Homeless shelters under pressure as temperatures plunge to sub-zero

Homeless shelters and organisations providing emergency accommodation across the UK are preparing for an influx of rough sleepers as temperatures drop to sub-zero, with charities warning that a lack of affordable housing is pushing more and more people onto the streets.

Councils across the country, including North Somerset Council and Bristol City Council, have launched their Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) measures in an effort to ensure that people have access to shelter at night, with temperatures set to fall to as low as minus 3C in some regions.

In London, additional support has also been granted, with the mayor of London Sadiq Khan saying the cold could be “dangerous and it can often be fatal” for those living on the streets.

Figures released by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) database found that between April 2024 and March 2025, 13,231 people were sleeping rough in London, marking a 10 per cent increase on the previous year.

This is 63 per cent higher than the figure seen in 2015/16, with 50 per cent of those spoken to by outreach workers having a support need relating to mental health.

According to the charity Shelter, new research published in December found that 382,618 people in England were homeless, including 175,025 children. Of this figure, at least 4,667 were sleeping rough on any given night, representing a 20 per cent increase in the last year, while another 16,294 were living in hostels and other homeless accommodation.

Francesca Albanese, director of policy and social change at the homelessness charity Crisis, said: “We are seeing a massive increase in temporary accommodation and seeing record levels of people accessing them. There isn’t enough social housing, and the private sector isn’t affordable, and that is decades in the making.

“It’s very unsettling for individuals; becoming homeless is very isolating and dangerous. With shelters and emergency accommodation, people come in for a few days when the weather is cold, but it’s very difficult to then engage in that support someone might need, and link them to the right services in the long term.”

While a number of emergency shelters across the UK are open for referrals, charities are aware that the cold weather results in them filling up quickly, with female-only beds often the only ones left available.

Ms Albanese added: “These kinds of shelter are facing pressures of their own in terms of provision, as we’ve seen rough sleeping going up but we’ve not seen huge increases in funding for emergency accommodation. Emergency provision such as this is vital and lifesaving, and we know people can’t survive when temperatures plummet, and we know it doesn’t cover everybody and there needs to be more of it.”

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber cold health alerts for England as an early warning that adverse temperatures are likely to affect health and wellbeing. These are currently set to remain in place until Friday.

A number of severe weather warnings expired on Monday morning, but snow and ice warnings are still in force for much of Scotland north of Glasgow, parts of Wales and the South West, and eastern England stretching up to the Scottish Borders.

“It’s a really dangerous time for people to be out rough sleeping,” said Ffion Nicholas, the helpline manager of youth homelessness charity Centrepoint. “One of the conceptions the public has is that if you become homeless, you’ll be supported with help from the council. A lot of people fall through the cracks. Young people in the past had been sofa surfing, but we are hearing from more and more that they are sleeping on the streets.”

Charities have also warned that as well as young people, they are seeing increasing numbers of pensioners becoming homeless due their housing benefits being frozen, lack of a sufficient pension, rising energy bills and less family support.

“We keep seeing people coming into our services who are over the age of 65,” Ms Albanese said. “It’s not the case any more that older generations have a pension and security. We have people facing really high housing costs, unable to pay off their mortgages, and people forced into the private rented sector. The older you get, you’re more likely to be impacted by health conditions, and that’s also happening due to the stress and the wider worry of people’s housing situation.”

Crisis, Shelter and Centrepoint all acknowledged that Labour’s £39bn investment in affordable housing over the next decade is “very welcome”, but they have warned that those on the brink of homelessness or sleeping on the streets are in need of homes immediately.

Overnight into Tuesday, the Met Office has warned that temperatures will once again fall below freezing for much of the country, with the lowest temperatures over lying snow possibly dipping to minus 12C.

Tuesday will see a continuation of wintry showers at first across parts of Wales and southwest England, according to the forecaster.

A mix of rain, sleet and snow will move southeastwards across Scotland and Northern Ireland, then later into parts of Wales and England, with a chance that a further spell of disruptive snow could affect central and northern Scotland later on Tuesday morning until early evening.

