Author: UK News

East West Rail project could be catastrophic for barbastelle bats, Cambridgeshire County Council warns Rachel Reeves backs East West Rail scheme despite fears for bats and newts  A rail route backed by chancellor Rachel Reeves – who played down consideration of bats and newts in development – has been fraught with fears it will wipe out bats and their habitats. Cambridgeshire County Council this month warned of a potentially catastrophic effect on barbastelle bats of the East West Rail project, a new rail link between Oxford and Cambridge. The scheme could be “unacceptable” and have a “catastrophic” impact on their…

The Metropolitan Police announced the 60-year-old and 42-year-old would appear in court on 25 February Two Just Stop Oil protesters charged after Sigourney Weaver play disrupted Two Just Stop Oil protesters have been charged following the disruption of a West End production of The Tempest, starring Sigourney Weaver. Richard Weir, 60, of Hotspur Street, Tynemouth, and Hayley Walsh, 42, of Grantham Road, Radcliffe on Trent, were charged with aggravated trespass on Tuesday, according to the London Metropolitan Police. Police said the charges related to an incident at Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, where at around 8pm, two Just Stop Oil…

Sir Keir hails vision of former deputy prime minister, adding: ‘I know many people will be raising a glass to John today’ Sir Keir Starmer hails ‘legendary’ John Prescott ahead of funeral Sir Keir Starmer has hailed John Prescott’s “fighting spirit” ahead of the former deputy prime minister’s funeral service in Hull. Lord Prescott, who served as deputy prime minister under Sir Tony Blair between 1997 and 2007, died on November 20 last year aged 86 in a nursing home where he had been living with Alzheimer’s. More than 300 family members, friends and colleagues have been invited to the…

Rachel Reeves issued a defiant response as she defended her record as chancellor. Under pressure Rachel Reeves issues defiant response when quizzed on Keir Starmer relationship Rachel Reeves issued a defiant response as she defended her record as chancellor. The senior Labour minister insisted she and prime minister Keir Starmer are “a strong team”, as her growth plan comes under scrutiny from her own party. The chancellor was grilled on her economic plans when she appeared on ITV’s Peston on Wednesday (29 January). The ITV News political editor asked: “I’ve never known a prime minister being forced to declare confidence…

Chancellor’s optimistic economic growth vision hit in the short term as Tesco and Lloyds announce hundreds of job losses and she admits fixing the economy is ‘not an easy job’ Rachel Reeves’s plan for Heathrow to ‘turbocharge’ economy struggles to take off Rachel Reeves has given her backing to the long-awaited expansion of Heathrow airport as she set out her “optimistic” vision for Britain’s economy with a plan for growth based around building “faster and better”. However, the chancellor’s upbeat message was almost immediately hit by short-term economic woes, with Tesco cutting 400 jobs and Lloyds announcing the closure of…

Love Island winner Jack Fincham released on bail after dangerous dog attack. The reality TV star appeals against jail term after admitting twice being in charge of out-of-control dog. The 32-year-old, who won the 2018 season of the reality show alongside then-girlfriend Dani Dyer, pleaded guilty to two counts of being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog, with one of the incidents causing injury. Love Island winner Jack Fincham released on bail He lodged an appeal following his sentencing at Southend Magistrates Court on Wednesday. A CPS source said: “He was granted conditional bail pending that appeal.” Southend-on-Sea Magistrates’ Court heard…

The closures are due to begin in May as the group concentrates on its online services Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to close 136 high street bank branches Lloyds Banking Group is to shut 136 more high street branches as it accelerates plans to cut costs and digitise the bank. It will close 61 Lloyds, 61 Halifax and 14 Bank of Scotland branches between May this year and March 2026. The closure plan comes just weeks after Lloyds shook up its branch business to allow customers of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to use stores across any of…

Mohamed Samak would complain that he and his wife Joanne did not have a sexual relationship Hockey coach and wife were living ‘separate lives’ before she was ‘stabbed to death’ An interior designer was living an almost separate life to her hockey coach husband before she was stabbed to death, a court heard. Egyptian Mohamed Samak stands accused of murdering his 49-year-old wife Joanne who he claims stabbed herself “repeatedly” in front of him after he woke at around 3am. He told a jury at Worcester Crown Court, he found Joanne screaming and “trying to stab herself” before she slumped…

