
Pet owners 'absolutely love, love, love' Dyson V12 cordless vac now £150 less in stunning QVC deal
The cost of the V12 Detect Slim Absolute has been slashed by £150 and it's now just £399.
BUY FROM QVC
This Dyson deal at QVC sees a neat 27% hoovered off the usual price of £549.
What's more, you can get an extra £5 off your first order if you enter the promo code FIVE4U.
Dyson discounts aren't that frequent, so this is definitely a deal to look at if you're in the market for a new vacuum - especially if you've got pets.
The V12 is designed for homes with animals, so it makes short work of that pesky, ever-present dog and cat hair.
You can use the Motorbar head to deep-clean debris and hair from carpets (it detangles as it goes, so the brush doesn't end up clogged).
Alternately, there's the Fluffy Optic head for hard floors and a handy (if strange-looking) hair screw tool for ground-in pet hair and debris.
This cordless wonder gives up to 60 minutes of cleaning on a full charge, and offers spin speeds up to 125,000rpm.
What's more, the vacuum automatically adjusts suction depending on what it's picking up, and increases power where it's needed.
And the filtration system seals in up to 99.99% of allergens and microscopic particles: perfect if you're suffering from hay fever this summer.
The Sun Shopping's Aaron Dowler put this big-brand vac to the test, and in his Dyson V12 Detect Absolute Slim review, gave it an 8-out-of-10 verdict.
"The Dyson V12 Detect Slim impressed me with its performance, especially its lightweight design," Aaron says.
"The laser detection technology worked beautifully on hard floors, and the attachments were versatile enough to tackle pet hair and upholstery."
QVC shoppers are smitten too, with one customer writing: "It is incredible what it collects.
"We have two short-haired dachshunds, two adults, wool carpets and rugs in our house.
"[It's] so easy and lightweight to hoover stairs compared to [the] Dyson Ball Upright we also have, which now never gets used."
Another says: "I absolutely love, love, love it! It's so easy to use, easy to empty and clean, and I can do the whole house so quickly.
"I use it every day and am gobsmacked at what it picks up... Even my husband said the house smells clean. It really is wonderful."
All reasons this handy household tool made it into our pick of the best cordless vacuum cleaners.
If you're keen, just be sure to jump on this deal before it comes to an end.
Owner of a hungry kitty? Shoppers are rushing to that's now 44% cheaper.
For more options from the likes of Shark, Halo and Gtech, head to our best vacuum cleaners article.
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Times
17 minutes ago
- Times
Can Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves escape the economic doom loop?
Rachel Reeves has a new joke. When she greets Labour MPs at Downing Street receptions, the chancellor flashes a smile and says: 'You're only invited because you've not signed one of those nasty open letters.' She's referring to the damaging habit in recent months of restive backbenchers criticising the government's policies in long, petition-like missives, then dispatching them to the newspapers. Since those very rebel MPs stymied her attempts to get through the government's welfare reforms, Reeves has been mired in grim news about the state of the country's finances and a damaging, loud drumbeat about the urgent need for big tax rises. The U-turn they forced on her over disability payments alone has left her with perhaps £3 billion more spending to cover. 'It's been hugely frustrating, and Rachel is furious at them,' says a Reeves ally on the backbenches. 'Frankly … the problems we've got ourselves in are their f***ing fault. They've added to her lack of headroom by listening to pressure groups and giving her more problems to solve.' The National Institute for Economic and Social Research shockingly declared last week that anaemic economic growth has left Britain £50 billion in the red — far worse than the £20 billion previously thought. Hemmed in by her petition-signing backbenchers, Reeves has found herself unable to stem the outpouring of negative sentiment about the tax sledgehammer coming in her autumn budget. With MPs away from parliament, the news vacuum from Westminster has been filled by daily speculation about new tax rises. Last week alone saw blanket coverage of Angela Rayner's idea of higher council taxes and Gordon Brown's call for increased taxes on online casinos to cover the cost of scrapping the two-child cap on benefits. Nobody knows where the tax hikes are going to fall, or who they're going to hit the worst, but everyone is aware they're there, in the distance, coming our way. Britain is in a fiscal sniper's alley. Dangerously for the economy, with the budget not likely until November, the alley is a long one. Adam Smith, chief of staff to Jeremy Hunt during his time as chancellor, is a veteran of two budgets and two autumn statements. He says all this speculation so early in the tax announcement cycle is seriously troubling. 