The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has responded to a petition calling for the Motability Scheme changes to be scrapped, with more than 53,000 people having signed it ahead of the July 2026 reforms

Plans to reform the Motability scheme will proceed this summer despite mounting concerns from campaigners who caution the alterations could make it more difficult for disabled people to maintain their mobility. More than 53,000 people have signed an online petition urging the UK Government to abandon the reforms, arguing the changes are “unfair to the most vulnerable in society” and could affect people’s independence.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has replied to the petition, confirming the planned changes will take effect on July 1. However, should the petition reach 100,000 signatures, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for parliamentary debate.

Petition creator Dave Walton raises concerns about new costs associated with vehicle payments and stricter mileage limits, cautioning that many disabled people already depend on the scheme for daily journeys. He also stated higher costs could leave some unable to afford a car, particularly those on lower incomes, while people in rural areas may have no practical alternative transport options.

It’s important to be aware that changes to the Motability Scheme will only apply to new leases, meaning existing customers will not be affected until they renew their agreements , reports the Daily Record.

Changes include:

• Some additional payments linked to Motability vehicles will face new taxes
• Insurance-related costs will rise for certain leases
• Standard mileage allowances are being reduced for new customers

The DWP response on the Petitions Parliament website, said: “The Motability Scheme is a lifeline for many disabled people and families, supporting their independence by enabling them to lease a car, a wheelchair accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair in exchange for an eligible disability benefit allowance.

“The Government and Motability have worked in partnership to develop a suite of reforms which strikes the right balance between delivering a key service for disabled people and fairness to the taxpayer, saving over £1 billion by financial year 2030/31. These reforms will not affect eligibility for the Motability Scheme or disability benefits.

“The VAT relief for Advanced Payments – a one-off payment made to lease more expensive vehicles – will be removed and Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) will apply to leases at the standard rate, bringing tax treatment in line with commercial leasing firms.

“These changes will only apply to customers taking out new leases with Motability and will not apply to current leases or to wheelchair accessible vehicles in recognition of the additional costs associated with these vehicles. VAT reliefs on weekly lease costs and vehicle resale will remain in place.”

The proposed changes aim to align the scheme more closely with the broader vehicle leasing market while ensuring its long-term financial viability. Motability has also confirmed it will maintain a wide selection of vehicles available without an Advance Payment, ensuring individuals can access vehicles that meet their requirements, whether that involves a larger model or additional boot space for wheelchairs, using only their disability benefit.

You can read the DWP response in full here.

What is changing?

The proposed changes concern qualifying schemes, the sole current example being the Motability scheme, which leases vehicles with preferential tax treatment to disabled individuals receiving eligible welfare benefits.

Reasons for change

Guidance on GOV.UK states: “The policy objective for the measure is to promote fairness and value for money for taxpayers. VAT changes restrict tax reliefs for more expensive vehicles provided under qualifying schemes, while IPT changes bring the tax treatment of qualifying schemes in line with other commercial lease providers.”

Who is likely to be affected

From July 1, 2026 onwards, qualifying schemes which lease vehicles to eligible disabled individuals will be impacted, the only current example of which is the Motability scheme, as well as businesses which provide insurance to qualifying schemes.

VAT

Eligible benefits paid to claimants by the DWP, the Ministry of Defence, Social Security Scotland, or the Department for Communities (Northern Ireland) can be used to cover the cost of leases. This portion of the payment will be disregarded when calculating the supply’s value for VAT purposes, meaning no VAT will be charged on it. Nevertheless, the measure will eliminate the VAT zero-rate on additional top-up payments, made beyond the transfer of eligible welfare benefits, for those who pay extra to lease more expensive vehicles.

This additional payment will be liable for the standard rate of VAT (20 percent).

These modifications will have no effect on the existing zero rate for vehicles designed or substantially and permanently adapted for wheelchair or stretcher users. Additional payments for such vehicles will therefore continue to be zero-rated.

