interest rates have been held at 5.25% for the seventh time in a row by the bank of england, despite the rate of inflation hitting the bank s target level of 2% for the time in three years. of 2% for the first time in three years. economists have predicted that interest rates, which are currently at a 16 year high, won t be cut until august. with more, here s our chief economics correspondent, dharshini david. ok, so it s four bedrooms. first time buyerjames has his eye on his dream home in coventry. but getting the keys to the door has been more challenging than expected as higher mortgage rates have made the first rung of the housing ladder harder to grasp. we definitely had to make some cutbacks as a couple and look at our financial plan to see if we could afford the mortgage. with the rates being high, we ve had to save for effectively another year to come into line with that. it s also understanding, yeah, the term of the mortgage, you know, from looking at it, it s now
veterans are financially award is now being considered by the government. lgbt and identity correspondent lauren moss reports. the ban on lgbt people serving in our military until the year 2000 was an appalling failure of the british state. it s an apology they ve waited decades for. many endured the most horrific sexual abuse and violence, homophobic bullying and harassment, all while bravely serving this country. today, on behalf of the british state, i apologise. an apology that means everything to those whose hopes and dreams were taken away because it was illegal to be who they are. but what s being called a watershed moment for lgbt veterans is just the latest in a battle for equality that s lasted more than 20 years. the decriminalisation of homosexuality in britain began in 1967. but it wasn t until 33 years later, the year 2000, that the ban on gay people serving in the military
to be affected. rishi sunak called the historic ban an appalling failure of the british state. veterans, including dame kelly holmes, met with ministers earlier, as our lgbt and identity correspondent lauren moss reports. theyjoined the military to dedicate their lives to their country. but instead, many were rejected, unable to be themselves, investigated, dismissed, some even imprisoned. all because they re gay. a criminal offense in the armed forces until the year 2000. i chose the royal navy, hoping for a place to belong, a tribe to be part of. emma riley was a radio operator before she was arrested and then discharged. they took me up to my room and they went through every single piece of my belongings. they confiscated letters. they went through all my clothes, but they basically washed their hands of me. the moment i stepped out to that door, it was they couldn t
who are gay, lesbian or transgender and were dismissed interrogated or even imprisoned for their sexuality are calling on the british government to release the findings of an independent report into how they were treated. until the year 2000, anyone who was lgbt was banned from serving in britain s armed forces. our lgbt and identity correspondent lauren moss reports.(tx next)