UK Enters Winter Time This Week, Snow Expected in October! Nearly 500 Firms Fined for Failing to Pay Minimum Wage! Chancellor Plans £1 Billion Budget Cut
- TBA
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
UK weather maps show the exact 3 consecutive days snow is forecast in October
The latest weather forecast shows that the UK is set to experience a cold snap and snowfall in October, with some areas possibly seeing snowfall of up to 2 cm per hour.
According to the UK Met Office’s long-range forecast for October 21 to October 30, the country will face “unsettled weather,” including continuous rain, showers, and occasional strong winds. As high pressure builds over the Atlantic and a low-pressure system develops to the east of the UK, northern regions are expected to experience colder and more showery weather.
Based on the latest weather charts from WX Charts, rain will cover most of the UK this week. Starting Sunday, October 26, snow is expected to first blanket Inverness and the Scottish Highlands, with snowfall rates possibly reaching 0.x cm per hour, continuing until 6 p.m. that evening.
After a short break, snowfall is forecast to return at 6 a.m. on October 27 and last until the morning of October 28, after which temperatures will temporarily rise again.
In terms of temperature, WX Charts predicts that on October 27, temperatures across much of the UK will drop to single digits, with some parts of Scotland falling to between 0°C and -1°C.
Additionally, at 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 26, the UK will turn clocks back one hour, officially shifting from British Summer Time (BST) to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) — signaling the official arrival of winter. Most smartphones, digital devices, and modern cars will automatically update the time.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) has been in use for over a century. Its purpose is to make better use of evening daylight and reduce energy consumption for lighting and heating. Different countries switch on different dates — for example, the United States will revert to standard time on November 2, while Egypt will do so on October 30.
Nearly 500 companies have been fined by the government for failing to pay employees the legally mandated minimum wage
The UK Department for Business and Trade recently released the results of its latest investigation, revealing that nearly 500 companies failed to pay employees the legal minimum wage and have been fined a total of £10.2 million.
Among the 491 companies named were major firms such as Centrica, the parent company of British Gas; health retail chain Holland & Barrett; and EG Group, co-founded by billionaire Issa Brothers.
According to the department, these companies failed over the years to pay about 42,000 workers the statutory National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage. All affected employees have since been fully compensated.
Based on the government’s investigation covering the period from 2018 to 2023, EG Group was the worst offender, underpaying 3,317 employees a total of £824,000—an average shortfall of around £250 per worker. Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, failed to pay £167,800 in wages to 356 employees, with an average shortfall of about £460 per person.
As of the end of March this year, the UK National Living Wage stood at £11.44 per hour and was raised to £12.21 from April. The minimum wage for employees aged 18 to 20 increased to £10 per hour, while apprentices and workers under 18 now earn £7.55 per hour.
UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle stated: “Every worker deserves fair pay. The government will not tolerate employers who underpay their staff. Our Plan to Make Work Pay will continue to hold rule-breaking companies accountable.”
The Department for Business and Trade had previously released another list in June, naming more than 500 companies that underpaid staff between 2015 and 2022 — including Pizza Express, Lidl, and British Airways.
Rachel Reeves plots £1bn cut to Motability scheme
According to British media reports, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is planning to cut tax exemptions for the Motability Scheme—a program that provides vehicles for people with disabilities—in the November budget. The proposed cuts would remove VAT (Value Added Tax) and Insurance Premium Tax exemptions, potentially saving the Treasury around £1 billion per year. In addition, luxury car brands such as Mercedes and BMW may be removed from the scheme.
Currently, the scheme provides leased vehicles to about 815,000 people who receive mobility allowances (mainly through Personal Independence Payment, or PIP), including around 40,000 luxury cars. Beneficiaries can use part of their welfare payments to lease these vehicles.
Disability rights organizations have strongly opposed the proposal. Transport for All, a disability transport advocacy group, stated: “Public transport in the UK is often inaccessible for disabled people—broken pavements, missing bus routes. This scheme enables us to work, shop, and take our children to school. Cutting it is taking away our freedom and placing additional financial pressure on disabled people across the country.”
The policy has already faced widespread criticism. Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch accused some people of exploiting the system by teaching others on social media how to “game” the scheme to get free cars.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately also commented: “Millions are claiming benefits by saying they suffer from anxiety or ADHD and are getting free cars. On TikTok, people are even selling ‘VIP services’ to help others increase their chances of approval.”
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has previously warned that Reeves must find at least £22 billion in the autumn budget, either through tax rises or spending cuts, to avoid a repeat of the “cycle of fiscal crises.” In response, a Treasury spokesperson said: “We do not comment on speculation about tax policy before the Budget.”
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