Laura Howard

Lorena Wiebes won stage two of the Tour of Britain for her second consecutive stage victory, retaining the green jersey and points classification lead. Her sprint dominance has encouraged rival teams, particularly Uno-X Mobility, to pursue breakaways rather than contesting a conventional finish. Katrine Aalerud launched a sustained attack, but the effort was disrupted when a road traffic accident forced the race convoy to reroute and led organisers to cancel the second Queen of the Mountain climb. Wiebes ultimately won the sprint despite headwind and the risk of being boxed in, while SD Worx-Protime held three jerseys ahead of a climbing-focused stage in Wales.

Lorena Wiebes won the opening stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain in Cockermouth, earning her eighth stage victory in the women’s race and moving within reach of Mark Cavendish’s overall event record of 10 wins. The Team SD Worx-Protime sprinter had recently won stages and the points classification at the Tour de France Femmes. Audrey De Keersmaeker took the Queen of the Mountains jersey, Josie Nelson was the highest-placed British rider in third, and Fleur Moors claimed the young riders’ jersey. The hilly stages in Wales are expected to favor climbers, making it less likely that Wiebes will surpass Cavendish’s record this week.

Adam Ramsay-Peaty describes a changed outlook as he prepares for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games after narrowly losing the 100m breaststroke final at Paris 2024. Now married, expecting another child and training in London, he says success is no longer defined solely by medals but by executing his preparation and racing to his full potential. The four-time Commonwealth Games champion also sees himself as a senior figure responsible for supporting younger swimmers, while using Glasgow as a springboard toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Neil Simpson’s hopes of winning another medal for ParalympicsGB ended when he straddled a gate and failed to finish his first slalom run at the Winter Paralympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The 23-year-old, skiing with guide Rob Poth, had been considered a strong contender after winning silver in the alpine combined and taking gold and bronze at Beijing 2022. His second consecutive technical-event disqualification left ParalympicsGB unable to reach UK Sport’s target of two to five medals, although Simpson and Poth said his strong slalom form would provide motivation for future World Cups and the next World Championships.

British medal favourite Neil Simpson missed an early gate in the men’s visually impaired giant slalom at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics, ending his race alongside guide Rob Poth. The result was attributed to a minor line error, but the pair remain confident ahead of their favoured slalom event. Athletes across the competition criticized the heavily salted and inconsistent piste, with 29 competitors failing to finish across three races. Britain also recorded several notable debuts: Nina Sparks became the first British woman to compete in Paralympic snowboarding, 16-year-old Dom Allen completed both of his giant slalom runs, and Matt Hamilton and Sam Cozens also made their Paralympic debuts.

Eighteen-year-old British para alpine skier Hester Poole fell early in the women’s giant slalom VI on her Paralympic debut in Italy, but remains optimistic about learning from the experience and competing in the upcoming slalom. Poole, guided by Ali Hall and born with Leber congenital amaurosis, recently received an offer to study English Literature at Cambridge. Fellow British skier Menna Fitzpatrick finished sixth with guide Katie Guest after returning from two seasons out with an ACL injury. Fitzpatrick said her confidence is growing, though the improving field has widened the gap from her previous Paralympic performance, and she will discuss potential surgery with her medical team after the Games.

Cristian Westemaier Ribera won Brazil’s first Winter Paralympic medal, taking silver in the men’s sitting sprint after training on roller skis because Brazil lacks snow. China’s Zixu Liu won gold. The event also marked the first time since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine that Russian and Ukrainian athletes stood together on a Paralympic start line, following the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow Russia and Belarus to compete under their flags. Russia won another gold, while Belarus secured its first medal; Ukrainian athletes highlighted the importance of their victories amid the war.

Neil Simpson finished fourth in the men’s visually impaired super-G at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics, 1.1 seconds off the podium and unable to defend his Beijing 2022 title. Austrian Johannes Aigner won gold. Menna Fitzpatrick, returning from a December 2025 ACL injury, completed the women’s super-G in sixth alongside guide Katie Guest. Both British skiers remain focused on their remaining events, with Fitzpatrick targeting further medals after building confidence in her injured knee.

Jo Butterfield and Jason Kean gave Great Britain encouragement in the mixed doubles wheelchair curling tournament by taking a 5-1 lead against unbeaten favourites China before losing 10-5. Despite the defeat, they remain joint-second and believe they can beat China in a future rematch. Great Britain otherwise endured a difficult day: James Barnes-Miller and Davy Zyw failed to progress in snowboard cross, Scott Meenagh finished 18th in the 12.5km sitting biathlon after five shooting penalties, and the mixed team wheelchair curling squad lost 5-4 to Canada after surrendering a two-point lead in the final end.

