireplaces, a kitchen with a large wooden dining table, and a conservatory with enormous floor-to-ceiling windows have previously been shown in rare pictures shared from inside the house.
With such a beautiful home, it would understandably be hard to pick a favourite feature, but Carole revealed that their kitchen is a focal feature.
In an interview with Good Housekeeping, Kate’s mum said: “It’s a kitchen/dining/sitting room and it’s the heart of the house. I love a kitchen supper.
“Where I have a small number of guests. I’ll cook something delicious and make it look lovely, then we’ll finish with a kitchen disco.”
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Inside the top secret episodes of EastEnders about long-running character – but there is a catch
EASTENDERS has given fans a whole new insight into a beloved character – but there’s a catch.
The BBC soap marks its 40th anniversary in the coming months, having launched in February 1985.
BBCEastEnders is giving fans a new insight into Tracey the Barmaid – through a new online mini-series[/caption]
BBCFellow original cast member Adam Woodyatt makes a guest appearance as Ian Beale[/caption]
BBCKellie Bright also drops in as her character Linda Carter[/caption]
Tracey the Barmaid (Jane Slaughter) has been a consistent presence in Walford since the very first episode.
EastEnders have produced a special mini-series focusing on the character as she marks a special occasion.
However, the five short episodes are exclusively online – meaning they won’t air on TV.
According to the Beeb’s website: “As part of the EastEnders Multi-Camera Course, trainee directors shot a special online mini-series centred around one of the show’s longest serving characters, Tracey the Barmaid (Jane Slaughter), with guest appearances from Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale), Kellie Bright (Linda Carter) and Harriet Thorpe (Elaine Peacock).
“The shorts see Tracey celebrate her milestone 60th birthday.”
Jane spoke about the new opportunity, as she remarked: “It was a fantastic experience to work on this project and to work with such talented directors, actors and crew – the collaborative experience was second-to-none and I was delighted to be a part of it.”
Having stayed consistently throughout EastEnders, Tracey is the soap’s longest-serving character – although she is a background presence with rare lines.
Other regular background characters like Winston (Ulric Browne) and Shrimpy (Ben Champniss) also appear in the mini-series.
Viewers learn more about Tracey’s family – while they spotted a former CBBC star in a key role.
Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins portrays the character Tom, Tracey’s estranged son and it didn’t take long for fans to recognise Oliver from a past performance.
His character, Wilson, was a teenager placed in temporary care alongside Tracey Beaker (Dani Harmer).
The two had a romance of sorts, before parting ways and they ultimately never reunited.
Nostalgic viewers were thrilled to make the connection, as one wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “This was really fun! Loved seeing Wilson from The Story of Tracy Beaker as Tracey’s son Tom.”
EastEnders facts and figures
THE beloved British soap has been captivating audiences for decades.
EastEnders follows the lives of the residents of Walford as they navigate love, loss, family drama, and community struggles.
BBCHarriet Thorpe plays Elaine Peacock in the online episodes[/caption]
BBCTracey is the longest serving EastEnders character, having appeared since episode one in 1985[/caption]
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Watch the moment fuming mum finds out her husband named their daughter after a BATMAN character when she’s 10 months old
FOR all she knew, it was a “tradition” in his family to watch it every year.
At least, that’s what Via’s husband told her as they all sat down to watch “an episode of Batman Animated Series from the 90s” while celebrating Thanksgiving at his family home.
Via took to TikTok to share the moment she discovered her husband had named their daughter after a Batman charactertiktok/@viashoeAs she heard the name, she shot a sharp look at her other halftiktok/@viashoeHer husband tried to explain himself, but Via looked less than impressedtiktok/@viashoe
Unbeknownst to Via, she was being surreptitiously recorded, so the moment she realised where her other half had come up with their daughter’s “cool” name was caught on camera.
The clip was then shared to TikTok, so millions of other people could watch Via’s shock unfold too.
It was when one of the characters in the programme referenced “Nora” that Via realised something else might be going on, and she quickly looked at her husband, who had his hand over his face while trying to conceal his laughter.
One of his siblings then further dobbed him in by saying: “It sounds awfully like you named Nora after a Batman character!”
Everyone could be heard laughing, but Via couldn’t hide her shock, shaking her head as she drank her drink.
But as the episode progressed, she asked: “You named her after a dead Batman character?”
“She’s not dead!” her husband – who proposed on National Batman Day and claimed it was accidental – laughed.
“She’s frozen!”
“She’s in frozen sleep,” someone else could be heard saying.
Via further explained the situation in the video caption, as she wrote: “My husband came up with the name Nora right when we found out she was a girl & I loved the name.
“He never said where he heard it, just that he thought it was a cool name.
“Every other name he had come up with had a movie reference or something dorky so I was happy we found a normal name we both loved.”
But 10 months later – a year after they first named her Nora – they sat down at his family’s house to watch the “traditional” episode.
