Latest news with #Pudsey
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What does Leeds think of the chancellor's changes named after city?
If you have money tucked away in an old low-interest account, you can expect a message from your bank in the next few months. You'll be encouraged to think about whether you want to switch your cash into stocks and shares. For those first-time buyers who think owning their own home is out of reach, a scheme backed by the government which offers low deposits is going to continue. These are just two of the financial changes announced this week by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Ms Reeves, who also happens to be the MP for Leeds West and Pudsey, heralded the changes as the Leeds Reforms. The policies announced also seek to change the way the financial ombudsman works among other more technical alterations. But what do the people of the city after which these changes are named actually think about the wider financial landscape? 'What money for investing?' Katrina Falkener is 35 and graduated during the financial crash of 2008. It was a time she said was "really difficult" for her generation as there was "no jobs and no hope". She fears we are in a very similar situation now. Katrina had heard of the Leeds Reforms and knew people were being encouraged to save money, but she is currently on maternity and does not think the changes will help her that much. "In the long run for our generation they're not that helpful as I don't feel people have that extra money in their pocket to be investing," she said. Day-to-day increases in spending on essentials such as food and fuel were devouring more of her money due to rising costs, she said. Rather than thinking about those who can save, Katrina said the government's first priority was to ensure "more money in people's pocket and make weekly essentials less expensive by reducing those prices in supermarkets". 'There's nothing left' Charlie Burrows, 26, is a residential support worker and is renting in Meanwood. He hadn't heard of the Leeds Reforms and didn't believe many other people would have as the country's "focus isn't on domestic policy" and the news is concentrating on international events. Charlie questioned how people of his generation could save as the chancellor wants. "Eighty to 90% of wages go on food, rent, bills…there's nothing left," he explained. Plans to allow people to borrow more for mortgages left him with some reservations. Charlie said he felt the chancellor was providing an answer to the wrong question. "[She is] trying to solve something that's an issue with pricing. "But if you look at 2008 financial crisis there was a lot of over-borrowing, people who weren't able to pay it back." He said the country should be wary of making the same mistake again and look at the housing market and affordability. 'Tax the rich' Karen Tobias-Green, is 63, and has two children, aged 29 and 32. She said her family was "not loaded but they are OK" and has paid her mortgage off. Karen accepts she is from a different generation that has been fortunate with "good jobs and proper pensions" which, she thought,"a lot of young people, my own children included, might not have". Although Karen was pleased people in positions of power were thinking about first-time buyers, she did not think it was good "to allow people to borrow more than they can afford". On encouraging people to save more money she thinks that is another positive but questioned stocks and shares ISAs as on a moral basis she wanted to know "what I was investing in". What would make a big difference? "Tax the rich," she said. "Education, social housing, healthcare are not meant to be profit-making, they are a basic human right." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. More on this story Stop being negative about savers buying shares, Reeves says Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
People in Leeds have their say on chancellor's Leeds Reforms
If you have money tucked away in an old low-interest account, you can expect a message from your bank in the next few be encouraged to think about whether you want to switch your cash into stocks and those first-time buyers who think owning their own home is out of reach, a scheme backed by the government which offers low deposits is going to are just two of the financial changes announced this week by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who also happens to be the MP for Leeds West and Pudsey, heralded the changes as the Leeds policies announced also seek to change the way the financial ombudsman works among other more technical what do the people of the city after which these changes are named actually think about the wider financial landscape? 'What money for investing?' Katrina Falkener is 35 and graduated during the financial crash of 2008. It was a time she said was "really difficult" for her generation as there was "no jobs and no hope". She fears we are in a very similar situation had heard of the Leeds Reforms and knew people were being encouraged to save money, but she is currently on maternity and does not think the changes will help her that much. "In the long run for our generation they're not that helpful as I don't feel people have that extra money in their pocket to be investing," she said. Day-to-day increases in spending on essentials such as food and fuel were devouring more of her money due to rising costs, she than thinking about those who can save, Katrina said the government's first priority was to ensure "more money in people's pocket and make weekly essentials less expensive by reducing those prices in supermarkets". 'There's nothing left' Charlie Burrows, 26, is a residential support worker and is renting in hadn't heard of the Leeds Reforms and didn't believe many other people would have as the country's "focus isn't on domestic policy" and the news is concentrating on international questioned how people of his generation could save as the chancellor wants."Eighty to 90% of wages go on food, rent, bills…there's nothing left," he to allow people to borrow more for mortgages left him with some said he felt the chancellor was providing an answer to the wrong question."[She is] trying to solve something that's an issue with pricing. "But if you look at 2008 financial crisis there was a lot of over-borrowing, people who weren't able to pay it back."He said the country should be wary of making the same mistake again and look at the housing market and affordability. 'Tax the rich' Karen Tobias-Green, is 63, and has two children, aged 29 and 32. She said her family was "not loaded but they are OK" and has paid her mortgage accepts she is from a different generation that has been fortunate with "good jobs and proper pensions" which, she thought,"a lot of young people, my own children included, might not have".Although Karen was pleased people in positions of power were thinking about first-time buyers, she did not think it was good "to allow people to borrow more than they can afford".On encouraging people to save more money she thinks that is another positive but questioned stocks and shares ISAs as on a moral basis she wanted to know "what I was investing in".What would make a big difference?"Tax the rich," she said."Education, social housing, healthcare are not meant to be profit-making, they are a basic human right." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Free electrical and plumbing sessions for young people announced
