Thousands of families face being shut out from saving around £230 a year on their energy bills under “short-sighted” Government proposals to slash heat pump subsidies.
Ministers are planning to cut hundreds of millions of pounds from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), a flagship element of the Warm Homes Plan, it has been reported. The savings will help fund increased defence spending.
The scheme for England and Wales, which provides grants of up to £9,000 to help households replace their gas boiler with an electric heat pump, faces a significant cut to its £2.7bn budget, has reported.
What Trump’s Russia-Ukraine ‘energy ceasefire’ means
The US President made the surprise announcement as he continues to pressure Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries.
What did Trump announce?
On Sunday, Donald Trump wrote on social media: “Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!”
In his regular evening address, Volodymyr Zelensky said “it is only logical” to establish a ceasefire and stop the war, and an energy ceasefire was “good news for everyone”.
Andy Burnham said a ceasefire is “the best route to get energy and fuel back into world markets”.
Russia did not comment on the ceasefire deal on Sunday.
What does this mean?
However, today Zelensky said the surprise announcement was not followed through by the Kremlin.
Speaking in Warsaw, the Ukrainian president said “immediately after [Trump’s] post, Russia launched a targeted strike on a power plant in Kharkiv, causing further damage to our energy system”.
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Trump’s diesel deal
On Friday, Trump announced a diesel deal with Vladimir Putin, claiming Russia would supply more than 2.25 million barrels of diesel to the US and global markets.
Reacting to a possible deal, Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius told Sky News: “We’re not proud of it. It’s shameful, disgraceful… I’m not sure if it’s even under way or if it’s just a political claim.”
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The latest updates after man dies in Yorkshire tiger attack
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has said it will remain closed on Monday as investigations continue into the death on Saturday.
What happened?
- Emergency services were called shortly after 1.30pm on 10 October.
- A witness claimed that a man had entered the tiger enclosure “to play” with the animal.
- One witness told he saw the man “dancing happily with his headphones in” 20 minutes before entering the enclosure.
- Police said the man was pronounced dead at the scene, and his family have been informed.
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The sequence of events
- Reports that a man jumped into the tiger enclosure at the wildlife park began circulating on social media on Saturday afternoon.
- The park confirmed emergency services were contacted after a man entered the enclosure and was “attacked” by the tiger after 1.30pm.
- Emergency services attended, with two ambulances and a helicopter rushing to the scene.
- Videos circulating online appear to show a man being pawed at and grappled by a tiger in the enclosure.
- One video also appeared to show him wagging a finger at the tiger in an apparent attempt to stop the attack.
The latest updates
The park was evacuated after the incident on Saturday, and a message to ticket holders on Monday morning said anyone with a booking would be offered the chance to reschedule.
The wildlife park said Altai, the Amur tiger involved in the incident, will not be euthanised. Members of park staff who were “deeply affected” by the incident were receiving specialist support.
How remnants of a hurricane will affect UK weather this week
The UK is set for a week of warmer weather, with particularly mild night-time temperatures and conditions getting windier towards the middle of the week.
The forecast this week
Just as autumn beds in, the UK is set to turn milder again this week with the remnants of Hurricane Isaias which hit the US on Saturday.
Day temperatures will be average but the nights will feel warmer, with parts of England forecast to stay as high as 18°C on Monday night.
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What to expect and when
Mild weather returns
Early in the week, temperatures will be slightly above average, reaching the low 20s on Tuesday.
Wet and windy
Early in the week, expect showers, while mid-week will seek some strong winds, with possible gales in Scotland.
Mixed end to the week
Thursday could see temperatures above 20°C again, though this will decline again by Friday.
Comedian and actor Russell Brand has arrived at Southwark Crown Court today with his wife for the start of his trial on rape and sexual assault charges.
What are the charges against him?
Brand, 51, is accused of groping women and forcing them into sexual acts in allegations spanning 10 years from 1999 to 2009.
He denies three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one allegation of indecent assault, made by six women.
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The story in pictures
What happens now
- The hearing began at 9.30am today.
- Jury selection is expected to begin for a trial, which could last up to 10 weeks.
- Brand pleaded not guilty to the charges during pre-trial hearings and is currently on bail.
- The case is being overseen by High Court judge Mr Justice Bennathan.
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Closer look at accusations
- Previous hearings have heard Brand accused of raping a woman in a hotel room at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.
- He has also been accused of grabbing a TV worker’s breasts and forcing her into a sex act in a toilet, and kissing and groping a radio station worker.
- Brand has denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty in a pre-trial hearing.
NHS rolls out new prescriptions alerts – what we know
The latest feature follows the launch of the “Amazon-style” prescription tracker on the NHS app, which officials said has been used by almost 2.9 million people.
What you need to know
- Millions of NHS app users in England can now get alerts on their phones and smartwatches when their prescriptions are ready. Thousands of pharmacies are already live with the service.
- The update will help tackle unnecessary calls or premature trips to the chemist to pick up medication, NHS England said.
- Health innovation minister James Frith urged people to enable push alert notifications on the NHS app to benefit from the new feature.
Embracing new technology
Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said it would free up staff time from answering phone calls and encourage more patients to use the NHS app.
“Pharmacies want to do all they can to embrace new technology and make the vital services they offer as easy and convenient as possible for patients to access,” he said.
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Welcome progress
It’s something many people have been asking for, and alongside other non-digital ways of accessing information and support, can help make it easier for patients to get the information they need in a way that works for them.
Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association
The likely benefits cuts after PM hints at shake-up
Two reviews due this autumn will shape what comes next for universal credit and personal independence payments (PIP).
Andy Burnham said his Government will show “the same boldness as we did on the triple lock” in responding to youth unemployment.
What could Milburn recommend?
Alan Milburn, a former health secretary, is examining why nearly one million 16- to 24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training .
The group’s out-of-work and disability benefits reportedly cost the government around £8.1bn a year.
His review is expected to recommend wholesale changes to get young people into work and bring down the benefits bill.
But Burnham told the Labour conference that savings would come not from “crude cuts” but from “investing in people in their success”.
Universal credit health element
Ministers are considering removing the universal credit health element for under-25s and replacing it with an intensive back-to-work scheme.
Young people who fail to take up intensive support to help them into work will face benefit sanctions, The i Paper understands
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Personal independence payments
PIP helps with the extra living costs of a long-term condition or disability, whether or not you work.
It is now claimed by four million people, with spending forecast to rise from £28.5bn this year to £41.5bn by 2030-31.
The Timms Review is looking at ways to improve PIP and reduce costs.
has reported that the Government is considering new eligibility criteria, though people with the most severe conditions would not be affected.
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What happens next?
- Parliament is expected to debate the Timms proposals before the end of the year, with the Government responding soon after.
- Milburn’s review is likely to be published shortly after the Budget, with savings not expected until 2027.
It is likely to require primary legislation, which provides scope for a Labour rebellion.
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Sacha Baron Cohen to star in Tarantino’s West End play
star Sacha Baron Cohen will headline when it premieres in London next year.
Quentin Tarantino said he was “keen with anticipation to give the West End a great night out”.
What we know so far
The production marks Tarantino’s first play written for the stage – which he will also direct.
Set in 1830s Europe, has been billed as a “rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise inspired by the grand swashbuckling epics of stage and screen”.
What did Baron Cohen say?
Baron Cohen, best known for comedy characters including Borat and Ali G said: “Quentin called, I said yes before he even got to say his first ‘motherf**ker.”
He added: “When the best director in the world calls, you don’t ask questions. I am beyond delighted that we will be losing our West End virginity together. I have made him [a] promise not to be gentle.”
How can you see it?
- It will premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End on 18 March, 2027.
- Tickets go on sale on Monday 12 October.
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The subsidies have been used for almost 80,000 heat pumps, which can save households an average of £230 on energy bills a year.
Nesta, a research charity, supports phasing out of the subsidy over time, but said an abrupt end to the scheme would risk “wiping out” the industry – and with it the savings households can make.
“You have to make sure you don’t do anything drastic… because otherwise companies who’ve invested in it will just say, ‘Well, no, actually this is clearly not the right market for me’,” Andrew Sissons, director of sustainable future mission at Nesta, said.
Treasury officials are understood to view the subsidy, which is not means-tested, as one mainly accessed by middle-class households.
A 2026 evaluation report found 56 per cent of households taking part in the BUS scheme had a gross income of more than £52,000. This compares to a national median of £54,740, the report found.
But 37 per cent of those who accessed the scheme had a household income of between £20,800 and £52,000.
Sissons also said the scheme being accessed by higher numbers of “better-off” households was in line with its purpose, with other support available for low-income households.
“It’s sometimes described as being for able-to-pay households, and that’s because even with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, a household replacing a gas boiler still has to pay around £5,000 on average,” he added.
‘Target support for low-income households’
Matt Copeland, interim director of policy at National Energy Action, added a better solution is to reform the scheme to potentially “fully fund heat pumps for lower-income households”.
NEA is asking for the Treasury to launch targeted energy support for low-income households this winter, forgive a portion of energy debt – especially for financially vulnerable households – and accelerate the Warm Homes Plan.
This would mean low-income households are supported to decarbonise their homes and shield themselves from energy price shocks.
It comes as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme, which fully funds heat pumps for low-income and vulnerable households, is set to come to an end on 31 December.
Jonathan Bean, spokesperson for Fuel Poverty Action, said while the BUS scheme was “flawed”, it “should not be cut to fund weapons”.
“Instead, the Government should make the Warm Homes Plan fairer so everyone can get the benefits of affordable heating and hot water using renewable energy.”
He added: “Most of the boiler upgrade funding goes to more affluent homes. Those in small homes and flats are missing out, especially those in electric-only homes who pay three times the price of those with gas or heating oil.
“Government belatedly added air-to-air heat pumps to the scheme, which are better for smaller homes, but only offers a £2,500 subsidy compared to the current £9,000 for homes with oil.”
Simon Francis, co-ordinator for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, added voters will feel betrayed if Andy Burnham does not back the Warm Homes Plan to the full extent outlined in Labour’s manifesto.
The party promised to “save families hundreds of pounds, slash fuel poverty and get Britain back on track to meet our climate targets”.
But Francis said: “The Government needs to protect households now and ensure that our homes are fit for the future and cheaper to heat. It should not be a case of either or.”
He called for better targeted support, suggesting a referral route could ensure the people who most need help can access it.
Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, described the move to cut heat pump subsidies to enhance defence as “remarkably short-sighted”.
“Britain’s exposure to gas cost the Treasury £80bn in the last energy crisis. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme budget is just 0.5 per cent of that, and is key to getting off gas,” he said.
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) spokesperson said: “Savings for the Defence Investment Plan are a small part of DESNZ’s overall budget, which saw a significant uplift at spending review.
“We will set out how we will fund essential investment in our national security this autumn.”