Reeves’ stealth taxes ‘hammer’ workers while pensioners ‘better off’

Rachel Reeves’ decision to drag millions more people into paying higher rates of tax will “hammer” workers, while pensioners and those on benefits will see their incomes increase, a new analysis has found.

In the Budget, the chancellor controversially froze the income tax and national insurance thresholds until 2031, meaning more staff will be pushed into paying higher taxes as their wages increase through inflation.

At the time, she said she was “asking everyone to make a contribution” to fund public services and investment amid a faltering economy.

A new analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) think tank has found that an employee currently earning £50,000 would be £505 worse off in real terms by 2030-31, despite a forecast that their salary will increase by more than £6,000.

But there was a “sunnier” picture for pensioners and those on the standard universal credit, it said.

Pensioners would be at least £306 better off in real terms, thanks to the “triple lock”, which guarantees increases at least in line with inflation, earnings or 2.5 per cent.

For someone on out-of-work benefits, that figure would be £290 because of increases to the standard rate of universal credit, the CPS said in its analysis, which used Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) inflation and wage growth forecasts.

Many workers “will be worse off by 2030 than they are today, in contrast to those who receive their income from the state, whether via a pension or benefits”.

Daniel Herring, CPS head of economic and fiscal policy, said: “Labour’s tax policy is quietly hammering workers while protecting pensioners and benefit recipients.

“Freezing the personal allowance for income tax will hit everyone, but it’s those who are dragged into higher tax bands who will really suffer, to the point where a worker on £50,000 today is set to actually be poorer in five years’ time, despite getting pay rises.

“Meanwhile, the state pension and universal credit will both be worth more in real terms.

“This is fiscal drag in action, raising taxes for millions of workers through the back door.”

Ms Reeves’ freeze in personal tax thresholds is expected to raise around £23bn for the Exchequer in 2030-31.

A Treasury spokesperson said: “In the budget we increased the national living wage and national minimum wage and took £150 off people’s energy bills, extended the freeze on prescription fees, fuel duty and froze rail fares for the first time in 30 years.

“The fair and necessary decisions we made at the Budget mean we can deliver on the country’s priorities – cut waiting lists, cut debt and borrowing and cut the cost of living.”

The Night Manager’s pace, intrigue and sly sexiness are all retained

TV viewers have become accustomed to increasingly lengthy waits between seasons of their favourite shows. Stranger Things took three years between its fourth and fifth seasons, while Euphoria will be back next year, more than four years after it was last on air. But BBC One’s The Night Manager – which returns this week after a 10-year hiatus – takes the biscuit. When last we followed the adventures of Tom Hiddleston’s Jonathan Pine, David Cameron and Barack Obama were still in office, the Paris Climate Accords had just been adopted, and Covid-19 was just a glint in a pangolin’s eye. So, you’d be forgiven for not knowing quite what to expect from the return of John Le Carré’s taciturn hero.

Several years on from the events of the first season, Pine – now known as Alex Goodwin – is leading a subdivision of MI6 dedicated to nocturnal surveillance. “Nothing above the parapet,” Pine’s mentor Rex (Douglas Hodge) warns him. “That face is too pretty to lose.” But Pine is still transparently haunted by the mission that brought down villainous arms dealer Richard Roper, and when a chance encounter resurfaces memories from his time embedded in the Roper operation, Pine sets off on a quest for justice. Or is it vengeance? A man calling himself “the true disciple of Richard Roper” is running guns into Colombia, and nobody at MI6 seems half as concerned as Pine. Thus begins a cross-continental journey, back into the dark heart of the international weapons trade.