Insurance Premium Tax

The guidance states: “This measure restricts the Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) exemption for insurance on vehicles leased through qualifying motor vehicle leasing schemes.

“Once changes take effect, the exemption will apply only to insurance contracts relating to vehicles that are substantially and permanently adapted for wheelchair or stretcher users, or originally designed for their use, where leased through a qualifying scheme.

“All other vehicles provided through such schemes will be subject to IPT at the standard rate of 12 per cent. The liability of insurance relating to all vehicles provided through leases entered into prior to 1 July 2026 will remain exempt.”

Temperatures dipped to -6C in the UK this week

The Met Office has told Brits to expect more unseasonably cold weather in the coming days after the coldest May night in five years.

Temperatures plummeted to -6.1C on Wednesday (May 6) in northern Scotland, with subzero temperatures also recorded in other parts of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland. The Met Office said this was the coldest May night in the UK since 2021.

While temperatures were widely milder on Thursday (May 7), the Met Office says conditions are expected to turn warmer for southern parts of the UK towards the end of the week. However, cooler air is set to linger across northern parts of the country.

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The Met Office said more frosty weather is ‘likely in the coming nights’. In a post on X, the forecaster wrote: “We’ve had some frosts this month and there’s more pockets likely in the coming nights. This map shows it’s not that uncommon to get air frosts late in spring.”

A graphic posted on X shows the average date of the last air frost in the UK over the past 30 years. It shows frosts as late as June in northern parts of Scotland, with May frosts also not uncommon in much of Scotland and parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

For much of England, the average date of the last air frost falls in April – and March in many coastal areas.

An air frost is defined as the air temperature being below the freezing point of water at a height of at least one metre above the ground, the Met Office explained.

This week, cooler temperatures have also been accompanied by wet weather for some. The Met Office forecast for Thursday night into Friday morning (May 8) says a band of rain will move southeastwards across Scotland and Northern Ireland, with clear spells and ‘a scattering of showers’ elsewhere.

Friday is also set to bring wet weather to Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, with longer spells of rain throughout the weekend.

Weekend temperatures are expected to be ‘warm initially in the south, but turning cooler from the north’, the Met Office said.

Beyond the weekend, the Met Office long-range forecast, which runs from May 12 to May 21, states: “Changeable and at times rather unsettled conditions look to dominate through the middle part of May, with low pressure often close by.

“This means periods of rain or showers, some of which could be heavy, for many places, though some drier interludes are also expected.

“For the most part, temperatures are likely to be close to or perhaps a little below normal, with winds often blowing from a northwesterly quadrant. By the end of this period, pressure may increase towards the southwest, which could bring more in the way of dry weather here.”

The scheme, recommended for approval by planning officers, would see an existing council-owned site demolished, cleared and redeveloped into a three-storey specialist facility for elderly residents.

If given the green light, the development would replace the former Hambleton District Council headquarters at Stone Cross Civic Centre in Northallerton, delivering modern care accommodation alongside communal spaces including lounges, a coffee bar, library and landscaped gardens.

The plans have been submitted by LNT Care Developments Ltd.

Stone Cross, the former Hambleton District Council offices.

The care home would include 66 ensuite bedrooms, communal lounges, a coffee bar, library, garden room, tearoom, sky bar and landscaped gardens for residents.

Plans also include parking, electric vehicle charging points, cycle storage and ancillary buildings.

Planning officers say the proposal would help meet growing demand for elderly care provision in North Yorkshire, particularly dementia care and respite services, while also bringing employment and investment to the area.

A report prepared for councillors states the district has a significantly older population than the national average, with evidence showing a growing need for specialist accommodation and care home bed spaces over the coming decades.

Officers noted that the development would create around 62 jobs and make use of previously developed brownfield land in a sustainable location close to public transport, local services and walking routes.

The report concludes: “There is clear need for care provision in Northallerton given the ageing population and the scheme is supported by Economic Development and policy HG2 of the Local Plan.”

