Author: UK News

UK interest rate decision set to be close call after inflation fall Investors remain divided over whether interest rates will be raised again on Thursday after a shock slowdown in price rises. A 15th rise in a row to 5.5% from 5.25% was widely predicted, but now only half of investors are predicting a rise. Expectations changed after inflation was revealed to have fallen unexpectedly to 6.7% in the year to August. The Bank of England will reveal its decision at midday. Any rise would mean higher interest rates on some mortgages and loans, but also higher savings rates. The…

Fall in students accepted into university in UK UK university acceptances for 18-year-olds have fallen for the first time in five years. Uni applications also fell after demand rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, and about 85% of applicants were accepted in both years. Fewer applicants got into their first choice of university this year but more qualified for their second choice or got accepted through clearing. This year saw top A-level results drop again, as grades in England were brought back to pre-Covid levels. The new data from UCAS shows 270,350 UK 18-year-olds were accepted onto a course this year,…

Chris Kaba: Met Police officer to be charged with murder BBC News says A police officer is to be charged with the murder of Chris Kaba, who was shot dead in south London last year. Mr Kaba was shot during a police operation in Streatham Hill on 5 September 2022. The Met Police officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he will be charged. The police watchdog said the officer and Mr Kaba’s family had been notified of the decision on Wednesday morning. Mr Kaba, 24, died after he was…

Police officer who shot dead Chris Kaba charged with murder Sky News says The Metropolitan Police officer who shot dead Chris Kaba will face a murder charge, the Crown Prosecution Service has said. Mr Kaba, 24, died the day after he was hit by a single gunshot from a police firearms officer in Streatham Hill on 5 September last year. The car he was driving was followed through south London by an unmarked police car with no lights or sirens. He then turned into Kirkstall Gardens, a narrow residential street, where there was a collision between the vehicle he was…

Chris Kaba: Police officer ‘who shot unarmed Black man dead’ charged with murder The Independent says A police officer accused of shooting an unarmed Black man dead has been charged with murder, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Chris Kaba, 24, who had been due to become a father, was killed on 5 September 2022 in Streatham Hill, south London. He died when he was shot through the windscreen of the Audi he was driving in. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “Following a thorough review of the evidence provided by the IOPC (Independent Office for Police…

Police officer who shot dead unarmed rapper Chris Kaba charged with murder The Telegraph says The police officer who shot dead unarmed rapper Chris Kaba in south London last year has been charged with murder, the Crown Prosecution Service said. The officer, who has only been identified as NX121 was charged following a review of evidence provided by the Independent Office for Police Conduct which carried out an investigation. Mr Kaba, a 24-year-old expectant father, died after being shot by an armed officer on September 5 last year as he was driving an Audi Q8 alone in the Streatham Hill…

Flood warnings as rain leaves hundreds without power More than 500 properties have been hit by power cuts as a band of heavy rain is causing flood warnings. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning due to heavy rain until 18:00 BST on Wednesday and also covers the north-west England. The forecaster said up to 2-4 inches of rainfall is likely, with as much as 6-8 inches in some locations. The National Grid said 518 properties were without power. A high voltage fault led to power cuts which have affected more than 350 homes and businesses in Carmarthen. …

England’s junior doctors join consultants in joint NHS strikes England’s junior doctors are joining consultants for their first joint strikes in the history of the NHS. Consultants began striking on Tuesday and junior doctors followed on Wednesday morning. The British Medical Association strike by consultants will last two days whilst the junior doctor’s strike is planned for three. There will be emergency care throughout but NHS bosses said patients were still in danger. Doctors and the government have been at odds for a long time as the dispute over pay escalates. For anyone in need of emergency care, people are…

Braverman and Facebook clash over private message plans Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Facebook owner Meta have clashed over the Meta’s plans to encrypt messages. They have hit back at a government campaign strongly critical of its plans. Messages protected with end-to-end encryption would mean that they could only be read by sender and recipient. Braverman has said encryption could not come at the cost of children’s safety, amid fears it might be used to conceal child abuse. Meta argues that encryption protects users from invasion of privacy. “We don’t think people want us reading their private messages”, the firm…

‘How Have You Let It Get To This?’ Sky News Presenter Skewers Steve Barclay On NHS Strikes HuffPost says Steve Barclay was put on the spot over the government’s failure to end the NHS strikes as consultants and junior doctors prepare to walk out at the same time. The co-ordinated industrial action – the first of its kind in the history of the health service – is part of the long-running dispute over pay and conditions. Appearing on Sky News this morning, the health secretary was asked by presenter Jayne Secker: “How have you let it get to this? This…

Government outlines plan to crack down on NHS staff strikes The Independent says Rishi Sunak’s government has revealed its plan to crack down on NHS strikes by forcing some doctors and nurses to work during future industrial action. Health secretary Steve Barclay is proposing strict “minimum service level” regulations for urgent and emergency care in hospitals in a bid to stop disruption affecting patients. It follows controversial anti-strike legislation passed in the summer – bitterly opposed by the unions – which gives ministers the power to impose minimum staffing across the public sector. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nhs-strike-doctors-nurses-barclay-b2413798.html

Steve Barclay criticises ‘increasing militancy’ of NHS strikes as consultants walk out Sky News says Health Secretary Steve Barclay has criticised the “increasing militancy” and “politically” motivated strikes, and said that is why new legislation to curtail walkouts is being introduced. Mr Barclay was speaking as consultants took industrial action today, with junior doctors set to join them tomorrow in the first joint strike in NHS history. The government is consulting on adding requirements for medical staff to provide minimum service levels during strike days, adding to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act passed earlier this year. This legislation introduced…

