Category Archives: UK news

UK set for new wave of strikes as civil servants and train drivers vote for action – politics live

Posted on by

Around 100,000 civil servants, working in multiple government agencies, have voted to strike in a dispute over pay, pensions and jobs.

According to Pat Leahy, political editor of the Irish Times, the Irish government is doubtful about the prospect of a breakthrough in the coming weeks in the talks on the Northern Ireland protocol.

In his Sky News interview Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland secretary, also suggested that large number of politicians in parliament are voting for Matt Hancock to perform “grim” tasks on I’m A Celebrity. My colleague Aubrey Allegretti has the story here.

Continue reading...

‘Vital’ energy security bill must be brought back, says Labour

Posted on by

Shadow climate minister says Britain is losing the race to create green jobs

Labour has accused the government of being “highly irresponsible” in sidelining a crucial piece of energy legislation, arguing that Britain is “losing the race” to create green jobs.

The energy security bill was published in July with the aim of boosting domestic, low-carbon power supplies and bringing down energy costs.

Continue reading...

I’m a Celebrity: MPs and peers voting for Hancock to do ‘grim’ tasks, says minister

Posted on by

Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland secretary, claims ‘quite a lot’ of politicians downloading TV show app

A large number of politicians in parliament are voting for Matt Hancock to perform “grim” tasks on I’m A Celebrity, a senior minister has suggested.

After the former Conservative health secretary was pelted with sludge and insects on his first night in the Australian jungle, a former cabinet colleague said even technophobic peers back home in Britain were downloading an app used to vote contestants into performing gruesome “bushtucker trials”.

Continue reading...

Angola urges UK to take new measures on poverty

Posted on by

Call over protecting most vulnerable citizens comes before UN review of Britain’s human rights record

Angola has urged the UK to adopt an emergency poverty strategy to protect its most vulnerable citizens from the cost-of-living crisis.

The call – from a country where more than half of its population of 34 million people live on less than $2 (£1.75) a day, on behalf of citizens of one of the world’s richest – was among several concerns raised before a UN review of the UK’s human rights record today.

Continue reading...

Sunak faces scrutiny over whether he knew of Gavin Williamson bully claims

Posted on by

Source claims PM was given ‘general description’ of alleged incident but gave Williamson a job anyway

Rishi Sunak is facing scrutiny over whether he knew about Gavin Williamson’s alleged bullying of a senior civil servant whom he told to “cut your throat” before reappointing him to government.

Two sources claimed the prime minister had been alerted to Williamson’s “credible and substantiated bad behaviour” while defence secretary when he drew up his cabinet.

Continue reading...

Matt Hancock squeals as he is showered with sludge on I’m a Celebrity debut

Posted on by

Former health secretary crawls through dark tunnels in Beastly Burrows first trial

In the run-up to Matt Hancock’s appearance on I’m a Celebrity, it was widely speculated that he would be subjected to all the most gruesome challenges. In that respect, his first episode did not fail to deliver.

The hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly – and probably much of the nation – could barely contain their delight as the former health secretary was forced to crawl through tiny, dark tunnels where he was showered with bugs and sludge.

I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! continues on Thursday at 9pm on ITV and ITV Hub.

Continue reading...

Sister of Alaa Abd el-Fattah accused in Egypt of ‘spreading false news’

Posted on by

Complaint, which prosecutor has yet to accept, raises risk of Sanaa Seif’s detention during Cop27

The sister of the jailed hunger striker Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been informed that a pro-government lawyer has filed a case against her with the Egyptian public prosecutor accusing her of espionage and “spreading false news”.

The news comes a day after Sanaa Seif spoke at an event at the Cop27 climate summit being held in Egypt, which was widely reported on. The case accuses her of “conspiring with foreign agencies against the Egyptian state, foreign agitation, and incitement against the Egyptian state and its institutions, and deliberately spreading false news.”

Continue reading...

Sunak sharpens knives of his detractors with handling of Williamson scandal

Posted on by

With No 10 seemingly one step behind events, prime minister cultivated his reputation for poor political judgment

On the steps of Downing Street just two weeks ago, Rishi Sunak sought to draw a line under both of his recent predecessors’ chaotic administrations, vowing that his would be one of “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level”.

But on Tuesday the prime minister’s promises – already shaken by his appointment of Suella Braverman as home secretary six days after she was sacked by Liz Truss, and his failure to fill the long-vacant ethics adviser role – took yet another battering as Gavin Williamson, the twice-sacked Cabinet Office minister, left the government under a dark cloud.

Continue reading...

Benjamin Mendy denies being ‘a danger to women’ at rape trial

Posted on by

Footballer admits having parties during Covid lockdown but tells court any sexual contact was consensual

The Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has denied he is a “danger to women” who thinks the normal rules do not apply to him, a court has heard.

The Premier League player said his life went “crazy” and he was “taking risks” by partying during the Covid-19 lockdown, but he said he had never raped or sexually assaulted women.

Continue reading...

UK economy being held back by worsening health of British public, Andy Haldane warns

Posted on by

RSA chief executive says more than a century of progress was now going into reverse

The worsening health of the British people is holding back economic growth for the first time since the Industrial Revolution after years of underinvestment in services, Andy Haldane has warned.

The chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) said more than a century of progress on health and wellbeing was going into reverse, with a direct impact on the economy and the cost of living emergency.

Continue reading...

Nurses across UK vote to go on strike for first time in dispute over pay

Posted on by

NHS braces for prolonged period of industrial action by health workers over the winter and into next year

Nurses have voted to stage strikes across the UK for the first time in their history in pursuit of a better pay deal, in a move that will seriously disrupt NHS care.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced on Wednesday that nurses at many, but not all, hospitals and other places of NHS care would take industrial action before Christmas and could continue striking until next May.