The existing civic centre building became vacant following local government reorganisation and the creation of North Yorkshire Council.

Officers said the current office building was “of no particular architectural merit” and its demolition was considered acceptable.

Only two public responses were received during consultation, with concerns raised over parking pressures and the loss of the existing building.

North Yorkshire Council, which owns the building, received nine bids when the site was marketed, with none of these bids proposing to keep the existing building.

The sale of the site to the care home operator was described as a “win, win, win” situation by deputy leader Gareth Dadd when agreed last year.

Planning officers concluded that highways, drainage, ecology, landscaping and contamination issues had all been satisfactorily addressed.

The development would also deliver a biodiversity net gain exceeding national requirements.

If approved, the development will also provide more than £32,000 towards expanding local healthcare facilities, alongside £5,000 for travel plan monitoring.

Warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers: our coverage contains references to and images of someone who has died

The case of a five-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered in Australia’s Outback has caused outrage across the country.

The BBC’s Katy Watson is in Alice Springs and explains the background of the case, the cultural sensitivities and why it has caused so much anger.

Aija Cernevica, 30, struck and kicked the dog before strangling it to death.

A sick carer who battered and strangled a dog to death in front of children in a park has been struck off.

Aija Cernevica, 30, was banned from working in the profession on Thursday, May 7. The brute, of Kilbirnie in North Ayrshire, is currently in jail serving a three-year sentence for the depraved attack.

She was caged at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court after admitting the crime in January. Cops were called to the horrendous incident after receiving reports of a dog being assaulted at Orr’s Trust Public Park in Beith in May last year.

By the time officers arrived at the scene, the helpless pooch was found dead. The court heard how Cernevica repeatedly struck the dog, which was in her care, with her hands.

She then kicked and stamped on it, bit it and seized it by the collar.

Cernevica went on to swing the animal across a fence before going on to drag and throw it around the ground in front of horrified children.

Evil Cernevica then straddled the dog, pinned it to the ground with her body weight, held it by its throat and strangled it to death. She committed the sickening offence while on bail.

The details of the horrifying incident were laid bare during a Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) hearing this week. The watchdog also revealed that Cernevica was in the possession of five blades when she launched the frenzied attack on the dog.

She was removed from the care register indefinitely.

A statement from the SSSC reads: “Your actions caused the suffering and death of an animal in your care. You reactions are likely to have caused significant emotional harm to members of the public who may have witnessed your behaviour. You engaged in a course of violent and abusive behaviour over the course of a day, which indicates a pattern.

“Your behaviour is indicative of significant attitudinal and values issues which have the potential to place others at risk of serious harm. Your actions amount to a significant abuse of power and trust, albeit that trust was not derived from your registrable role.

“The behaviours which led to your convictions were very serious. There are significant public protection concerns arising from your behaviour. We consider the public interest to be high and that the reputation of the profession could be damaged as a result of your behaviour. A finding of current impairment is necessary to maintain confidence in both the social services profession and the SSSC in an effective regulator.”

It concluded: “A condition would not be appropriate because there are no conditions which could be placed on you which would address why your fitness to practise is impaired. The type of behaviour at issue is not the type of behaviour which Page 5 of 6 conditions would rectify. You are not currently working in the sector. A condition would not be workable or enforceable.”

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The One Show presenter Alex Jones has revealed there will be a change in scheduling

The One Show’s Alex Jones has announced the show will be taken off air.

The TV star shared the update as she hosted the latest instalment of the BBC programme, telling viewers that the show would not air on Friday (May 8).

While the magazine-style show usually airs from Monday to Friday at 7pm, she revealed this week’s final episode will not be broadcast due to local election coverage.

Alex, who was hosting the show on Thursday, May 7 with fellow presenter Roman Kemp, told viewers: “We are off tomorrow because of the election coverage.

“But we will be back on Monday with Sir Ian McKellen and star of Killing Eve and Grey’s Anatomy, Sandra Oh.”

