Former Brexit Party and UKIP politician, David Coburn has denied receiving any money connected to a pro-Russian influence operation in the European Parliament. Coburn’s name appears in WhatsApp messages exchanged between disgraced former MEP Nathan Gill who was jailed last week for taking bribes to deliver pro-Russia speeches and Oleg Voloshyn, a former Ukrainian MP aligned with the Kremlin. Gill admitted receiving thousands of dollars from figures linked to Viktor…

Shell UK has been fined £560,000 for failing to maintain ageing pipework on its Brent Charlie offshore platform. The oversight which had led to a major leak and posed as a potentially catastrophic fire and explosion risk. Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that the corroded pipework, which had been installed for short-term use and scheduled for removal in 2010, remained in place for seven additional years without proper maintenance. In May…

Labour

By Eniola Amadu The Metropolitan police (MeT) will pass through a new inquiry to determine whether they have undergone meaningful reform following a damning report that exposed deep-rooted prejudice and systemic failings. This follow-up examination, codenamed as “Casey 2,” was expected to commence earlier in the year but has been postponed. This follows a review by Louise Casey in 2023 review, which revealed that the Met exhibited institutional racism and…

UK ministers have rejected claims that plans to absorb the cost of supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) into wider education spending will reduce funding for schools. The Department for Education (DfE) said Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projections were incorrect and failed to consider reforms due early next year. Under the plans, all Send spending will be moved away from local authorities by 2028, shifting around…

The  National Union of Students (NUS) has warned that a three-year freeze on the salary threshold for student loan repayments could leave new graduates struggling to cover essential living costs. In Wednesday’s Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that from April 2027 the repayment threshold for Plan 2 student loans will be frozen at £29,385. Plan 2 applies to students who began courses in England and Wales between September 2012 and…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended the government’s tax-raising Budget, insisting it will help lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty. He described child poverty as abhorrent and said he is “absolutely determined” to reduce it. The government has been responding to questions on the Budget, which includes new measures affecting everything from electric vehicles to pensions. On Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves raised taxes for millions while announcing…

Net migration to the UK dropped by two-thirds in the year ending June 2025, with provisional data showing a fall from 649,000 to 204,000. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the decline was largely driven by fewer arrivals for work and study. Also, Home Office figures reveal asylum claims reached a record high of 110,051 in the year to September 2025. The number of asylum seekers housed in hotels…

A UK nurse has been suspended for 12 months after a professional panel found she racially and verbally abused a colleague, calling her a “Polish cow,” “stupid old cow,” and an “old woman” during a series of incidents on a London hospital ward. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) ruled that Cynthia Njoku’s conduct amounted to serious misconduct, describing her behaviour as racist, ageist and fundamentally incompatible with the standards…

By Eniola Amadu A resident doctor of the NHS has been suspended for 15 months following a post on social media alleged to contain antisemitic comments. The trauma and orthopaedic surgeon trainee, Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, was suspended by a medical tribunal and also accused of showing support for “violent action and terrorist organisations”. According to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), the posts “may impact on patient confidence” in her…

Reeves

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to proceed with plans to remove about £300m worth of tax breaks from the Motability scheme, which provides cars to disabled people. Although the Treasury had reportedly examined options to cut tax reliefs worth up to £1bn, ministers have stepped back from the most drastic proposals amid fears they could destabilise the Motability scheme. The savings are now expected to fall well below the £1bn…