Nigel Farage has claimed the Scottish Conservatives could face a total electoral wipeout at next year’s Holyrood elections, following the high-profile defection of Tory MSP Graham Simpson to Reform UK. At a press conference in Edinburgh, Farage welcomed Simpson as the first Reform MSP under his leadership and said the defection marked the beginning of the Conservatives’ decline not just in Scotland, but also in Wales and northern England. “I…

A teenage girl who stabbed three people at a Welsh school had previously been considered for referral to the UK government’s anti-extremism programme Prevent, according to a new safeguarding report. The 13-year-old, who expressed interest in Adolf Hitler, war memorabilia, and weapons, attacked two teachers and a fellow student at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, in April 2024. She had earlier been found carrying a knife on school grounds,…

The fertility rate in England and Wales has reached a record low, marking the third consecutive year of decline, according to newly released figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In 2024, the total fertility rate which represents the average number of live children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime fell to 1.41, down slightly from 1.42 in 2023. This is the lowest figure since records…

The gap in transport-related carbon emissions between the UK’s richest and poorest is on track to grow significantly by 2035, according to new research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Currently, the most affluent individuals produce 10 times more emissions from domestic travel than the least affluent. If current government policies remain unchanged, that disparity is expected to rise to 13 times within the next decade. The IPPR…

Scotland has introduced water restrictions for the first time due to a prolonged dry spell that has pushed river levels to critical lows. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) announced restrictions in Ythan (Aberdeenshire) and North Fife after both regions reached significant scarcity status which is the highest level of alert. This follows over 30 days of very low water levels in local rivers. The measures limit water abstraction and…

The Labour government is facing criticism for allegedly neglecting British tech companies while seeking to position the UK as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI). Newly formed government working groups had set up to address growing concerns over AI’s impact on copyright laws which come under fire after it emerged that just one UK tech company, AI video startup Synthesia, was invited to participate. In contrast, the attendee list…

Fraudsters in Ghana are deliberately targeting British women in online romance scams, claiming their crimes are a form of retribution for colonial exploitation, new research has revealed. Accra, the capital of Ghana, has become a hub for cybercrime networks known as Sakawa Boys. These gangs impersonate white men on Facebook often posing as soldiers, bankers or government officials to lure affluent Western women into relationships. Over months, victims are persuaded…

By Eniola Amadu UK ministers have approved plans to help a further 30 students from Gaza travel to Britain to begin university courses next month. The move, however, still depends on clearance from Israeli authorities before any evacuation can proceed. This latest approval brings the total number of students the government intends to assist to 39, following last week’s pledge to secure the safe passage of nine Chevening scholars. READ…

The head of the UK’s elections watchdog has said schools must begin teaching democracy from the age of 11 to prepare children for voting at 16, while stressing the importance of keeping classrooms free from political bias. Vijay Rangarajan, chief executive of the Electoral Commission, said teaching will initially target pupils aged 14 and above but should eventually start earlier so that young people are ready to use the vote…

Rising grocery costs are piling further pressure on UK households, with eggs, butter and chocolate leading a fresh surge in food inflation. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), food prices rose by 4.2% in August, up from 4% in July and the sharpest increase in 18 months. Overall shop price inflation also edged up to 0.9%, despite non-food prices falling by 0.8%. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said the…

By Eniola Amadu The UK government has detained more than 100 people who crossed the Channel in small boats under its new “one in, one out” immigration scheme, designed to return irregular migrants to France. So far, no one has been admitted to Britain through the official safe route system, fuelling growing frustration among migrants in Calais who say their applications remain unanswered. According to officials, the reciprocal arrangement means…

People using the weight-loss injection Mounjaro are being urged not to bulk buy or turn to unlicensed sellers after its manufacturer, Eli Lilly, confirmed prices in the UK will rise sharply this autumn. From September, the cost of Mounjaro is set to increase by up to 170%, although the NHS will be protected from the rise. Since only a small number of patients are eligible for NHS prescriptions, most people…