“The main villain is Mr. Freeze (literally my husband’s profile photo is Mr. Freeze on so many things I should have known) &&&& his beautiful sweet frozen wife… is Nora,” she continued.
“Lol honestly impressed he kept this so close to his chest.”
Via added that her discovery of her daughter’s name inspiration didn’t make her love the moniker any less.
The struggle of choosing a baby name
CHLOE Morgan, a Senior Writer at Fabulous, has revealed her dilemma on choosing a baby name...
At 35 weeks pregnant, by far the trickiest part of pregnancy for me in the past few months (minus the insomnia and countless night-time wee breaks!) has been trying to decide on a baby name.
The dilemmas are endless…
My partner and I went for a private scan to find out the gender as early as we could – partly due to the fact we thought it would make baby naming so much easier because we’d only have to come up with a list of names for one gender rather than two.
How wrong we were…
I was absolutely thrilled to be told I was expecting the baby girl I’d already dreamed of, but being one of the last of my friends to fall pregnant, I’ve had countless conversations over the years with excited pals discussing their top baby names…something which I wish I could go back in time and un-hear.
With each friend mentioning at least 10 possible monikers, I can’t help but feel like several are now a no-go even though I know it’s something that none of them would mind in the slightest – it’s a total me problem!
The debate comes up time and time again on social media forums – can you choose the same name that was a “potential” for a friend’s baby?
It’s a very divisive topic and opinions are always mixed…and I don’t want to be THAT person.
While some will argue there’s thousands of other names out there to choose from, others will say you need to choose YOUR favourite…after all, there’s no guarantee that person will even have another baby.
Then there’s also the issue of finding a name you adore…only to research it online and read one negative comment amongst hundreds of positives that you just can’t shake off.
I made that very mistake when I fell in love with a certain name (I won’t reveal it because I don’t want to ruin it for others!) …only to see someone point out that it constantly gets autocorrected on a phone to something rather rude instead.
So, back to the drawing board we went..
Just five weeks to go and it looks like our little one is going to be known as ‘baby gal’ for a little while longer!
But she did add that “all future baby names will have a thorough background check!”
Others revealed their own, often hilarious, name inspirations in the comments section.
“My husband named our son after a character on Prison Break,” one sighed.
“My girl is named after Pretty Little Liars,” another added.
“Took my ex wife 7 YEARS before she realised I named out daughter after a Final Fantasy Character,” a third laughed.
“I’m a big fan of Harry Potter and my wife came up with the name Luna not realising and she wondered why I instantly agreed,” someone else wrote.
“Then the nurses exposed me!”
“Better than my ex who wanted to name our daughter after the women he was cheating on me with,” another commented.
“Good thing I found out (and changed her name!) before she was born.”
He continued to try and talk himself out of the sticky situationtiktok/@viashoeFox KidsNora was a character in the Batman animated TV series[/caption]
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Gino D’Acampo’s TV crew offered counselling as star is sent on ‘language and behaviour course’
TV chef Gino D’Acampo has been sent to a ‘language and behaviour course’ following allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Gino, who is known for appearing on cooking segments on shows such as ITV’s This Morning, has been ordered to attend the corrective course by concerned executives.
PAItalian chef Gino D’Acampo is attending a ‘language and behaviour course’ ordered by ITV executives[/caption]
ITVThe chef is the subject of allegations of inappropriate behaviour, with some dating back five years[/caption]
GettyA TV crew that worked with the chef have also been offered counselling and support[/caption]
A TV crew who worked with the Italian chef on Emission Impossible, his show with Fred Sirieix, have also been offered counselling and support after Gino is thought to have ‘jokingly flashed’ them.
A source close to the latest complainant said: “She worked [with Gino] for five years.
“She has come forward after being spurred on by the Gregg Wallace scandal and the comment he made about his accusers being middle-class women of a certain age.
“Her view is she is the middle-aged woman who believes young women shouldn’t have to put up with this kind of behaviour any more.
“Gino was younger and not as well-known then. He used to say he didn’t want to become famous as he would have to curtail his behaviour.
“He said and did whatever he wanted. Everyone was aware and she was subjected to shocking behaviour which she told ITV about last week.”
A spokesperson for ITV said: “We made our position clear following the outcome of our KC Review last year after which we said, ‘We are completely committed to creating an environment where everyone is treated with respect and feels able to give of their best.
“Our promise to those we work with is that where a complaint is made, or serious concerns raised, we will always investigate and if we find that something inappropriate has happened, we will take action.
“We will continue to develop our efforts to give junior colleagues the confidence to speak up if they have something to raise.
“Following the review we reiterated our expectations and introduced Conduct and Standards Guidelines for On Screen Personalities which outlines our expectations in terms of behaviour, and have also previously offered training in language and behaviour, either directly or through our third party producers, where appropriate.”