Russian para alpine skiers Varvara Voronchikhina and Aleksei Bugaev won bronze medals at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics, marking the first time Russia’s flag had appeared at the Games since 2014. Russia’s return followed the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to lift its ban, subsequent legal action, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling allowing the country to compete. The decision prompted seven countries, including Ukraine, to boycott the opening ceremony. Ukraine nevertheless led the early medal table with six para biathlon medals, including three golds, as Oleksandr Kazik helped secure a clean sweep in the men’s visually impaired sprint.

Neil Simpson finished fourth in the men’s visually impaired downhill at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics, skiing with his brother and guide Andrew Simpson. Austria’s Johannes Aigner won gold and Italy’s Giacomo Bertagnolli took bronze. Simpson was encouraged by his improved performance and plans to apply what he learned to Monday’s super-G, where he is the defending Paralympic champion. His remaining events, including the super-G, super combined, slalom and giant slalom, offer further opportunities to win a medal.

The Winter Paralympics opening ceremony in Verona celebrated disability representation, accessibility and unity, but its message was undermined by Russia and Belarus returning under their national flags. Ukraine and six other countries boycotted the ceremony, while Great Britain withheld officials in protest. The absences of athletes unable to attend for political, logistical or safety reasons highlighted the limits of the movement’s claim to inclusion and political neutrality. Despite these contradictions, the ceremony demonstrated sport’s potential to promote unity and challenge social barriers.

Landlords need specialized insurance because standard home insurance is generally inadequate for rental properties. Policies typically cover structural damage, tenant rehousing, landlord-owned contents, and liability for injuries, while rent guarantee and legal expenses coverage usually cost extra. Landlords are advised to compare policy terms rather than price alone, and those with multiple properties can consider multi-property policies, which may offer discounts.

Garden thefts increase by more than 25 percent after the clocks go forward, with stolen goods averaging £850. Garden possessions such as furniture, barbecues, lawnmowers, plants and shrubs may be worth around £1,500, but home insurance coverage for items kept outdoors varies significantly between insurers. Securely locked outbuildings are often treated like the home for insurance purposes, although insurers may require adequate security. Policyholders should check coverage limits, single-item caps and exclusions before seeking additional cover or switching insurers.

The guide explains how holidaymakers can reduce the cost of obtaining and spending foreign currency over Easter. Online comparison services and advance ordering are recommended over airport exchange bureaux, while debit cards may incur foreign-use fees. It identifies several credit cards with no foreign loading or withdrawal charges, subject to eligibility or account conditions, and recommends the FairFX prepaid card for budgeting without loading or overseas-spending fees.

Rewards credit cards provide cashback, store points or airline miles, and their popularity has increased substantially. American Express is highlighted for an introductory 5% cashback offer that later falls to 1.25%, while the M&S card offers store points and an introductory 0% purchase period. However, high average credit-card interest rates mean that consumers who do not clear their balance each month can quickly lose the value of any rewards.

Quitting smoking could save a 20-cigarette-a-day smoker about £45.40 per week, or £2,340 annually. Investing those savings in First Direct’s 8% regular savings account could raise the first-year total to £2,441.40. After 12 smoke-free months, life and critical illness insurance premiums may also fall by up to 50%. The article highlights No Smoking Day and its cessation support, while noting that higher annuity rates available to smokers reflect reduced life expectancy and are therefore only a dubious financial advantage.

Mortgage lending in the UK had fallen sharply from pre-financial-crisis levels, although January lending remained above the previous year. Approval is not guaranteed and is less likely for applicants with small deposits, recent self-employment or poor credit scores. A Mortgage Agreement in Principle is provisional and can be withdrawn if income documentation or the lender’s valuation raises concerns. Most lenders offer loans of up to 90% of a property’s value, while some lend up to 95%. Applicants can improve their chances by checking and correcting their credit files, registering on the electoral roll and limiting mortgage applications.

The AA’s Drivesafe insurance uses a telematics box to monitor factors such as speed, driving time and road type. Safer drivers may receive lower premiums after 60 days, while speeding, sharp cornering and extensive night driving could increase costs. The product is aimed particularly at young drivers, who the AA says could save up to £850 annually, while other ways to reduce premiums include using a locked garage, accepting a higher excess and shopping around rather than automatically renewing.

Most UK banks and building societies offer mortgages up to 90% of a property's value, but only 14 lenders offer 95% mortgages for borrowers with a 5% deposit. Smaller deposits generally attract higher interest rates. The piece highlights mortgage offers from HSBC and Market Harborough, estimates a two-to-three-week processing time, and warns first-time buyers that the stamp duty exemption on eligible homes up to £250,000 ends on 24 March, potentially costing up to £2,500.

