Owning a pet is becoming more expensive than ever before, and not just because inflation is pushing up the price of pet food, grooming services and kennels – although these are contributing factors. Independent vet surgeries up and down the country have been bought out by private equity-backed chains, with prices skyrocketing as a result. Many people have found they simply can’t afford to foot the bill for their pet’s illnesses and accidents. This has in turn sent annual pet insurance...

Hundreds of thousands of women could receive state pension backpayments worth thousands of pounds after a landmark ruling this week. Married women who reached state pension age before April 2016 are entilted to 60pc of their husband’s basic state pension rate when he retires. However, prior to 2008, women had to claim this money themselves. The Department for Work and Pensions has already paid millions of pounds back to women who did not automatically receive the upgrade to their...