'There is a real danger to confidence of constant speculation about what is and what isn't going to be in. The government is in a jam. They want to rule out some of the wilder speculation, but if they get into that game, everyone assumes if they don't rule something out, they're going to do it,' he says. The result is drift and uncertainty. It's a drift that could end up with the same kind of economic 'doom loop' the government plunged the economy into in the months after last July's election. Then, ministers constantly talked down the economy with claims of a £22 billion 'black hole' left by the Conservatives — scaring the country rigid about a potential budget bloodbath. The result was a crimp on economic growth that did not need to happen, as consumers and businesses put a lid on their spending plans. Worse still, Reeves kept the country waiting nearly four months for the budget to bring us some clarity. It's only natural that the parallels should be drawn between then and now, but this time, Labour is not controlling the narrative. Reeves cannot talk up the economy too much because it is so fragile she may end up eating her words by the autumn. Nor can she rule out any tax rises, because she might have to rule them back in. Amid all this uncertainty, consumer confidence, measured by the GfK market research group, is at its worst state since December. Neil Bellamy, GfK's consumer insights director, cites people's fear of 'stormy conditions ahead' for their taxes. Business leaders talk darkly of the public's willingness to spend 'falling off a cliff'. Those high street barometers of the country's spending power — Domino's Pizza and Greggs — have both rattled investors with warnings of a consumer slowdown. For employers, the lack of clarity around the tax situation feels deadly, from family-run restaurants to major shop chains. Most are still struggling to absorb the shock to their finances of the employers' national insurance hike, which came into effect in April. Labour's workers' rights reforms only make them more jittery. Andrew Murphy, chief executive of The Entertainer, Britain's biggest independent toyshop chain, says the employers' national insurance increase alone will cost his business £3.2 million this year — nearly 40 per cent of his profits. 'We've had to cut 63 roles in our head office in Amersham,' he says. 'And it's the same across every business I speak to. All they're investing in is technology that can save labour, or offshoring jobs to cheaper countries abroad. It's as brutal as that.' He adds that planning future investment in the business — the kind of investment that drives economic growth — is all on hold. 'You just don't know if the government is going to jump out from behind a hedge and hit you with some surprise new tax like they did last time,' he says. 'There is just zero confidence among businesses that the government will come up with anything creative, confidence-inspiring or visionary to boost the economy … It will be just more tax.' Lower investment from businesses means less employment. The rise of employers' national insurance has particularly hit companies that rely on high numbers of workers on modest pay. Restaurants and hotels, which employ about 8 per cent of the UK workforce, look particularly vulnerable, even though it's not quite visible yet. The increase came just as they were going into the busy spring-summer season when the warm weather and sport boosted sales. The question is, what happens when the summer is over? Tim Martin, chief executive of Wetherspoons, says his business can weather the storm but 'there has got to be substantial vulnerability out there because of the scale of the cost rises'. What most frustrates businesses — and centrist Labour MPs — is that Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer appear unable to rein in welfare spending. Even some Starmer allies in parliament express concern at his apparent inability to herd his turbulent party. One says: 'We need to get backbenchers to understand they are part of the government. The way you get things done in a functional government is by quietly and privately talking to ministers and explaining the implications of what they are planning. Not by shouting from the outside.' He still remains more frustrated at his backbench colleagues than the leadership, though: 'Of course, some of that's on Keir, it's up to him to lead. But it can't all come from the same two people who are insanely busy at the centre.' This, some close to Starmer say, is part of the problem. With the rapidly developing situations in Ukraine and Gaza to contend with, plus protests over immigration (by far the biggest concern on constituents' doorsteps), the PM has lacked the 'bandwidth' to focus on the nitty-gritty politicking of bringing discipline to his party. But one former Labour adviser, who knows him well, warns that this is not a good enough excuse. 'He is a lovely guy, but where's the leadership? How did he think he could get the party to rally behind an attack on the poorest in society? The whips were warning them the party was going to blow up over the welfare reforms but they didn't listen.' Those in the Reeves camp say she is working to create a more 'Labour' narrative for the measures that will come in the autumn budget. 