When the show first appeared, it was a huge global hit, combining the distinctively British suaveness of James Bond with the gritty geopolitical themes of shows like Homeland. Casting Hugh Laurie against type as the show’s antagonist, and Hiddleston in a star-makingly debonair turn, proved inspired. In this second chapter, the pieces have to be realigned: Olivia Colman is, to begin with, a peripheral figure, replaced in MI6 by Indira Varma’s suspicious chief and Paul Chahidi’s skittish handler. With Roper out of the picture, Diego Calva steps in as Pine’s foil, playing a dapper Colombian kingpin. Meanwhile the damsel in distress/femme fatale role (Le Carré tends to deal in feminine archetypes) is handed to Camila Morrone, perhaps best known as Leonardo di Caprio’s girlfriend until 2022, but now, aged 28, stepping convincingly into more dramatic territory.

Much still rests, though, on Hiddleston’s sculpted shoulders. “Tell me who you really are,” an occupational therapist grills him. “I am the man who will not explode.” Pine is a man who has been deeply wounded by both the distant and recent past, and who now exists as a ghost. He works by night and sleeps by day, lives under a fake name and associates only with colleagues who do not know who he really is, what he’s really done. Pine is a high-functioning somnambulist, and now resolutely dead behind the eyes – which all rather suits Hiddleston’s acting style. Having been consistently linked with the 007 vacancy, Hiddleston (at 44) is likely too old for the direction in which Amazon MGM wishes to take the franchise. But Pine could – if the BBC is sensible and doesn’t wait a decade for season three – be a more grown-up alternate. Certainly, the action sequences are far more effectively suspenseful than late-era Bond.

The BBC only made the first two episodes of the new series available to critics. Perhaps they know the show is already a surefire hit. That means that the full arc of the narrative is hard to appraise. But on the evidence of these first episodes, the show’s writer, David Farr, and new director, Georgi Banks-Davies, have managed to steer the show safely beyond the trusted source material. The pace, the intrigue, the sly sexiness; all are retained. Crucially, this drama is proper cross-generational Sunday night viewing, the sort of televisual real estate that has, too often, been conceded to the streamers. I wanted more than two episodes to form a proper judgement – but, having watched them and written this review, I still want more. That’s the sign of good TV.

While the 10-year interval may frustrate some viewers (the series is inextricably linked to the first outing, and the plotting quite knotty), there is much to be admired in the return of The Night Manager. Gripping without being excessively silly, compelling without being indulgently cerebral, The Night Manager pulls off the, increasingly rare, trick of knowing its audience, understanding its success, and replicating the formula. Jonathan Pine is on course to be a globetrotting icon on par with Mr Bond, and a demonstration of British soft power’s efficacy when the BBC has both confidence and resources – Trump be damned.

Will Smith sued by tour violinist for sexual harassment

Will Smith is being sued by a violinist who has accused the rapper and actor of sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

Musician Brian King Joseph named Smith, 57, and Treybull Studios Management as defendants in the lawsuit filed on 30 December, according to US media.

Smith’s lawyer has denied the claims, telling the Daily Beast: “Mr Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless. They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light.”

The Independent has contacted Smith’s lawyer and representatives for comment.

Variety reports that in the suit, Joseph, 33, accuses Smith of “predatory behaviour” while he was a part of the band on Smith’s Based on a True Story tour last year.

Joseph claims that Smith had been “grooming and priming” him for “further sexual exploitation” after they first met in November 2024, when Smith hired him to perform at a show in San Diego.

He was subsequently invited to join Smith’s 2025 tour and play on his first album in 20 years, Based on a True Story, which was released in March.

Joseph alleges that Smith told him they had “such a special connection that I don’t have with anyone else”.

The musician, who was a former contestant on America’s Got Talent in 2018, joined the first leg of Smith’s tour in March 2025 for a show in Las Vegas, where hotel rooms had been booked for the band and crew.

Joseph claims he returned to his room to find that someone had “unlawfully” entered the suite, in which he allegedly discovered a beer bottle, wipes, a bottle of HIV medication in someone else’s name, a red backpack, an earring and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to another person.

He alleges there was also a note that said: “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5.30, just us… Stone F.”

Joseph says he believed this was a message that “an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts with him”.

After reporting the incident to hotel security and Smith’s tour management, he claims he was accused of lying and “shamed” for what happened.