Cooper refuses to condemn US action in Venezuela

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has said refused to say whether the US has broken international law, as she faced questions about the UK’s position on the capture of the Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

Ms Cooper told MPs on Monday evening that she has raised the issue of international law with US secretary of state Marco Rubio, but refused to condemn the US operation.

She echoed earlier statements from the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has also refused to criticise US president Donald Trump, despite warnings from legal experts that the US action on Saturday may have been illegal.

“In my discussions with Secretary Rubio, I raised the importance of complying with international law and we will continue to urge all partners to do so,” Ms Cooper told the Commons.

“It is, of course, for the US to set out the legal basis for their actions and the UN Security Council is discussing Venezuela this afternoon. These issues will continue to be matters for international discussion.

“I discussed with Secretary Rubio what should happen next and our continued commitment to a transition to a peaceful and stable democracy.”

The government is facing mounting criticism from its own MPs, who are increasingly urging Sir Keir to criticise the US intervention.

In the Commons on Monday, Labour former minister Emily Thornberry, chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, argued the actions in Venezuela “should be called out, not just by Britain, but by our Western allies”.

She added: “We should be calling it out for what it is, a breach of international law. It is not for the country that is breaking the law to say whether or not it has broken the law. It is for the West surely to stand up and say, call it as it is.

Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, has demanded answers on what intelligence the UK had on the US actions in Venezuela prior the weekend.

“It is very clear to me that the US has been in breach of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter (1945), and therefore there should be a referral to the ICC where clearly it will be for the judicious process to determine if there has been a breaking of international law,” she told The Independent.

“I therefore do not support the actions of the US President and believe it sets a very dangerous precedence.”

She said she was “concerned” that the UN Security Council will “fail to fulfil its obligations due to the geopolitics surrounding the situation” adding: “I believe that the prime minister should be clear, as this is not an issue which you can triangulate on.

“The UK must state that international law is upheld at all times. I would want to know what intelligence the UK received prior to the invasion and how It used this information to seek to prevent a breach of international law.”

The Independent has approached the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office for a response.

Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, said the US had broken international law, and added: “The [UK] government’s stance has been shameful. The prime minister and the foreign secretary need to stand up to Trump and clearly condemn his illegal actions.

“By refusing to do so, the government is allowing the breakdown of international law and putting more countries in danger of being attacked at the whim of tyrants the world over.”

Steve Witherden, Labour MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, accused Mr Trump of “American gangsterism” and said the government’s response had been insufficient.

Meanwhile, John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, who was only readmitted as a Labour MP in September after his benefit cap rebellion, accused Sir Keir of a “disgraceful failure” on the matter.

Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said Sir Keir needed to stand by international law and condemn Mr Trump’s actions, telling The Independent: “Standing behind the biggest bully in the playground is not a sign of strength; it makes you complicit.”

Lord Sumption, the former head of the UK’s Supreme Court, described the move as “plainly illegal”, while former attorney general Dominic Grieve added: “We’re living with a completely maverick and amoral US president who is a serious and significant danger to world peace.”

However, the prime minister maintained his refusal to condemn President Trump.

Speaking to reporters, the prime minister said: “What’s happened here in Venezuela is obviously really important. We have long championed a peaceful transition to democracy, because the president was illegitimate.”

Ms Cooper told the Commons on Monday that the government were urging for a “transition to a peaceful and stable democracy” in Venezuela.

“The leadership of Venezuela must reflect the will of the Venezuelan people, so the international community must come together to help achieve a peaceful transition to a democratic government that respects the rights and will of its people,” she said.

“That must mean action on its economic crisis, the release of political prisoners, the return of opposition politicians, an end to political repression, respect for human rights and plans for the holding of free and fair elections.”

