Asda and Morrisons have each explained their decision to place purchase limits on some fruits and vegetables at stores across the UK.
Current adverse weather conditions in regions of southern Europe and northern Africa are unfortunately causing disruption to the growing of some crops – including tomatoes and peppers.
And with this, then added to that fact that production of some fruits and vegetables grown in British heated and covered buildings – such as cucumbers and tomatoes – was already falling, according to the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), you may have noticed that the fresh produce sections at your local supermarkets are looking a little more bare than usual.
The NFU warned earlier this week that a range of British vegetables were at risk of being rationed as farmers struggle with high energy costs amid the cost of living crisis.
“I think there are going to be challenges on availability of some food items,” NFU president Minette Batters conceded.
Now, that warning has become a reality at two of the country’s major supermarket chains.
Asda and Morrisons explain their decisions to restrict some fruit and veg sales / Credit: Asda & Morrisons
Asda announced yesterday that it has made the decision to temporarily limit the purchase of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower, and raspberries to three of each item per customer.
Morrisons followed suit by saying it would also introduce a limit of two items per customer across tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and peppers from today (Wednesday).
The two supermarket chains have now given further insight into their decisions to introduce the purchase limits, and address how long they believe the limits will be in place for – with a spokesperson for Asda saying: “Like other supermarkets, we are experiencing sourcing challenges on some products that are grown in southern Spain and North Africa.
“We have introduced a temporary limit of three of each product on a very small number of fruit and vegetable lines, so customers can pick up the products they are looking for.”
Purchase limits come into force today / Credit: Unsplash
Ms Batters revealed that the NFU believes that vegetables grown in fields, such as cauliflowers, potatoes, and purple sprouted broccoli, are the ones next likely to be impacted by production shortages due to weather conditions in growing regions.
Other British supermarkets are understood to be considering limits similar to Asda and Morrisons, although no other restrictions have been announced as of yet.
Featured Image – Aldi
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Manchester is working to make residents with terminal illnesses exempt from paying council tax
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is aiming to become one of the UK’s major cities to exempt its residents with terminal illnesses from paying council tax.
After Marie Curie’s recent ‘Dying in Poverty’ report found that around 42% of working age and 30% of pension-age residents in Manchester die while living in financial hardship, Manchester City Council has announced that it’ll be working together with the UK’s leading end of life charity to ensure that those with terminal illnesses become exempt from paying council tax.
The Council says addressing this ‘profoundly important issue’ is at the heart of a larger plan to support the most vulnerable residents in Manchester.
New proposals set out a plan for the Council to change its Discretionary Council Tax Policy (DCTP) to explicitly include a commitment to support people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
To become exempt, clinicians will need to fill out a form to confirm that a person has a progressive disease, and consequently is expected to pass away within a 12-month period.
Manchester is working to make residents with terminal illnesses exempt from paying council tax / Credit: gov.uk
Using DCTP, the Council will then make up the difference of any shortfall in council tax, so that in any situation where a member of the household qualifies – whether an adult, child or non-dependant – the household will have nothing to pay.
The support will then apply to the household’s council tax bill until the date of the persons death.
The Council will also be working to ensure that a ‘tell us once’ protocol is in place so that, in the event of a claimant’s passing, no undue burden will fall upon their family, and steps will also be in place to retain the discount for the remainder of the financial year to provide additional support for the passed person’s family.
Once delivered, it’s estimated that this scheme could support around 175 residents in Manchester – the majority of which would be of working age.
A new policy will ensure that people living will a terminal illness will no longer have to pay Council Tax. This is part of the Council’s wider aim to prevent people slipping into poverty, and support our city’s most vulnerable residents.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) June 25, 2025
“The moment when you or your family member gets the devastating news of terminal illness is heartbreaking,” commented Manchester City Council leader, Cllr Bev Craig, as the plans were announced this week.
“The last thing you need to worry about is money and bills, but we know for too many people it takes up too much time and stress.
“Too many people are living in poverty in our city… and that’s why we are exempting people with a terminal illness from council tax, alongside a wider package of support with the cost of living, doing everything in our power to ensure families have one less thing to worry about during such a difficult time.
“We want to thank Marie Curie for their vital work, and as a Council want to do all we can to ease the burden at the end of someone’s life.”
Featured Image – Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
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Hotspur Press to be part-demolished following catastrophic fire
Daisy Jackson
Manchester’s historic Hotspur Press will be partially demolished following the fire that tore through the building earlier this week.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said that part of the centuries-old mill would need to be pulled down to enable safe firefighting.
The Hotspur Press building stands just off Whitworth Street West behind Oxford Road train station, and previously operated as a printing press.
It later became a home for artist studios and creative spaces until officially becoming derelict in the late 2010s.
Despite standing empty, the magnificent old mill has been an iconic and oft-photographed landmark in Manchester, and one of only a handful left in the city centre.
But that huge fire on Monday evening has gutted the Hotspur Press, and now it will be ‘partially’ demolished.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Firefighters continue to work hard to bring the fire at Hotspur Press to a safe conclusion. Alongside Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Police and partners, a decision has now been made to partially demolish the Hotspur Press building over the coming days.
“This is to enable safe firefighting and excavation in areas that are currently inaccessible, mitigating any risk to life. This will also allow safe internal investigations to begin.”
Plans have been in place to turn The Hotspur Press into a student accommodation tower block, which had included a 35-storey student tower built out of the original mill facade.
The Manc has contacted property developers Manner, who own the Hotspur Press site, to see what will happen to the space following the blaze.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd February 2023 
