Author: Fatimah Idera

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…

The first group of children from Gaza has arrived in the UK to receive urgent, life-saving treatment on the NHS, report reveals.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ordered a fresh investigation into how MI5 provided false evidence to three courts in a case involving a neo-Nazi informant. The move follows rulings by the High Court and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, both of which rejected the security service’s explanations for what happened. The case centres on Neo-Nazi informant also known and  “Agent X”, an MI5 source who used his role to coerce his girlfriend, later attacking her with a machete. In a written statement to Parliament on Tuesday, Sir Keir confirmed he had instructed Investigatory Powers Commissioner Sir Brian Leveson to lead…

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has admitted that further defections to Reform UK are likely, following a series of high-profile losses to Nigel Farage’s party. On Monday, Danny Kruger, the MP for East Wiltshire and former shadow welfare minister, became the first sitting Tory frontbencher to switch to Reform, describing it as the new torch of conservatism. Less than 24 hours later, Maria Caulfield, a former health minister who lost her Lewes seat at last year’s general election, also announced her defection. Speaking to the media, Mrs Badenoch said defections were inevitable after the Conservatives historic defeat in  2024. “Every leader…

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a policy commission to push back against what she calls growing restrictions on free speech and to press Labour to act on its findings. Badenoch said the public debate has become overly censorious, arguing that offending someone has effectively been turned into a crime and that policing has become politicised. She said her party will defend what she described as British values of open debate and robust argument. The commission will be chaired by commentator Toby Young and will examine laws and rules that affect freedom of expression across universities, social media, broadcasting and…

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has insisted she will not be “blown off course” following the defection of senior Tory MP Danny Kruger to Reform UK.

High winds have caused widespread travel disruption across England and Wales, with gusts reaching 63mph overnight. The Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning for most of England and all of Wales, in place until 6pm on Monday. Inland gusts of up to 55mph are expected, while exposed coasts and hills could see winds as strong as 70mph. At 3am, Aberdaron in northwest Wales recorded gusts of 63mph. By 7am, winds had reached 60mph at Crosby, near Liverpool, and 56mph at St Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight. The weather has forced major transport closures like; DFDS cancelled…

Downing Street was on Sunday night in crisis mode as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer came under mounting pressure over his handling of the Lord Mandelson affair with MPs openly speculating he could be forced out before the next general election. He has learned that No 10 was informed early last week that Lord Mandelson had suggested Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction for sex offences was wrongful and should be challenged. Despite this, sources claim the Prime Minister himself was not briefed before he publicly expressed confidence in Mandelson during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday. The revelation has fuelled anger among…

First-time buyers in the UK are being offered the opportunity to borrow up to 98% of the value of a property under a new mortgage scheme, but they will not be allowed to rely on financial help from parents for their deposit. The First Step mortgage, launched by Newcastle Building Society, is designed specifically for those who have independently saved for their deposit and are looking to step onto the housing ladder. According to property firm Savills, more than half (52%) of first-time buyers in 2023 relied on parental support to purchase their homes, highlighting the growing challenge for those…