The demonstration, organised by campaign group Bolton for Palestine, saw activists holding placards in Victoria Square and speaking to passers-by.

The group remained at the scene until around 11am.

Kevin McKeon, speaking during the protest, said: “We’ve been protesting here in Bolton town centre for eight months now.

“We’re trying to raise people’s awareness of the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza.”

He said there were concerns the situation in Gaza could be overshadowed by other global events.

He added: “At the moment, we’re particularly concerned that the situation in Gaza may be forgotten because of the concern throughout the world about the situation in Iran.

“Even though there is supposed to be a ceasefire in Gaza, we know that Israel is not keeping to that ceasefire.

The group are calling for Bolton residents to boycott Israeli goods (Image: NQ)

He added: “Israeli forces continue to prevent aid getting in, and the plight of the people is just desperate. And the world stands by. That’s the tragedy and the scandal.”

Mr McKeon also criticised the UK Government’s position on the conflict.

“We are particularly incensed that the British government has been complicit,” he said.

“We condemn their inaction and call upon them to sanction Israel, follow the example of Spain, follow the example of South Korea, follow the example of Pakistan.”

He urged people in Bolton to take action locally.

He said: “People in Bolton, obviously, we’d love more and more to come to our protests on Friday.

“But we also want people to do two things. One, write to their MPs, write to their councillors, insist that they take action.”

Bolton has seen regular pro-Palestine demonstrations since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, with campaign groups holding protests, vigils and awareness events in the town centre.

Similar demonstrations have taken place across Greater Manchester and the UK, reflecting ongoing public concern about the conflict and its humanitarian impact.

Organisers say the Bolton protests will continue in the coming weeks.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer probably wishes he had never heard the name Peter Mandelson.

Starmer is again facing questions over his future. And again, it’s do with his misguided decision to appoint a self-professed “best pal” of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to the plummiest of plum jobs in U.K. diplomacy — that of ambassador to the United States.

Two months ago when he was last imperiled over the appointment in late 2024, it was his judgment that was in question. Enough for some in his Labour Party, including its leader in Scotland, to urge him to stand down.

Now, he’s facing accusations that he misled Parliament over how Mandelson cleared the official hurdles to get the job in the first place.

If he’s found to have done so, he will be on very thin ice, not least because Starmer put integrity at the heart of his pitch to the British electorate at the July 2024 election to replace the scandal-plagued Conservatives.

“Starmer set himself up as the guy who always followed the rules, in stark contrast to, say, Boris Johnson, and he came to power effectively promising to ‘drain the swamp’,” said Tim Bale, politics professor at Queen Mary University of London.

“Because of that, the latest revelations in the unholy mess created by his ill-judged appointment of Peter Mandelson mean that many voters now see him not only as a liar but as a hypocrite — and hypocrisy is one of the worst sins that any British politician can possibly commit,” he added.

The vetting bombshell

On Thursday, The Guardian newspaper revealed that Mandelson was initially denied security clearance for the post he was eventually fired from nine months later. This is a problem for Starmer as he told Parliament that “full due process” was observed.

The government stressed that Starmer and other ministers only found out earlier this week that the Foreign Office made a different overall assessment. The fallout has already led to the resignation of the Foreign Office’s top civil servant, Olly Robbins.

Starmer is trying to fend off questions about what he did or didn’t know about the vetting process, which would have involved an assessment of Mandelson’s suitability for the role in light of questions over his finances, his relationships, including that with Epstein, and his personality.

Starmer is also facing accusations over whether he had effectively given direction to officials to sidestep concerns over the 72-year-old Mandelson.

Starmer said he is “absolutely furious” that he had been kept in the dark, calling it “staggering” and “unforgivable.” He will make a statement to Parliament on Monday.

Not Mandelson again

For all Starmer’s dire personal ratings and the anticipated heavy electoral defeats for Labour in a raft of elections in May, the frenzy around his leadership had died down. His decision to not get the U.K. directly involved in the war in Iran chimed with the public mood.

Mandelson was a high-risk appointment, given he had twice resigned from Labour governments for financial or ethical missteps around the turn of the century, and his acquaintance with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

The calculation seemingly made by Starmer was clear: the risk was worth it as Mandelson’s lobbying skills and previous trade expertise would help persuade the Trump administration to spare the U.K. from some of the most onerous tariffs.