He claims to have been fired days after the incident, when he was told the tour was “moving in a different direction”. However, another violinist was apparently then booked to replace him.

The lawsuit claims that he suffered from PTSD and financial loss as a result of the termination.

He is suing for retaliation, wrongful termination and sexual harassment, and asks that damages be determined by a jury.

Luke Littler demolishes Krysztof Ratajski to reach semi-finals

Luke Littler got the Alexandra Palace crowd back on side as he sauntered into the World Championship semi-finals.

Littler was booed heavily during his fourth-round win over Rob Cross and antagonised the baying fans further when he crassly thanked them for paying for his substantial prize money.

The 18-year-old defending champion said he was “expecting the worst” for his quarter-final tie with Krzysztof Ratajski but had them in the palm of his hand after a virtuoso display.

There was a “Big Fish” 170-checkout amid four ton-plus finishes, 10 180s and a 100.05 average as he claimed a masterful 5-0 victory in little over 30 minutes.

Although there were some boos as he walked towards the stage, the overwhelming response was positive and a rendition of “There’s only one Luke Littler” before the match started will have put his mind at ease.

And the teenager deserves the adulation as he looks on an unstoppable course to becoming the first man to retain the World Championship since Gary Anderson 10 years ago.

Few can live with him and the scary thought for the rest of the field is that Littler has more gears to find ahead of his last-four date with Ryan Searle.

“The crowd were very good tonight. It’s the new year, so there must be some new fans. They were great, I was good and we move on tomorrow,” he told Sky Sports.

“A win is a win. Maybe because I had two days off, I didn’t feel comfortable. Hopefully, now I am playing day after day, I play better tomorrow.

“When I was 2-0 up, I didn’t feel good. I’ve not played for two nights. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Anderson returned to the semi-finals for the first time in four years after ending Justin Hood’s dream debut run. The 55-year-old is enjoying a renaissance and is now just two wins away from lifting a third world title, 10 years after his last.

If he can do so, he would become the oldest player to lift the PDC world title and join Michael van Gerwen in second place on the all-time list of champions.

After beating Van Gerwen on Tuesday night, Anderson looked every bit a potential champion as he dispatched Hood 5-2.

The Scot will now meet Gian van Veen in Friday’s semi-final, which will be his eighth last-four encounter at Ally Pally. For his part Van Veen put in a spectacular performance to sweep Luke Humphries aside 5-1 and prove his own credentials for the world title.

The Dutchman is now ranked No 3 in the world following his win and is aiming to add the World Championship title to his European crown.

Meanwhile, Littler’s next opponent Searle has not dropped a set in reaching the last eight and again showed his class in a 5-2 victory over No 5 seed Jonny Clayton.

Stranger Things ends with divisive finale – as fans ‘disappointed’

Netflix’s hit sci-fi series Stranger Things has come to an end after nearly a decade – but the finale has drawn wildly polarised reactions from fans.

The final episode of the show, titled “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up”, debuted on the streaming service during the early hours of New Year’s Day (in the UK), a week after the previous batch of episodes dropped.

Spoilers follow for the Stranger Things finale… you have been warned!

In the final episode of the show, the heroes from Hawkins, Indiana ultimately manage to defeat Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), thanks to the supernatural abilities of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Will Byers (Noah Schnapp).

After Joyce (Winona Ryder) cuts off the villain’s head, Hopper (David Harbour) and Murray (Brett Gelman) rig bombs on the interdimensional bridge to the Upside Down, with Eleven seemingly staying behind in the nether world to sacrifice herself.

With a large chunk of the episode still remaining, there is then a time jump to the year 1989, and we are shown what has happened to the remaining characters – the crew has started to move on from the traumatic events of the series, and Joyce and Hopper get engaged.

In one of the final scenes of the show, Mike (Finn Wolfhard) claims that Eleven had actually faked her own death, and had managed to make it out of the Upside Down. As he speaks, we see an older Eleven wandering through a faraway place, before reaching a town.

