Budget

Jo Platt MP

MP welcomes paternity pay for self-employed dads

John Healey, Chancellor of the Exchequer

Local business leaders' budget wish list

Fairhurst Accountants

Financial Matters: teaching children good money habits

More than three-quarter of adults need consistent routines to help them stay in control of their day-to-day lives

Brits swear by these six non-negotiable routines

Amazon’s ETRONIK cabin bag is now £17.99, offering a cheaper way to travel light and stay within Ryanair and easyJet airline baggage limits

Ryanair and easyJet size cabin bag now £17.99

Prime Day starts today - and it'll run for four days

Amazon Prime Day 2026 starts today – what every shopper needs to know

Office Furniture Online's office chairs can run into thousands of pounds - but which one would you pick if money was no object?

The office chairs I’d buy if money was no object – from £30 to £1,698

Ryanair's luggage rules are very strict - but these bargain bags should help you stay compliant

Ryanair carry-on bag deals from £11.89 as Amazon slashes prices

The research also found despite nine in 10 believing travel compatibility matters, over half think compromise is key to a happy relationship.

One in four couples consider themselves incompatible travel partners

Households have to wait until April for new Government measures bring energy bills down.

Energy bills may drop later – winter is still costing households now

Jo Platt MP for Leigh and Atherton

Local MP speaks out on where the system falls short on high streets — and how we...

Figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions show around 53 per cent of the 63,159 working-age disabled people in Wigan were in employment in the year to March

Many local disabled people are not in work, latest figures reveal

The research found overwhelming support for small businesses at a time of economic uncertainty when they are facing multiple financial pressures.

Lower taxes, cheaper energy and rate cuts urged for small businesses

Office for National Statistics figures, which are rounded to the nearest five, show about 1,215 businesses closed their doors in Wigan in 2024 – a fall from 1,330 the year before

Latest borough business closure figures

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves

Autumn Budget Statement - Jo Platt

Savings

Wigan savers face change as Cash ISA allowance cut from £20,000 to £12,000 in th...
Wigan residents who rely on cash savings accounts are being urged to reassess their financial plans after the Chancellor announced a substantial change to how much people will be able to put into a Cash ISA from 2027.
Dmytro Spilka

Fran Henshaw, R3 chair

Struggling businesses hoping for Budget boost says R3 in the North West as it re...

More than 325,000 SMEs in the engineering and manufacturing sectors are the backbone of the UK economy.

Ad Feature Policy centre to "future-proof" British manufacturing and engineering

A poll of 2,000 adults found 83 per cent have tightened purse strings during the past 12 months.

Brits have cut back more than £1000 due to rising costs

Black Friday

Amazon early Black Friday deals surge with discounts and price drops

Chancellor Rachel Reeves speaks at the Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham. The Government is expected to extend the freeze on income tax thresholds until 2030 (Photo: Joe Giddens - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Reeves drops tax hike - millions will pay more even without increase

Chancellor Rachel Reeves takes journalists' questions after delivering a speech in the media briefing room of 9 Downing Street. Reeves has reportedly ditched plans to raise income tax rates ahead of the November 26 Budget (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Rachel Reeves U-turns on tax rises - but your bill could still go up

Chancellor Rachel Reeves takes journalists' questions after delivering a speech in the media briefing room of 9 Downing Street on November 4, 2025. Reeves has hinted that Labour may break its manifesto pledge not to raise taxes (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Budget 2025: Reeves hints at tax rises - what it means for your money

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers a speech in the media briefing room of 9 Downing Street on November 4, 2025. She has hinted that the two-child benefit cap could be scrapped in the 2025 Budget (Photo: WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Budget 2025: Chancellor Reeves hints at extra support for families

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the average Wigan house price in the year to August was £189,618 – a 0.9 per cent increase on July

Local house prices on the rise again

Prime Minister warned not to overlooked rural households

Prime Minister warned not to overlook the 13,000 oil heated homes in Lancashire ...