That appeared to work but by September 2025, the narrative changed after the release of emails that showed that Mandelson had supported Epstein even when he was facing jail for sex offenses. Though uncomfortable, Starmer hoped his decision to fire Mandelson would settle the matter.

However, the release of millions of pages of Epstein-related documents by the U.S. Justice Department in January put an end to that. Starmer’s political judgment was questioned after emails in the so-called Epstein Files suggested that when Mandelson was a member of the Labour government, in 2009-2010, he had passed on sensitive — and potentially market-moving — government information to the disgraced financier.

Starmer has repeatedly apologized to the British public and to the victims of Epstein’s sex trafficking for believing what he has termed “Mandelson’s lies.”

British police subsequently launched a criminal probe, searched Mandelson’s two houses in London and western England. Mandelson was arrested on Feb. 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released on bail the following morning after more than nine hours of questioning. He has denied any wrongdoing and does not face allegations of sexual misconduct.

Mandelson nightmare will go on

Starmer would have hoped that his cool head in the crisis around Iran would keep a lid on any leadership speculation, even in the event of his party’s anticipated drubbing in the May elections, Britain’s equivalent of the U.S. midterms.

That’s wishful thinking.

“This scandal is not ending,” said Kemi Badenoch, leader of the main opposition Conservative Party. “He has run out of people to sack, he has run out of places to hide, he has run out of authority. The buck stops with him. His position is untenable and he must go.”

The real focus is on what Labour lawmakers think.

On Monday, Starmer will gauge the mood, when he makes his statement. So far, few in his party have said he should go. Should anymore Labour lawmakers put their heads above the parapet following a weekend of campaigning in their local electoral patches, he may be in real trouble.

Confidence in a leader can evaporate in an instant. Just ask Boris Johnson, who was elected with a thumping majority in 2019 and resigned both as prime minister and as a lawmaker three years later, after a string of scandals.

Experts say your cat’s body language can reveal just how content it really is – here are the four key signs that may indicate your feline is happy and relaxed in their home

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Cats are notoriously aloof pets, frequently showing little interest in their owners unless food or attention is required. However, owners have now been informed there’s a straightforward way to determine whether their cherished feline friend is content – and it all comes down to a handful of telltale behaviours.

While cats are widely recognised for their independent nature, experts suggest their body language can show exactly how happy and at ease they truly are in your company.

On TikTok, user Dr Mark, known as @drmarkwest, revealed the four indicators your cat is happy, settled and thoroughly satisfied with life. So, if your cat displays these four behaviours, it’s a fairly reliable indication they’re flourishing.

Sleeping with their belly up

If your cat is stretched out on its back with its belly completely visible, it might appear adorable – but it actually signifies something far more meaningful. In the wild, this position would render them entirely defenceless against predators, so they’d never adopt it unless they felt absolutely safe.

At home, it’s an indication your cat has complete faith in you and feels protected in its surroundings.

Getting the zoomies

Those spontaneous explosions of energy where your cat tears around the house at breakneck speed might appear chaotic – but they’re actually positive. The “zoomies” are frequently an indication your cat has no accumulated stress and feels comfortable enough to release pent-up energy.

A calm, contented cat will expend energy in brief, playful episodes like this, rather than displaying signs of nervousness or unease.

Watching you from across the room

It may seem as though you’re being silently scrutinised, but if your cat enjoys watching you from across the room, it’s actually a sign of bonding. Cats that feel a strong connection with their owners will frequently keep tabs on them, even without any direct interaction taking place.

It demonstrates that they feel at ease in your company and regard you as part of their safe haven.

The slow blink

Commonly referred to as a “cat kiss”, the slow blink is amongst the most unmistakable displays of feline affection.

When your cat gazes at you and gently closes its eyes in a long, drawn-out blink, it’s communicating trust, love and contentment.

Some owners choose to return the gesture – and more often than not, their cat will blink straight back.

Taken together, these subtle behaviours tell a much larger story.

Your cat may not always wear its heart on its sleeve, but if it’s displaying these traits, the chances are it’s content, relaxed – and quietly enjoying the good life right beneath your very nose.

