News 22/09/25

Sir Ed Davey has refused to rule out striking a deal with Sir Keir Starmer in order to stop Nigel Farage from entering Number 10.

Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby, the Liberal Democrat leader said he would “wait to see the result of the next election” before deciding on any agreement with Labour.

Asked whether he would ever do a deal with Sir Keir, the party chief said: “Look, when it comes to deals with other parties beyond Reform, let’s wait to see the result of the next election.”

Sarah, Duchess of York, has been dropped as a patron of two charities after it emerged she sent an email apologising to Jeffrey Epstein for publicly disowning him.

Children’s hospice Julia’s House and the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation both confirmed on Monday that she would no longer serve as patron. Julia’s House said the correspondence with Epstein made her position inappropriate, while thanking her for past support.

The revelations come amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s connections to public figures.

The Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has told the United Nations Security Council that UK and NATO forces would be prepared to confront Russian aircraft if necessary.

Speaking in New York, she said that any planes operating in NATO airspace without permission would be challenged, calling recent incidents dangerous and reckless. Cooper warned that Moscow’s behaviour risked serious escalation and said allies must remain firm in defending NATO territory.

Several of Europe’s busiest airports are still struggling after a ransomware attack crippled check-in and boarding systems late last week.

The EU’s cyber security agency ENISA says criminals deliberately scrambled software to cause maximum disruption. Hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled, and some airports reverted to manual systems as staff processed passengers by hand.

ENISA confirmed the ransomware has been identified and law enforcement agencies are investigating.

A prominent British-Egyptian activist has been pardoned by Egypt’s president after spending years behind bars.

Alaa Abd el-Fattah first rose to prominence during the 2011 protests that toppled Hosni Mubarak. He was jailed in 2014 for demonstrating without permission and later re-arrested for posting online about human rights abuses.

His lawyer confirmed his release, marking the end of more than a decade of repeated imprisonment.

Nigel Farage says there has been too little debate about legal immigration and the impact of what he called the sheer number of people coming into the country.

The Reform UK leader claimed too many arrivals do not work, have never worked, and never will, while many are not skilled workers. He pledged to make what he described as massive cuts to welfare spending or risk the bill bankrupting the nation.

Under a Reform government, he said, welfare would be reserved for UK citizens only, making Britain in his words more like most normal countries in the world.

A tiger handler linked to Joe Exotic from the Netflix series Tiger King has been killed by one of the big cats in Oklahoma.

Ryan Easley died in what the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve described as an accident involving a tiger under his care. The sanctuary said he was a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation, dedicating his life to the protection of animals and believing deeply in the preserve’s mission to provide a safe and enriching home for them.

Three children have been taken to hospital after a fire tore through a three-storey block of flats in north London.

Ten fire engines and around seventy firefighters were called to Maybury Close in Enfield on Monday morning. The children were treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital. London Fire Brigade says the blaze has been brought under control, though part of the roof and second floor remains alight.

Christian Horner has formally left Red Bull after agreeing a severance deal, following his dismissal as team principal in July.

While no figure was disclosed, reports suggest he received around 60 million euros, making it one of the biggest pay-offs in sporting history. Horner had led Red Bull since 2005, overseeing eight drivers’ and six constructors’ championships, and had been contracted through to 2030 on a salary of around 12 million euros a year.

Almost three-quarters of people say they do not care who becomes the next Archbishop of Canterbury, according to new polling.

The Church of England is due to announce Justin Welby’s successor in the coming weeks, nearly a year after he resigned over failures in handling a sex abuse scandal. But a survey of more than eleven hundred adults by Ipsos for the PA news agency found 74 percent are indifferent about who takes on the role.

Even among those who identified as Christian, 62 percent said they felt the same.

Police are asking for the public’s help to trace 18 people suspected of offences during last weekend’s Unite the Kingdom march in London.

The Metropolitan Police say the individuals are wanted in connection with public order incidents and assaults on emergency workers. An estimated 110,000 to 150,000 people attended the rally on 13 September, organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who described it as the biggest freedom of speech event in British history.

Around 5,000 anti-racism campaigners held a counter-protest nearby, with clashes breaking out on Whitehall and Trafalgar Square as police tried to keep the groups apart.

The UK will push for a new Middle East peace plan at the United Nations General Assembly, days after formally recognising the state of Palestine.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to highlight the suffering of civilians in Gaza and build support for what the government calls a pathway to peace. She will hold meetings to discuss security measures designed to ensure Hamas has no role in the future governance of Gaza.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who announced recognition of Palestine on Sunday, says the move is aimed at reviving hopes for a two-state solution.

Two people have been arrested after a man died in a crash in Buckinghamshire.

Emergency services were called at around 10 o’clock on Saturday night to the A355 at Farnham Common after a collision between a red Vauxhall Astra and a blue Honda Jazz.

The driver of the Honda, a 43-year-old man, died at the scene. His family have been informed and are being supported by police.

Donald Trump’s cabinet has left Washington for Arizona to attend the memorial service of Charlie Kirk.

It is thought to be the first time in modern history that both a serving president and vice president have spoken at the funeral of a non-elected US citizen. Alongside Mr Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and senior cabinet figures including Marco Rubio and Robert F. Kennedy Jr are expected to address mourners.

The memorial for the assassinated conservative activist has been described as both a service of remembrance and a rallying call for the administration.

Reform of the welfare system “must happen”, according to the Work and Pensions Secretary.

Pat McFadden told the BBC he will press ahead with changes to ensure people get the right support while tackling the rising cost of benefits.

The government recently scrapped plans to cut nearly £5 billion from disability and health-related benefits to avoid defeat in Parliament.

But ministers say tens of thousands of people currently on long-term sickness benefits will instead be offered skills and employment support to help them back into work.

Former Labour MP Zarah Sultana says she is determined to move forward after a public row over the creation of a new left-wing party with Jeremy Corbyn.

Sultana has dropped plans for legal action against Corbyn and others involved in the group, which is currently known as Your Party.

She had accused them of making baseless attacks on her character.

Corbyn has not commented but is understood, like Sultana, to want the party’s first conference to go ahead in November.