The agreement, reached last month, replaces the contentious Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act, which had sparked widespread opposition from political parties, victims’ groups, and the Irish government.

By Eniola Amadu Public services in Wales could face severe funding cuts if Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford fails to win cross-party support for the Welsh government’s £27bn budget, which he begins publishing on Tuesday. The budget sets out spending plans for 2026–27, covering vital services from hospitals to waste collection. While the Labour government will present the proposals, it lacks the votes in the Senedd to pass them without help…

According to new forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the UK is on track to be the second fastest-growing economy among the G7 nations this year and next. The IMF projects that Britain’s economy will expand by 1.3 per cent in both 2025 and 2026, trailing only the United States and outpacing other advanced economies such as France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan. The outlook marks a modest but…

Sir Michael Caine has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to outlaw the smacking of children in England. The 92-year-old actor, alongside former England footballer Alan Shearer and actors Natalie Dormer and Samantha Morton, signed an open letter delivered to Downing Street on Monday. The letter, coordinated by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), argues that England’s current law leaves children with less protection…

By Eniola Amadu Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has intensified his call for the introduction of a targeted screening programme for prostate cancer, saying he is “convinced of the urgency” of a plan that would be affordable, deliverable, and capable of “saving countless lives.” In an interview with the BBC, Sunak said that personal experiences with family and friends had strengthened his conviction in the importance of early detection. “I’ve…

An Afghan migrant who entered the UK illegally by small boat has been sentenced to five years in prison for threatening to kill Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in a social media post. Fayaz Khan, 26, who prosecutors said was likely a 31-year-old named Fayaz Husseini, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court of making threats to kill the MP for Clacton. He was also handed an additional eight-month sentence, to…

A 58-year-old teacher, Farooq Ahmed, has been banned from teaching for life after he was found guilty of hitting a pupil with a ruler and kicking a chair that another child was sitting on at Oasis Academy, North Avenue, Bradford. The incident occurred on November 24, 2023, barely three months after Mr Ahmed joined the school at the start of the academic year. He was suspended three days later and…

Britain’s global influence appeared notably diminished yesterday as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was left queuing behind other world leaders to greet US President Donald Trump at a high-stakes Gaza peace summit, according to The Daily Express. The awkward moment, captured by international press photographers, showed Sir Keir fidgeting in the desert heat as he waited in line behind Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin…

Nigel Farage is preparing to abandon Reform UK’s flagship £90bn tax cut pledge as he seeks to project a more fiscally responsible image ahead of the next general election. The Reform UK leader is expected to outline a revised economic vision in an upcoming major policy speech, marking a significant shift from the party’s 2024 manifesto, which included sweeping tax reductions such as raising the income tax threshold to £20,000…

Kent Police have apologised and agreed to pay damages to a woman who was wrongly threatened with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestine flag and Free Gaza signs during a peaceful protest in Canterbury. Laura Murton, 43, was approached by armed officers on 14 July, who claimed her protest expressed views supportive of the proscribed group Palestine Action, which had been banned earlier that month. The officers…

By Eniola Amadu Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Egypt ahead of an international peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, where the long-awaited Gaza peace plan is expected to be signed. Downing Street said Sir Keir will pay “particular tribute” to US President Donald Trump, who brokered the ceasefire and will lead the summit alongside Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Leaders from more than 20 nations are expected to…

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer demanding answers over the collapse of the espionage case against two men accused of spying for China.