Category: UK News

The chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Jon Boutcher, revealed to Members of Parliament that the PSNI has paid out £25m in recent years to settle civil cases related to the Troubles. Surprisingly, the majority of this hefty sum went directly to lawyers, totaling almost £18m, while the victims who actually… Continue reading NI legacy: Lawyers got most of £25m to settle cases, says PSNI

The government has made a commitment to address the backlog of learner drivers waiting for practical tests in England by pledging to provide an additional 10,000 driving tests per month. Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, highlighted the current wait times of over five months as “totally unacceptable” during a session with parliament’s transport committee. The aim… Continue reading Driving test backlog to be cleared by next summer, minister says

Following a burst main in west Devon, South West Water (SWW) has announced that water supplies have been restored to some properties. Despite this, several schools and businesses remained closed due to ongoing issues. Areas affected by the burst main included Plymouth, Bere Alston, Yelverton, and Tavistock, with around 13,000 properties experiencing water supply disruptions.… Continue reading Water restored for some Devon properties after burst main

Shehnaz Khan reports from the West Midlands for BBC News, where talks are scheduled to resume on Wednesday in an effort to resolve the Birmingham bin worker strike. The ongoing strike, now in its seventh week, has resulted in large piles of uncollected rubbish accumulating on sidewalks and street corners. Last month, a major incident… Continue reading Talks to resume as Birmingham bin strike now in seventh week

Reporting from London, talks in the city aimed at securing a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia have undergone changes as the original planned involvement of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff has been omitted. Instead, the meeting on Wednesday will involve senior officials from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine, and… Continue reading Russia-Ukraine war: London ceasefire talks downgraded

The government’s borrowing for the year ending in March exceeded expectations due to increased spending on pay and benefits, according to official data. The borrowing, which represents the difference between government spending and income from taxes, totaled £151.9bn for the year, an increase of £20.7bn compared to the previous year. This figure surpassed the predicted… Continue reading Higher pay and benefits drives government borrowing higher

Dean Franklin, the recent winner of The Apprentice 2025, dismissed reports of his air conditioning company operating without the appropriate license, stating that he was not informed of any ongoing investigation by the Environment Agency. The 35-year-old father-of-two from Hornchurch, east London, was declared the champion of the popular BBC reality show by Lord Alan… Continue reading Apprentice winner Dean Franklin 'not aware' of licence breach

Lewis Jones, a 23-year-old man from Liverpool, was able to perpetrate a violent and prolonged sexual assault on a six-year-old girl in Manchester due to police failings and workload pressures, according to information obtained by the BBC. Merseyside Police had been investigating Jones since 2020 for grooming and sexually abusing a vulnerable child before he… Continue reading Merseyside Police failings left predator free to kidnap girl, 6

In preparation for an upcoming summit in Glasgow, First Minister John Swinney is calling on Scotland’s political, faith, and civic leaders to come together in defense of democracy. Approximately 50 organizations, encompassing political parties, faith groups, and charities, are slated to participate in the forum. Swinney emphasized the importance of this gathering amidst global uncertainties… Continue reading John Swinney calls on leaders to unite for democracy

A recent investigation into HMP Parc in Bridgend has revealed a concerning trend of drug smuggling via drones, potentially leading to a series of tragic deaths within the prison. The report highlighted a failure to address the widespread availability of drugs, with deliveries directly to cell windows via unmanned aerial vehicles. In 2024 alone, seventeen… Continue reading Drugs pouring into Parc Prison, Bridgend, by drone, inspector says