Trump briefed on ‘terrible accident’ after jet collides with Army helicopter President Donald Trump says he has been briefed on the “terrible accident” after a passenger jet collided on Wednesday with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington DC. There was no immediate word on casualties, but all take-offs and landings from the airport were halted as helicopters from law enforcement agencies across the region flew over the scene in search of survivors. In a statement late on Wednesday, Mr Trump thanked first responders for their “incredible work,” noting that he was “monitoring the situation…

PhD student ‘raped 10 women after plying them with alcohol or drugs’ A PhD student is accused of drugging and raping 10 women over a period of four years, a court has heard. Zhenhao Zou, 27, a Chinese national, allegedly drugged or pressured the women to drink alcohol before sexually assaulting them. The prosecution alleged that Zou often filmed himself doing so and would keep the videos as ‘souvenirs’. Zou is accused of raping the women between September 2019 and May 2023 and appeared at Inner London Crown Court. Multiple videos were found on his phone of unconscious women when…

The Independent’s latest virtual event explored Brexit’s impact nearly five years post-EU departure. Experts clash over Brexit’s impact five years on in The Independent’s latest virtual event The Independent’s latest virtual event explored Brexit’s impact nearly five years post-EU departure. Panellists included Labour MP Stella Creasy; Conservative MP Mark Francois; former Brexit Party MEP Claire Fox, Baroness Fox of Buckley; and Professor Anand Menon, director of UK in a Changing Europe. Chaired by our chief political commentator John Rentoul, the discussion addressed reversing Brexit, economic implications, youth mobility, and public sentiment shifts. Experts clash over Brexit’s impact five years on…

Sir Keir Starmer invokes Thatcher in deregulation promise UK politics – live: Starmer invokes Thatcher and vows to slash red tape ahead of Reeves economic reset speech Sir Keir Starmer has invoked Margaret Thatcher and vowed to slash “thickets of red tape” to clear the way for economic growth, just hours before Rachel Reeves will announce a raft of policies to try and get Britain growing again. Ahead of PMQs later today, the prime minister said that for “too long regulation has stopped Britain building its future” and criticised the “morass of regulation” which has stunted billions of pounds of…

Labour changes to the winter fuel payment continue to prove divisive Pensioners ‘missing meals’ after Labour’s winter fuel payment changes Thousands of pensioners are missing meals, cutting back on essentials and feeling more cold at home this winter following the government’s changes to the winter fuel payment, a damning new survey has found. Research conducted by trade union Unite has found that over two-thirds of its retired members have had to turn down the heating this year, while a third are taking fewer baths and showers. In the poll of around 6,000 retirees, 63 per cent said that they had…

English local authorities generated a combined £127.3 million in revenue from bus lane fines in 2022/23 Give warning letters not fines for first bus lane offence, says RAC Councils should issue warning letters rather than fines to drivers for their first offence of driving in a bus lane. the RAC has said. The RAC commissioned a poll which found that more than a third (36 per cent) of drivers have accidentally driven in a bus lane Two out of five (42 per cent) of respondents who said they have entered a bus lane by mistake were caught on camera and…

Healthier options now cost more than double per calorie compared to less healthy alternatives Healthier food grows more expensive at twice the rate of unhealthy options  The cost of healthy eating in the UK has soared, outpacing price increases for less nutritious food, according to a new report. The Food Foundation’s annual Broken Plate report reveals that healthier options, lower in fat, salt, and sugar, now cost more than double per calorie compared to less healthy alternatives. This disparity has grown over the past two years, exacerbating the challenge of maintaining a healthy diet, particularly for low-income families. Healthier food…

The chancellor says growing the economy is Labour’s main priority, but the Joseph Rowntree Foundation says economic growth alone won’t pull millions out of poverty Reeves’ growth drive rubbished by charity as report exposes scale of UK poverty  An influential anti-poverty charity has rubbished claims by Rachel Reeves that her growth agenda will drive up living standards in the UK as it pushes the government to strengthen Universal Credit instead of chipping away at benefits. The chancellor has said growing the economy is Labour’s main priority, but a report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has said economic growth “alone”…

Police have revealed 848 dogs were surrendered by their owners and euthanised after the ban came into force – with no assessment of their dangerousness – costing £340k in vet fees  XL Bully ban will cost police £25 million in vet and kennel fees this year with no clear reduction in attacks The XL Bully ban is predicted to cost police £25 million in vet and kennel fees this year, as chiefs admit it could take several years to see a reduction in dog attacks. The National Police Chiefs’ Council have revealed the “huge burden” the ban is having on…

