The TUC has called for a stronger worker voice on the boards of pension megafunds, as the government looks to scale up schemes and improve governance standards. In a new report launched at the TUC’s Pension Conference today, the union body looks at the vital role member representation plays in pension funds around the world. Pensions Minister Torsten Bell MP is also due to address the conference.

Men from Kirkby Steven and the surrounding area are being offered the opportunity to get tested ahead of National Prostate Cancer Screening Day at Upper Eden Rugby Union Football Club. Online booking is now open for the event on Wednesday 18 March 2026, which runs from 6pm-9pm and is open to all local men aged 45-69.

Paragon Vets in Carlisle is encouraging pet owners to pay closer attention to their pets’ dental health after a survey revealed mixed habits and confidence levels around oral care.

Most people in Cumbria check online reviews before making key purchases, according to new research commissioned by full fibre provider Fibrus Broadband. While traditional word of mouth remains the most trusted source of recommendation, the study highlights how digital platforms are now firmly embedded in everyday decision-making.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested on the morning of his 66th birthday earlier this week. The Met Police had been investigating claims that his royal protection officers had been ‘turning a blind eye’ during visits to Epstein’s Island. What a way to celebrate another trip around the sun!

Lettings experts from Linley & Simpson, Yorkshire, give advice for landlords and renters when it comes to the right to request pets Today, 20th February 2026, marks National Love Your Pet Day – a dedicated day to show some extra love and shower our furry friends with treats.

You’ve barely packed away the last of the fairy lights and wrestled with the glut of bloated January bills, and just as you come up for air, half term. Really, so soon?! BACP counsellor Margaret Ward-Martin, founder of The Grace Project, looks at how to make the most of the half-term ‘break’ for both parents and children.

The Epstein files were recently released to the public, and revealed that those closely connected to the convicted child sex offender were disturbingly close positions of power. In the immediate fallout Peter Mandelson has been forced to resign.

I listened to Kemi Badenoch on the Today programme this morning, and I was appalled. It's not just Kemi Badenoch; it's the system. What on earth is the matter with politicians when their central focus seems to be the destruction of their opponents? What's wrong with governing the country? Why not give it a go? You never know; it might just work out well.

Governments are constantly tempted to push flexible working because it allows them to support a popular social change without having to pay for it themselves. The new, stronger “right to request” flexible working in the Employment Rights Act will be much harder for managers to resist, and even dealing with such requests will impose costs on companies. While private businesses may be able to control some of these costs, the widespread strengthening of flexible working rights is likely to damage productivity, slow growth, and undermine wages and employment. This will be all the more true if unions or workplace rules stop wages adjusting, for example to reflect whether particular jobs can in practice be done remotely. This is likely to be a particular problem in the public sector, reinforcing its existing poor productivity record.

The Cumberland's Barrow branch is set to temporarily close next month for refurbishment. The branch on Dalton Road will shut after its last day of service on Friday 6 February until work is complete, with the cash machine also out of use during the period.

AVA: The Vending & Automated Retail Association has welcomed the government’s announcement of the UK deposit return scheme, officially named 'Exchange for Change'. The AVA has played a significant role in the scheme’s creation, ensuring the full representation of the needs of vending and automated retail operators.