'She's not going to get into a Whac-A-Mole about what precise measures we are or aren't going to take, but she is talking about the principles that will be behind the budget,' says one. 'What the economic 'story' will be.' Expect, then, to hear plenty of noises about 'contribution' — meaning rewards for 'hard-working people who pay their way' (as opposed to rich non-doms and wealthy bankers with children at private school). We will also be hearing more about those old favourites, 'productivity and growth', rather than just tax and spend. Those close to Reeves cite as examples the new pension reforms, the go-ahead for an extra terminal at Heathrow and faster planning to get building work started. 'She is constantly pushing officials: 'Is there more we can do on growth?',' one adviser says. Unlike after the election, Reeves is not talking down the economy. She has been out on what her team calls a 'summer tour' since the recess, putting on hi-vis and hard hats, meeting businesses. Her message is that the economy is not broken, but it has been stuck for years, exacerbated by Covid and bad Conservative stewardship. She feels business confidence is fairly strong and that the UK is seen internationally as a safe place to invest. Last week's interest rate cut from the Bank of England was, she says, a testimony to the stability she has brought to the economy. That positivity will chime with Steven Fine, chief executive of the stockbroker Peel Hunt, who says he is fed up with businesses talking down the UK: 'I think we've got a massive domestic lack of self-esteem, and it's just not warranted,' he says. 'We need to take a step back and think how resilient our economy has been: [since 2020] we've had three prime ministers, five chancellors, a cost of living crisis, a U-turn on the welfare state reforms. But we've not had a recession, we've been remarkably resilient given all the s**t that's been thrown at the economy. The rest of Europe's far more unstable than we are, and we've got a government with a decent majority.' The shadow chancellor Mel Stride has been trying to make hay from the government's economic travails. He says: 'When people ask me what I'd do to get out of this mess, I say that's like passing someone the steering wheel after the car's been smashed into a wall at 100 mph by a reckless driver and being asked: 'What would you do now?' The answer is, I wouldn't have crashed the car in the first place. 'I would not have destroyed growth by taxing the living daylights out of business; I would not have spent and borrowed hundreds of billions extra to stoke inflation and kept interest rates higher for longer; I would not have given in to the pay demands of train drivers and junior doctors without productivity strings attached. And I would have done much, much more to bring the welfare budget firmly under control.' Bizarrely enough, though, it's as easy to hear such fervour from Starmer's own backbenchers as the official opposition. Take this nautical message one sent to me on Saturday night: 'We're adrift in choppy seas with a skipper and first mate that can't navigate, and even if they could, they don't know where they're heading. Some of those they've thrown overboard for disciplinary matters have now found their own life raft and are attempting to ram us hard to port. All the while the SS Farage looms on the horizon to our stern — constantly menacing.' It's not only Nigel Farage who's menacing. Asked if his metaphorical meanderings were off the record, the MP who sent it responded: 'For now, yes. The time is fast approaching when it won't be, though.' With friends like these …


Telegraph
31 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Majority of British public back prostate screening
Nine in ten Britons want to see prostate cancer screening introduced, polling has found. A survey of 2,000 adults found widespread problems around the current system, which relies on men to come forward and ask GPs for tests when they already have concerns. Polling of the British public found one in five have had a male family member or close friend die from the disease. Among those, more than three quarters believed earlier diagnosis could have saved the life of their loved one. And more than one quarter of those polled had no trust, or not much trust at all, in the current NHS system to detect prostate cancer at an early stage. The poll found 91 per cent of participants thought the NHS should introduce routine screening for prostate cancer screening in men as it does for breast cancer in women. Women aged between 50 and 70 are offered mammograms every five years. More than half of those polled said their opinion of their local MP would worsen if they opposed the introduction of screening. Targeted screening The research by OnePoll was commissioned by charity Prostate Cancer Research, which is calling for the introduction of targeted screening. The survey found a strong desire