UK News

Veteran politician Ann Widdecombe was killed in a “targeted attack”, counter-terrorism police investigating her death have said. Former MEP Miss Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon last Thursday. Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the former Conservative minister’s death after new evidence came to light, but a senior officer stressed the murder and terror investigations are currently working “in parallel”. Head […]

The scramble to buy PPE during the pandemic saw the UK waste almost £10 billion of taxpayers’ money, the official inquiry into the handling of Covid-19 has found. In the fifth report of her inquiry, Baroness Heather Hallett criticised the “vast” waste in pandemic procurement, amounting to £9.9 billion – two-thirds of the £14.9 billion the UK and devolved governments spent on PPE. And she criticised the controversial “VIP lane”, […]

Politicians face a “horrific” culture of violence which has become worse in recent years, a Cabinet minister has warned. Treasury Chief Secretary Lucy Rigby said it was a “sad and troubling” reality that the threats facing MPs and others in public life had increased. The alleged murder of former Tory minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe has heightened concerns at Westminster about the security risks facing current and former […]

Pubs will serve more than 64 million pints of no and low alcohol beer this summer, an increase of eight million on last year, according to industry predictions. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said the “staggering” growth proved that ‘no and low’ beers were not simply a fad but had become a “defining part” of the sector. Consumers drank approximately 200 million no and low alcohol beers over […]

Rachel Reeves will say Britain’s economy has “beaten the odds” under her stewardship, in a defence of her record ahead of Andy Burnham’s incoming government. The Chancellor is expected to argue that the UK must “maintain the credibility we have earned”, signalling any new administration must keep the support of the markets in order to succeed. Ms Reeves will tell an audience of business leaders the Government made “huge strides […]

Andy Burnham will be the next prime minister after receiving an extra 27 nominations from Labour MPs on Monday, taking his total to 349. The additional nominations, on top of the 322 he received last week, mean it is now impossible for any other candidate to gain the 81 endorsements needed to challenge for the Labour leadership. While almost 80% of the Parliamentary Labour Party formally nominated Mr Burnham last […]

The murder of veteran politician Ann Widdecombe is being treated as an act of terrorism, police have said. The former Conservative minister and later Reform UK spokeswoman was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor at about 11.40am on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries. Counter-terrorism officers have rearrested the 28-year-old white British man on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism and are now […]

The family of a 16-year-old boy who died in a stabbing have described him as a strong and kind son who was an amazing brother to his siblings. A murder inquiry was launched last Tuesday after Khadeem Parris, from Motherwell in Scotland, died as a result of a stab wound following an incident at an address in the Abington area of Northampton. A 21-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder […]

Jurassic Park star Sam Neill has died aged 78, his family has confirmed. The Northern Ireland-born New Zealand actor, best known for playing Dr Alan Grant in the blockbuster dinosaur franchise, died in Sydney, Australia, on Monday. A statement posted to Instagram read: “It is with immense sadness that the whanau (extended family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia.” “Sam […]