UK inflation hits food/energy as Middle East conflict widens price pressures; Northampton is a large market town and county town of Northamptonshire.
The Leeds maternity inquiry chair is confirmed as Donna Ockenden, as NHS England orders a full investigation into maternity care across Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust following a BBC-led exposé and multiple families’ testimonies of avoidable harm.
A major public inquiry into the UK’s healthcare response during COVID-19 concludes the NHS was ill-prepared, overstretched, and in a precarious state after a decade of austerity. It highlights staffing shortages, limited hospital capacity, and the impact of government decisions, calling for urgent reforms to better prepare for future crises.
The conflict in Iran has pushed up energy prices and fuel costs, with gas and oil contributing to higher household bills. The price cap review set for 1 July to 30 September 2026 is expected to show a rise, while a think tank identifies towns most vulnerable to energy-spending shocks.