Drivers could soon face a new 'pay-per-mile' tax, with plans reportedly set to be unveiled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the November 26 Budget (Photos: Pexels/Getty Images)

Drivers could soon pay 3p per mile under Rachel Reeves’ new tax plan
Drivers’ groups say the plan could hit early EV adopters and risk stalling the UK’s green motoring push ⚡
Alex Nelson

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivers a speech in the media briefing room of 9 Downing Street, ahead of the forthcoming Budget. Reeves has warned that 'each of us must do our bit', signalling possible tax rises (Photo: WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Rachel Reeves says 'each of us must do our bit' — what it may cost you

With the Autumn Budget fast approaching, speculation is mounting over how the Chancellor will tackle ongoing economic pressures (Photos: Getty Images/Hodge Bank)

5 big Autumn Budget predictions I think will hit your wallet hard

The Autumn Budget 2025 could bring changes to disability support, with Motability reforms under speculation (Photos: Pexels/Getty Images)

Autumn Budget could bring changes to PIP and disabled drivers scheme

Evlo and other organisations are calling for significant reforms to how credit histories are built in the UK.

Ad Feature Loan provider calls for rent payments to count towards credit scores

Chancellor Rachel Reeves speaks on stage during the Labour Party conference in Liverpool in September. The Autumn Budget will take place on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 (Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

What to expect from the Budget - Reeves faces £50bn gap and inflation

Mathematician Bobby Seagull used data from a sample of 1,000 18-30-year-olds who were in a long-distance relationship while at University

Formula for perfect long-distance relationship for students revealed

Fran Henshaw, R3 North West chair

North West sees autumn uplift with rise in new businesses, R3 research shows

John Fairhurst

Financial Matters with John Fairhurst

Keeping up to date with technology can be a winner for businesses

Raylo Business helps SMEs lease the latest tech from just £2.49

Top tips to stretch budgets included booking flights and accommodation well in advance, packing snacks and essentials rather than buying them when you get there - and using comparison sites to hunt for the best deals

Two-thirds of Brits say price increases make going abroad impossible

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, poses with the red Budget Box as she leaves 11 Downing Street to present the Government's annual budget to Parliament on October 30, 2024 (Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Rachel Reeves announces 2025 Autumn Budget date - what to expect

Back-to-uni bundles are easy to find online - and they can save you a small fortune

Best 2025 student bundle deals to get freshers uni-ready in one click

37 per cent of women intend to purchase solo

More women are planning to buy a home on their own than with a partner

Rachel Reeves pictured during a visit to the St Fergus Gas Plant in St Fergus, northern Scotland on August 1, 2025 (Photo: ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Possible tax rises coming in next Budget - what they may mean for you

(Photo: Pexels)

Crucial July 31 tax deadline – paying now can lighten future bills

11 of the best deals across UK pubs and restaurants for July 2025 - including TGI Fridays and The Ivy

11 of the best restaurant deals for July - including The Ivy

Options for home buyers with low deposits

What the end of the 95% mortgage guarantee scheme means for buyers

Visiting a theme park is a summer must for 23 per cent for Gen Z

Gen Z's dream summer includes five festivals and four trips abroad

Nearly half of Brits experience financial FOMO

Nearly half of Brits experience financial FOMO

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, leaves 11, Downing Street to deliver her Spring Statement to Parliament on March 26, 2025 (Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images)

8 takeaways from Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement - including welfare

Yorkshire woman Molly Spencer gets weekly food shop for £22 after cutting one thing.

Viral budgeter gets weekly food shop for £22 after cutting one thing

Bundle energy, broadband and insurance with Utility Warehouse

How bundling energy, broadband and insurance can stabilise your bills

Rachel Reeves facing new issue as UK firms are pausing or paring back hiring plans thanks to poor economic outlook and rising payroll costs.

Top business stories in 2 minutes: High Street firms' £1bn taxes blow

Part of the former HSBC building in Leigh which will become a bar/drinking establishment. One of many new businesses springing up in the borough

A pleasing increase in new businesses being created locally

Keeping the books up to date is a task every business owner needs to master

High-tech accounting software now just £1 per month thanks to a deal

(Photo: Pexels)

7 of the best money decluttering tips for a financial spring clean

More people want to go on walks this year

Want to do more things in 2025 to make you happy? Try this new tool

The best places to buy beautiful Valentine’s Day flowers online for under £40 (Photo: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Best places to buy Valentine’s Day Flowers for under £40

News you can trust since 1853

© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Terms and Conditions Privacy notice