among its respondents for the NHS to be more proactive about collecting and sharing information about medical history. In total, 69 per cent of those polled said in the event they were diagnosed with prostate cancer, they would want their male family members' NHS records to be automatically updated to reflect this. Having a family history of the disease – like breast and ovarian disease – means an increased risk. There was also considerable appetite for technological innovation, with 60 per cent supporting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve prostate cancer diagnosis, for example, by reading MRI scans faster and more accurately. The call for targeted screening has been backed by MPs including Rishi Sunak, the former prime minister, Sir James Cleverly, the former home secretary, and Calvin Bailey, a Labour MP and the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on prostate cancer. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has applauded The Telegraph's campaign, saying he would like to see a screening programme in place if the evidence supports it. David James, the director of patient projects and influencing at Prostate Cancer Research, said: 'These poll results send an unequivocal message to policymakers: the public overwhelmingly supports the introduction of a national prostate cancer screening programme. 'The current system is clearly failing to meet the public's expectations for early detection and proactive management of genetic risk. 'With such strong support for investment and participation, it's time for the NHS to prioritise a targeted screening programme that could save countless lives and alleviate the long-term burden on our healthcare system.' Prostate Cancer Research is calling for urgent improvements to screening provision to tackle rising prostate cancer deaths and health inequality in the UK. The charity's research suggests targeted screening – focused on black men, those with BRCA1/2 mutations and those with a family history of the disease – could mean an extra 775 additional early diagnoses per year for those aged between 45 and 69. The research also suggests these changes could spare almost 300 men a year from a stage 4 diagnosis, in which prostate cancer becomes incurable. A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'Every life lost to prostate cancer is a tragedy. 'We're working to strengthen cancer services across the NHS and will carefully consider the evidence on prostate cancer screening to ensure we're doing everything possible to catch this disease early and save lives. 'This Government has been clear we would like to see screening in place, but the decision must be evidence-led. 'The UK National Screening Committee is looking at this as a priority, including reviewing the evidence for screening men with a family history of prostate cancer and other high-risk groups. 'While this review takes place, we're getting on with improving cancer treatment and prevention – investing £16m in the TRANSFORM trial to find better detection methods, and deploying cutting-edge technology to personalise medicine, catch sickness sooner, and save lives.'


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
How Sir Jim Ratcliffe believes £50million Carrington refurbishment and nods to Man United's glorious past can help deliver a 'winning culture' in Ruben Amorim's side
Every few years, Manchester United like to take assorted media and other guests behind the scenes at their Carrington training ground HQ. They always do so with a sense of pride. Chief executive Ed Woodward once enthusiastically pointed to a bank of screens in the recruitment department, explaining the global data had provided 804 options for a new right-back and had concluded a £50million outlay on Aaron-Wan Bissaka as being the best deal. After Woodward left, director of football John Murtough was tour host in 2023. He let slip the club would no longer be Patsy's in the transfer market and enter protracted negotiations with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy for Harry Kane. Instead, they signed Rasmus Hojlund for £72million. Given that recent history, it was a somewhat cynical bunch of hacks who gathered at Carrington on Friday as United rolled out the red carpet to show off a £50million refurbishment that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe believes will trigger a 'winning culture' at English football's biggest club. We probably won't have the definitive answer for a good while yet. Leicester City think they have the best training ground in Europe but it's not done them much good with two relegations in the last three seasons. To be fair though, United have presented their case admirably that a happy workplace will transfer to results on the pitch. Make no mistake, there are plenty of bells and whistles at the new Carrington. Underwater treadmills, F1 simulator games, sleep pods, live performance tracking in the gym, smart urinals, a barber's and menu options to make a five-star restaurant jealous. A padel court is coming soon at the request of the players. Space has