Author: UK News

Monday’s front pages feature a variety of domestic and international stories. Several newspapers lead with the prime minister’s AI strategy – set to be revealed today. Keir Starmer will set out plans to use AI across the country to boost growth and deliver public services more efficiently.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan being announced on Monday will be backed by leading tech firms, which are said to have committed £14bn towards various projects, creating 13,250 jobs.

Away from the AI story, many of the papers are made up of a mixture of news. Several papers continue their coverage of the LA wildfires, whilst images of the UK’s frosty weather make some of the newspapers.

The back pages report on Manchester United knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup yesterday – as well as news Man City and England player Kyle Walker wants to leave the Premier League and play abroad.

Body of missing man found after 45-day landfill search  Cumali Turhan was last seen in The Globe pub in Rainsford Road, Chelmsford The body of a missing man has been found by police at a landfill site in Essex. Cumali Turhan, 46, was last seen in The Globe pub in Rainsford Road, Chelmsford, in the early hours of November 19 and was feared murdered. Officers discovered Mr Turhan’s body on Saturday after 45 days of scouring the landfill site and his family have been informed. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, of Essex Police, said the investigation has been “extremely challenging”.…

Thomas Taylor: Three teenagers charged with murder after boy, 17, stabbed near bus station Three teenagers charged as detectives make further arrests in connection with Thomas Taylor’s death Three teenagers have been charged with murder after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed near a bus station in Bedford. Thomas Taylor died after being attacked in Greenhill Street at about 5.50pm on Wednesday, Bedfordshire Police said. He died as a result of his injuries after being taken to hospital. Ahmed Adam, 18, of Mardale Close, Kempston, and two other males aged 16 and 17 who cannot be named for legal reasons were…

British troops should join post-war peacekeeping force in Ukraine, former defence ministers say Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to raise the issue during Keir Starmer’s upcoming trip to Kyiv Two former UK defence secretaries have joined calls for British troops to form part of a peacekeeping force in a post-war Ukraine. Boris Johnson, who was prime minister when Vladimir Putin launched Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, is among those to have recently suggested that British troops should form part of a European force sent to guard Ukraine’s border under any future ceasefire with Russia. France’s Emmanuel Macron reportedly travelled to…

Reeves returns from China to new crisis in top UK business confidence amid economic woes  A survey by Deloitte of the chief finance officers of major companies has revealed that business confidence is at one of its lowest points since the Covid-19 pandemic Rachel Reeves is flying back from China to London facing a new serious warning as Deloitte reported that business bosses’ confidence is at one of its lowest points since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. After suffering a barrage of criticism for going ahead with her controversial trip to China, the chancellor is being told that her management…

UK to go ‘all-in’ on AI as Starmer throws weight of Whitehall behind technology Sir Keir Starmer will throw the weight of Whitehall fully behind AI in a bid to boost growth. The Prime Minister is set to unveil his Government’s AI Opportunity Action Plan on Monday as he seeks to make Britain a world leader in the sector. He said: “The AI industry needs a Government that is on their side, one that won’t sit back and let opportunities slip through its fingers. “And in a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by. We must move fast and…

How Farage lost the Brexit Party and why it means Reform is not inevitable Nigel Farage has lost the rights to the Brexit Party name in an apparent admin slip – the party he led to victory in the last ever European elections in the UK, effectively took out Theresa May’s premiership and ensured Britain would leave the EU. He may not care now that he leads its successor party Reform UK but it is a rare symbolic loss for a man whose ascendancy currently appears to be inevitable. The story of how he snatched the Brexit Party name from…

Senior Labour politician questions Elon Musk’s ‘reluctance’ to appear before MPs in parliament  Chair of parliament’s technology committee invited Elon Musk in December to give evidence before MPs A senior Labour MP has questioned Elon Musk’s apparent “reluctance” to appear before MPs in parliament despite the billionaire’s barrage of interventions on UK politics using his social media site X. The House of Commons technology committee invited the world’s richest man in December to give evidence in parliament as part of its inquiry into the role of social media and misinformation in fuelling the summer riots that erupted in the wake…