Ayatollah Khamenei will ‘flee Iran for Moscow’ if protests overwhelm security forces

Iran’s supreme leader has a plan to flee the country for Russia if ongoing protests in the country overwhelm his security forces, according to a report.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, will escape Tehran with up to 20 aides and family if it becomes clear that the army and security forces tasked with suppressing the protests are defecting or failing to follow orders, an intelligence source told The Times.

“The ‘plan B’ is for Khamenei and his very close circle of associates and family, including his son and nominated heir apparent, Mojtaba,” the source said.

At least 17 people had been killed during the protests as of Monday, according to human rights groups. The protests have largely focused on the collapse of the country’s currency, with some demonstrators calling for the overthrow of the Ayatollah.

Mr Khamenei would likely flee to Moscow as it is his only remaining option, according to Beni Sabti, an operative who served in Israeli intelligence for decades after fleeing the regime eight years after the Islamic revolution in 1979.

The Ayatollah “admires Putin, while the Iranian culture is more similar to the Russian culture”, and he would therefore choose Russia if he were forced to flee the country, the source said.

His plan includes an “exit route out of Tehran should they feel the need to escape” and includes “gathering assets, properties abroad and cash to facilitate their safe passage”, according to the newspaper.

Tehran’s efforts to quell a wave of anti-government protests have so far been unsuccessful, and are now further complicated by Donald Trump’s threat to intervene on behalf of the protests. His warning was firmly underlined by the subsequent US capture of the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, officials and insiders said on Monday. But the protests do not yet match the scale of unrest that swept the nation in 2022-23 over the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in the custody of Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the hijab law.

The protests have nonetheless expanded quickly from an economic focus to broader frustrations, with some protesters chanting “Down with the Islamic Republic” or “Death to the dictator”, a reference to Mr Khamenei.

Authorities have said protests over the economy are legitimate and will be met by dialogue, but security forces have reacted brutally. Human rights groups accuse them of “indiscriminate targeting of civilians”.

Widening disparities between ordinary Iranians and a privileged clerical and security elite, compounded by mismanagement, high inflation and corruption, have fuelled public anger.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged dialogue and promised reforms to stabilise the monetary and banking systems and protect purchasing power.

Warning of unemployment rise as costs force ‘zombie’ companies to shut

UK unemployment levels hit the highest levels since Covid at the end of last year – but it could get even worse in 2026, experts have warned.

In the three months to October, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed unemployment hit 5.1 per cent – up from 4.3 per cent a year earlier – highlighting the rise of joblessness across the year.

That rate could now continue to surge in 2026 as a host of businesses coming under relentless cost pressures are forced to close.

Years of higher interest rates, rising employment costs, high energy bills and inflation pushing raw materials and service costs up have all contributed to making conditions extremely tough for companies.

That combination might “kill off” so-called zombie companies in the coming months, says one expert. Zombie companies is the term given to businesses which have struggled along and are unable to grow or adapt, but have not yet completely shut down as they earn just enough to keep surviving.

While businesses closing down is not generally seen as a positive, the closure of some firms leads to other newer, more innovative ones taking their place – which can, in time, lead to a productivity upturn and improve economic conditions in the long run. But, in the meantime, jobs will be lost from those shutting down.

Ruth Curtice, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: “There are early and encouraging signs of a mild zombie apocalypse, where higher interest rates and minimum wages have combined to kill off struggling firms and leave the door open for new, more productive ones to replace them.

“But while this is good news for our medium-term economic prospects, the short-term impact could be job displacement and higher unemployment. Policymakers will need to redouble efforts to address this problem.”

Two-thirds (67 per cent) of economists surveyed believe unemployment will be between 5 and 5.5 per cent come the end of 2026, a Times report shows.

That would be the highest since 2015 (5.6 per cent) if it reached the top end of that range when the unemployment rate was in the middle of descending from a 2011 peak of 8.4 per cent.

Many firms paused or cancelled plans to recruit new talent towards the back end of 2025 amid the uncertainty of Rachel Reeves’ Budget and the cost implications of hiring.

That came after rises earlier in the year to National Insurance contributions, as well as the minimum wage.