It’s unclear whether Eleven really survived or not, with series co-creator Ross Duffer stating that “she lives on in their hearts, whether that’s real or not”.

Many viewers were critical of the finale, with the decision to eliminate Vecna so early in the episode frequently criticised on social media.

“Main villain killed halfway in, nobody important died, no explanation on henry creel origin story, & only 18 month time jump. Stranger Things finale was the stupidest f***ing ending i’ve seen right up there with The Umbrella Academy,” read one widely shared post on X/Twitter.

“The biggest mistake they made was a whole 50 minutes of the episode just being the epilogue, the could’ve used those at least 30 of those 50 minutes to make the fighting scenes better,” another fan wrote.

“Am much disappointed to that extent that I don’t even want to talk about Stranger Things,” someone else remarked.

Others, however, were more positive on the conclusion, with one person writing: “Am i the only one who enjoyed that stranger things ending?”

“Me being happy with the stranger things finale and coming on twitter to see everyone complaining,” someone else joked.

Stranger Things is available to stream now on Netflix.

Five perfect family getaways in Catalonia’s green heart

Looking for a family holiday that combines adventure, nature, and a touch of culture? Catalonia’s green heart is bursting with possibilities, from mountain valleys where flaming torches light up midsummer skies to tranquil wetlands teeming with wildlife. Whether your crew prefers gentle hikes, ancient ruins or ski slopes and riverside trails, this corner of northern Spain offers unforgettable experiences for every age and season. Here are five destinations that prove The Pyrenees of Catalonia might just be Europe’s ultimate family playground.

Located also in Catalan Pyrenees west, near the border with France, Catalonia’s wonderful all-rounder really does have something for the whole family. In terms of culture, it’s a place rich with traditions and history. Kids of all ages will be entranced by the annual summer solstice Fallas festivals, which involve young men carrying flaming torches from high in the mountains down to their villages where they light bonfires and take part in traditional dances late into the night. Even the most heritage-resistant will surely be converted by Vall de Boí’s unmatched collection of astonishingly preserved Romanesque churches, with their evocative towers, atmospheric interiors, and beautiful settings. The area is blessed with trails that will suit the youngest of hikers, like the routes at Salencar de Barruera where you walk along the river following a paved path from a playground to the Salencar wetlands.

Located just west of Andorra near the border with France, the Valls d’Àneu was the first inland part of Catalonia to receive the DTF family tourism certification, and it’s easy to see why. All valleys and peaks, glacial lakes and seemingly endless meadows, it feels like an unspoilt Eden that’s waiting to be explored all year round. In winter, the Espot ski station is a family favourite, with its dedicated beginners area with magic carpets and a drag lift, and its large number of green and blue slopes. Throughout the rest of the year, families flock to one of the region’s great areas of natural splendour: Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, which features more than 200 lakes with breathtaking alpine backdrops, many of them easily accessible on flat family walkways.

A few miles inland from Cadaqués in the Mediterranean, the gorgeous seaside town famous for its postcard-perfect whitewashed architecture, lies one of Catalonia’s big draws for nature-loving families: the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park. A 47km² wetland wonderland, its varied eco-systems are home to an astonishing range of birds and animals from bitterns and marsh harriers to otters and polecats. Parents to budding history buffs are also well-served in the area, which is home to both the Citadel of Roses – a fascinating journey through time that includes Hellenistic ruins, Visigoth-era buildings and Romanesque monasteries – and the archaeological site of Empúries with its reconstructed forum. It also benefits from being one of Catalonia’s culinary hotspots with its highly regarded seafood and excellent wines for deserving mums and dads.

Situated in the west of the Catalan Pyrenees, Pirineus, Noguera Palleresa is a stunning high peak destination that offers a vast range of family-friendly activities. In the snowy season, head to the celebrated Port Ainé ski resort, which has something to suit children of all ages from sledding play areas to treetop adventure parks. In summer, beat a path to the Alt Pirineu Natural Park which has abundant paths ideal for reluctant hikers, many of them with great views of the Pica d’Estats, which at 3143m is the highest mountain in Catalonia. Lovers of adventure sports should head to Sort on the Noguera Pallaresa river, which is the region’s top spot for whitewater rafting with gentle open kayaking for littler kids and thrilling canyoning for teenagers.

