The Autumn Budget is still driving the national conversation, with the chancellor facing questions about welfare spending and confirming a change to an HMRC allowance. Closer to home, Londoners in one tower block are still living behind scaffolding, and drivers in Greater Manchester face delays on the M62.
Archway Heights tenants still waiting for scaffolding to come down
In London, residents of Archway Heights say scaffolding has been around their tower block for more than six years, with “no end in sight”. Tenants describe the situation as a “nightmare” and say the structure has let intruders get into the building. If you rent in a block with long-running building work, this story shows how temporary works can affect your security as well as your daily life.
Source: BBC London
M62 traffic halted after reported crash
In Greater Manchester, all traffic was stopped on the M62 after reports of a crash, and queues were building. If you travel on this route today, check for updates before you set off and allow extra time.
Source: Manchester Evening News
An HMRC allowance is set to triple
The chancellor confirmed in Wednesday’s Autumn Budget that a key HMRC allowance will be tripled. Anyone who deals with HMRC should watch for official guidance on which allowance this is and when the change takes effect.
Source: BirminghamLive
Healey pledges a lower welfare bill
Chancellor John Healey has promised to reduce the welfare bill before the next election. The Conservatives criticised him for giving few details on welfare reform in his Budget, so the specific changes are still unclear.
Source: BBC News
Young people who turn down work or training face a “tough” approach
Healey said the government will take a “tough” approach to young people who do not accept support to get a job or training. He was repeatedly pressed on welfare in broadcast interviews after documents from the Office for Budget Responsibility suggested sickness and disability benefits would cost £100bn a year before the end of the decade. Young adults receiving benefits, and their families, should expect closer attention to job and training offers.
Source: The Guardian
The King, reimagined as a boxer
King Charles was amused by a boxing club’s T-shirt that shows him as king of the ring. The black shirts show him with a crown, gloves, shorts and a boxing belt, and the club’s young fighters and their head coach wore them.
Source: Evening Standard
UK Today is a curated digest: we summarise and link, the reporting belongs to the publications named. Something wrong or missing? Tell us.
Sources
- BBC London: Tower block residents plagued by intruders in scaffolding 'nightmare', accessed 29 October 2026
- Manchester Evening News: M62 LIVE as all traffic stopped on motorway amid reports of crash, accessed 29 October 2026
- BirminghamLive: Key HMRC allowance being tripled under Andy Burnham and John Healey, accessed 29 October 2026
- BBC News: Healey promises reduction in welfare bill before next election, accessed 29 October 2026
- The Guardian: Healey will cut welfare bill with ‘tough’ approach on young people to accept jobs, accessed 29 October 2026
- Evening Standard: Charles tickled by boxing club’s T-shirt depicting him as king of the ring, accessed 29 October 2026
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