Author: Fatimah Idera

Keir Starmer sought to turn Donald Trump’s controversial state visit into an economic win, announcing a record £150bn package of US investment in the UK. The two-day visit began on Wednesday with the US president kept largely inside Windsor Castle amid tight security, while thousands of protesters gathered in London. Trump was welcomed by King Charles and Queen Camilla before a state banquet attended by business leaders including Apple’s Tim Cook and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. The investment announcement, billed as the largest ever in Britain, includes £90bn from private equity giant Blackstone, £3.9bn from Prologis, and £1.5bn from Palantir, with…

Nigel Farage has claimed Donald Trump knows he will become Britain’s next prime minister, as Reform UK continues to outpace Labour in the polls. Speaking to the Harry Cole Saves the West YouTube channel, the Reform leader said Trump and his top team saw similarities between their White House operation and Reform’s insurgent rise. “They think they see some similarities in what they’ve done and what we’ve done, and you know what, we speak the same language,” Farage said. Reform is currently polling at over 31 per cent more than 10 points ahead of Labour and would win a general…

Counter-terrorism police have arrested three people in Essex on suspicion of spying for Russia, in a case highlighting growing concerns about foreign interference in the UK. Two men, aged 41 and 46, and a 35-year-old woman were detained at separate addresses in Grays under section 3 of the National Security Act 2023, which criminalises assisting a foreign intelligence service. Scotland Yard confirmed the allegations relate specifically to Russia. The trio were questioned at a London police station before being released on bail with strict conditions. Officers also searched both Essex properties as part of the ongoing investigation. Commander Dominic Murphy,…

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has accused migrants of making a mockery of Britain’s laws by lodging last-minute claims to block deportations under the Government’s “one in, one out” deal with France. Her comments came after the High Court halted the removal of a 25-year-old Eritrean man on Tuesday, hours before his scheduled flight. The court ruled he should be given 14 days to present evidence that he is a victim of modern slavery. Mahmood said she would appeal the decision and review the Modern Slavery Act, warning it is being abused to frustrate removals. “Migrants suddenly deciding they are a…

Labour risks a near-wipeout in next year’s Welsh elections, with a new poll suggesting the party could lose two-thirds of its seats as Reform UK and Plaid Cymru gain ground. Labour currently holds 29 of 60 Senedd seats but is projected to slump to just 11 when the parliament expands to 96 members under a new proportional system in May. A YouGov/ITV Wales poll places Plaid on 30%, Reform on 29%, Labour on 14% and the Conservatives on 11%, highlighting dramatic shifts since Labour’s 40% vote share in 2021. Seat projections show Plaid on course for 38 seats, Reform 37,…

A former Labour councillor has been charged over the Westminster “honeytrap” scandal where MPs were coerced into sharing personal contact details. Oliver Steadman, 28, faces one count of blackmail and one charge of improper use of a public communications network, prosecutors confirmed. The charges relate to one victim. He has also been charged with four further counts of improper use of a public electronic communications network after allegedly sending unsolicited indecent images to four other victims. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the offences involve five people working in politics and Westminster. The scandal first emerged last year when Conservative…

Police have arrested four men in the UK after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle, hours before the US president’s state visit began. Thames Valley Police said the men, aged between 36 and 60, were arrested on suspicion of malicious communications following the stunt on Tuesday evening. They remain in custody while investigations continue. Officers acted quickly to stop the projection on the castle, where Trump is due to meet King Charles on Wednesday. The incident comes as Trump begins his first full day in the UK, which includes lunch with…

The UK rolled out full royal pageantry on Wednesday as King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania to Windsor for an unprecedented second state visit. The couple arrived by Marine One and were greeted with a ceremonial carriage procession, gun salutes in Windsor and at the Tower of London, and the largest guard of honour ever assembled for a visiting head of state. More than 1,300 British military personnel and 120 horses took part, with Royal Marines, the Army and the RAF all on display. The welcome also included a Beating Retreat ceremony,…

The King, Prince William and the Princess of Wales attended the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral on Tuesday.

The State pension is expected to increase by 4.7% next April, pushing annual payments above £12,000 for the first time, according to the latest official figures. The rise is determined by the government’s triple lock system, which guarantees pensions grow each year by the highest of inflation, average earnings growth, or 2.5%. With inflation forecast at 4% in September, wage growth figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday are set to be the deciding factor. If confirmed, the full new state pension will rise to £12,534.60 a year, up around £1,900 over the course of the…