Boiler cover insurance can provide emergency assistance and help with repair costs, but prices and benefits vary. Homeowners should check whether boiler repairs are already included as an extra in their home insurance to avoid duplicate cover. Landlords are generally responsible for boiler maintenance in rental properties. Consumers are warned to assess whether cover is necessary and to watch for mis-selling, following allegations against HomeServe in 2011.

The guide explains options for sending money abroad, warning that mailing cash is risky and illegal in some countries. Ordinary personal cheques generally cannot be cashed overseas, so senders may need a foreign-currency draft. International bank transfers require the recipient’s full bank details and IBAN and may involve varying fees. Wire-transfer companies such as Western Union and MoneyGram allow recipients to collect cash using a reference number, with transfer and currency-exchange fees paid upfront.

House-price indices provide differing assessments because they use different data and measure prices at different stages of the buying process. Land Registry data showed prices in England and Wales falling, while Nationwide reported a modest rise. Rightmove, Hometrack, RICS and LSL Acadametrics also reported varying figures. LSL Acadametrics was identified as the most comprehensive index because it combines completed-sale data with more timely information, while estimates of the average UK home price ranged from £165,000 to £220,000 depending on the index.

New standards aim to make unarranged overdraft charges clearer and fairer through low-balance text alerts, fee-free buffers for small overdraft breaches and annual statements showing account costs. Banks will also be required to redirect payments when customers switch accounts, with the guaranteed seven-day switching service due in September 2013. The measures are voluntary but have been adopted by Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Santander, covering around 85% of bank customers. Critics say they do not go far enough to protect consumers, although the changes have generally been welcomed as a step forward.

UK motorists are facing a further 3p-per-litre fuel-duty increase on New Year’s Day, with another rise moved to August. Conservative MP Robert Halfon has secured a Commons debate and is urging Chancellor George Osborne to review petrol costs after an e-petition gained more than 100,000 signatures. Average unleaded petrol costs £1.34 per litre, up from £1.19 a year earlier. Drivers can reduce costs by comparing local prices, using supermarket fuel discounts, reducing vehicle weight, maintaining tyre pressure, driving smoothly and observing lower speeds.

The article explains why people should make a valid will, noting that intestacy can produce unexpected inheritance outcomes and additional distress for relatives. It promotes the November Will Aid campaign, through which participating solicitors prepare basic wills in exchange for voluntary donations, and gives suggested donation amounts and booking details. It also recommends using a professional willwriter or solicitor rather than relying on a DIY will kit.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme provides eligible vulnerable households in England, Scotland and Wales with a one-off annual energy-bill rebate of up to £120. Automatic eligibility applies primarily to people receiving the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit, while other low-income households and families receiving certain disability or child-related benefits may qualify through an application. The rebate does not affect Cold Weather Payments or Winter Fuel Payments, and the scheme is scheduled to run for four years from winter 2011–12, with annual rebate amounts potentially varying.

High inflation and very low interest rates are reducing the real value of savers’ money. The article advises considering tax-free cash ISAs, inflation-linked NS&I savings certificates and, for investors willing to accept greater risk, stocks and shares ISAs. Easy-access savings accounts are portrayed as offering inadequate returns, while basic-rate taxpayers need an interest rate of at least 5.5% to keep pace with inflation.

Fixed-rate bonds offer guaranteed interest rates for one to five years, generally paying more than accessible savings accounts because savers lock away their money. The article highlights leading rates of 3.5 percent for one year, 4.25 percent for three years and 5 percent for five years. They suit savers with lump sums who value certainty and disciplined saving, but carry the risk of locking in low returns if interest rates rise; shorter terms may therefore be preferable for some savers.

Share Incentive Schemes allow employees of participating UK companies to receive free shares, buy partnership shares from gross pay, receive matching shares and reinvest dividends. Shares generally need to remain in the plan for five years for profits to be free of income tax and National Insurance, while some tax benefits apply after three years. Participation is not universal, and employees remain exposed to share-price declines and the risk that their employer fails.

A weak UK housing market is making property sales slower and more difficult, with homes taking an average of 9.3 weeks to attract an offer and estate-agent sales remaining stagnant. Sellers are advised to price realistically, potentially accepting discounts of 10–20%, improve presentation, and use enhanced online listings such as Rightmove’s premium or featured options. After an offer is accepted, conveyancing typically takes another six to eight weeks, with leasehold paperwork often causing delays. The Law Society’s planned Conveyancing Quality Scheme is intended to improve the process, but sellers must meanwhile monitor solicitors closely. Linzi Chapman’s failed sale of her Wandsworth flat illustrates the risks facing vendors.