As she signed off, Alex also said “Happy Birthday to David Attenborough”, who will turn 100 on May 8.

“Bye-bye, see you next week,” she said, as she and Roman waved at the cameras.

Thursday’s instalment of the programme saw the presenters welcome Springwatch host Chris Packham, director Jon Favreau and Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver, the stars of The Mandalorian and Grogu film.

They were also ‘joined’ by Grogu, with Alex admitting she was “absolutely transfixed” by the green puppet.

“I’ve never seen you this starstruck before,” Roman remarked as he saw Alex’s reaction.

“Honestly, I just want him to come for a playdate,” she confessed. “Would he want to come?”

She asked director Jon what the puppet was like to work with, and he replied: “He is actually controlled by multiple puppeteers who have been working together with this character like a jazz quartet. Bryce Dallas Howard, who was directing during the television show, used to just talk right to him, and that started a tradition.”

Pedro added that Grogu was “an amazing scene partner” and that he was great “at improv”.

Viewers were also charmed, with one posting on X: “Grog on The One Show, how freaking cute.”

“The Grogu puppet is amazing, I want one, suspect he cost lots and lots of money,” someone else posted on the platform, which was formerly Twitter.

“Mesmerised by the Grogu puppet I can’t lie,” she said.

The One Show airs at 7pm on BBC One on weeknights.

Dwayne Johnson has shared how his outfit at this year’s Met Gala featured a subtle nod to his heritage.

Asked how he felt about the skirt on his way into the event, Johnson said (as reported by Variety): “I feel great!”

He explained that designer Thom Browne first sent his design plans over to Johnson’s team, asking: “Hey, is Deej going to be cool with this pleated skirt?”

“I was like, ‘Look, in our culture, Polynesian culture, we rock lavalavas, we rock skirts’,” he responded.

“The most masculine men – not that I’m one of them – but the most masculine men wear lavalavas and skirts,” Johnson added.

On Tuesday, Thom Browne’s fashion brand also posted footage of Johnson and his wife Lauren Hashian posing for photographers outside the Met Gala.

“Together, Dwayne and Lauren embody Thom’s vision of strength and elegance playing on the mortal and immortal duality of bodies past, present and future,” the post read.

The blaze broke out at the Billington Road bakery on May 4.

In an update issued at 2pm on May 6 the fire service confirmed crews have now left the scene.

Firefighters remained at the site as they worked to bring the incident under control and continue the investigation into the cause.

A spokesman for Warburtons said: “We can confirm there has been a fire at our Burnley bakery.

“Thankfully, everyone at site is safe and we are grateful for the hard work of the local fire service who remain on-site today.

“The fire is now under control and has [was] contained to one side of the building.

“When the site is safe, a full investigation will take place to determine the cause, and to assess the full extent of the damage.”

Production at the bakery was suspended and Warburtons increased output at its other UK sites to minimise disruption to supply.

The company said it is exploring options to scale up production across its 11 other UK bakeries.

At the height of the incident, 12 fire engines, specialist units, police, ambulance, and on-site staff were in attendance.

Lancashire Police and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed that the fire is not believed to be suspicious and remains under investigation.

Krums Sandwich Bar, on Greenwell Road, announced the news on social media.

The sandwich shop made The Northern Echo’s Best Sandwich Bar competition last year.

The business said the support it had received from its customers had meant a “great deal” throughout the years.

Writing on Facebook, Krums Sandwich Bar said: “We would like to inform you that, after much consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close our business permanently.

“This decision was not made lightly, but due to ongoing operational and personal circumstances, we are no longer able to continue.

“We want to sincerely thank everyone who supported us, visited us, and showed kindness throughout this journey. Your support has meant a great deal to us.

“We truly appreciate every customer and every memory shared with us.

“Thank you again, and we wish you all the best.”

Customers have been left devastated by the news, with one saying it was “such a shame”, with another adding: “That’s really sad.”