National government

The DWP has confirmed the exact birth date and qualifying week for the 2026 Winter Fuel Payment, worth up to £300 for eligible pensioners.

DWP confirms exact birth date for £300 Winter Fuel Payment and key week to qualify

A photo purporting to show the moment five men were arrested

A photo purporting to show the moment five men were arrested

What happens next to the five terror suspects after major incident near RAF Fairford?

Four million households without smart meters are urged to submit a meter reading before October 1 as energy prices rise and bills increase.

Four million households without smart meters are urged to submit a meter reading before October 1 as energy prices rise and bills increase.

The easy task millions of us need to before energy bills rise in coming days

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden as thousands are backing a petition to cut the State Pension age to 65.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden as thousands are backing a petition to cut the State Pension age to 65.

Department for Works and Pensions

Government called on as thousands back major change to DWP State Pension age

Around 3.2 million pensioners are due HMRC refunds after a state pension tax calculation error.

Around 3.2 million pensioners are due HMRC refunds after a state pension tax calculation error.

Millions of pensioners could be owed money after HMRC mistake

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden (left) and Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock, leave following a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street. A petition is calling for the State Pension age to be lowered to help free up jobs for young adults.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden (left) and Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock, leave following a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street. A petition is calling for the State Pension age to be lowered to help free up jobs for young adults.

DWP State Pension age change proposed to help young adults get jobs

Heidi Alexander MP backs Swindon’s Walcot East and Parks Pride in Place programme

Heidi Alexander MP backs Swindon’s Walcot East and Parks Pride in Place programme

National government

Residents to help decide £20m investment in Swindon neighbourhoods

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey flanked by members of the cabinet. If a petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it is considered for a debate in the house of commons.

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey flanked by members of the cabinet. If a petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it is considered for a debate in the house of commons.

Taxpayers have days left over £18,000 HMRC tax-free personal allowance decision

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as more than £300m has been paid through Help to Save

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as more than £300m has been paid through Help to Save

How to apply for government £1,200 bonus as thousands more to qualify

Prime Minister Andy Burnham as the government is urging people to see if they could be eligible for a payment - HMRC says 827,000 matured Child Trust Funds remain unclaimed

Prime Minister Andy Burnham as the government is urging people to see if they could be eligible for a payment - HMRC says 827,000 matured Child Trust Funds remain unclaimed

Thousands could be sitting on £2,310 without even realising it, says HMRC

Residents met to discuss plans for the Pride in Place funding from the government.

Residents met to discuss plans for the Pride in Place funding from the government.

Local government

Demand for road and pavement repairs as £20m Swindon funding is announced

DWP Secretary Pat McFadden as pensioners are calling for a £14,500 State Pension after a petition passed 23,000 signatures.

DWP Secretary Pat McFadden as pensioners are calling for a £14,500 State Pension after a petition passed 23,000 signatures.

Department for Work and Pensions

Pensioners hoping for £14,500 State Pension get major DWP response

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with Minister for the Cabinet Office Louise Haigh and Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey, as Labour is reportedly considering a £15,570 personal allowance boost

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with Minister for the Cabinet Office Louise Haigh and Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey, as Labour is reportedly considering a £15,570 personal allowance boost

HMRC £3,000 tax boost for millions under new plan looked at by Government

Swindon campaigner makes final push for hospital carers petition

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as more than £300m has been paid through Help to Save

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as more than £300m has been paid through Help to Save

How to apply for government £1,200 bonus as thousands more set to qualify

Close-up of a Disabled Badge Holders Parking sign in the UK.

Close-up of a Disabled Badge Holders Parking sign in the UK.

Blue Badge holders can use this simple hack to stop their permit expiring

From bus passes to benefits, pensioners could be missing out on valuable benefits and discounts without realising it. Here are the schemes to check and how to apply.

From bus passes to benefits, pensioners could be missing out on valuable benefits and discounts without realising it. Here are the schemes to check and how to apply.

Department for Work and Pensions

Full list of DWP benefits for State Pensioners revealed - and one's your missing

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey in the House of Commons as a new petition is calling for the Personal Allowance to rise automatically with inflation or wages.

