National government

Only four fixed energy deals currently beat the October price cap, with the cheapest tariffs just 2% lower.

Cheaper energy deals are vanishing as wholesale prices surge and bills tipped to rise

Nick Tenconi, UKIP leader, speaking into a microphone addressing marchers

Nick Tenconi, UKIP leader, speaking into a microphone addressing marchers

Taunton protesters feel 'frustration' in latest town centre clash

Howard's in Taunton's Independent Quarter

Howard's in Taunton's Independent Quarter

Four Somerset employers named and shamed for minimum wage breaches

Floodwater on the Somerset Levels at Burrowbridge

Floodwater on the Somerset Levels at Burrowbridge

Environment Agency "victim of its own success" over Somerset flood pumping

Taunton MP Gideon Amos was the only Somerset representative who voted against the legislation.

Taunton MP Gideon Amos was the only Somerset representative who voted against the legislation.

How every Somerset MP voted on assisted dying bill

Staff at a Somerset pharmacy

Staff at a Somerset pharmacy

One in three Somerset pharmacies have no private consultation rooms

China Star on St John Street in Bridgwater

China Star on St John Street in Bridgwater

Chinese takeaway

Popular Chinese takeaway fined £80,000 for hiring illegal workers

Crystal Kebabs Taunton after it closed.

Crystal Kebabs Taunton after it closed.

Taunton kebab shop fined £40,000 for employing 'illegal workers'

The Bridgwater Holiday Inn is one of several hotels across the county that are no longer be housing asylum seekers

The Bridgwater Holiday Inn is one of several hotels across the county that are no longer be housing asylum seekers

Number of asylum seekers in Somerset hotels falls from 220 to just three

Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos in the House of Commons

Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos in the House of Commons

Taunton MP reprimanded in Parliament for seeking answers on Crown Court delays

Staff and students at The Sky Academy celebrate their positive Ofsted outcome

Staff and students at The Sky Academy celebrate their positive Ofsted outcome

Taunton school praised as ‘inclusive, warm and nurturing’ by Ofsted

Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke with Councillors Mike Stanton and Bill Revans in Langport during the floods of early-2026

Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke with Councillors Mike Stanton and Bill Revans in Langport during the floods of early-2026

Somerset urged to spend £50m on flood defence maintenance

Somerset Council's headquarters at County Hall on The Crescent in Taunton

Somerset Council's headquarters at County Hall on The Crescent in Taunton

Somerset Council rejects Reform UK claim of future devolution 'tax grab'

Martin Lewis from Money Saving Expert has highlighted a key issue as HMRC is sending 311,000 letters to people who could be missing Home Responsibilities Protection, with successful claims averaging £8,000 in pension arrears.

Martin Lewis from Money Saving Expert has highlighted a key issue as HMRC is sending 311,000 letters to people who could be missing Home Responsibilities Protection, with successful claims averaging £8,000 in pension arrears.

Department for Works and Pensions

HMRC writing to 311,000 people over a State Pension boost – you could be owed £8,000

Council tax could face a major overhaul if England follows Wales with a property revaluation, potentially changing the bands and bills households pay.

Council tax could face a major overhaul if England follows Wales with a property revaluation, potentially changing the bands and bills households pay.

Council tax shake-up could change what millions pay as England homes face revaluation

Pensioners have just one week to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment if they do not want to receive it.

Pensioners have just one week to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment if they do not want to receive it.

Winter Fuel Payment warning as pensioners face deadline next week

Local government

Letter: New housing estates lack infrastructure and threaten land

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as a petition calling for the Personal Tax Allowance to rise to £18,000 has attracted 68,455 signatures, but the September 30 deadline is approaching.

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as a petition calling for the Personal Tax Allowance to rise to £18,000 has attracted 68,455 signatures, but the September 30 deadline is approaching.

Thousands back bid to raise HMRC personal allowance to £18,000 as deadline looms

MP demands Andy Burnham bring forward new Musgrove Park maternity unit

Adam Dance: The government must act on Bluetongue testing delays

Millions face a longer wait for their State Pension as the age rises to 67 by 2028.

