UK economy heading for ‘soft landing’ says IMF, in warning against tax cuts – as it happened

The IMF has delivered its verdict on the UK economy, and signalling its opposition to pre-election tax cuts from Jeremy Hunt

• IMF tells UK not to cut taxes as it warns over 30bn fiscal hole

Pennon Group, the water compay behind the waterborne disease outbreak in Devon, has raised its dividend payout for the last year.

Pennon, which owns South West Water, Bristol Water and Bournemouth Water, is handing shareholders dividends worth 126.9m for the last financial year, or 135 more than the 111.7m paid out for 2022-2023.

Whilst the results we are announcing today are based on our performance for the last financial year, we are 100% focused on returning a safe water supply to the people and businesses in and around Brixham. Normal service has returned for 85% of customers, but we won't stop until the local drinking water is returned to the quality all our customers expect and deserve. Our absolute priority continues to be the health and safety of our customers and our operational teams are working tirelessly around the clock to deliver this.