By Eniola Amadu Chancellor Rachel Reeves has signalled that more tax hikes could be on the horizon as she works to stabilise the UK’s public finances ahead of next month’s budget. Speaking to broadcasters in Washington, DC, before the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meeting, Reeves said she was considering “further measures on tax” and spending, emphasising that she would “continue to prioritise economic and fiscal stability.” The remarks come…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed that Downing Street will publish a key witness statement at the centre of the controversy over dropped spying charges against two British men accused of working for China. Addressing MPs during Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer said the statement from Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Collins would be released after a brief review to ensure all information could be made public. The Crown Prosecution Service…

By Eniola Amadu Britain has unveiled a sweeping package of new sanctions aimed at crippling Russia’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine, targeting the country’s two largest oil firms and its so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers. The latest round of measures — totalling 90 new sanctions — also extends to a major Indian refinery and four Chinese oil terminals accused of helping move Russian crude onto global markets.…

By Eniola Amadu Five men who were sexually and physically abused by a paedophile priest while attending a school in Newry, County Down, are to receive more than £1.2 million in compensation, along with a written apology from the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland. The High Court settlements mark the conclusion of a long legal battle brought by the victims against the Diocese of Dromore and the board…

Robert Bush, 47, pleaded guilty to 35 counts of fraud by false representation and one charge of fraudulently operating his Hull-based business, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.

By Eniola Amadu Royal Mail has been fined £21 million by Ofcom after almost a quarter of first-class post failed to arrive on time during the 2024/25 financial year. The penalty, one of the largest ever issued by the communications watchdog, follows an investigation that found Royal Mail missed its delivery targets for both first and second-class post. Ofcom’s director of enforcement, Ian Strawhorne, said: “Millions of important letters are…

A group of Labour MPs has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to abolish council tax and replace it with a fairer system, as she prepares to deliver her second and potentially most challenging budget next month. In a letter sent to Reeves last month, 13 Labour MPs  predominantly representing constituencies in northern England, urged the chancellor to be bold in tackling what they described as a deeply regressive and outdated…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer addresses growing concerns over the failure to prosecute high-profile China spy cases, amid accusations from the opposition and renewed scrutiny of national security policy at the opening statement today during the Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). Starmer expressed deep disappointment over the outcome of the case, which saw two men charged under the Official Secrets Act but ultimately not prosecuted. “National security will always be the first…

Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband has approved plans for the UK’s largest solar farm. The £1bn Tillbridge solar farm, to be built near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, will generate enough electricity to power 300,000 homes once completed. The 700-megawatt project will cover more than 1,200 hectares, making it the biggest solar development in the country. It is also the ninth nationally significant solar project approved since Labour came to power in July…

An asylum seeker accused of murdering a hotel worker in Walsall was seen dancing and laughing moments after the attack, a jury has heard. Deng Chol Majek, who claims to be 19, allegedly stabbed 27-year-old Rhiannon Skye Whyte 23 times with a screwdriver after following her to Bescot Stadium railway station on 20 October last year. Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Majek, a Sudanese national living…

Migrants coming to the UK for work will soon be required to speak English to an A-level standard under new immigration rules set out by the government, in one of the most significant overhauls of the visa system in a decade. The changes, due to take effect from 8 January 2026, will apply to applicants for skilled worker, scale-up, and high potential individual (HPI) visas,  categories designed for professionals and…

Britain is set to endure the weakest growth in living standards of any major Western economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned, as stubbornly high inflation and a slowing economy weigh heavily on household incomes. In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF forecast that UK growth per person, a key measure of living standards  would rise by just 0.5 per cent in 2026, compared with 1.8 per cent…