Falling UK house prices, rising rents and shorter vacancy periods are making buy-to-let appear increasingly attractive in late 2010. However, lenders have tightened standards substantially since the credit crunch, commonly requiring deposits of at least 25 per cent, high rental-cover ratios, significant fees and, in some cases, a professional landlord track record. Experts say the market is no longer suitable for novice speculators, though specialist property managers can help first-time investors. Paragon's return to lending is viewed as an important sign of renewed confidence, while a Hull landlord's seven-property portfolio illustrates the potential returns when rental demand and financing costs align.

Falling land prices and fears of a renewed housing downturn are increasing interest in self-building and major conversions in the UK. The article explains how to find land, secure specialist financing and receive mortgage funds in staged payments, noting that lenders typically cap borrowing at 75% of projected completed value and often require borrowers to fund land purchases upfront. Specialist products can offer higher loan-to-value ratios or advance payments but generally carry higher interest rates and fees. Self-building may cost around 30% less than buying an existing home and can provide stamp-duty and VAT advantages, but borrowers need planning approvals, insurance, professional reports and a substantial contingency reserve because project costs and valuations can diverge.

Banks and building societies are heavily restricting 90 per cent loan-to-value mortgages despite publicly promoting them to first-time buyers. One major lender reportedly rejects as many as 90 per cent of applicants, with automated credit scoring disadvantaging people who lack a borrowing history as well as those with small deposits. Multiple applications can further damage applicants’ credit prospects, while upfront fees may be lost after rejection. Smaller building societies and mortgage brokers may improve acceptance chances because they can assess applications more individually. Lending data show that first-time-buyer mortgage volumes remain well below pre-credit-crunch levels, as higher capital requirements and risk concerns encourage lenders to favour borrowers with larger deposits.

Falling house prices, forced sales and repossessions are causing mortgage valuations to come in substantially below homeowners’ expectations. Repossessed properties sold at auction for as much as 50% below their peak value are distorting comparable-sales data and dragging valuations of open-market homes down by up to 30%, despite average prices falling by about 15% since their 2007 peak. The shortage of normal transactions is also producing major differences between house-price indices. Lower valuations can push borrowers into more expensive loan-to-value bands, eliminate access to competitive fixed-rate mortgages, and make remortgaging impossible above 90% LTV. Brokers say borrowers may increasingly find it less costly to remain with their existing lender and move onto its standard variable rate.

Borrowers approaching the end of fixed mortgage deals are advised not to accept the first offer without checking fees, switching penalties, completion deadlines and the effect of further interest-rate changes. Although reserving a deal early can protect borrowers from lenders withdrawing or repricing products, upfront valuation or product fees may be lost if they switch. Falling house prices may also leave some borrowers unable to refinance and forced onto their lender's standard variable rate, which has become more competitive but offers no payment certainty. Too many mortgage applications can damage credit prospects, while broker access may exclude some of the cheapest direct-only deals. A south London couple illustrates the value of securing an affordable rate while remaining flexible as market conditions evolve.

First-time buyers remain locked out of home ownership because mortgage lending has tightened while house prices remain unaffordable. The UK Government’s Rent Now Buy Later scheme would let households earning under £60,000 rent at a discount while saving for a deposit, but critics argue that the savings are too small and the shortage of lenders remains unresolved. Other initiatives, including New Build HomeBuy and My Choice HomeBuy, offer shared ownership or equity loans, yet they involve limited lender availability and exposure to falling prices. Weakness in the housebuilding sector and uncertainty over government purchases of unsold homes further complicate efforts to expand affordable housing.

Mortgage lenders are increasingly using internal customer profiles alongside credit scores to predict borrower behavior and decide who receives preferential refinancing offers. The practice is legal and permitted under the Financial Services Authority’s Treating Customers Fairly framework, but critics warn it may disadvantage younger borrowers and people with low incomes or limited home equity by pushing them onto standard variable rates averaging 7.2%. Existing borrowers may still find competitive retention deals, while others can remortgage elsewhere, although falling property valuations may limit access to the cheapest rates. A mortgage-rate hedging product also offers borrowers protection while they wait to refinance.

UK banks are introducing detailed creditworthiness assessments that could prevent some homeowners from securing new mortgage deals when fixed-rate terms expire. Borrowers with low incomes, little home equity or weaker credit profiles may be moved to more expensive standard variable-rate mortgages, while wealthier and lower-risk customers are more likely to receive competitive offers. The average standard variable rate is reported at 7.2%, which would add £328 a month to repayments on a £200,000 mortgage compared with a 4.5% rate.