The Vall de Camprodon, located in Girona province just North of the town of Ripoll, is famous for its art nouveau architecture. One of the main draws of the Vall de Camprodon is the Ter and Freser Headwaters Natural Park, with its lush valleys and thrilling backdrop of high peaks. It’s a must-visit for aspiring bird-watchers, who if they’re lucky might see Griffon vultures, golden eagles, and Eurasian eagle-owls. Little kids will love the Camprodon Valley Tourist Train, which takes passengers on a 45 minute tour of Camprodon, allowing them to explore the valley and see incredible views of the Pont Nou without too much walking. And everyone will adore the food, particularly the local specialty biscuits, which they’ve been making since the 19th Century.

Plan your sustainable trip to the Catalan Pyrenees at visitpirineus.com/en

Transport disruption expected as Met Office issues weather warning over snow

The year is beginning with millions of travellers on the move – but with disruption on the railways and roads, and in the skies. The Met Office has issued a “risk to life” weather warning as snow hits the UK, with transport links set to be affected. These are the key concerns.

The final weekend of the festive season will see many travellers displaced to other lines by Network Rail line closures, while severe weather wlll cause disruption.

Network Rail says: “In very cold weather, snow and ice can build up on the tracks blocking points, the equipment that allows trains to move between tracks. Ice can coat the electrified third rail and overhead power cables, preventing trains from drawing the power they need to run and leaving them stranded. Icicles on tunnels, bridges and other structures can also damage trains and overhead power cables.”

Widespread Network Rail engineering work is underway. Some key stations and lines are closed, putting pressure on other routes.

The West Coast Main Line, which connects London Euston with the West Midlands, northwest England, north Wales and southern Scotland, remains closed on the key stretch from Milton Keynes and Rugby up to and including 4 January.

A key junction at Hanslope, south of Rugby, is being replaced. Rail replacement bus services will operate. In addition, Chiltern Railway from London Marylebone to Birmingham, the East Coast Main Line north from London King’s Cross and the East Midlands line from London St Pancras will take the strain.

Further north, the West Coast Main Line is closed in Cumbria to enable Network Rail to replace an ageing bridge over the M6 motorway. The line will not reopen until 15 January. Avanti West Coast is providing a scenic train diversion along England’s most beautiful line, the Settle-Carlisle Railway.

Until 6 January the line from Carlisle to Lockerbie is also closed, with rail replacement buses.

Passengers between Scotland and London are being urged to use the East Coast Main Line from Edinburgh to London King’s Cross.

No trains will run on the main line between Leeds and York until the start of services on 3 January.

London Liverpool Street station – the busiest in Britain – has reopened after eight days of engineering work.

For the next two weekends, starting at 8pm tonight, the M6 in Cumbria is closed to motorists between junctions 39 and 40, reopening at 5am on Monday – with the same pattern of closure from 9 to 12 January.

In addition, the M27 in Hampshire is closed between junctions 9 and 11 until 4am on 4 January.

Traffic will build through the weekend leading to the return to work on Monday 5 January. Some prospective key locations for congestion are:

Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in western Scotland are disrupted on 2 January and through the first weekend of 2026 due to severe weather. Cancellations on Friday include some services between Ardrossan and Brodick (Arran) and Ullapool to Stornoway (Lewis).

On the link to Islay, CalMac says “sailings are liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice due to forecast adverse weather”.

Sailings are running normally between the Port of Dover, Calais and Dunkirk. The port is urging drivers not to arrive more than two hours before their scheduled departure.

Unlike aviation, there is no penalty for missing a ferry at Dover due to congestion; you will simply be rebooked free of charge. “If you missed your ferry, please don’t worry,” the port is telling motorists. “You’ll be put on the next available sailing.”

