BRITAIN will end sales of halogen light bulbs from this September as a part of the UK’s efforts to tackle climate change.
Fluorescent lights will also be removed from the shelves from September 2023.
Although the UK began phasing out the sale of higher-energy halogen light bulbs in 2018, the new legislation will mean that retailers will no longer be able to sell the majority of halogen bulbs for general household use in the UK from September this year.
To help people make the switch, ministers are also announcing that all light bulbs will start to feature new energy efficiency advice via ‘rescaled’ energy labels on their boxes. The move implies that LED light bulbs will account for 85 per cent of all bulbs sold by 2030.
Currently, around two-thirds of bulbs sold in the country are LED lights. They are said to last five times longer than traditional halogen light bulbs and produce the same amount of light using up to 80 per cent less power.
Energy minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said, “We’re phasing out old inefficient halogen bulbs for good, so we can move more quickly to longer-lasting LED bulbs, meaning less waste and a brighter and cleaner future for the UK.”
Minister for climate change, Lord Martin Callanan, said phasing out halogen bulbs in favour of LED alternatives that last longer, are just as bright and cheaper to run, “is another way that we are helping tackle climate change”.
Taken together, the new rules are expected to mark a significant shift to LEDs that will stop 1.26 million tonnes of carbon that is emitted every year, which is said to be equivalent to removing over half a million cars from the UK’s roads.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)