Mick Lynch downplays prospects of a resolution to dispute over pay, jobs and conditions
The RMT leader, Mick Lynch, has claimed he has not met a government minister since January as he downplayed prospects of a resolution to the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
The next strike by members of the of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union takes place on Thursday, with strikes also scheduled for Saturday and 29 July.
Continue reading...Fifteen-year-old boy charged with assault by police after incident in Queensland in early hours of Sunday
A British backpacker has been stabbed by a teenager at an Australian beach resort, according to local media reports.
Police were called to Hastings Street in Noosa, on the Queensland coast, in the early hours of Sunday after a 25-year-old man was allegedly attacked by a 15-year-old boy after an argument.
Continue reading...This week’s CPI figures look set to highlight a trend: that prices in the UK seem to rise faster than they do elsewhere
The UK has a longstanding problem with inflation. Since the 2008 banking crash, bouts of inflation felt across the world have sent prices higher in the UK than its G7 rivals.
In July 2009, during the recession that followed the banking crisis, UK inflation was 3.1 points above the G7 average. Two years later, when recovery sent oil prices soaring, it stood about 2% above the G7 average. In March this year, however, it stood a full 3.5 points above the G7 level.
Continue reading...Archbishop of Canterbury says he had a messy childhood due to alcoholism in the family but he loved Jane Williams deeply
The archbishop of Canterbury has paid tribute to his mother, Jane Williams, who has died at 93, saying she had “lived a full human life, with all its ups and downs”.
Justin Welby said it had been “a privilege to be her son. I am the person I am in part because of her love, example and encouragement.”
Continue reading...Emergency services working to put out blaze after being called to seafront hotel shortly before 5.30pm
A fire has broken out at a hotel in Brighton, with emergency services saying high winds are impeding their efforts to tackle the blaze.
East Sussex fire and rescue service (ESFR) was called to the Royal Albion hotel on the seafront at 5.24pm, and later tweeted that “15 fire appliances, one high volume pump and three aerial ladder platforms [were] in attendance”.
Continue reading...An 18-year-old man is being held on suspicion of murder after fatal stabbing following birthday party in Granville Road, Brent
A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 17-year-old boy, who was stabbed to death after a birthday party in a street fight in north-west London.
The boy died in Granville Road, Brent, at about 11.30pm on Friday during a fight that is believed to have taken place on several roads nearby. Another male, also believed to be 17, was taken to hospital, as was a woman in her early 20s, who suffered a hand injury.
Continue reading...Police say alleged offences include breach of the peace after 200 people march to plant and four climb on roof
Five people have been arrested after environmental activists staged a day of resistance at the Ineos oil refinery near Falkirk.
Four people climbed on to the roof of the Ineos gas power station at Grangemouth and held up a banner on Saturday afternoon. Earlier, about 200 people marched to the fence of the Ineos plant, which powers the oil refinery, from a climate camp approximately a mile away.
Continue reading...Exclusive: Labour leader urges left to ‘care more about growth’ and rules out spending ‘vast sums of money’
Labour will only succeed in winning power and rebuilding Britain if it prioritises economic growth, wealth creation and radical reform of public services over reckless spending promises, says Keir Starmer.
With four days to go before a crucial set of parliamentary byelections, the Labour leader delivers the most robust defence to date of his strategy for returning his party to power after 13 years, in an exclusive article for the Observer. Starmer takes on, directly, those who say his agenda is dull and uninspiring, insisting that the hard grind of rebuilding economic credibility must come first, as opposed to Labour retreating to its normal “comfort zone” of promising “vast sums of money”.
Continue reading...Defence secretary rows back comments about Ukraine needing to show ‘gratitude’ and says he will not contest next general election
Ben Wallace is to leave government at the next cabinet reshuffle after four years as defence secretary and will not stand in the general election.
Wallace, who has played a key role in responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and was a close ally of Boris Johnson, told the Sunday Times he was “not standing next time” but he ruled out leaving parliament “prematurely” and forcing another byelection on Rishi Sunak, of whom he remains supportive.
Continue reading...Mary Somerville, 39, died in Edinburgh following loss of Jaime Carsi, 40, in Mallorca, which was blamed on a faulty fridge
A woman has died two months after her husband was killed by a suspected gas leak from a broken fridge while on honeymoon in Mallorca.