As an aside to overall job levels, there are several factors pointing towards young people bearing the brunt of the damage when it comes to finding work.

ONS data showed unemployed 18- to 24-year-olds increased by 85,000 across the three months to October, the largest such rise in three years.

The government’s pledge to create a single cost of employment for all adults, rather than the two-tier system currently in place where 18 to 20-year-olds are paid a lower minimum wage, has also seen business leaders predicting that companies will simply stop hiring inexperienced younger people as it will not be cheaper than employing experienced workers.

Deaths set to outnumber births ‘in new era’ leading to higher taxes

The UK faces a “turning point” this year, with the number of deaths to outnumber births by ever-greater margins for the next 50 years, a think tank has predicted.

The impact, the Resolution Foundation said, will leave the country relying on immigration for population growth – just six months after the Office for National Statistics projected migration would drive a 5.9 per cent population increase by 2032.

But recent figures showing a fall in levels of migration to the UK, combined with the shift in ratio of births and deaths and rises in public spending, mean the think tank is warning of fewer people of working age, higher taxes and a more fragile political landscape.

In a statement to The Independent, Greg Thwaites, co-author of the think tank’s report called New Year Outlook 2026, said: “2026 could be a turning point year as deaths start to outnumber births so that, without immigration, the population would start to shrink.

“This may shift the conversation on migration away from arguments over whether the country is already ‘full’ and onto whether we want to address population decline. However, migration policy, and how much it should prioritise economic growth over other considerations, is likely to remain politically charged.”

The Resolution Foundation’s report said the number of births in the country had exceeded deaths almost every year since the turn of the 20th Century, except for 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, and again in 2023.

But after births just outweighed deaths in 2024, and are expected to “by an even narrower margin” last year, the body said, the experts behind the report say the figures show a trend whereby deaths will overtake births in the long term.

It warned that deaths could outnumber births by 100,000 annually by the mid-2040s.

Co-authored by Ruth Curtice, the report said: “These outturns [previous years’ figures on births and deaths] suggest that 2026 may be the first year in a new era when deaths exceed births by an ever-widening margin, forever closing a chapter in the demographics of this country that opened over a century ago.

“From then on, any population growth we do get is set to come from international net migration, which the latest data suggest is also plummeting, down by three-quarters from its recent peak to around 200,000 a year.”

Latest Office for National Statistics figures show fertility rates – the average number of children women would expect to have – plummeted to a record low of 1.4 in England and Wales in 2024. UK-wide rates have dropped more than any other G7 nation.

Nearly half of British adults are putting off or deciding against having children, with money worries a top factor, an Ipsos poll revealed last year.

A fall in the working-age population, which pays for elderly care and pensions, can provide a threat to public finances, the Office for Budget Responsibility has previously said.

In its outlook, the Resolution Foundation also questioned whether the government would bring down public spending to shrink the budget deficit, while forecasting a continuing low growth rate in average incomes, with a “nowhere-near-good-enough outlook for living standards”.

However, the report said child poverty will fall sharply following the abolition of the two-child benefit cap.

Under pressure from the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to cut net migration to the UK, claiming record high figures in 2023 had put housing and public services under too much strain.

“Taken together, these trends point to a country in the middle of a slow but consequential transition: fewer people of working age; a more fragile politics; higher taxes; and an economy that urgently needs new firms and new jobs to replace the old,” said the Resolution Foundation’s report.

“The story of 2026 is not one of crisis, but of drift finally giving way to change. Whether that change is managed or merely endured is the question that will define the years ahead.”

A spokesperson for the government would not comment on tax speculation, but said: “We are driving growth through a record £120bn in new capital spending, and bearing down on inflation, helping to support the Bank of England cut interest rates six times since the election.

“The budget doubled down on our work to grow the economy and create good jobs by maintaining the cap on corporation tax at 25 per cent, the lowest rate in the G7, supporting our high streets with permanently lower tax rates and making it easier for start-ups to scale and invest in the UK.”

