UK News

Scientists have confirmed the minimum age of the Sycamore Gap tree after it was illegally felled in 2023. The tree, which stood in a natural gap in the landscape next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, was analysed by a team of experts from Historic England – the public body that protects the country’s historic environment. The researchers found the tree to be at least 100 to 120 years old when […]

Three quarters of British businesses did nothing to support charities last year, according to an annual report. The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), which helps people or organisations give more effectively to charitable causes, said just 25% of UK firms donated to charities in the form of time, cash or goods last year. The CAF says firms should commit to donating at least 1% of pre-tax profits each year as best […]

Actor Bella Ramsey has said it is “incredible” to have their likeness made into a waxwork at Madame Tussauds in London. Ramsey, who starred in Game Of Thrones as a teenager, has more recently been seen on screens in post-apocalyptic drama series The Last Of Us. The waxwork was based on their appearance at The Last Of Us season two premiere in Los Angeles in April, when they wore a […]

Tens of thousands more sick and disabled people will be given support to get into work, the Government has said as its welfare reforms formally passed into law. The Universal Credit Act was given royal assent on Wednesday, after what Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has previously acknowledged was a “bumpy ride” which saw controversial wider reform plans watered down in the face of a Labour revolt. Earlier this […]

The Prime Minister has backed Angela Rayner after she admitted an underpayment of stamp duty on a seaside flat which prompted Opposition calls for her to resign. Sir Keir Starmer said he was “very proud to sit alongside” his deputy at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions and added that her move to refer herself to the independent ethics adviser was “the right thing to do”. Ms Rayner, who is also the […]

The head of the police force that arrested Father Ted creator Graham Linehan said his officers are in “an impossible position” when dealing with statements made online, and should not be “policing toxic culture wars debates”. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he would make suggestions to the Government about how laws governing social media posts could be changed, and is ready to test new approaches “within a matter […]

Rylan Clark’s comments about immigration on ITV’s This Morning have sparked hundreds of Ofcom complaints. The show received 576 complaints related to comments made by the presenter on August 27 during a discussion about migrants being housed in hotels. Clips of Clark, 36, quickly went viral, where he argued that something “major” needs to be done about asylum hotels. During the discussion, Clark said: “This country is built on immigration, […]

The mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey has said a school phone ban would really have helped her daughter, as she launches a campaign for a statutory ban in schools. Esther Ghey is calling on the Government to provide funding to schools for pouches to lock phones in during the school day, which she said has been successful for Brianna’s old school – Birchwood Community High school in Warrington. “For me, it […]

The Tories will challenge the Government to rule out property tax rises in the autumn budget in a Commons vote. Housing Secretary Sir James Cleverly said “a family home is not a piggy bank to raid” ahead of an Opposition Day debate on Wednesday which will centre on speculation that the Chancellor could scrap private residence relief. Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering ending the exemption from capital gains tax (CGT) […]