Bernardo Silva is one yellow card away from a two-game ban as Manchester City and Arsenal battle for the Premier League

Manchester City meet Arsenal on Sunday in what is being billed as a Premier League title decider.

The Blues begin the weekend six points behind the table-topping Gunners with a game in hand and know that a victory at the Etihad followed by another on Wednesday at Burnley will move them top of the table.

It’s turning into a thrilling title race after Arsenal looked to have moved clear in recent weeks and months and City will hope that they can reel Mikel Arteta’s side back in over the final few games of the campaign.

Click here to find out the latest Manchester City news in our daily newsletter

But City have a lingering suspension concern over Bernardo Silva, who announced this week he was leaving the Blues when his contract expires in the summer.

The City captain is one yellow card away from a two-game domestic ban and a booking against Arsenal on Sunday would see him miss the game at Burnley and the trip to Everton early next month.

The Portugal international has been booked nine times this term and players who collect 10 yellow cards in their side’s first 32 Premier League matches are hit with a two-game ban.

That means that if Silva escapes a booking against Arsenal the threshold rises to 15 cautions. He will be able to feature in the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley later this month regardless as Premier League yellow cards are not carried over to domestic cups.

City don’t have anyone else close to a ban, with Nico Gonzalez and Gianluigi Donnarumma the next highest on yellow cards with six.

Here are all the road closures impacting the town over the weekend (April 18-19):

Blackwell

A road closure on Blackwell is scheduled from April 7 to April 19.

This closure is due to utility repair and maintenance works by Northern Gas Networks.

The restrictions are set to remain in place at each junction of Carmel Road South.

Blackwell Lane

Blackwell Lane will also be closed from April 7 to April 19 for similar utility works.

The restrictions are expected to remain in place in conjunction with works on Carmel Road South.

Royal Oak Yard

Royal Oak Yard will be closed from April 13 to May 17 for other works.

The restrictions are set to remain in place along the carriageway.

Harrowgate Village

Harrowgate Village will experience closures from March 31, 2025, to July 31 for highway improvement works.

The restrictions are expected to affect the footway, carriageway, and verge.

Beaumont Hill

Beaumont Hill will also be closed from March 31, 2025, to July 31 for highway improvement works.

The restrictions are set to impact the footway, carriageway, and verge.

Many of them find themselves at the sharpest end of the housing crisis: unable to afford even the cheapest rent and lacking the stability needed to pursue a career or complete their education.

A lack of housing supply has been a policy challenge for several years. Successive governments have struggled to get homes built, and housing charities argue that some 90,000 social homes are needed every year in order to address the chronic shortage of affordable housing.

Michelle Donovan, Head of Independent Living at Centrepoint, says the cycle of instability caused by a lack of housing can be disruptive for young people in particular, “It’s such a crucial time for them. It can harm career progression and educational attainment.”

In response, the youth homelessness charity launched its Independent Living Programme. The initiative’s crucial innovation is to cap rent at one-third of a resident’s earnings, and to provide support services focused on ensuring they are ready to maintain employment and housing when they move on.

Michelle says the most important thing is that young people have space to hold down a job “Our homes give them that stability and from there it ends their reliance on benefits and hopefully means they can escape homelessness for good. The idea is we’re giving young people the stability they need to focus on their futures.”

The flat that changed one young woman’s life

A woman who spent the pandemic lockdowns alone in her room in homelessness accommodation is now fulfilling her dream to be a midwife.

Katelin, who became homeless at 17 after years of family arguments, said the isolation gave her time to plan the steps she needed to achieve her goals. “During COVID I thought, where do I see myself if I stay where I am?”

She spent two years in supported housing but – like 1 in 5 young people in similar situations – struggled to move on and start living independently.

Her support worker told her about a scheme run by Centrepoint for working young people who couldn’t afford rent elsewhere, “I got incredibly lucky – the scheme was offered to me and one other person. I wouldn’t be able to say I’m a midwife now if it wasn’t for me living at the independent Living Programme.

We Can’t Do This Alone

Last year, over 118,000 young people faced homelessness. That’s one young person every four minutes. At a time of life when most of their peers are trying new things and taking their first steps into adulthood, these young people found themselves alone and afraid, and unsure where to turn.

It doesn’t have to be like this, with the right support at the right time, these young people can escape homelessness or avoid it altogether.