Continue reading...

Remains of 18 Indigenous people held by UK museums return to Australia

Posted on by

Return is part of painstaking effort to recover thousands of ancestors stolen from traditional lands who now lie in more than 20 countries

The remains of 18 Indigenous people have been returned to Australia by two British museums, part of the laborious and painstaking effort to recover thousands of ancestors stolen from their traditional lands which now lie in more than 20 countries around the world.

At midnight Australia time on Wednesday, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum returned 17 ancestors to the custodianship of the federal government, which will hold them while further research is undertaken “to determine the traditional custodians”. Another was given to the custodianship of the south-east First Nations people of South Australia, who were represented by Robyn Campbell.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

M&S faces ‘gathering storm’ as joint venture with Ocado makes loss

Posted on by

Marks & Spencer profits fall by almost 24%, although clothing, food and international sales rise

Marks & Spencer has said it faces a “gathering storm”, with next year likely to be more challenging than this after reporting a near 24% fall in profits.

The clothing, food and homewares retailer said sales rose 8.8% to £5.6bn in the six months to 1 October but underlying pre-tax profits sank 23.7% to £205.5m as its Ocado online grocery joint venture fell into the red and it pulled out of Russia.

Continue reading...

Made.com enters administration, putting about 500 jobs at risk

Posted on by

Online furniture retailer’s brand, domain names and intellectual property bought by Next

The online furniture retailer Made.com has collapsed into administration after weeks of speculation, putting about 500 jobs at risk and leaving customers disappointed.

The company’s brand, domain names and intellectual property were immediately bought by the fashion and homeware retailer Next.

Continue reading...

BookTrust launches Christmas appeal with research showing parents buying fewer presents

Posted on by

Survey shows more than 60% of UK parents will be spending less this year on gifts for children, as charity begins #JustOneBook drive to give disadvantaged youngsters book parcels

More than 60% of parents in the UK will be spending less this year on Christmas presents for their children, a survey by BookTrust has found, as it launches its Christmas appeal to provide young people with books.

The survey found that 59% of parents who celebrate Christmas have cut back on spending ahead of the festive season so they can afford to buy gifts for their children, but 62% still say they’ll be spending less than they usually do.

Continue reading...

Lively guinea pig and giraffe toys flagged as ‘Christmas bestsellers’

Posted on by

Toy Retailers Association selects likely ‘must-haves’ for British market with eye on strained budgets

An interactive guinea pig which has babies and a “booty shaking” disco giraffe are predicted to be among the bestselling toys this Christmas as retailers battle for custom with toy ranges tailored to suit “every budget”.

With the cost of living crisis looming large, the DreamToys list drawn up by the Toy Retailers Association (TRA), features a selection of cheaper toys this year, with eight of the top 12 under £35. The cheapest item on the list is an £8 Squishmallow, a cuddly toy expected to be a popular stocking filler.

Barbie Cutie reveal doll £33

Gabby’s Purrfect Dollhouse £80

Goo Jit Zu figurine £11

GiGi the Giraffe £28

Mama Surprise £65

Magic Mixies Mixlings Magic Castle £30

Paw Patrol Big Truck Pups vehicle £18

Pokémon Elite Trainer set £42.50

Rainbow High fashion doll £32

Sink N’ Sand game £20

Original 7.5in Squishmallows £8

Lego Star Wars Hoth AT-ST £45

Continue reading...

London Underground strike will halt nearly all tube services on Thursday

Posted on by

RMT’s 24-hour walkout will slow capital to a crawl, with buses expected to be extremely busy and roads congested

A strike on London Underground will halt virtually all tube services and slow much of the capital to a crawl on Thursday, in the ongoing dispute over jobs and pensions.

Some London Overground and Docklands Light Railway services may also be affected by the 24-hour walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union, while buses are expected to be extremely busy and roads congested. Elizabeth Line trains will run as normal.

Continue reading...

Gavin Williamson announces resignation but ‘refutes the characterisation’ of claims against him – as it happened

Posted on by

Former deputy chief whip Anne Milton tells Channel 4 Williamson used ‘leverage’ and threats against MPs

Sima Kotecha, Newsnight’s UK editor, has spoken to Tory MPs who are not surprised about the allegations about Sir Gavin Williamson being a bully.

Ian Murray, the shadow Scottish secretary, has said that if Alistair Jack, the Scottish secretary, was confident about defending his record at an election, he would not be getting ready to accept a peerage. Referring to today’s Times story (see 10.55am), Murray said:

We cannot comment on speculation about peerages. Alister Jack is absolutely committed to representing his constituents and working with the prime minister to continue to deliver for people in Scotland.

Continue reading...

Gavin Williamson: his gaffes, scandals and controversies

Posted on by

Some of the worst moments of the Conservative politician who has been sacked from cabinet after allegations over his conduct

Gavin Williamson has resigned as a minister after a string of allegations, including that he told a senior civil servant to “slit your throat”.

It is not the first time he has lost a government job, however. Since taking up his first ministerial role in 2017, Williamson has been dogged by scandals and controversies. Here is a reminder of his worst moments:

Continue reading...

Gavin Williamson resigns after chief whip messages scandal

Posted on by

Former defence and education secretary had been brought back to government last month by Rishi Sunak

Gavin Williamson has resigned as a minister after messages emerged in which he berated the former Conservative chief whip for not ensuring he was invited to the Queen’s funeral.

Williamson, who was sacked as defence secretary by Theresa May for leaking confidential information, and by Boris Johnson after a disastrous two-year stint as education secretary, was brought back to government last month by Rishi Sunak as a Cabinet Office minister.

Continue reading...