FiftyFourandCounting

@gmpolice someone has been setting of loads of fireworks around Whitefield near Park Lane at quarter past midnight.. disgraceful .. like a war zone

@JamesTCobbler congrats on the new role James. Would love to catch up someday. It’s an area of great interest to me.

@SkyNews you just showed a flood alert map.. at last this confirms what I have always said .. it rarely rains in Sunny Manchester!

@MartinSLewis which method to heat a home is cheapest? Gas or electric? Is it cheaper to heat the whole house or just the rooms as and when you need them? Finally which is cheaper, to heat the lounge with gas or a Dyson style heater? Would love to know and love the show.

@KayBurley your stop oil guest claimed that young people are on remand. No one is held on remand without cause. If they have a history of breaching bail, significant antecedent or there is a genuine risk they will commit further offences.

@SkyNews Frankly you and all media should be ashamed! You publicly hunted him down! Disgusting journalism.

BREAKING: The Sun has released a statement saying it is not planning to publish any further allegations about Huw Edwards. Live updates 👇

@SkyNews I’ve changed channel .. sick of listening to a monologue about the BBC all day .. for goodness sake!!! There is other news!!!!!!!!

@MartinSLewis I like your suggestions but I also think that all mortgages should be offer an offset mechanism so that for those that have any money elsewhere .. even their wages they have the right to offset interest. What do you think?

They can't say they weren't warned! Last Autumn, I raised an alarm about a coming potential mortgage ticking time bomb with millions facing huge bill-shock as their fixes end. So much so the Chancellor called a mortgage summit; sadly it was just a missed opportunity talking shop... I want to briefly bash out some thoughts on this. The summit in December was attended by the Chancellor, FCA chair, the bosses of UK's biggest banks and me (I'd asked for consumer charities & mortgage experts to attend too but that wasn't agreed - tho my team and I worked hard talking to charities and mortgage brokers before to collate ideas). My reason for suggesting the Chancellor took action was simple. We needed to prepare in case it rates rocketed - waiting for it to happen would be too late. Yet now, the time bomb has exploded, and we're scrambling about what to do. One of the big concerns I raised was that banks were increasing their margins - basically the gap between what lenders are charged and savers paid. That should (and still should) be tightened and political pressure needs applying to ensure either better mortgages or better savings or best, both. Other practical suggestions were not about radical change, but easy to agree forbearance and help measures to get people over the hump while they readjusted their finances. A range of methods such as payment holidays, payment reductions, lengthening the mortgage term were discussed, plus proactive communication with borrowers who look like they may be struggling and independent solid guidance about what people's options were if they were struggling. There were lots of nods from the bankers and many 'we do that alreadies', and indeed some extra customer communications did come out on the back. Yet real changes met push back - sometimes the banks both from banks and the FCA. For example 1. Any help options should be easily reversible on request. Eg if you extend your term, to reduce payments, when things improve you should have an automatic right to reduce the term. Knowing there is a reversibility option gets rid of a barrier to action - without reversibility people are scared to be locked into a longer mortgage (which means more interest). 2. It should have no or minimal impact on people's credit scores (as it did in the pandemic). Again negative credit file impact is a big barrier to action - as it leaves people reticent to make a decision, which can lead to snowballing problems. None of the suggestions have seen any real fruition. The attention faded, especially when rates didn't rise as sharply as first expected. Though we are now in exactly the situation that the whole meeting was meant to prepare for. Now I read about proposed 'forbearance' measures being looked at, it does feel as a shame the stable door is already closing...

@HSBC_UK is there an issue logging on to business banking via a browser?

I’m pro the whole monarchy thing. It brings kudos and trade to our United Kingdom. With someone at the top above politics and for the people it gives us a figurehead. That said, our late Queens wishes for Camilla to be known as Queen Consort I think is more than enough.

@MartinSLewis Tonight.. father in law in hospital A&E .. hooked up to a heart monitor. The alarm was going off .. said to the nurse .. “I think there is something wrong with the heart monitor! according to the display my father in law is dead, it’s flat lining … but he’s still chatting away!”

Today's Twitter Poll: When did you last fully laugh out loud - a proper full on laugh? (and do feel free to reply why, and like your favourites)

@MartinSLewis could you update your advice please re solar panels moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free…

Mantaray, Tel-Aviv, Israel – Amazing Food, Great Atmosphere and Location – But you’ll never guess who was behind me! fiftyfourandcounting.co.uk/wordpress/mant…

Ulises by Occre – A great challenge and satisfying model fiftyfourandcounting.co.uk/wordpress/ulis…

Lower Mill Estates – A luxury weekend set in idylic surroundings in the Cotswolds fiftyfourandcounting.co.uk/wordpress/lowe…

The Banshee of Irshine – A movie of epic proportions … I think not! fiftyfourandcounting.co.uk/wordpress/the-…

Tamiya Subaru Impreza WRX STi 24Hr Nurburgring kit - A great RC kit, with a satisfying finish fiftyfourandcounting.co.uk/wordpress/tami… via @54and_counting

Tamiya Subaru Impreza WRX STi 24Hr Nurburgring kit – A great RC kit, with a satisfying finish fiftyfourandcounting.co.uk/wordpress/tami…

@KayBurley Kay you would do well to be interviewed on tv by an independent journalist to explain @skynews review of how this story was handled and lessons learned. We all want news, and yes you and the team place yourself in the middle of the story, but to be singled out .. not good

The body of Nicola Bulley has been recovered from the River Wyre - Lancashire Police 😢

@elonmusk Your poll is flawed .. half think you are asking if he should be reinstated as President and the others if he should be allowed back on Twitter. Oh dear!

Reinstate former President Trump