Former minister ‘asked army chief to resign over national security incident’ General Sir Gwyn Jenkins is considered a frontrunner for the post of next chief of defence staff A former minister suggested that the most senior chiefs in the British military should resign over a “national security” incident that occurred under the Conservative government, it has been reported. General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who was vice-chief of the defence staff at the time, was reportedly asked by a Tory minister whether or not he or Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the head of the armed forces, would take the fall for the…

Voices: Are you worried about the private sector’s role in the NHS? Join The Independent Debate  Jeremy Corbyn’s criticism of Labour’s NHS plans has reignited debate over the role of private healthcare in the public system. Jeremy Corbyn’s critique of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s healthcare policies has reignited debate about the future of the NHS. In an article for The Independent, the former Labour leader accused Starmer of “betraying” the NHS by expanding the private sector’s role, a move he warns will “hollow out” the public health service. Corbyn claimed this approach undermines the NHS’s founding principle of universal,…

Nurse in critical condition after Stabbing at hospital A&E A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a nurse was seriously injured in a stabbing at Royal Oldham Hospital’s A&E department. The nurse, a woman in her 50s, was left in a critical condition after being stabbed by a member of the public at about 11.30pm on Saturday, Greater Manchester Police said. The attack was carried out with a bladed article or sharp instrument which was not a knife and nurse remains in hospital after suffering life-changing injuries. A 37-year-old man was arrested at the scene on…

Starmer accused of being ‘asleep at the wheel’ as A&E waits up 400-fold in a decade The Labour government has been accused of being “asleep at the wheel” as new data has shown that there were a record 518,000 waits of 12 hours or longer in A&E last year. The figure, produced by the Liberal Democrats, is nearly 400-times higher than 2015’s figure of 1,306. The data shows that the number of 12-hour waits, recorded from the point of admission, has increased by more than 100,000 on 2023’s figure of 415,000 – a 25 per cent jump. Prior to the…

How much the average house seller made last year compared to when they bought The average house seller in England and Wales last year sold for £91,820 more than they had originally paid for their property. That’s according to the latest analysis. In percentage terms, the average seller made a 42% gross profit, which was the lowest return since at least 2015, when records started. On average, sellers had owned their property for just under nine years. In cash terms, the average gross profit made by sellers in 2024 was £10,830 lower than 2023 and down from a peak of…

The You Me Bum Bum Train is the most life-changing experience you can pay for in London It’s been three weeks since I was a passenger on the You Me Bum Bum Train and I’m still completely shaken up by it. The adrenaline shows absolutely no sign of leaving my body, I’m still questioning what really happened to me and if I’ll ever feel ‘normal’ again – whatever that might mean. ‘What on earth is a You Me Bum Bum Train?’. Well, that’s the thing – and this makes a review pretty complicated, I can’t tell you anything about it…

Sunday’s front pages feature a variety of domestic political and showbiz stories.  Many of the papers feature dramatic images from the Los Angeles wildfires, as the fires continue to spread and the death toll rises.

The back pages lead on the weekend’s FA Cup matches and talk of football transfers.

Censorship fears over Queen Elizabeth documents due soon for public release Experts have expressed concerns that thousands of official documents about the late Queen and Prince Philip due to be made public over the next two years could be censored. Five years after their deaths, in 2026 and 2027 respectively, government documents involving communications with Queen Elizabeth II and her husband are due to be published. The papers would offer previously unknown insights into the late monarch’s thoughts around events of significance that transpired during her 70-year reign, during which time she engaged with 15 different UK prime ministers prior…

UK will not pit AI safety against investment in bid for growth, says minister Online safety cannot be “pitted against economic investment”, the Science Secretary has said as he prepares to launch the UK’s AI action plan. Peter Kyle is set to unveil the Government’s plans for AI on Monday, setting out how the UK will encourage innovation while ensuring safety. Speaking to the Observer, Mr Kyle said: “We need a concerted effort as a country to ensure now, while we’re still in the foothills, that we are laying the foundations. “I don’t want us to be a country that…

LA County medical examiner’s office confirms wildfire death toll rises to 16 The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office confirmed the death toll from the wildfires ravaging the area has risen to 16. The total number of confirmed fatalities stands at 16 victims, and the cases remain under investigation. Five of the deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire, and 11 resulted from the Eaton Fire, the coroner’s office said in a statement on Saturday evening. The previous number of confirmed fatalities was 11, but officials said they expected that figure to rise as cadaver dogs search levelled neighbourhoods and…

