Category: UK News

County councils in England are facing financial ruin, according to the County Councils Network. One in 10 English county councils are effectively bankrupt, endangering vital services, the council network has warned. The Birmingham City Council was forced to slash spending recently after it effectively declared bankruptcy. More councils fear that they could suffer the same… Continue reading Warning one in 10 county councils face effective bankruptcy

Helen McNamara, the second most senior civil servant in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic, faced questioning on Wednesday as part of the Covid inquiry. Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s senior adviser, wrote about McNamara’s conduct during the pandemic in a 115-page document included in the inquiry’s website. McNamara said working conditions at the time were… Continue reading 'Stiletto row' official to appear at Covid inquiry

Sky Broadband, the second-largest internet service provider in the UK, has blocked access to a site promoting suicide to its 5.7 million users. TalkTalk, another provider, has added the controversial site to its list of inappropriate content, making it available to be blocked by customers with its HomeSafe safety filter. The move follows a BBC… Continue reading Sky and TalkTalk block suicide website linked to 50 deaths

Promotional tweets featuring boxer Anthony Joshua have been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for breaking gambling advertising regulations. Betfred, the company behind the tweets, is contesting the decision and said it will demand an independent review. The ASA cited new gambling advertisement rules, in which companies cannot appeal to under-18s “by reflecting or… Continue reading Anthony Joshua: Betfred's boxer tweets broke gambling rules, says ASA

Hollins Care Centre in Cimla, Neath Port Talbot, is set to close its doors after the local council terminated its contract with the home. Neath Port Talbot Council said it had become aware of concerns relating to the delivery of care, including insufficient staffing levels, poor hygiene and infection control, lack of dignity towards residents… Continue reading Care home closure like losing your family, says Cimla resident

Police were deployed to the Kirkton district in Dundee after receiving reports of a group of around 50 youths setting fire to wheelie bins and smashing up an empty house. The incident occurred at around 7:45 p.m. Riot police were called to the scene to disperse the group of disorderly individuals. Beauly Square and Beauly… Continue reading Riot police called out as gang of youths start fires in Dundee

Low-income households in the UK are receiving the second instalment of cost-of-living payments. This includes eight million people who are on means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, who will receive £300 directly by 19 November. This is the second of three instalments, eventually totalling £900. The payments are not limited to those who make a… Continue reading Cost-of-living payments: Latest £300 instalment being paid from now

The UK’s Covid inquiry has heard that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly agreed with some Conservative Party MPs that Covid-19 was “nature’s way of dealing with old people”. This allegation was revealed through diary entries made by Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK’s former chief scientific adviser. Meanwhile, Johnson’s ex-adviser, Dominic Cummings, told the inquiry… Continue reading Boris Johnson thought old people should accept Covid fate, inquiry told

In recent days, the public inquiry into the UK government’s response to Covid-19 has revealed private messages between key players that indicate strained relationships and even contempt between them. Some of the most striking exchanges have been aired during the inquiry and include quotes from Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings, among others. During his first… Continue reading Covid inquiry: Read the private WhatsApp messages from inside Downing Street

The deputy first minister of Scotland, Shona Robison, has announced that the Scottish government will provide the UK Covid Inquiry with over 14,000 electronic messages. She also stated that First Minister Humza Yousaf will share his WhatsApp messages, without redactions. Previously, the Scottish government had come under fire for not passing on all relevant data… Continue reading Scottish ministers to release 14,000 Covid WhatsApp messages