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey in the House of Commons as a new petition is calling for the Personal Allowance to rise automatically with inflation or wages.

Calls grow to increase £12,570 HMRC Personal Allowance as inflation rates rise again

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is under pressure as pensioners are calling for the £12,570 Personal Allowance to rise by at least £1,000

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is under pressure as pensioners are calling for the £12,570 Personal Allowance to rise by at least £1,000

Department for Work and Pensions

£12,570 Personal Allowance could rise by £1,000 for pensioners in fresh calls

South Swindon MP Heidi Alexander reportedly took a nearly £40,000 trip to China and Japan, funded by the taxpayer, in her role as Transport Secretary.

South Swindon MP Heidi Alexander reportedly took a nearly £40,000 trip to China and Japan, funded by the taxpayer, in her role as Transport Secretary.

Local government

South Swindon MP and Transport Secretary takes nearly £40,000 taxpayer-funded trip

You don't need hundreds of pounds to get started. Some savers can open a Lifetime ISA with just £1 and benefit from a 25% Government bonus – but strict rules apply.

You don't need hundreds of pounds to get started. Some savers can open a Lifetime ISA with just £1 and benefit from a 25% Government bonus – but strict rules apply.

The £1 savings trick that could unlock a £1,000 Government bonus

Martin Lewis from Money Saving Expert has highlighted a key issue as HMRC is sending 311,000 letters to people who could be missing Home Responsibilities Protection, with successful claims averaging £8,000 in pension arrears.

Martin Lewis from Money Saving Expert has highlighted a key issue as HMRC is sending 311,000 letters to people who could be missing Home Responsibilities Protection, with successful claims averaging £8,000 in pension arrears.

Department for Works and Pensions

HMRC writing to 311,000 people over a State Pension boost – you could be owed £8,000

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation increased to 3.1% in August, compared with 2.9% in July.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation increased to 3.1% in August, compared with 2.9% in July.

DWP claimants could get more money from April 2027 as new figures released

Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander joined the fun at Freshbrook Church’s annual barbecue

Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander joined the fun at Freshbrook Church’s annual barbecue

National government

MP Heidi Alexander joins the fun at church barbecue fundraiser

Winter Fuel Payment recipients soared by 9.6 million to 10.9 million in England and Wales last winter after the Government widened eligibility.

Winter Fuel Payment recipients soared by 9.6 million to 10.9 million in England and Wales last winter after the Government widened eligibility.

Winter Fuel Payment recipients soar by 9.6 million after major Government U-turn

Winter Fuel Payment warning as 53,000 pensioners opt out and millions face clawback

Winter Fuel Payment warning as 53,000 pensioners opt out and millions face clawback

53,000 pensioners opted out Winter Fuel Payments – and millions had cash clawed back

Council tax could face a major overhaul if England follows Wales with a property revaluation, potentially changing the bands and bills households pay.

Council tax could face a major overhaul if England follows Wales with a property revaluation, potentially changing the bands and bills households pay.

Council tax shake-up could change what millions pay as England homes face revaluation

More than 900,000 households are missing out on £2bn of Pension Credit as financial insecurity grows among people in their 60s.

More than 900,000 households are missing out on £2bn of Pension Credit as financial insecurity grows among people in their 60s.

Almost one in three people in their 60s face this worrying money crisis

Prices will be cut at your local Wetherspoon to mark Tax Equality Day

Prices will be cut at your local Wetherspoon to mark Tax Equality Day

Pubs to cut prices for one day to highlight impact of VAT

Transport Secretary issues statement on what happens next after flight chaos

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary at the Ryanair AGM at its offices in Dublin

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary at the Ryanair AGM at its offices in Dublin

Ryanair boss slammed for his shocking 'rapist' comments about airlines

Pensioners have just one week to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment if they do not want to receive it.

Pensioners have just one week to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment if they do not want to receive it.

Winter Fuel Payment warning as pensioners face deadline next week

Alleged drone factory plotter 'in contact with Russian fighter from Wiltshire'

Swindon man faces court over sabotage and assisting Russia charges

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as a petition calling for the Personal Tax Allowance to rise to £18,000 has attracted 68,455 signatures, but the September 30 deadline is approaching.