Mary Somerville, 39, was found unconscious lying next to Jaime Carsi at a holiday home on 6 May.
Continue reading...Sharon Graham, of UK’s second largest union, says party lacks ambition and is not showing itself as distinct alternative to Tories
Labour should “talk about what they can do to change Britain”, the leader of the UK’s second largest trade union has said.
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, said the union could reduce the amount of money it gave to Labour if the party’s leadership did not back more of its policy priorities, saying “people want something to vote for”.
Continue reading...Retailers should be forced to display detailed price information on loyalty card deals, says consumer group
Supermarket food prices have increased by more than 25% over the past two years according to the consumer group Which?, with the size of the rise reinforcing the case for retailers to be forced to display detailed price information on loyalty card offers and promotions so shoppers can find the best deal.
Which? said the government needed to close loopholes that result in “confusing and inconsistent” pricing practices of some supermarkets. Last month it reported Tesco to the UK’s competition watchdog because it does not provide unit prices – such as the price for each 100g or 100ml – for the loyalty card offers it uses as a sales tactic to pull in shoppers.
Continue reading...Exclusive: Former envoy raises concerns over possible ‘deliberate defunding of climate diplomacy under Sunak government’
The UK Foreign Office has said it does not know how many of its officials and diplomats are working on climate change and energy issues, in response to freedom of information requests.
The government has frequently described itself as a world leader on climate issues and the Foreign Office recently stated that “climate change remains an area of utmost importance and is a central focus of our diplomatic relations on a daily basis”.
Continue reading...Government-backed NS&I increases its rates, as building societies and banks launch better deals
Amid the mortgage misery, there was more good news this week on savings rates, with a growing number of accounts now paying 6%-plus interest.
Meanwhile, the government-backed NS&I – a favourite of many in these uncertain times – has upped the rates on some of its popular fixed-rate accounts.
Continue reading...LGA says single-use e-cigarettes are a litter blight and cause problems in bin lorries and recycling centres
Councils are joining paediatricians in calling for a ban on disposable vapes owing to the environmental damage they cause and the soaring number of young people taking up the addictive products.
The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England and Wales, said urgent action was needed to save taxpayers’ money – as single-use e-cigarettes are costly to recycle without going through special treatment – protect the planet and keep children safe.
Continue reading...Keir Johnston, 38, from Colonsay in Scotland, is alleged to have conducted 11-year campaign of serious domestic violence
A man who found fame after a dress worn by his mother-in-law at his wedding went viral due to its unusual colour properties has reportedly appeared in court charged with the attempted murder of his wife.
Keir Johnston, 38, from the Isle of Colonsay in Scotland, is alleged to have conducted an almost 11-year campaign of serious domestic violence and coercive control which resulted in him attempting to kill his wife, the Times reported.
Continue reading...Kimberley Sampson and Samantha Mulcahy died in 2018 after caesarean sections by the same surgeon in Kent
A coroner has criticised an NHS trust over the deaths of two new mothers with herpes.
Kimberley Sampson, 29, and Samantha Mulcahy, 32, died in 2018 after having caesarean sections six weeks apart by the same surgeon at hospitals in Kent.
Continue reading...Two demonstrators removed almost immediately after sounding air horns and throwing confetti on the stage
Two Just Stop Oil protesters disrupted the opening night of the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall after running on to the stage, setting off confetti cannon and sounding air horns.
The pair were taken off stage at the west London venue within moments of unfurling their orange banners on Friday evening, according to footage on social media.
Continue reading...Dorset police conclude Dorset Belle pleasure cruiser did not contribute to Joe Abbess and Sunnah Khan drowning in May
No criminal offences were committed in relation to the death of two young swimmers off Bournemouth beach in May, a police force has concluded.
A man in his 40s who was initially arrested on suspicion of manslaughter will face no further action, Dorset police said on Friday.
Continue reading...The hiring of former PM and Treasury chief was to lend credibility to broader Beijing brand, intelligence watchdog told
David Cameron’s appointment as vice-chair of the £1bn China-UK investment fund and Sir Danny Alexander’s appointment as vice-president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank were in part engineered by the Chinese state, parliament’s intelligence and security committee (ISC) found.
Their appointment was to lend credibility to Chinese investment as well as the broader Chinese brand, according to confidential evidence given to the intelligence watchdog.
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