In a speech, party leader Sir Ed Davey called for a new legal duty to limit the time patients wait to be admitted, transferred or discharged after arriving in A&E. The Lib Dems say their plan would be funded by scrapping a UK-US pharmaceuticals deal, which could see the NHS pay billions more for drugs. The…
Recipes
Why Orange Juice Has Become a Breakfast Luxury — and What It Says About Food Prices
There has been a sharp shift at British breakfast tables, and it’s not just a matter of taste. Orange juice — once a cheap, everyday staple — has quietly become one of the fastest-rising items in the weekly shop. Just five years ago, a litre of own-label orange juice could be picked up for around 76p….
Why Poundland Is Struggling Even as Shoppers Feel the Cost-of-Living Squeeze
At first glance, it feels like a contradiction. During a cost-of-living crisis, budget retailers should be thriving. Yet Poundland has quietly closed or earmarked more than 100 stores for closure since the summer, following its sale for a nominal £1 amid what the business described as “challenging trading conditions”. When its turnaround plan is complete, Poundland expects to be left with around…
Why 20mph Feels So Hard to Stick To Behind the Wheel
New figures highlight just how widespread speeding has become on 20mph roads — and they suggest the issue goes far deeper than impatience or carelessness. According to data from the Department for Transport, 76% of drivers exceeded the 20mph speed limit in 2024. By comparison, 43% of cars exceeded 30mph limits, and 44% went over 70mph on motorways. On…
Why the NHS Is Still Wasting Billions on Hospital Beds Patients No Longer Need
The NHS is continuing to lose hundreds of millions of pounds every month because thousands of patients remain in hospital despite no longer needing acute medical care, according to the latest figures from NHS England. Current data suggests that more than 13,000 people in England have completed their treatment but are still occupying hospital beds. Across the rest of the…
Keir Starmer Launches New Initiative to Improve Children’s Health With Focus on School Food
Keir Starmer has announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at improving the health of children across the UK, with a strong emphasis on the quality of food served in schools. The Prime Minister unveiled the plans at a reception held at 10 Downing Street, where representatives from government, education and food-related sectors were brought…
KFC UK Prices: 1985 vs Today
Single Items • 1 piece of Original Recipe chicken • 1985: ~65p • Now (2025): ~£2.20–£2.50 • Increase: ~3.5–4x • Regular fries • 1985: ~45p • Now: ~£2.00–£2.30 • Increase: ~4–5x Meals • 3-piece chicken meal (with fries) • 1985: ~£1.85 • Now: ~£8.50–£9.50 • Increase: ~5x • Zinger-style burger meal (modern equivalent) • 1985: Didn’t exist (burgers were limited) • Now: ~£8.99–£9.99 Family Bucket • 8-piece…
New Restrictions on Junk Food Advertising Begin Across TV and Online Platforms
New rules limiting how junk food is advertised on television and online have now come into force, marking a major shift in the UK’s approach to tackling childhood obesity. From this week, food and drink products that are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) can no longer be advertised on TV before the 9pm watershed, nor…
What McDonald’s Actually Sold in the UK in the 1980s — With Real Prices
McDonald’s UK menus in the 1980s were far smaller than today, but prices, portions, and ingredients were very different — and we know roughly what customers paid. By 1984–1986, a typical UK McDonald’s menu looked like this: • Hamburger: ~45p • Cheeseburger: ~55p • Quarter Pounder with Cheese: ~£1.05 • Big Mac: ~£1.15 • French Fries (regular): ~45p • Milkshake (strawberry/chocolate/vanilla): ~55–60p…
One hundred and eighty years after the first fax machines started grinding out messages, three NHS trusts in England are still using the technology.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting had made it his personal mission to banish the fax, pledging to Radio 5 Live in October 2024 that he would phase them out of the health service within a year. Now he has returned with an update – and it is not quite mission accomplished. “I’m happy to report that…
Flu on the rise again after Christmas mixing, says NHS
Health officials say cases of seasonal flu are increasing across the UK following festive gatherings and travel over the Christmas period, with the NHS urging people to take precautions as winter illnesses circulate more widely. According to data released by health services, flu activity — which had dipped slightly in recent weeks — has begun to climb…
What KFC Cost in the UK in the 1980s — Prices That Feel Almost Impossible Now
In the 1980s, eating at KFC in the UK was firmly positioned as a proper treat, not an everyday convenience. Like McDonald’s at the time, prices were low by modern standards but high enough to make a visit feel special — especially for families. A piece of original recipe chicken typically cost around 60–80p, depending on location and year….