At Centrepoint, provide more than a bed for the night. We provide a safe place to rebuild, support into education and work, and the confidence to believe in a better future.

Youth homelessness is not inevitable. With the right help at the right time, it can be prevented and it can be ended.

Our mission is to end youth homelessness – and you can help us.

Whether it’s running a marathon or holding a sleep out, you, your friends, family and co-workers can join our movement to end youth homelessness and give vulnerable young people a brighter future.

To find out more, donate or get involved, please visit our website:http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/newspaper

PE Teacher Gains Independence Through Centrepoint

A PE teacher has revealed how living in a Centrepoint Independent Living Programme home has made a “significant difference” to his life, giving him the stability and independence he previously struggled to find.

(Image: Centrepoint)

Londoner Naihum always loved sport and teaching. And, after finishing university, he secured a full-time role as a PE teacher. However, despite his dedication, he faced a common problem for many young people: a lack of affordable housing. Rents in his area were high, and the stress of trying to cover his living costs began to weigh heavily on him.

“I couldn’t find a place I could afford,” he said. “It was really difficult to manage everything on my own.”

Things changed when he heard about Centrepoint’s Independent Living Programme. After applying, he was offered a place in one of their homes where rent is capped at a third of his salary.

“Living here has made a significant difference. I’m able to afford it without having to stress overnight and having to think about where I’m going to get the money from with the job that I’m currently at,” he explained, “I know that other people are in situations where they are finding it hard and their mental health is affected.”

The Independent Living Programme homes are more than just housing; residents are also able to access additional support in acquiring the life skills young people need to sustain tenancies in the future. Naihum has worked with mentors to improve his budgeting and financial management, helping him to understand what he can do to cover essentials like food, transport, and bills.

The stability and support has helped Naihum in other ways too. Over time, he has built a strong sense of community with other young people living in similar situations to him. “It’s great because you’ve got others to reach out to and it just makes it easier,” he said.

Now the charity hopes even more young people like Naihum can be supported thanks to the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw in the Lake District, which will help fund more of the charity’s Independent Living Programme homes and give young people the chance to move from homelessness into independence.

The partnership could not have come at a more important time. Centrepoint’s chief executive, Seyi Obakin OBE, is hopeful that many dozens more young people will get to benefit from the stability that the charity’s Independent Living Programme affords young residents: “The guaranteed £1 million raised by Omaze will help us expand our services and build more genuinely affordable homes for those ready to move forward. Together, we can help transform young lives and end youth homelessness for good.”

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The family of late San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler is nearing a sale of the team, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Padres aren’t commenting publicly on the process.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the imminent deal with private equity billionaire Jose E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones. The team is expected to be sold at a valuation of $3.9 billion in a record deal for a Major League Baseball team, easily topping the approximately $2.4 billion paid by Steven Cohen for the New York Mets in 2020.

The 53-year-old Feliciano is the co-founder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, a private equity firm based in Santa Monica, California. The firm was part of an investment group that purchased Premier League club Chelsea in 2022, with Los Angeles Dodgers minority owner Todd Boehly becoming the Blues’ chairman.

Seidler’s family began to explore a sale of the Padres last November, two years after the death of the popular Peter Seidler. His brother, John Seidler, has served as the Padres’ chairman since then.

Peter Seidler was part of a group that bought the Padres in 2012 for $800 million, and he became the team’s primary owner in 2020. He enthralled San Diego’s baseball fans with his free-spending eagerness to win the Padres’ first World Series, and general manager A.J. Preller built a series of exciting teams that have reached the MLB playoffs in four of the last six seasons — a first in team history — despite playing in the same division as the dominant Dodgers.

The Padres’ current players reacted with excitement about the news of the potential sale to Feliciano — and the reported size of the billionaire’s deal particularly caught these millionaires’ attention.

“I think it’s special that they went out there and put that number out there for us,” slugger Manny Machado said in Anaheim before the Padres opened a series with the Los Angeles Angels. “Tells you everything they want for the organization. Looking forward to some conversations with them, and what they see for the future of San Diego. … That’s a big stepping stone, $3.9 billion.”

