The government is said to debating whether to scrap the need for annual MOT checks in order to help ease the cost of living.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a cabinet meeting on Tuesday where he was said to have asked his team to come up with some “innovative” ideas to ease the pressure on household finances amid the rising cost of living crisis that do not require government spending, and it is understood that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps posed idea of moving from an annual vehicle check to every two years, reports The Telegraph and Sky News.
The proposed change to move to biennial MOTs could save motorists up to £55 annually, according to reports.
MOT checks can often cost up to £54.85, with necessary repair bills on top.
When asked about the annual cost of an MOT during the Transport Select Committee meeting at the House of Commons, Mr Shapps refused to rule out a move to two-year checks, but did say that any changes would need to meet a “very rigorous safety standard”.
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He continued: “I don’t rule anything out.
The proposed change to move to biennial MOTs could save motorists up to £55 annually / Credit: Flickr
“If you look at things like MOTs, cars have clearly become a lot more reliable than when the MOT, named after the Ministry of Transport, was put in place [and while] I think it’s always right to keep these things under review, there’s a lot of road to cover before we get to that point.”
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Mr Shapps added: “I’m always looking at things that can assist, but I’m certainly not in a position to make specific announcements about those things.”
Following the cabinet meeting, it is understood that not all ministers supported the idea of moving to biennial MOT checks, with Transport Select Committee member, Karl McCartney, telling Mr Shapps he thought it was “an absolutely crap idea”.
On top of that, some industry experts – most-notablly including motoring body, the AA – have also issued warnings that a move to two-year checks could lead to higher repair bills for drivers who do not catch problems early enough.
MOT checks can often cost up to £54.85, with necessary repair bills on top / Credit: Jimmy Nilsson Masth (via Unsplash)
The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson has confirmed that ministers talked through “a number of ideas” to ease the pressure on household finances during the cabinet meeting earlier this week.
These ideas will now “feed in to a more formal process”.
This comes after Number 10 announced that the Prime Minister will chair a committee with the aim of tackling the cost of living crisis “in the next couple of weeks”, as millions of people in Britain are facing an increase in energy bills, council tax, National Insurance, and are feeling the effects of inflation having hit a 30-year-high of 7% earlier this month.
Dame Sarah Storey is going on Strictly Come Dancing 2026
Danny Jones
Record-breaking local athlete and Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, is set to become the latest to join the Strictly Come Dancing annals.
With the Strictly cast for 2026 steadily being unveiled, we always keep an eye out for the Greater Manchester names in particular.
That being said, we’re buzzing to see the hugely successful Stockport swimmer turned cyclist will be swapping her Team GB kit for sparkly, sequined ballroom gowns and an entirely different type of sport and fitness.
Announced on Friday, 17 July, Storey is the seventh celebrity to be confirmed for the 24th series of the hit BBC show and dancing competition.
Having represented her country not only at nine Paralympics but across two different disciplines after switching to the racing bike back in 2005, she’s our most decorated competitor in the entire history of the Games with 30 medals to her name – 19 of which are gold.
Absolute GOAT levels.
But now the Cheadle Hulme-born is once again set to show her versatility to see how she fares on the dance floor later this year.
Commenting ahead of the new-look season which starts this September, the 48-year-old said: “Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.
“I have always loved watching Strictly, and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!”
This latest sea-change comes not long after the local legend and sporting icon officially announced her retirement from professional sport more than three decades on from first bursting onto the scene.
Thank you for taking the time to leave all the incredible messages. It’s so wonderful to read them and thank you for being the greatest supporters 🥰
— Dame Sarah Storey (@DameSarahStorey) July 9, 2026
What a career she’s had; it obviously didn’t take her long to get tired of sitting still for once, either.
She will be joined by the likes of Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer and Will Best.
In case you missed it, the upcoming edition of Strictly Come Dancing will be the first since Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and pro dancer Johannes Radebe stepping in as replacements.
In other starring Stockport news, we’ve finally got more info on the final season of a popular programme filmed in the area. Find out more down below.
Two more people arrested as investigation into Dovestone Reservoir moorland fire continues
Emily Sergeant
Two more people have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the devastating moorland fire near Dovestone Reservoir.
Yesterday (16 July 2026), a 19-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of arson and has been bailed pending further police enquiries, before a man in his 20s has today (17 July) been arrested on suspicion of arson, and remains in custody for questioning.
These follow the arrest and subsequent charging of 20-year-old Shania Care-Slede, from Hyde.
Care-Slede has been charged with aggravated arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and dangerous driving, and was remanded in custody before appearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court this past Tuesday (14 July).
After the blaze broke out this past Saturday evening (11 July) at the popular beauty spot in Oldham, prompting a major multi-agency response, fire crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) have been working around the clock in challenging conditions to contain the fire and prevent further spread across the moorland.
Specialist wildfire resources, command support units, drone technology, and partner agencies have also been deployed as operations continue across multiple sectors of the incident.
To make matters worse, ‘strong’ winds carried smoke across parts of Greater Manchester – with reports of haze and the smell of burning being received from areas well beyond the immediate vicinity of the fire.
With three major arrests having already now been made, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) says its officers are continuing to pursue a number of lines of enquiry and are seeking to identify any other individuals who may have been involved.
“This investigation has been progressing at pace, we are nearly a week on and the fire at Dovestones is still ongoing, and it has had devastating effects it has had on the Reservoir,” commented Detective Inspector Andrew Day, of GMP’s Oldham division said.
“As this incident continues, officers would like to thank all emergency service partners for their support and dedication.
“In particular, our colleagues at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, whose firefighters have spent countless hours tackling the fire in demanding conditions.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th April 2022 
