More than a million pensioners pay higher rates of tax
More than a million pensioners are paying the higher rates of income tax, double the number from four years ago, figures have shown.
About 904,000 people at state pension age, which is presently 66, pay the 40p rate, while 124,000 lie in the 45p band, according to data obtained under a freedom of information request by LCP, a pensions consultancy. In 2021-22, the numbers were 455,000 and 39,000 respectively.
The data is one of the clearest examples yet of the impact of the freeze on income tax thresholds introduced by Rishi Sunak when he was chancellor in 2021 and extended by the Labour government until April 2028.
It has dragged more people into paying higher rates of tax as their incomes rise and is often
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
35 minutes ago
- Sky News
Prince William has had a lot to say this week - but is anyone listening?
Prince William has had a lot to say this week, attending three events about the environment as part of London Climate Action Week and giving three speeches. But I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't really heard what he had to say. The eyes of the world have, understandably, been elsewhere. Conflict, not the climate crisis, has been the primary focus of world leaders and continues to be - a problem you could say for William and all those trying to whip up momentum ahead of COP30 in Brazil, with only four months to go until the UN's climate conference in November. It was William and his team who specifically convened a meeting at St James's Palace on Thursday with the Brazilian ministers in charge of the summit and indigenous leaders from other parts of the world. With Ed Miliband, the secretary of state for energy security and net zero, just a few seats away, William made a call to action, saying: "We've made bold commitments: to halt deforestation, restore ecosystems, and protect 30% of land, sea, and water by 2030. "But these goals will remain out of reach unless we move from promises to action - grounded in respect, equity, and shared responsibility. "Looking ahead to COP30 in Belem and beyond, we must act with greater ambition and deeper collaboration. This is a moment for courage." When I put it to a palace source that maybe it all feels a bit futile in the current climate, with attentions firmly elsewhere, I was told there is "no change in course" - the prince always has and will continue "to use his platform to spotlight the need to restore the planet". 1:16 In the past, we've been more used to his father being more vocal. The King's involvement in London Climate Week was more fleeting, albeit involving a handshake with a giant gorilla puppet, and a discussion with the Brazil delegation in which he hinted that he would love to attend the summit in November, saying: "It's fitting it all in." Attendance by either the King or the Prince of Wales hasn't been confirmed yet, although it's looking likely William will go. He told one person this week: "I'll be in the area", with his Earthshot Prize being held in Rio in the days running up to the climate conference. But in the coming months, we do now know that father and son will be meeting with one key player, who has certainly voiced very different views on the severity of the climate crisis. 0:56 This week, it was confirmed that Donald Trump's full state visit to the UK will go ahead later this year, likely in September. His potentially disruptive presence when it came to the climate debate was hinted at on Tuesday, in front of Prince William, during a speech by former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg. Mr Bloomberg, a global adviser to Earthshot Prize, said: "There's a good reason to be optimistic, lots of problems around the world, America has not been doing its share lately to make things better, I don't think. Nevertheless, I'm very optimistic about the future." The King and Prince William have worked in this environmental sphere long enough to weather the frustrations of other distractions, a lack of interest or momentum. I'll never forget in 2015 ahead of COP21, when Islamic State and Syria were dominating the news agenda, Prince Charles told me very firmly that of course there was a link between the civil war in Syria and climate change. He said there was "very good evidence indeed that one of the major reasons for this horror in Syria was a drought that lasted for about five or six years, which meant that huge numbers of people in the end had to leave the land". "It's only in the last few years that the Pentagon have actually started to pay attention to this," he added at the time. "I mean, it has a huge impact on what is happening." But as a family, they know how much their global profile and ability to get people in the room can help attract attention that others simply can't. It's easy to be sniffy about that convening power, but as one delegate at an Earthshot event put it, they have an ability to "bring people together not around politics but purpose". And in a currently noisy, fractured world, it feels like that is needed more than ever.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Keir Starmer's authority has vanished. What's the point of this Government? When the time comes the British people will kick him into orbit: Read BORIS JOHNSON's devastating verdict a year on from Labour's loveless landslide
So that's it. Pffft! With a long sibilant farting efflatus as if from a punctured balloon the last of Keir Starmer 's authority has vanished to the four winds. He can't control his backbenchers. He can't deliver on his election promises. His flagship welfare reform Bill – once hailed as the superdreadnought of the Labour fleet – has run up the white flag at the first whiff of gunfire and vanished back to port.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Major US chain with 45 branches FINALLY adds iconic menu item to UK restaurants
A MAJOR US chain with 45 branches has finally added an iconic menu item to UK restaurants. Wendy's is bringing its Biggie Bag to the UK, giving customers a chance to try what Americans have dubbed the "best deal in fast food". 1 The meal deal gives customers a chance to get a small cheeseburger, chicken nuggets, small fries and drink for £5. Diners can upgrade for an extra £2.99 to get their hands on one of the chain's "premium" burgers such as a Wendy's Spicy Chicken or Wendy's Single. The more pricey version also comes with chicken nuggets, a small drink and chips. Wendy's £5 bargain allows customers to save around £1.77 The price of a small drink is around £1.49 at the chain, while the cost of a small burger is £2.49 and a four piece nugget is £2.79 and fries costs £1.59. If you bought all the items separately it would cost £8.36, but be aware prices may vary from store to store. Meanwhile, customers who upgrade to the £7.99 Biggie Bag can save £3.17. The offer has been a long standing feature in Wendy's restaurants in the US, with customers saying they "love it". One loyal fan said: "I upgrade to a large so my toddler can share and have the nuggets and some burger. So much better than McDonald's." While another customer said: "The Biggie bag is absolutely delicious I get it every time I go to Wendy's." If you are keen to try it out for yourself you will need to be quick as the offer will only be available on UK menus until August 1. You can find your nearest Wendy's by visiting, And that is not all the fast-food chain has also launched two new nugget flavours . It's new spicy nuggets are drenched in either Frank's RedHot Buffalo Sauce or Cattleman's Honey BBQ Sauce. The menu item will available to try from July 1. MORE FAST FOOD NEWS And Wendy's is not the only fast-food chain to shake things up recently. Slim Chickens has opened four new sites across the UK this month including sites in Swansea, Ealing, Walton and Birmingham. Another four Slim Chickens restaurants are set to open soon in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Reading, along with an undisclosed location in West London. The final two sites, also undisclosed, will complete the chain's 16 new openings in 2025. Elsewhere, Carls Jnr will be opening new sites in Southampton, Bristol, Manchester, York and Leeds. The Swansea restaurant is set to open in late August, while the chain is likely to land in Southampton and Manchester around October. No dates have been confirmed yet for the remaining restaurants. How to save money eating out THERE are a number of ways that you can save money when eating out. Here's how: Discount codes - Check sites like Sun Vouchers or VoucherCodes for any discount codes you can use to get money off your order. Tastecard - This is a members club where you pay to have access to discounts worth up to 50 per cent off at thousands of restaurants. It costs £4.99 a month or £34.99 for the year. Loyalty schemes - Some restaurants will reward you with discounts or a free meal if you register with their loyalty scheme, such as Nando's where you can collect a stamp with every visit. Some chains like Pizza Express will send you discounts for special occasions, such as your birthday, if you sign up to their newsletter. Voucher schemes - Look out for voucher schemes offered by third party firms, such as Meerkat Meals. If you compare and buy a product through then you'll be rewarded with access to the discount scheme. You'll get 2 for 1 meals at certain restaurants through Sunday to Thursday. Student discounts - If you're in full-time education or a member of the National Students Union then you may be able to get a discount of up to 15 per cent off the bill. It's always worth asking before you place your order.