The Padres’ potential sale price reflects their value as San Diego’s only franchise in North America’s four traditional major sports leagues, leading to a passionate fan base in their attractive home at downtown Petco Park. The Padres have set attendance records in each of the past three seasons, capped last season by drawing a whopping 3,437,201 fans — the second-most in the majors to the Dodgers, who play in their much larger stadium in Chavez Ravine.

“You look at what’s going on in our city and just the state of baseball in general, and this game is in an amazing place,” said infielder Jake Cronenworth, who has been with the Padres since 2020. “For the market that we’re in, and what the team just sold for, I think it shows where the game is. Not only is it close to $4 billion, but for it to break the record is very, very impressive.”

The Padres finished last season with the majors’ ninth-highest payroll at around $217 million, still down significantly from its peak under Seidler.

The current team, which arrived at Angel Stadium on an eight-game winning streak, boasts a lineup anchored by Fernando Tatis Jr., Machado and Jackson Merrill — who are all signed through at least 2033 — along with closer Mason Miller, who has become the most dominant reliever in baseball.

Potential buyers also were clearly not frightened off by the Padres’ relative lack of media revenue. The team is expected to benefit immensely from any new media deal that would accompany baseball’s next collective bargaining agreement.

Feliciano was born and raised in Puerto Rico before attending Princeton and Stanford. He co-founded Clearlake Capital two decades ago.

Machado, a Miami native with Dominican ancestry, was excited by the prospect of a second Latino owner in baseball alongside the Angels’ Arte Moreno. Machado holds a minority ownership stake in Major League Soccer’s San Diego FC.

“That is unbelievable, having another Latin come and be an owner,” Machado said. “I think that tells you a lot about where baseball is heading. Blessed to have another Latin owner that can bring that Latin culture to San Diego, which is already a big part of the Latin community. I know he’s going to bring a lot of great things to the organization, to the city itself.”

The BlueCo consortium formed to buy Chelsea also owns Strasbourg in France’s Ligue 1. Chelsea has been among the Premier League’s biggest spenders since Boehly and his partners took over the club, although it has yet to produce significant success.

Any sale of the Padres must be approved by 75% of MLB owners.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

A post-mortem examination found that Baye Bireme Fall died from a single stab wound

Two teenagers are facing a trial later this year charged with the murder of a 16-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed in Peterborough. Baye Bireme Fall was attacked near the Orton Centre shopping centre in Peterborough on Sunday, April 12.

A post-mortem examination recorded that he died from a single stab wound, Cambridgeshire Police said. Emidas Krutkevicius, 18, of Peterborough, and a 15-year-old boy who cannot be identified for legal reasons, are charged with Baye’s murder.

Both defendants appeared by video-link before Cambridge Crown Court on Friday, April 17. The judge and barristers removing their wigs because of the age of the youth defendant. The youth defendant’s parents listened to proceedings from the public gallery.

Neither defendant was asked to enter a plea and no application for bail was made. Both defendants spoke to confirm their name and date of birth, and to confirm that they understood what was happening and could hear.

Judge Mark Bishop instructed that a plea hearing would take place at the same court on May 19. He set a provisional trial date of October 12 at Huntingdon Crown Court. The trial is expected to last around four weeks.

He remanded Krutkevicius in custody, and the 15-year-old into youth detention accommodation.

Baye’s family said in a tribute released by earlier this week that he was “an amazing boy and son whose heart is pure and kind towards other people”.

Rachel Warley, from North Tyneside, has been leading a months-long campaign to bring Yuki, an abandoned puppy, from Indonesia to Newcastle after he was found near a beach in Bali suffering from a severe calcium deficiency.

The condition left his legs bent and his body weakened, but with medical care and rehabilitation, Yuki has made a full recovery and is now cleared to travel.

Rachel Warley from North Tyneside is making a final appeal to bring rescued Bali puppy Yuki to Newcastle after months of fundraising and care following his abandonment in Indonesia (Image: Supplied)

Ms Warley, who has already raised and spent nearly £3,000 through fundraising, said: “I’ve exhausted my personal funds.

“I’ve even put my car up for sale as a last attempt to make sure this doesn’t fall through – but there’s been no interest so far.”

A total of £2,937 was raised after fees, covering adoption agency costs and Yuki’s flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam.

Ms Warley has also covered vaccinations, rabies testing, and ferry transport from Amsterdam to the UK out of her own pocket.