Officials have been told that Wednesday’s report from the National Audit Office should serve as a ‘wake-up call’. Cyber threat against UK Government severe and advancing quickly, warns watchdog The cyber threat towards the UK Government is “severe and advancing quickly”, according to a new report from the Government’s spending watchdog, with cyber resilience levels “lower” than Whitehall had estimated. Officials have been told that Wednesday’s report from the National Audit Office should serve as a “wake-up call” and push them to “get on top of this most pernicious threat”. A shortage of cyber skills within Government and risks posed…

An iconic London cinema loved by Hollywood directors is being ‘bullied into closure’ over fears the billionaire landlord will redevelop the site. The Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square has said they have been ‘intimidated’ by landlord Zedwell LSQ in a row over their lease renewal. The cinema, which opened in 1962, claims the landlord wants an increase in rent above market rates in an attempt to shut the business and redevelop the property. This is despite the Prince Charles being one of the country’s best-loved cinemas, and attracts more than 250,000 each year. Film makers have praised the venue,…

WARNING – M&S Chicken will poison you do not eat contaminated with Salmonella. Marks & Spencers issues urgent ‘do not eat’ warning on chicken contaminated with Salmonella. M&S Chicken will poison you do not eat Two products which are only being sold in Northern Ireland have been recalled. M&S issues urgent ‘do not eat’ warning on chicken contaminated with Salmonella which can poison you. In a recall notice, the Food Standards Agency said: “Marks & Spencer is recalling Crispy Southern Fried Chicken Burgers and 2 Chicken Kyivs because Salmonella has been found in the products. These products are only sold…

Is Spain introducing a tourist ban for UK visitors? What will happen to British holiday makers booked to go to on holiday in easter and Summer and why is Spain making a drastic change, Brits aren’t that bad as tourists, or are they? Spain is introducing a raft of new changes for British tourists. The changes will affect holiday lets in the popular Spanish city Malaga, with similar measures to be placed across the country. New restrictions are set to affect British tourists visiting Spain as authorities in the popular holiday destination increase measures to curb the impacts of overtourism.…

Tuesday’s front pages are dominated by a variety of headlines with many papers leaving room for some coverage of the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation. Survivors of the horrors lead a handful of tabloids, whilst other front pages feature images of Princess Kate at a Holocaust Memorial Day service.

Several papers lead on the Chinese AI-chatbot app, DeepSeek, that caused US tech stocks to tumble yesterday. The chatbot reached advancements with less computing power, stunning Silicon Valley.

The back pages feature various sporting stories from the Premier League to the Six Nations.

Coca-Cola has urgently recalled cans of Coke, Sprite and Appletiser in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands Coca-Cola issues recall of drinks in Europe over safety concerns  An investigation has been launched in the UK after Coca-Cola recalled drinks in some countries in Europe due to “elevated levels” of chlorate. The popular soft drink manufacturer has urgently recalled cans of Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke, Appletiser and other beverages with production codes between 328 GE and 338 GE in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Chlorate is a by-product of the breakdown of chlorine-based sanitisers and chlorine chemicals, which are frequently used to…

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings through Tuesday Storm Herminia map: Where winds and rain will hit UK today as more bad weather follows Storm Eowyn A series of yellow weather warnings for wind and rain will continue through Tuesday after Storm Herminia caused disruption across large parts of England and Wales. The Met Office predicted heavy blustery showers and thunderstorms as it issued three weather warnings across the south of England and Wales. A wind weather warning that covers the whole south of England and Wales is set to expire at 6am on Tuesday. Storm Herminia map:…

Deepfake AI pornography victims accused Channel 4 of ‘lacking compassion’ over the video that appears in the documentary Abuse survivors criticise Channel 4 over release of Vicky Pattison deepfake sex tape Channel 4 has defended creating a deepfake sex tape for a documentary on the controversial technology after victim-survivors slammed it as “disrespectful”. The broadcaster’s new documentary, Vicky Pattison: My Deepfake Sex Tape, saw the reality star presenter have an AI-generated, explicit film created of herself. It was aired despite survivors of online image abuse “strongly advising” against it when producers approached them to consult on the documentary, according to…