UK News

There are not enough NHS staff to ensure safe care for maternity patients or those recovering from injury or illness, according to a poll. Nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives who responded to a Unison survey said there were too few staff on 69% of shifts, up from 63% two years ago. NHS workers reported the highest proportion of safety concerns after their shifts on maternity wards (81%), in rehabilitation units […]

Vehicle breakdowns caused by potholes increased by nearly a fifth in 12 months, new figures indicate. Some 9,439 callouts to breakdowns as a result of poor road surfaces in the UK were received by the RAC between January and March. That was a 19% increase from 7,904 during the same period last year. Common vehicle problems caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels. Prime […]

Talks aimed at ending the long-running Birmingham bin strike will resume on Wednesday. Leaders of the Unite union will meet officials from the city council in a new bid to resolve the row. Union members have been on strike for more than a month in a bitter dispute over pay and jobs, leading to rubbish piling up on the streets. The two sides met last week and both said they […]

Sir Keir Starmer said a woman is an “adult female” as he appeared to U-turn on his previous stance on trans rights following the Supreme Court’s judgment on the issue. In his first public comments since the justices’ decision on April 16, the Prime Minister said he is “really pleased” with the clarity that the court’s ruling offers. In March 2022, before entering No 10, Sir Keir said “a woman […]

Sir Keir Starmer has said it is “incredibly humbling” to see the work being done by allied nations to train Ukrainian troops. The Prime Minister also praised the “resilience” of Ukrainians as he visited a military base alongside his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, to see the work under Operation Interflex. More than 54,000 Ukrainians have already received training under the programme. Sir Keir said: “This is the second time […]

Sir Keir Starmer will be among world leaders and dignitaries to attend the funeral of Pope Francis this weekend. The late pontiff will be buried on Saturday, following his death on Easter Monday aged 88. His body will be laid out for public view from Wednesday in St Peter’s Basilica, so mourners can pay their respects to a man dubbed the People’s Pope. The Prime Minister will join other leaders […]

Kemi Badenoch has admitted that May’s local elections are “going to be very difficult” for the Conservatives. The Tory leader told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that July’s general election was a “historic defeat” for the party. Voters in 23 local authorities across England will go to the polls on May 1 to choose their new councillors, with mayors also up for election across six regions. It will be the […]

King Charles has met with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ahead of visits today. Sir Keir Starmer will aim to strengthen the UK’s defence ties with New Zealand as he hosts the country’s prime minister on Tuesday. The Prime Minister and his counterpart, Christopher Luxon, are expected to visit a military base to see British and New Zealand personnel train Ukrainian troops as part of the UK’s Operation Interflex. […]

Pope Francis has been remembered as someone full of compassion, mercy and “irrepressible hope” as Catholics came together to mourn the death of a pontiff hailed by the King and other world leaders. Francis, who died following a stroke aged 88 on Easter Monday just a day after greeting crowds in Vatican City, drew tributes for his strong advocacy for the poor and marginalised. The leader of the world’s Roman […]