A Pudsey-based vocational training provider is offering free hands-on electrical and plumbing sessions to young people. Building Futures Together (BFT) is running the programme this summer for 14 to 19-year-olds, with the aim of boosting the youngsters' employability and providing insight into a career in construction. John Thornton, managing director and co-founder at BFT, said: "Almost a million young people aged under 25 are categorised as NEETs, not in education, employment, or training, so it is more important than ever that we create pathways and provide opportunities to boost their employability. "The aim of our summer programme is to give students insight into a career in construction, unlock their potential through hands-on learning, and provide a productive way to spend their time during the holidays." Funded by Leeds City Council, the sessions will take place at BFT's training centre throughout July and August. Sessions will run on July 23, 25, 30, and 31, and August 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28, from 10am to 2.30pm. Attendees can take part in one, two, or all 12 sessions. Each day is limited to 15 places. To register interest, contact John Thornton at More information about BFT is available at
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Petition opposes Leeds council sale of Pudsey town hall
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition opposing the proposed sale of an empty town hall City Council has confirmed it is looking at options for the sale of Pudsey Town authority said it was costing tens of thousands of pounds a year to maintain the vacant building, which dates back to the late 19th online petition calling for a halt to the sale and public consultation on its future has been signed by 1,050 people. "This is more than just bricks and mortar," the petition's website states."Pudsey Town Hall is a symbol of our civic pride, our local heritage, and our community's identity."The petition also calls for the creation of a Pudsey Town Council to take on political decision-making in the in 1880, the Robin Lane building was the headquarters of Pudsey Urban District Council from 1912 to1974. 'Financial challenges' Non-profit Pudsey Town Hall Community Interest Company (CIC) has been drawing up plans for the future use of the building, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.A spokesperson for the city council, which must save more than £100m this financial year, said: "The council can confirm it has decided to explore available options for the sale of Pudsey Town Hall."The decision to now explore a possible sale has not been taken lightly but, given our well-documented financial challenges, we must continuously assess all options for our city-wide portfolio of properties."They added the council could not indefinitely sustain the costs of maintaining a vacant building "which for the last financial year alone ran into five figures". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
I shouldn't have gone to PMQs, says Reeves
Rachel Reeves has admitted she regrets attending prime minister's questions after she was seen in tears on the Government front bench. The Chancellor said she had been dealing with a 'personal issue' when her bottom lip shook and tears ran down her face during a moment of distress in Parliament on Wednesday. Ms Reeves was speaking after she made a surprise appearance alongside Sir Keir Starmer to unveil the Government's 10-year plan for the NHS. In an interview with The Guardian, Ms Reeves said she regretted going into PMQs after a 'tough day at the office', but hoped people 'could relate' to her distress. She said: 'In retrospect, I probably wished I hadn't gone in... But you know, it is what it is.' The Leeds West and Pudsey MP said she never thought about resigning despite backbench anger over the way she had handled the economy, adding: 'I didn't work that hard to then quit.' A backbench rebellion saw the government forced to drop key welfare cuts, which has left the Chancellor with a £5 billion black hole to fill. She has insisted she is 'totally' up for the job of Chancellor and asserted that she and the Prime Minister remain united. Ms Reeves said: 'People can see that Keir and me are a team.' Sir Keir stood by his Chancellor in the aftermath, telling BBC Radio 4 Today's Nick Robinson: 'She is going to be Chancellor into the next election and for many years afterwards.' He was quick to deny any political link to her tears, insisting it was a personal matter, saying: 'I'm not going to go into the personal matter of a colleague.' Labour insiders have claimed that the Chancellor has made herself 'unsackable' after the public tears. A government source said that Sir Keir 'seems to have tied himself to her' after her tears, which triggered a £3 billion market sell-off and crash in the pound's value. 'I thought at the beginning of Wednesday she would go, then thought it was confirmed when I saw her crying at PMQs but then she didn't,' said the source. Another source said Ms Reeves had enjoyed an 'outpouring of sympathy' over an incident that was still 'inescapably linked to the political facts' of the welfare rebellion. A third added that being pictured distraught on television had 'shored up her position'. In a turbulent week for the government, Ms Reeves refused to rule out tax rises in the autumn budget, saying: 'I'm not going to, because it would be irresponsible to do that. 'We took the decisions last year to draw a line under unfunded commitments and economic mismanagement. 'So we'll never have to do something like that again. But there are costs to what happened.'
