Bar, café and retail jobs are society's heartbeat
Last October, accompanied by Sir Keir Starmer's rhetoric about 'the dignity of work and of every worker', the chancellor's budget embraced a pig-headed manifesto commitment not to touch individual pay packets in a way that would be noticed. It stealthily froze tax thresholds, raised capital gains and hammered family farms — right on top of a disastrous harvest year — but refused to nudge up even slightly the national insurance element that everyone on PAYE sees in their payslip. It was all on employers instead.
This was, frankly, a cosmetic political decision, blowing a kiss to workers and a raspberry to paymasters. But the effect was that while avoiding ripples which might rock little boats it caused a tsunami of lost opportunities. Sure, voters would have grumbled at personal NI rises, maybe reduced consumer spending a bit, but they would soon have got used to the new level. Particularly if chances were visibly burgeoning for everyone in a growing economy.
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BreakingNews.ie
18 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Trump plays golf as supporters urge him ‘don't trust Starmer'
US President Donald Trump made an appearance at his Turnberry golf course as he teed off on Sunday morning, being welcomed by supporters who urged him 'don't trust Starmer'. The Republican leader arrived around 11am at the coastal course in Ayrshire and played golf with his son, Eric. Advertisement Police were seen patrolling the golf course as associates played earlier in the morning before a huge motorcade of golf caddies arrived around 10.40am. Dressed in a white baseball cap branded 'USA', Mr Trump waved at journalists who shouted questions at him as he teed off. Supporters of the president carrying placards stood in the dunes urging him, 'Don't trust Starmer', also shouting, 'We love you Trump'. US President Donald Trump plays golf at his Trump Turnberry golf course. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire. Three people gathered to support the Republican leader, carrying a hand-painted placard which read: 'President Trump don't trust Starmer'. Advertisement It branded the UK prime minister an explicit term, and was jointly held by a man dressed in black, who wore an Adidas baseball cap. A woman holding the sign wore a red baseball cap reading 'Make America Great Again' with fake hair attached and appeared to laugh as she watched. Another female supporter dressed in a floral anorak, held an American flag and wore a baseball cap reading 'Make England Great Again'. She carried a smaller sign that also branded Starmer an explicit term. Advertisement US President Donald Trump steers a golf cart at his Trump Turnberry golf course (Jane Barlow/PA) A female well-wisher could be heard repeatedly shouting 'We love you Trump' and 'thank you'. Someone else shouted: 'Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump'. The sound of cheering could be heard as Mr Trump took a shot. He appeared to shout back at his supporters but his response could not be heard. Advertisement Later on Sunday, he will meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for talks on the trading relationship between Europe and the US. These talks come ahead of discussions with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday, which are also expected to focus on trade issues. A Donald Trump supporter who travelled from Liverpool to Ayrshire in the hopes of seeing the US President at his Turnberry golf course has said he is 'chuffed' to have interacted with the President. Tom English, 37, who made the four-and-a-half hour journey with some other Trump supporters, explained: 'We rushed up here hoping to get a glimpse of him. And that's happened this morning when we've got to interact with him a little bit. Advertisement 'We couldn't really hear him because he was trying to shout to us in this wind, in the Scottish wind on the coast. 'So it was kind of hard to hear what he said. 'But he blew a kiss to the girls. Gave us a little wave. 'Trump junior gave us a little wave. And that's what it was about. 'We just wanted to see him in the flesh, and to get that interaction was an added bonus.' When asked what he and the other supporters had said to the American President, Mr English recounted: 'Just that we love him, basically. The UK loves Trump. Don't believe the mainstream media.' Police said that only one person has been arrested at any anti-Trump protests. A man was arrested at Prestwick Airport on Friday evening for allegedly carrying a placard calling Donald Trump an offensive word. The man, aged 20, was arrested next to the military airport in Ayrshire where Air Force One landed 'for abusive behaviour and refusing to stop', according to Police Scotland. The force said on Saturday that no arrests had been made, although a 50-year-old woman was issued with a recorded police warning in connection with alleged threatening behaviour at a Stop Trump Scotland protest outside the US consulate in Edinburgh on Saturday. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'A 20-year-old man was arrested next to Prestwick Airport on Friday for abusive behaviour and refusing to stop. 'He was given a recorded police warning.'