‘Tis the season to connect: How to maximise your mobile

Our mobile phones are a vital part of our everyday lives, providing us with connection, entertainment and information. We rely on the device in our pocket to help us work, socialise, learn and so much more – so we want to make sure we’re getting the most we can from it.

Tesco Mobile’s new Pay as you go Essentials tariff can help you do just that, offering increased flexibility and benefits. It keeps things simple and lets you add 30-day bundles of data, minutes and texts that best suit your needs.

The tariff will replace Rocket Pack, Triple Credit and Lite tariffs for all existing Tesco Mobile Pay as you go customers.

Customers who prefer traditional Pay as you go can continue to use top-up balance for calls, texts and data at the standard rate: 25p per minute, 10p per text, 10p per MB.*

So whether you’re an existing Tesco Mobile customer or thinking of making the switch, here’s seven reasons why Pay as you go Essentials is the perfect option…

We all use our phones differently. For some, it’s all about streaming favourite shows and music, so having enough data is vital. Others just want to be able to text and call friends and family whenever they want. Tesco Mobile make it easy to find the right Pay as you go Essentials bundle for your needs. New customers can choose the best bundle for their needs, with bundles auto-renewing every 30 days using available top-up balance.

Circumstances can change and you might find yourself needing more data or minutes some months than others. Depending on how much you use your phone, a bundle is often more cost-effective than using your top-up balance and being charged standard rates for calls, texts and data usage. Pay as you go Essentials is a flexible top-up tariff designed to give users full control over their spend, letting them add bundles of data, minutes and texts to suit specific needs. You can change your bundle as often as you like or cancel at any time. If you decide to opt-out of a bundle you can continue to use your top-up balance for calls, text and data at the standard out-of-bundle rate (25p per minute, 10p per text, 10p per MB).

Pay as you go Essentials offers a range of five great-value bundle options that all include data, minutes and texts. Pay as you go Essentials bundles start from just £5 for 30 days (minimum £10 top-up at activation), while every bundle from £10 and up includes unlimited calls and texts (subject to Fair Usage Policy) – making it easy and affordable to stay connected. If you’re an existing Tesco Mobile Pay as you go customer you’ll get a free 30 day Essentials bundle based on your previous use so you can see if its the right one for you.

The new Tesco Mobile app is packed with useful features to help you make the most of your Pay as you go phone. It’s a quick and simple way to manage or change your bundles, check usage, top-up your balance change auto-renew settings and more. You can easily see your remaining data, minutes and texts, so you know whether you need to add a new or different bundle. Need a hand with something? Chat with the customer care team via live in-app messaging. This is a new app for Pay as you go customers, and customers will no longer be able to use their old Tesco Mobile Pay as you go apps.

Phone calls cutting out, videos buffering, texts that don’t send… an unreliable phone signal can be hugely frustrating. Tesco Mobile shares O2’s network, which means 99 per cent UK coverage, and a better connection in hard-to-reach rural areas – so you won’t be searching for a signal. Tesco Mobile’s 4G and 5G networks are constantly being improved, and with Pay as you go Essentials, customers can use 4G Calling (also known as VoLTE) means you’ll use your 4G connection to make and receive calls, enjoying clearer calls. You can find this option in your network settings.

With Tesco Mobile, you get a Clubcard point for every £1 you spend. Just link your Clubcard to your phone (text the word CLUBCARD to 28578 free from your Tesco Mobile phone) and watch the points add up. You can then convert your points to vouchers to save on your weekly grocery shop or exchange the vouchers for Reward Partner codes to save money on meals out, entertainment, day trips, travel and more. For a limited time, Tesco Mobile customers can get 500 Clubcard points every time they add a £15 Pay as you go Essentials bundle when they link their Clubcard within the first 28 days of adding the bundle. Clubcard points will be automatically issued within 30 days.

For more information on Tesco Mobile’s Pay as you go Essentials, including all available bundles, visit Tesco Mobile

*Offer ends 01/02/2026. See Terms And Conditions for full terms.