Millions face a longer wait for their State Pension as the age rises to 67 by 2028.

Department for Work and Pensions

State Pension age rises to 67 - who will be hit hardest as retirement age goes up?

Could you have £2,000 sitting untouched? The forgotten savings pots millions of young adults may be entitled to

Could you have £2,000 sitting untouched? The forgotten savings pots millions of young adults may be entitled to

The forgotten £2,000 savings pot with your name on - and how to claim it

Tops Day Nurseries is based at Musgrove Park Hospital

Tops Day Nurseries is based at Musgrove Park Hospital

Taunton nursery celebrates 'fantastic' achievement under new Ofsted standards

Around 230 counter-protestors gathered at the weekend as trade unions, activists and political figures came together.

Around 230 counter-protestors gathered at the weekend as trade unions, activists and political figures came together.

Avon and Somerset Police

Taunton anti-racism group says counter-demonstration sent ‘strong message’

PM Andy Burnham has pledged to look into the possibility of bringing forward the new maternity unit at Musgrove Park following a question from Taunton MP Gideon Amos yesterday

PM Andy Burnham has pledged to look into the possibility of bringing forward the new maternity unit at Musgrove Park following a question from Taunton MP Gideon Amos yesterday

Prime Minister pledges to look into Musgrove Park maternity unit delays

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as more than one million pensioners are now paying income tax at 40% or more, with the number doubling in just five years, new HMRC figures reveal.

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as more than one million pensioners are now paying income tax at 40% or more, with the number doubling in just five years, new HMRC figures reveal.

Pensioners face shock HMRC tax bill as higher-rate numbers double

Councillors Richard Wilkins, Cara Strom and Mandy Chilcott at the B3191 Cleeve Hill protest in Watchet

Councillors Richard Wilkins, Cara Strom and Mandy Chilcott at the B3191 Cleeve Hill protest in Watchet

Coastal Erosion

Locals unite to demand reopening of vital coastal road closed since 2023

Protesters and counter-protesters confront each other in the town centre.

Protesters and counter-protesters confront each other in the town centre.

Avon and Somerset Police

IN PICTURES: Taunton protestors clash over immigration

Far-right leader Paul Golding (L) joining the rally against 'illegal immigration' in town

Far-right leader Paul Golding (L) joining the rally against 'illegal immigration' in town

Avon and Somerset Police

Far-right leader in Taunton as rival protests take over town

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as a petition calling for the £12,570 Personal Allowance to rise to £18,000 has attracted nearly 65,000 signatures.

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as a petition calling for the £12,570 Personal Allowance to rise to £18,000 has attracted nearly 65,000 signatures.

Thousands join call to raise HMRC tax free Personal Allowance to £18,000

Around 1m people could be owed pension cash, but fears are growing that HMRC letters will be mistaken for scams and binned.

Around 1m people could be owed pension cash, but fears are growing that HMRC letters will be mistaken for scams and binned.

The HMRC letter you should not throw in the bin - urgent warning about 1m letters

Gideon Amos is pictured attending a counter-protest in Taunton this summer

Gideon Amos is pictured attending a counter-protest in Taunton this summer

Gideon Amos: The EU could be crucial to stopping small boat crossings

Tonedale Mill in Wellington, seen from Fox's Field

Tonedale Mill in Wellington, seen from Fox's Field

Adult social care

Funding to be taken from historic mill's regeneration and given to new hospital

The Edithmead roundabout connects Highbridge to junction 22 of the M5

The Edithmead roundabout connects Highbridge to junction 22 of the M5

Year-long upgrade of road near key M5 junction in Somerset to take place

New coins with King Charles' portrait are being issued in response to increased demand for the 10p denomination

New coins with King Charles' portrait are being issued in response to increased demand for the 10p denomination

King Charles III

Millions of new coins with King Charles' portrait heading into circulation

Ms Gilmour has spoken out after Ofwat provisionally approved a £3.4bn spending increase for water companies