Walkers Beef Wellington Crisps Reduced to 25p at Sainsbury’s as Shoppers Spot Clearance Bargain
Shoppers browsing the crisp aisle at Sainsbury’s have spotted a major clearance deal on Walkers Succulent Beef Wellington flavour crisps, with the 5-pack (5 x 25g) scanning at just 25p in some stores. The limited-edition flavour, inspired by the classic British dish, was originally part of Walkers’ seasonal range and is now being heavily reduced as supermarkets clear space for…
What Working at McDonald’s UK in the 1980s Was Really Like
Working at McDonald’s in the UK during the 1980s was a very different experience from today’s fast-paced, tech-driven operation. For many teenagers and young adults, it was their first job — structured, demanding, and surprisingly formal. Uniforms were strict and unmistakable. Staff wore stiff shirts, paper hats or visors, and polished shoes, all designed to…
Why McDonald’s UK Play Areas and Birthday Parties in the 1980s Feel Unbelievable Now
In the 1980s, McDonald’s UK wasn’t just somewhere to eat — it was somewhere children were actively encouraged to stay. Long before concerns about safety, hygiene or screen time, many restaurants were built around the idea that McDonald’s was a destination for families, not a pit stop. Play areas were a major part of this….
What McDonald’s Cost in the UK When It Opened in 1974
When McDonald’s opened its first UK restaurant in Woolwich, London, in 1974, the menu was small and prices were deliberately kept low to attract British customers unfamiliar with American fast food. Here’s what customers typically paid: Burgers • Hamburger – around 18–20p • Cheeseburger – around 22–25p • Big Mac – approximately 45–50p At the time, the Big Mac was considered a premium item…
What McDonald’s UK Actually Cost in the 1980s — Prices That Feel Unreal Now
In the 1980s, McDonald’s UK prices were low by today’s standards, but they still carried weight. A visit wasn’t automatic, and most families knew roughly what everything cost before they reached the counter. A hamburger typically cost around 35–45p, while a cheeseburger was usually 45–55p. These weren’t impulse add-ons — children often ordered just one, sometimes sharing fries rather than buying…
The Desserts on UK McDonald’s Menus in the 1980s That Feel Almost Unthinkable Today
Desserts at UK McDonald’s in the 1980s were far less restrained than what customers see today. Long before calorie counts on menu boards or widespread concern about sugar intake, desserts were designed to be indulgent, comforting and clearly positioned as a proper treat. Soft-serve ice cream was one of the biggest draws. It was creamier,…
The UK’s McDonald’s Items From the 1980s That Would Never Survive Today
McDonald’s UK in the 1980s was a very different place to what we know now. Long before calorie counts on menus, allergen charts, or social media backlash, the chain experimented freely with items that felt indulgent, excessive, or simply strange by today’s standards. Looking back, many of these products feel almost unthinkable in the modern…
Ambrosia Gingerbread Custard Reduced to 40p at Sainsbury’s as Shoppers Spot Major Clearance Deal
Sainsbury’s shoppers have been quick to share a standout clearance find after Ambrosia Gingerbread Flavour Custard (400g) was spotted reduced to just 40p, down from its usual price of £1.60. The festive custard, which is typically released as a limited-edition seasonal product, has appeared on clearance shelves in a number of stores as supermarkets make room for new stock….