Duke of Marlborough denies strangling estranged wife

The Duke of Marlborough has denied strangling his estranged wife on three occasions.

Charles James Spencer-Churchill, a relative of Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales, appeared in court on Monday, charged with three intentional strangulation offences against Edla Marlborough between November 2022 and May 2024.

Court documents say the three charges of non-fatal intentional strangulation against his estranged wife are alleged to have taken place in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

He appeared before High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court for a plea hearing on Monday.

Wearing a dark suit with a blue tie, Spencer-Churchill spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, as well as giving his home address as Blenheim Palace, before indicating he would plead not guilty to all three alleged offences.

The court was told that Spencer-Churchill is accused of striking Ms Marlborough “several times” and strangling her on 13 November 2022, following an argument in the garden of their property.

Spencer-Churchill is also accused of grabbing Ms Marlborough in a laundry room, hitting her with a closed fist and strangling her on 23 April 2023.

The final allegation is that Spencer-Churchill threw Ms Marlborough onto a bed after putting his hands around her neck on 29 January 2024.

Spencer-Churchill was granted conditional bail and will appear at Oxford Crown Court on 5 February.

Known to his family as Jamie, he is the 12th Duke of Marlborough and a member of one of Britain’s most aristocratic families.

Related to wartime prime minister Sir Winston – a first cousin, three times removed – and also distantly to Diana through the Spencer line, Spencer-Churchill inherited his dukedom in 2014, following the death of his father, the 11th Duke of Marlborough.

Prior to this, the twice-married Spencer-Churchill was the Marquess of Blandford, and also known as Jamie Blandford.

The duke married his second wife, Welsh ceramicist Edla Griffiths, in 2002 but they separated in 2024.

His ancestral family home is the 300-year-old Blenheim Palace – Sir Winston’s birthplace – in Woodstock, but the duke does not own the 18th-century baroque palace and has no role in the running of the residence and vast estate.

Blenheim is owned and managed by the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation.

A spokesperson for the foundation previously said: “Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation is aware legal proceedings have been brought against the Duke of Marlborough.

“The foundation is unable to comment on the charges, which relate to the duke’s personal conduct and private life, and which are subject to live criminal proceedings.

“The foundation is not owned or managed by the Duke of Marlborough, but by independent entities run by boards of trustees.”

Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop collapse into administration

High street chains Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) are being put into administration, putting about 2,500 UK staff at risk of redundancy.

The two retailers had already undergone restructuring and were bought by investment firm Modella Capital last year.

Modella said it had made the “tough decision” to kickstart insolvency proceedings for the businesses after “last-ditch” measures had fallen through.

The 1,355 employees in the UK and Ireland at 154 Claire’s shops will be put at risk, and 1,220 staff across 140 TOFS stores.

Court records show that a notice of intention to appoint an administrator was filed in relation to both chains on Monday afternoon.

“We have worked intensively in an effort to save both businesses, having made last-ditch attempts to rescue them, but neither has a realistic possibility of trading profitably again,” a spokesperson for the company said.

“In these circumstances, administration is the only option.

“In both cases, the legacy effects of trading prior to our ownership left them highly vulnerable.”

Modella said tough retail conditions, including those from government policies, were causing British businesses to “suffer”.

“The climate on the high street remains extremely challenging, and TOFS and Claire’s are not alone in experiencing difficulties,” the firm said.

“A combination of very weak consumer confidence, highly adverse government fiscal policies, and continued cost inflation, is causing many established and much-loved businesses to suffer badly.

“It’s a simple fact that if retailers can’t make money, they risk having to close, and jobs across the country are lost.”

Modella bought more than 150 Claire’s shops last year, but 145 were not included in the deal, leading to their closure.

The fashion accessories chain had appointed administrators for its UK and Ireland business after filing for bankruptcy in the US.

TOFS, a discount department store chain, was sold to the investment firm in February.

Modella has become a significant force in the British retail industry, having bought WH Smith’s high street chain last year and taking over arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft in 2024.