Scottish Sun
20 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Will there be a Bank Holiday if England win the Women's Euros 2025?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOOTY fans are dreaming of an extra day off this summer as the Lionesses battle for Euro glory – but will we actually get a bank holiday if England bring it home? With our women's team facing Spain in the tournament, excitement is building across the nation, but don't start planning your long weekend just yet. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Calls are getting louder for women's football achievements to be celebrated Credit: Getty Downing Street has made it clear there are no plans for a bank holiday if England win the Women's Euro 2025. But with mounting public pressure and the petition gaining traction, things could still change if football really does come home. LIVE - Follow all the action from the Women's Euros 2025 as it happens! What Downing Street has said No extra day off is on the cards right now, football fans. Sir Keir Starmer's spokesperson has confirmed there are "no plans" for an additional bank holiday should England's women triumph in Euro 2025. When pressed about the possibility of giving the nation a day to celebrate if the Lionesses lift the trophy, Downing Street remained firm in their stance. The PM's team didn't completely rule it out, but made it clear it's not currently on the government's agenda. This will come as disappointing news to many hoping to toast a potential victory with a lie-in the next day. Growing calls for a celebration day Despite the government's position, demands for a national day off are ramping up. The Prime Minister is facing mounting pressure to grant the nation a well-deserved bank holiday if our Lionesses bring home the trophy. Women's football news website SheKicks has even launched a petition calling for Monday, July 28th, 2025, to be declared a bank holiday if England emerges victorious. RTE pundit offers optimistic view on growth of women's football amid Euros kick-off The campaign is gaining momentum as more fans back the idea of a proper nationwide celebration. After all, if football's coming home, shouldn't we all be at home to celebrate it? What happened last time? When the Lionesses made history by winning the Women's Euro 2022, the nation erupted in celebration – but we didn't get that coveted day off. Despite the historic victory, the then-government didn't grant a bank holiday, leaving many fans disappointed that they couldn't properly nurse their celebration hangovers. This time around, supporters are hoping for a different outcome, especially with calls getting louder for women's football achievements to be celebrated with the same enthusiasm as the men's game. How bank holidays work Getting an extra bank holiday isn't as simple as the PM waving a magic wand. Bank holidays in the UK are either set by law or declared by royal proclamation, meaning there's a proper process involved before we can all enjoy a day off. For a special one-off event like a sporting triumph, the government would need to make arrangements fairly quickly, which explains why they're not making promises they might not be able to keep. Planning for businesses and public services would be tight, but not impossible, if our Lionesses do make it all the way. 2 England's women's soccer team celebrated a win at the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Credit: AP What fans can do Want that extra day off? You might need to make your voice heard. The SheKicks petition is gathering signatures from supporters who believe a women's football triumph deserves national celebration. Football fans can also contact their MPs or share their thoughts on social media to add to the growing chorus calling for a proper celebration if England lift the trophy. ENGLAND VS SPAIN LIVE - LATEST UPDATES And if all else fails? It might be worth booking that annual leave now, just in case – you can always cancel it if the bank holiday does materialise or if our Lionesses don't bring it home this time. The final decision will likely come down to the wire, much like the tournament itself. So while you might want to keep that Monday free just in case, don't make any non-refundable plans for a long weekend just yet. Either way, our Lionesses deserve the nation's full support as they battle for European glory – bank holiday or not!
Reuters
20 minutes ago
- Reuters
Trump says US, EU have 'good chance' of reaching trade deal
TURNBERRY, Scotland, July 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said there is a good chance that the United States and European Union would reach a trade agreement, citing three or four main sticking points. Trump made the comment at the start of a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at his golf property in Turnberry, on Scotland's western coast. Trump said the main sticking point was "fairness," citing barriers to U.S. exports of cars and agriculture.