Ms Gilmour has spoken out after Ofwat provisionally approved a £3.4bn spending increase for water companies

Ofwat faces fresh criticism from Somerset MP amid hosepipe ban

Ms Gilmour has welcomed the government’s decision to remove weekday time restrictions on disabled bus passes

Ms Gilmour has welcomed the government’s decision to remove weekday time restrictions on disabled bus passes

Bus pass rule changes for disabled people welcomed by West Somerset MP

Artist's impression of phase two of the Monkton Heathfield urban extension in Taunton

Artist's impression of phase two of the Monkton Heathfield urban extension in Taunton

Fewer decisions on Somerset housing plans to be taken in public after Hallowe'en

Ceremony for the improved ticket office at Castle Cary railway station

Ceremony for the improved ticket office at Castle Cary railway station

Key facility at Somerset railway station restored after £835,000 investment

Tiverton and Minehead MP Rachel Gilmour at the terminus of the West Somerset Railway in Minehead

Tiverton and Minehead MP Rachel Gilmour at the terminus of the West Somerset Railway in Minehead

'New Devon station gives hope for Somerset railway future', says MP

Child Benefit payments could stop for parents who fail to extend claims by August 31. You don't need to wait for results day to apply.

Child Benefit payments could stop for parents who fail to extend claims by August 31. You don't need to wait for results day to apply.

HMRC Child Benefit warning for parents as payments could stop this month

Newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as HMRC has refunded more than £50m to around 12,500 pension savers.

Newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey as HMRC has refunded more than £50m to around 12,500 pension savers.

HMRC pays back almost £4,000 each to thousands of pension savers after new guidance

Michael Dunk in the garden of his home in Frome

Michael Dunk in the garden of his home in Frome

Ex-Somerset councillor jailed over M25 Just Stop Oil protest on why he did it

There's a fresh DWP warning for pensioners and benefits claimants as August payment date changes

There's a fresh DWP warning for pensioners and benefits claimants as August payment date changes

DWP warning for pensioners and benefits claimants as August payment date changes

Green Focus: Why is the government not doing more to stop climate change?

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has warned water companies they cannot treat customers as a “blank cheque” as five firms are given provisional approval for £3.4bn more spending.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has warned water companies they cannot treat customers as a “blank cheque” as five firms are given provisional approval for £3.4bn more spending.

Andy Burnham issues fresh warning to water firms over rising bills

David Crew, managing director of Somerset Chamber of Commerce

David Crew, managing director of Somerset Chamber of Commerce

Somerset Chamber backs government plans to limit illegal traders

Households near new pylons could get £2,500 off energy bills. See the full list of 43 projects and areas expected to qualify from 2027.

Households near new pylons could get £2,500 off energy bills. See the full list of 43 projects and areas expected to qualify from 2027.

Homes near new pylons could get £2,500 off energy bills - full list of areas revealed

It's one of 13 hotels across the country that will no longer be housing asylum seekers and can be

It's one of 13 hotels across the country that will no longer be housing asylum seekers and can be

Somerset Holiday Inn used to house asylum seekers to close, government says

Somerset Council's headquarters at County Hall on The Crescent in Taunton.

Somerset Council's headquarters at County Hall on The Crescent in Taunton.

Liberal Democrats

Sorting Somerset Council's finances like 'picking up rice pudding in your hands'

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner (left) meet with local business owners during a visit to The Hub cafe in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, as part of his tour of the UK.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner (left) meet with local business owners during a visit to The Hub cafe in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, as part of his tour of the UK.

Energy bill warning as Government urged to make major change this year

Letter: Andy Burnham's social care talk has me feeling optimistic

The Bruton Dam following heavy rainfall

The Bruton Dam following heavy rainfall

Major upgrade of Somerset dam begins but fears over flooding remain

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced plans to crack down on vape shops and betting stores.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced plans to crack down on vape shops and betting stores.

Government announces crackdown on betting and vape shops to revitalise high streets