Chelmsford murder probe: Human remains found at defendant’s home Human remains have been found at a home in Pump Hill, Chelmsford. The remains are believed to be those of a couple, whose daughter is charged with their murder. Police were called to the address in Chelmsford on Wednesday over concerns for the welfare of two people in their 70s, who were missing. Their daughter, Virginia McCullough, 35, appeared before magistrates on Monday accused of murdering John and Lois McCullough between 2018 and 2023. She is due in court again later. Speaking on Monday, Det Supt Rob Kirby said formal identification of…

Number of English schools with Raac increases to 174 New figures published by the government show the number of schools in England affected by crumbling concrete (RAAC) has increased to 174. The number was 147 as of 30 August but has now increased by 27 as of 14 September. Officials said surveyors have been checking hundreds of schools every week for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, known as Raac. The government said it would be updating its list every two weeks.

1,000 Met Police officers suspended or on restricted duties The Met Police have said more than 1,000 Metropolitan Police officers are currently suspended or on restricted duties as the force attempts to root out rogue cops. The Met has come under serious criticism over the past few years following convictions of former cops David Carrick, a serial rapist and Wayne Couzens, a Met cop who kidnapped, raped and murdered a woman walking home. So far the number of cops affected by the crackdown was almost the size of a small police force, with one in 34 suspended or restricted, according…

Covid boosters: Over-65s called for jabs as hospital cases rise The over-65s in England are being urged to get their COVID-19 vaccine booster as hospital cases begin to rise. Those eligible can book via the NHS website, on the NHS app, or by calling 119. The booster rollout has been brought forward as a precaution against a highly mutated new Covid variant called BA.2.86. Hospital admissions are up but intensive care admissions remain low. The virus is mutating and changing, but the vaccines still provide good protection against getting very sick with Covid, say experts. Is Covid still a threat?…

Boris Johnson: Officials discussed raising concerns about former PM to Queen A new BBC documentary series, Laura Kuemssberg: State of Chaos, has revealed shocking allegations that senior government officials spoke to Buckingham Palace at the height of the pandemic to express their concern over Boris Johnson’s conduct in office. Officials had even discussed suggesting to the Queen that she raise the concerns with Boris Johnson during private audiences. The revelations come in episode two of the documentary series, which explores the turmoil and chaos in Westminister and Whitehall over four years. The series features interviews with key players in the…

Brexit: Labour will seek re-write of deal, Starmer says Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to the Financial Times about Labour’s plans if they win the next general election – expected at some time in 2024. Starmer told the FT that the current Brexit deal, which is due for review in 2025, is “too thin.” Speaking at a conference of centre-left leaders in Canada, Starmer ruled out re-joining the customs unions, the single market or the EU. It’s not clear however if Brussels would even be open to making major changes to the agreement, which was agreed by former PM Boris…

Liz Truss urges PM to cut taxes and benefit increases Former Prime Minister Liz Truss is set to call on PM Rishi Sunak to cut taxes, reduce benefit increases, raise the retirement age and delay net-zero commitments. In a speech, she will defend her chaotic 44 days in office and the policies she tried to push through. She will also acknowledge she tried to do too much in a short amount of time. Truss, who will speak at an event held by the Institute for Government think tank, will argue that she could not deliver her plans due to the…

‘Not sure I have ever seen rain like that in London.’

The Met Office has warned there could be a ‘danger to life’ from floodwater in certain areas.

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk  Most of Sunday’s newspapers lead on the explosive allegations against comedian Russell Brand, including rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse. The comedian, came out on social media and denied all the allegations against, as a witch-hunt. The allegations were made in a joint investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches and relate to a seven-year period at the height of his fame. Having denied the allegations he went on to say his relationships have been “always consensual”. Russell Brand allegations The Sunday Times – part of the investigation team -…

Father of 10-year-old UK girl Sara Sharif among 3 charged with her murder after Pakistan arrest The Independent says The father, stepmother and uncle of a 10-year-old girl found dead in her U.K. home are due in court on murder charges Friday after being arrested and deported from Pakistan after an extensive police search. Sara Sharif was found dead with extensive injuries at her home in Woking, 20 miles (32 kilometers) southwest of London, on Aug. 10. An autopsy did not establish a cause of death but showed that she had suffered “multiple and extensive injuries, which are likely to…

Man dies after being mauled by two dogs yards away from primary school The Metro says A man has died after he was mauled by two dogs outside a flat near a primary school. Emergency services rushed to the scene of the attack in the village of Stonnall, Staffordshire, just as children were leaving St Peter’s Primary Academy. An air ambulance, paramedics and officers, including armed police, were called to Main Street shortly before 3.15pm on Thursday. West Midlands Ambulance Service has now confirmed that the victim tragically died of his injuries shortly after arriving at hospital. A 30-year-old man…

Gatwick flights cancelled after air traffic control staff shortages On Thursday, Gatwick Airport flights were cancelled, delayed or diverted at short notice due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. The airport confirmed 22 cancellations as of 22:00 BST, whilst the website FlightRadar24 said hundreds of flights in and out of the airport were delayed. The National Air Traffic Services (Nats) apologised for its staffing shortages. Normal service is expected to resume on Friday. EasyJet expressed its frustration at the chaos on Thursday, while Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary called on Nats’ boss to resign. Thursday’s cancellations and delays came just…