During the 17 days of the festive spell from 19 December to 4 January, aviation analysts at Cirium report 42,046 flights are scheduled to depart from UK airports with a total of 7.8 million seats. That is an average of more than 100 takeoffs per hour, with almost 20,000 seats.

Departures are up 2 per cent compared with the festive period in 2024, and available departing seats are up 4 per cent year on year.

Many airports are expecting a surge in passenger numbers on Friday 2 and Sunday 4 January.

London Heathrow has the highest number of flights, with one in five departures being from the UK’s busiest hub. It is expecting its busiest festive spell to date, as are Birmingham and Manchester airports.

The top destinations from many airports are:

Nearly 500 Emirates passengers who took off from London Heathrow for Dubai on Wednesday 31 December got no further than Maidstone in Kent before the pilots decided to turn back because of a landing gear door problem. The Airbus A380 SuperJumbo circled over Orpington for two hours to burn off fuel and landed safely, but it looks as though the passengers may see in the new year in from airport hotels in the Heathrow area.

A spokesperson for the airline said: “Emirates flight EK002 departed London Heathrow (LHR) for Dubai on 31 December 2025 after 13:40 GMT as scheduled, but returned to LHR shortly after take-off due to a technical fault. The flight landed back in LHR and passengers and crew were safely disembarked.”

Some transatlantic flights to the UK have been delayed from the eastern US and Canada, it is believed because of delays with de-icing. Toronto Pearson airport continues to see widespread cancellations due to extreme weather.

This article is kept updated with the latest information.

Tributes paid to animal welfare activist Sarah Fisher who died aged 61

Animal welfare campaigner Sarah Fisher, partner of Ted Lasso actor Anthony Head, has been remembered as “extraordinary” and “compassionate” following her death at 61.

Her daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head, described the loss as “immensely shocking” in a statement.

The tribute was shared on the social media page for Tilley Farm, a 90-acre Somerset property which Ms Fisher ran.

She died last week, according to reports.

Her daughters said: “We are so sorry to have to share the news that our extraordinary, kind and talented mother, Sarah, passed away recently. It is immensely shocking to us all, and came with very little warning.

“No words could ever express all that she encompassed, or begin to describe the crater her absence has left. We know how profoundly she has impacted the lives of so many, and we couldn’t be more proud of the legacy she is leaving behind.

“We only wish she’d had more time to share her knowledge and brilliance with us, and the world. Our grief knows no bounds, nor did the reaches of her incredibly unique and irreplaceable spirit.

“We know how much she treasured the relationships she had with all of her friends, colleagues and collaborators, many of whom she stayed in contact with here, and we thank you all for being a part of her enriched life.”

Fisher was an ambassador for Battersea Dogs And Cats Home and patron of Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary.

Peter Laurie, chief executive at Battersea, said: “We’re truly sorry to lose our beloved friend and ambassador, Sarah Fisher, and send our deepest sympathies to Sarah’s partner Anthony and her family and friends.

“A devoted supporter for many years, Sarah, alongside her partner Anthony Head, gave so much to our charity, fostering dogs, using her canine behaviour expertise to train our staff and volunteers, and attending many of our events and fundraisers. She will be dearly missed by all of us at Battersea.”

Founder of Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary, Pauline Leeson, paid tribute in a post to their website and said: “It came as a shock to hear that the wonderful Sarah Fisher, patron of Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary and advocate for all animals had passed away, and our hearts go out to Anthony, Daisy and family.

“Sarah was always a voice for those dear souls who have no voice, and was the most genuine, caring and compassionate human being.

“Sarah will be a huge loss to the animal kingdom she worked so tirelessly for, helping so very many animals of all species to find their way to cope and be happy in this changing world.

“We at Holly Hedge are so proud to have known Sarah. Her memory will live on in all the good work and positive change she has made to their lives.

“RIP Sarah, you will never be forgotten, and will be remembered with much love for all her outstanding work.”