Drug dealer convicted of rival’s murder after refusing to ditch luxury manbag A drug dealer who stabbed a rival to death has been convicted of murder after being snared by his Louis Vuitton-style manbag. Dualla Abdi, 20, was wearing the flash accessory when he knifed Tyreece Scott, 24, in Hounslow, west London, shortly before 1 am on January 16 last year. While he ditched his clothes after the attack, he refused to dump the bag and it was eventually used to help identify him as the killer, the Old Bailey heard. His accomplice and getaway driver Ben Laing, 24, from…

Reeves defiant over China trip in face of growing criticism and economic turmoil following a below par trade deal with China in the week the pound dropped. The Labour chancellor accused of ‘undesirable’ policies and ‘incompatible promises’ released a statement today that suggested the UK got a below average trade deal. As the pound hit a new 14-month low and the cost of government borrowing rose again, Ms Reeves faced calls to cancel her trip and remain home to deal with the market turmoil. But she insisted the visit was “in the national interest” as the government scrambles to boost economic growth.…

Nigel Farage makes a U-turn about Shamima Begum. The Reform leader is putting out fires all over the place, since Elon Musk disavowed him. But now Farage has said that he is “thoughtful” when asked if the UK should consider bringing back Shamima Begum. Mr Farage said that he believes her to be “a lesser part of the equation”. Nigel Farage makes a U-turn about Shamima Begum Nigel Farage ‘thoughtful’ about whether UK should bring Shamima Begum back. In the past he has said while he ‘never wanted’ to bring back Shamima Begum, he is now ‘thoughtful’ about the matter and…

Landlords will soon be banned from asking for more than one month’s rent upfront Moving house can often strike fear into the hearts of renters without thousands of pounds in savings to cover hefty rent and deposit fees, but now, landlords will soon be banned from asking for more than one month’s worth upfront. The Renters’ Rights Bill will now make it illegal to ask tenants to pay more than one month plus a deposit equating to six weeks’ worth of rent – undoubtedly welcome news for those struggling to scramble together copious amounts of money after signing a new…

Friday’s front pages cover the ongoing LA wildfires as exhausted firefighters battle to contain the fires spreading over the iconic city. The front pages reflect the growing death toll and the more than 100,000 homes reduced to ash.

The latest from Downing Street – and the UK economy – also find space on the front pages this morning as the pound sinks to its lowest level since 2023. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing criticism from several publications as she jets off to China amid economic uncertainty. However, the chancellor’s trip is an attempt to revive closer ties with Beijing for economic benefits.


Elon Musk continues to find a scrap of space on the front pages, as the foreign billionaire has said he wants to oust Keir Starmer – and Labour – from power. Elon Musk is an American billionaire who does not live in Britain. His continued interference in British politics continues to infuriate the public. The tech billionaire is also facing a probe by a counter-extremism unit to see if they create a risk to Britain.

Several papers carry a newly released image of Princess Kate, who celebrated her birthday yesterday. Other papers carry images from Jimmy Carter’s funeral – as the previous five American presidents came together.

Reform level with Labour in new poll as Treasury responds to gloomy economy update: Politics live Sir Keir Starmer has been dealt a further blow with a new poll predicting Labour would lose its overall majority if an election was held now. The poll by FindOutNowUK has put Reform level pegging with Labour on 25 per cent and the Tories five points behind on 20 per cent. According to the calculations, if the result was repeated in a general election Labour would lose 173 seats but remain the largest party on 238. Reform would leap into second place from the…

UK snow map: Where and when heavy snow, rain and flooding will hit the strongest A number of weather warnings are in place for parts of the UK on Friday, as more snow is forecast to fall across the country and flooding is expected. The Met Office has issued five yellow weather warnings for snow and ice following a days of wintry conditions across the country weather. A snow and ice warning has been issued from midday on Wednesday to 10am on Friday marning, covering northern Scotland. A warning for ice is in place from 4pm on Thursday until 10am…