Bereavement rights for unmarried parents

Earlier this year Claire Harris told me about the terrible loss of her partner, Gary, and the shock of finding that, because they hadn't been married, she and her kids were not entitled to bereavement benefits.

This was even though they had lived together for 16 years and had 3 children together before he died suddenly of cancer at the age of 36.

Now she is starting a campaign to raise money for a legal case. If she wins, she is hoping it will pave the wave for better rights for unmarried parents.

Bank which manages your life...

Here's a sneak preview of what our future banks might do for us:

*start a savings pot for friends' birthdays or a holiday, after checking your Facebook or what air tickets you're looking at.

*tell you what energy or insurance deals will save you money and switch you over

*alert you that an account you're sending money to might be fraudulent and block the payment temporarily

*tell you you're paying for two music services which overlap and offer to cancel one of them

*warn you to stop spending if you've used cards, cash or loans too much, even if they're with other banks

These are some of the features -- useful to some, a bit creepy to others -- to be offered by the new app-only bank, Tandem, one of its founders, Ricky Knox, has been telling me.

Tandem is in development-mode, operating credit cards and loans for friends, family and early backers before launching to the public some time next year.

The plan is to offer a current account but, interestingly, Tandem envisages including your existing current account from another bank within its own app.

That might sound awkward and you wouldn't be able to operate the account normally as things stand.

But new standards on open banking will allow banks and internet start-ups to combine a variety of accounts one platform.

This makes complete sense if you are a new bank challenging the High Street players, because people are still very sticky when it comes to switching current account providers.

If you can't persuade them to switch, why not move their old account lock, stock and barrel onto your app?

The new app banks or would-be banks, like Tandem, Atom, Monzo and Starling, have slightly different approaches but the key for all of them is the smartphone, which Knox argues provides greater security. 

After the recent security breakdown at another challenger bank, Tesco, that's an important assertion to make.

Knox says at the customer's end safety is enhanced because they have to use a fingerprint to log in on a mobile, while - behind the scenes - the service is so automated there is less risk of human failure at head office.

Let's hope he is right!

Pound helped by Trump effect

The pound is 6 per cent up against the euro in the past few weeks, at €1.16 and it's up against the dollar as well at $1.26.

It's still sharply down since the Brexit vote, but first the court decision that the government must get parliament to trigger Brexit and now the Trump victory have caused a little bounce.

Here's some comment from Rupert Lee-Browne, Chief Executive of currency firm Caxton FX.

"For holidaymakers it's a little bit of good news.
This is definitely a rebound after some very positive comments from President-elect Trump.
He's indicated he wants America the UK to continue with the special relationship and that has lifted spirits in the currency market.
There's also an uplift from talk about higher inflation in the UK which might lead to higher interest rates and there may be room for the pound to move higher.
But there is always the worry about Brexit and that could bring sterling down going forward."

Pound helped by Trump effect

The pound is 6 per cent up against the euro in the past few weeks, at €1.16 and it's up against the dollar as well at $1.26.

It's still sharply down since the Brexit vote, but first the court decision that the government must get parliament to trigger Brexit and now the Trump victory has caused a little bounce.

Here's some comment from Rupert Lee-Browne, Chief Executive of currency firm Caxton FX.

"For holidaymakers it's a little bit of good news.
This is definitely a rebound after some very positive comments from President-elect Trump.
He's indicated he wants America the UK to continue with the special relationship and that has lifted spirits in the currency market.
There's also an uplift from talk about higher inflation in the UK which might lead to higher interest rates and there may be room for the pound to move higher.
But there is always the worry about Brexit and that could bring sterling down going forward."