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as a petition calling for the Personal Tax Allowance to rise to £18,000 has attracted 68,455 signatures, but the September 30 deadline is approaching.

Thousands back bid to raise HMRC personal allowance to £18,000 as deadline looms

Councillors with the new Pride in Place Community Caretakers for Walcot and Park North

Councillors with the new Pride in Place Community Caretakers for Walcot and Park North

National government

Walcot and Parks residents invited to shape funding priorities

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden as a new petition is calling for a major tax boost for pensioners, with a higher personal allowance linked to the State Pension Triple Lock.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden as a new petition is calling for a major tax boost for pensioners, with a higher personal allowance linked to the State Pension Triple Lock.

New tax campaign launched to increase HMRC personal allowance for all pensioners

Will Stone, MP for Swindon North

Will Stone, MP for Swindon North

National government

Swindon MP raises more than £3,000 for last Royal British Legion branch

UK Government splashed £540k on gift vouchers for civil servants' 'high performance'

Councillor Gary Sumner, Leader of Swindon Borough Council (second left), was shown around TEKEVER's Spectrum Building earlier this summer.

Councillor Gary Sumner, Leader of Swindon Borough Council (second left), was shown around TEKEVER's Spectrum Building earlier this summer.

Swindon's transformation into drone hub 'will create more than 1,000 jobs'

Mike Armstrong of Stark next to the company's Virtus drones

Mike Armstrong of Stark next to the company's Virtus drones

Strong response from Swindon drone boss to Russia after factories' threats

The State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67, with the change being phased in between April 2026 and April 2028.

The State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67, with the change being phased in between April 2026 and April 2028.

Department for Work and Pensions

How every age group is affected as DWP hikes state pension age

Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander watched the thrilling Wimbledon final as Jannik Sinner fought off a full-blooded challenge from Alexander Zverev

Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander watched the thrilling Wimbledon final as Jannik Sinner fought off a full-blooded challenge from Alexander Zverev

National government

Swindon MP rubbed shoulders with Royals thanks to free £1,400 Wimbledon tickets

Trainer Alan King. (David Davies/PA Wire)

Trainer Alan King. (David Davies/PA Wire)

Two Swindon firms named after failing to pay workers nearly £20,000

A US B1B Lancer at RAF Fairford

A US B1B Lancer at RAF Fairford

Increased sightings of B1 Lancer bombers overhead as US war with Iran escalates

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey.

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey.

National government

Readers clash on call to increase untaxed Personal Allowance

Millions face changes to benefits, energy support and school costs before the end of 2026.

Millions face changes to benefits, energy support and school costs before the end of 2026.

Department for Work and Pensions

Major DWP changes hitting millions of pensioners and claimants before the year is out

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden as the DWP faces backlash over powers to check Universal Credit bank data

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden as the DWP faces backlash over powers to check Universal Credit bank data

Universal Credit bank checks - the DWP power sparking a fresh backlash

Around 1m people could be owed pension cash, but fears are growing that HMRC letters will be mistaken for scams and binned.

Around 1m people could be owed pension cash, but fears are growing that HMRC letters will be mistaken for scams and binned.

The HMRC letter you should not throw in the bin - urgent warning issued to check

Cllr Vinay Manro visited Fessey House

Cllr Vinay Manro visited Fessey House

Swindon public invited to help shape future of adult social care

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as a petition calling for the £12,570 Personal Allowance to rise to £18,000 has attracted nearly 65,000 signatures.

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as a petition calling for the £12,570 Personal Allowance to rise to £18,000 has attracted nearly 65,000 signatures.

Thousands join call to raise HMRC tax free Personal Allowance to £18,000

Find out who will not get the Winter Fuel Payment in 2026, from people in hospital or prison to some care home residents.

Find out who will not get the Winter Fuel Payment in 2026, from people in hospital or prison to some care home residents.

Department for Works and Pensions

Winter Fuel Payment 2026 - the groups who will not get the payment this year

The disaster in Nepal

The disaster in Nepal

National government

Councillor shares message of solidarity following devastating floods in Nepal

South Swindon MP Heidi Alexander

South Swindon MP Heidi Alexander

National government

South Swindon MP has announced “ironing board” train seats will be upgraded