been created so that personnel who previously worked at Old Trafford can now be based at Carrington. Movers include big-hitters like CEO Omar Berrada and figures in the commercial department. The intention is to make the club feel as United as its name would suggest. What made this tour feel different to others, and should give confidence to fans that a genuine rebuild is possible, is that the hierarchy have been happy to cede control to experts and allowed themselves to be advised rather than pretending to already know it all. Cutting the ribbon, Sir Jim even made a joke about having to listen to so many suggestions from manager Ruben Amorim about what the new place should look like. Amorim laughed along, slightly nervously, but he'll be pleased his input was taken into account. Arguably the most important voice during the tour was that of Patrick Campbell, a senior architect working for the renowned Sir Norman Foster. Architects love light and Campbell repeatedly stressed the need to make Carrington – variously compared to a gloomy dungeon or hospital – a brighter, more joyful place in which to work every day. The canteen area with giant windows overlooking the training pitches and a barber shop in the corner where players can invite their personal hair stylists is a space players will want to stay together after training. That extra time chatting in comfort or playing F1 chair can be important for building team spirit. Remember, Luke Shaw complained on the US tour that the culture in past seasons has been 'toxic'. Berrada will have seen a holistic approach work at Manchester City. To that end, United's new treatment room has changed location so injured players are not tucked away and ignored. They now have a space large enough to work on their rehab together. They can also see the training pitches, both providing extra motivation to get fit, but also giving a sense in the meantime of still being part of the family. Likewise, the under-23s dressing-room is no longer in a separate building but along the corridor from the first-team. Enough to give the feel of being part of the same firmament. There are enough examples of United past to remind the current players – including summer signings Bryan Mbuemo and Matheus Cunha with Benjamin Sesko due to follow – of who they are representing. Sir Alex Ferguson unveiled a plaque by the main entrance in honour of receptionist Kath Phipps who greeted visitors to United for 55 years before her death last year. He chatted animatedly afterwards on a sofa in the first-floor lounge to his old captain Bryan Robson – both seemed delighted to be back. The spiral staircase linking the ground floor to the first floor is flanked by some of United's trophies and a bust of Sir Matt Busby, the manager who made it all possible. Nobody, regardless of age, will be able to walk up or down through the day without glancing at them. The £50million question of course is whether it will ultimately make any difference to United's ambitions to first return to the Champions League, and then win their first Premier League title since Fergie left in 2013. Of all the players on United's books, 39-year-old third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton is probably best qualified to say. He started at the club aged 11 and was turning pro when United first moved to Carrington in 2000. He was part of the squad that won the Champions League under Ferguson in 2008 before furthering his career as first-choice with Burnley and Aston Villa, returning to Old Trafford in 2001. 'It felt like a pivotal moment when we moved to Carrington. They were incredible facilities for that time, but the game evolves,' says Heaton. 'By the end, it wasn't quite up to what we wanted. 'We went away from the main building last season so they could rebuild and walking back through the door, we have all been blown away. We've been given an opportunity in terms of having world-class facilities. 'It is true people make a building and players on the pitch bring results. But the building can provide the help and stability into providing those performances and I think everyone is excited.' United are nothing if not ambitious. Sir Jim likened the club brand to Coca-Cola and Apple as he presented the new facility. The new media centre has been designed to meet UEFA specifications to hold Champions League press conferences, even though the team finished 15th last season. It was only at the start of last year that Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a 27.7% share in United. Whilst the billionaire has grand schemes ahead, like making Old Trafford the Wembley of the North, this is his first completed project. He was treated respectfully by captain Bruno Fernandes and the players who attended on Friday – Rasmus Hojlund greeted him with a strong handshake and a 'Hello Mr Chairman'. They know, in the words of Diogo Dalot, that they have 'no excuses' now they've been provided with a perfect working environment. 'Everywhere I go, however remote from the Gobi desert to northern Greenland, I bump into Manchester United fans,' said Sir Jim.