Your Local Information Microportal

1. How to stop procrastinating. Procrastination might feel like an unavoidable part of modern life, especially when you’re juggling competing priorities, but it doesn’t have to run the show. The truth is, putting things off usually creates more stress in the long run, not less. If you’re ready to reclaim your time and energy, it starts with a few simple mindset and habit shifts. READ MORE

2. Starmer’s first year. A year after Keir Starmer’s landslide win, Labour’s early optimism has faded. Despite a 174-seat majority and promises of change, the party faces deep internal divisions, dire polling, and a wavering Prime Minister. Starmer’s detachment, policy U-turns, and failure to articulate a clear vision have weakened his authority. Meanwhile, key figures like Rachel Reeves have struggled to win business confidence, and Labour’s communication of achievements - such as reduced NHS waiting lists and wage increases - has been poor. Internal blame games, controversies over freebies, and confusion over key speeches have compounded the drift. While Starmer performs well internationally, at home he risks looking like a placeholder, not a leader. Unless Labour sharpens its focus and delivers results, its 2029 hopes may already be slipping away. Editor

3.  Companies House reform scrapped. The government has officially scrapped upcoming Companies House reforms that were set to increase reporting requirements for small and micro businesses. Originally passed in 2023 under the previous Conservative government, the reforms would have required firms to publicly disclose profit and loss statements starting in 2027. Business groups strongly opposed the changes, warning they would create unnecessary costs, bureaucracy, and disruption for smaller enterprises. The reversal comes as part of a broader effort to reduce red tape and support business growth. Leaders across sectors are welcoming the move as a step toward a more business-friendly environment, especially at a time when many smaller firms are navigating economic uncertainty. This decision reflects the growing focus on easing regulatory burdens for entrepreneurs and SMEs. Editor

4. Government launches parental leave review. The government has launched a "landmark" review of parental leave and pay, with a goal of reforming the maternity, paternity and shared parental system. The business secretary admitted that the current system "is not particularly generous or supportive compared to other countries". Statutory maternity leave is currently 90% of a mother or birthing parent's average weekly earnings for the first six weeks; for the subsequent 33 weeks, that pay goes down to the 90% figure or £187.18 a week, whichever is lower. Fathers and second parents, meanwhile, are entitled to the 90% figure of £187.18 a week, whichever is lower, for just two weeks. The review will take 18 months to present its findings. The Guardian

5. Strong public support for Lords reform. A new YouGov poll shows overwhelming public backing for deeper reform of the House of Lords than the government currently proposes. Just 3% support the plan to remove only hereditary peers, while 56% want limits on how many life peers a prime minister can appoint. Labour pledged to reduce the size of the Lords, but ministers have resisted proposed amendments. The government says the current bill isn’t the right vehicle for wider reform - yet continues appointing life peers, which undermines its own aims. Personally, I support a fully elected upper chamber, capped at 100 senators. In a modern democracy, this would bring much-needed legitimacy, accountability, and efficiency to the legislative process. Do you support replacing the House of Lords with a fully elected chamber? VOTE HERE

6. Channel crossings record. A record 19,982 migrants arrived in the UK by crossing the English Channel in small boats during the first six months of this year, according to Home Office figures. This marks a 48% increase compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting a sharp rise in the number of small boat crossings. Of that total, 1,464 people crossed last weekend, highlighting the continued urgency of the issue. In response, the British and French governments are in discussions over new deterrent measures. Among the proposals being considered is a potential bilateral agreement under which the UK would return migrants who cross the Channel to France, in exchange for taking in a set number of asylum seekers from France with family links in Britain. Reuters

7. AI frenzy sparks bubble fears. Artificial intelligence is changing the unwritten rules of value investment. AI startups are able to attract vast amounts of funds without needing to prove they can make money or even present a strategy first. Thinking Machines Lab, founded just a few months ago, is already valued at $10bn (€8.5bn; £7.3bn), while Perplexity, a loss-making web search engine, has a valuation 400 times greater than last year's revenue. While investors clearly see AI as a potential goldmine, relentless competition and the difficulty to predict a winner at this early stage means plenty of seed money could go up in smoke. The Economist

8. US tourism to Europe is booming. Europe could see record crowds this holiday season, as US tourists travel to Europe en masse while Europeans increasingly prefer to vacation on their own continent. The number of Americans flying to Europe is already up 6% over last year, and Eurostar train bookings by US holidaymakers climbed 45% for June and July. Locals in Barcelona, Santorini and Venice say the influx of tourists is driving up their rents. Hotel chains, meanwhile, are scrambling to add locations in Europe to accommodate demand; Hilton alone plans to open 65 new hotels on the continent this year. Financial Times

9. Amazon robots outnumber humans. Amazon warehouses are now using more than one million machines, while robots could soon outnumber humans. For employees, the robots save physical labour and repetitive tasks; plus, those who've trained to manage the machines can make a lot more money. Of course, "there will be fewer people doing some of the jobs" that robots can handle, said CEO Andy Jassy. And that's already bearing out: Amazon averaged 670 employees per facility last year - the lowest number in 16 years, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. Wall Street Journal

10. The bottom line. 17 British companies that trialled a four-day week all opt for a permanent switch to fewer hours for the same pay. The six-month trial, involving a total of nearly 1,000 employees, found that a shorter working week had a positive impact on employee morale without damaging productivity. BBC