However, she now faces a shortfall of £658 to cover the outbound flight and visa of her friend Emma, who must fly to Bali to accompany Yuki home.

The journey is time-sensitive, with flights needing to be booked immediately.

Emma is due to fly to Bali on June 8, and after a brief recovery period, Yuki will begin a 20-hour transport to Jakarta on June 14.

He will stay at a dog-friendly hotel for two nights, funded by the Bali rescue organisation, before receiving final veterinary checks and flying to Amsterdam via Istanbul.

Ms Warley said: “I’ll be meeting Yuki for the very first time in Amsterdam.

“After everything he’s been through, that moment means everything.”

Ms Warley will travel via ferry from North Shields to Amsterdam to meet Emma and Yuki.

The trio will then return together by ferry, arriving in Newcastle on June 19.

Supporters are invited to welcome Yuki when he arrives in the city.

She said: “This is the last push.

“Everything else is in place.

“Without this final funding, the whole plan risks collapsing.”

Ms Warley has documented Yuki’s journey on Instagram under @getyukihome_uk, where his progress from a critically unwell puppy to a playful, healthy dog has inspired supporters.

She believes that rescuing Yuki will have a wider impact.

She said: “This isn’t just about one dog.

“Getting Yuki home means another space opens up in the rescue for a dog that desperately needs help.

“It creates a ripple effect.”

To donate and follow Yuki’s journey click here.

She said: “This little dog has fought so hard to survive.

“We just need one final push to bring him home.”

The final leg of the journey now depends on securing Emma’s travel, which will ensure Yuki arrives safely in Newcastle on June 19.

ISAs have long been promoted as straightforward and tax-efficient savings, but many are unaware of the inheritance tax implications upon death – and the consequences are proving costly

Millions of savers may be harbouring an expensive misconception about ISAs, an expert has cautioned. Many assume they are entirely tax-free when actually they could face a substantial bill from HMRC later on.

ISAs have historically been promoted as amongst the most straightforward and efficient savings vehicles, enabling savers to accumulate wealth without paying tax. But one expert cautions that this “tax-free” description is frequently misinterpreted – especially regarding what occurs upon death.

The concern is inheritance tax. Presently levied at 40 percent on estates exceeding £325,000, the threshold has remained frozen for years, steadily pulling increasing numbers of families into the tax net. Significantly, ISA savings are counted as part of the estate. That means a lifetime of prudent saving, frequently accumulated with discipline across decades, could still be vulnerable to a considerable tax bill.

Joe Farmer, an Independent Financial Adviser and co-founder at The Retirement Studio, said many have no idea they have to pay inheritance tax on their ISA savings.

He added: “I speak to clients every day who believe ISAs are completely tax-free, full stop. They’re genuinely shocked when I explain that on death, ISAs form part of the estate and can be subject to inheritance tax.”

He said the magnitude of the problem was frequently underestimated, even among those who regarded themselves as financially astute.

Mr Farmer continued: “I saw a client just last week with an ISA worth over £300,000. That alone nearly takes them to the inheritance tax threshold, before you even consider their home or any other assets.”

For many, the issue lies not in the act of saving itself – but in what hasn’t been considered further down the line.

He said: “This is the part most people haven’t thought about. They’ve done the right thing by saving into ISAs year after year, but they haven’t considered what happens to that money when they pass away.”

The repercussions stretch far beyond tax bills. Mr Farmer warned that ISA funds were frequently tied up in probate alongside the remainder of the estate, leaving families unable to get their hands on the money precisely when they needed it most.

He added: “I deal with bereavement cases and I regularly see ISA funds tied up in probate for months, sometimes years.”

For a product so heavily promoted as tax-free, he believes the messaging has created a deeply concerning gap in public understanding.

Mr Farmer added: “It’s tax-efficient while you’re alive, but that doesn’t mean it’s free from inheritance tax.”

He noted that the problem is frequently made worse by poor advice and a lack of forward planning.

He continued: “A lot of this comes down to structure being overlooked. Advisers focus on performance and returns, but not enough on what happens later. I always say to clients that structure is just as important as performance. There’s no point building a large ISA pot if a significant portion could be lost to tax or delayed in probate.”

With potential alterations to pensions from 2027, which could see them drawn into the inheritance tax net, the issue is only set to intensify.