Lloyds Banking Group plans to close 136 high street branches, including five in Greater Manchester, by March 2026 to cut costs and digitalize. The closures will affect Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland branches, with workers offered jobs elsewhere in the company. The move is attributed to the shift towards mobile services, allowing customers to use any of the group’s branches for in-person banking.
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‘I was the only out lesbian MP for 13 years – here’s how Parliament has changed’
Dame Angela Eagle, who became the first openly gay Labour MP in 1997, sought advice from fellow MP Chris Smith before publicly coming out, amid a climate of homophobia and the impacts of Section 28. Now a minister, she reflects on her contributions to LGBTQ+ rights and notes the significant progress made, with Labour's 59 openly LGBTQ+ MPs representing a historic milestone. Need More Context? 🔎
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