Author: Fatimah Idera

The UK Government has announced an increase in minimum wage rates from April next year, following recommendations from the Low Pay Commission. Under the revised structure, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and above will rise by 4.1%, increasing from £12.21 to £12.71 per hour. Workers aged 18 to 20 will receive a larger boost of 8.5%, taking their hourly rate from £10 to £10.85, while the rate for 16- and 17-year-olds, as well as first-year apprentices, will increase by 6%, from £7.55 to £8. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who announced the changes ahead of her first Budget, said…

Ofcom has issued new guidelines calling on social media platforms to take stronger action against online abuse, particularly targeting women and girls, including tougher measures to prevent coordinated “pile-ons.” The recommendations, released on Tuesday under the Online Safety Act (OSA), outline practical steps for tech companies to curb misogynistic harassment, coercive control and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. While voluntary, Ofcom warned that failure to comply could lead to formal proposals to strengthen the law. A key measure urges platforms such as X to introduce limits on the number of replies a post can receive, aiming to reduce situations…

Nigel Farage has publicly addressed allegations of racism and antisemitism dating back to his school years, nearly a week after former classmates accused him of repeated offensive behaviour. According to reports, about 20 individuals who attended Dulwich College with Farage described incidents of racial abuse, antisemitic remarks and targeted harassment during his teens. Farage’s team had initially issued a categorical denial, dismissing the claims as “without foundation”. However, in a broadcast interview on Monday, the Reform UK leader offered a more qualified response. When asked whether he racially abused fellow pupils, Farage replied: “No … Have I ever tried to…

People who discontinue the weight-loss drug Mounjaro tend not only to regain lost weight but also lose other health improvements linked to the medication, new research shows. Mounjaro, which contains tirzepatide, has surged in popularity, with previous studies showing average weight loss of around 20% after 72 weeks of treatment. However, earlier findings have already indicated that much of this weight returns once treatment stops. Researchers analysing data from the Surmount-4 clinical trial now report that gains such as reduced blood pressure, lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and improved blood glucose levels also diminish once patients stop taking the medication. Naveed…

Two veteran members of the House of Lords have been suspended after a parliamentary watchdog found they violated lobbying rules according to reports. Richard Dannatt, a former head of the British Army, received a four-month suspension after he was secretly filmed offering to arrange meetings with ministers for what he believed was a potential commercial client. He told undercover reporters he could facilitate introductions and would “make a point of getting to know” the most influential politicians. Subsequent reporting uncovered three additional instances in which he provided parliamentary services in return for payment, including corresponding with ministers and attending meetings…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to reverse Labour’s stance on the Electoral Commission as MPs and peers prepare a renewed push to amend the upcoming elections bill. In a letter to Starmer, lawmakers will argue that the elections watchdog must be fully independent and not subject to direction from the same political actors it is meant to hold accountable. The government is expected to introduce an elections bill early next year that will extend voting rights to 16-year-olds and tighten rules around political donations. However, Labour is resisting calls to undo changes made under Boris Johnson, which placed the…

London is poised to introduce a tourist levy on overnight stays for the first time, as the UK government prepares to grant new taxation powers to mayors through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to devolve the authority to impose the charge, a move long championed by Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has argued that the capital is missing out on significant revenue. Estimates suggest a tourist tax could raise up to £240m annually. In 2024 alone, London recorded 89 million overnight stays. England is currently the only G7 nation where central government blocks local…

Rail fares in England will be frozen next year for the first time in three decades, the government has confirmed. The freeze, which will remain in place until March 2027, applies to regulated fares, including season tickets and off-peak returns that typically rise annually. The most recent increase, introduced in March 2025, was 4.6%. Although rail fares traditionally rose each January based on the July retail price index (RPI) plus 1%, this formula has not always been followed. Ministers say the freeze is intended to “directly limit inflation” and ease cost-of-living pressures ahead of Wednesday’s Budget, in which Chancellor Rachel…

A new UK clinical trial will assess the risks and benefits of puberty-blocking drugs for children experiencing gender distress, following last year’s nationwide ban on their routine use. The trial, led by researchers at King’s College London (KCL), aims to provide robust evidence on the controversial treatment, which the Cass Review previously found lacked sufficient clinical data to justify use in under-18s. Around 220 children under 16 who have reached puberty and have a diagnosis of gender incongruence will take part in the study. They must meet strict medical and psychological criteria, receive detailed assessments, and demonstrate an informed understanding…

Former Reform UK Wales leader Nathan Gill has been sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for accepting bribes to deliver pro-Russia statements while serving as an MEP. Gill, who was aligned with Ukip and the Brexit Party under Nigel Farage, pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery between December 2018 and July 2019. Police say Gill received at least £30,000 from Oleg Voloshyn, a former Ukrainian MP and alleged Russian agent now believed to be in Moscow. Investigators were surprised by Gill’s guilty plea and believe he was driven largely by financial pressure. The bribed statements promoted…