The Bishop of Oxford, Rt Rev’d Steven Croft, has become the first Diocesan Bishop of the Church of England to call openly for reform of the Church’s law and practice regarding gay marriage. More bishops have now joined his call for change, to enable gay couples both to marry in church and to have their civil partnerships or marriages blessed in church. If this change were made, it is likely that solemnising or blessing a same-sex marriage would be a matter of discretion for individual clergy...

The potential for fuel bills to increase very dramatically this Winter is alarming. It remains to be seen what the Government’s response to this situation will be. Given the already stretched state of the public finances, it seems probable that any help that is provided from central funds will not fully meet the increased costs.