MarkDenholm

Sir Keir Starmer and the Chancellor Rachel Reeves have abandoned plans to raise income tax rates, performing a major U-turn less than two weeks before the budget. The move follows intense pressure inside Downing Street after fears of a backlash from Labour MPs and voters. The Financial Times first reported the shift, which comes after several difficult days for the government and growing concern about breaking a key manifesto pledge. […]

Sir Keir Starmer has denied ever authorising personal attacks on members of his cabinet, calling recent anonymous briefings against them “unacceptable.” Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions, he said such behaviour had no place in government, following claims that his allies had briefed the press about possible leadership challenges. Reports suggested Health Secretary Wes Streeting could be positioning himself for a leadership bid, something he’s dismissed as “totally untrue.” Streeting has […]

Allies of the Prime Minister have dismissed talk of a leadership challenge, insisting Sir Keir Starmer will fight off any attempt to remove him. Reports in The Times suggest some within Labour may push for a change following the Chancellor’s autumn budget. Sources close to Starmer say he’s aware of unease within the party, particularly after the election of Lucy Powell as deputy leader — seen by some as the […]

A Berkshire man has been found guilty of murder after two people were attacked in Slough. Jakub Nowicki was convicted by a unanimous jury of murdering 46-year-old Tomasz Kopec and assaulting another person at a property on Grant Avenue in April. Police were called to the address at around 6.45 in the morning, where they discovered both victims with serious injuries. Mr Kopec died in hospital two days later. The […]

Tim Davie has resigned as the BBC’s Director-General, along with the corporation’s Head of News, Deborah Turness. Their departures come ahead of an expected BBC apology on Monday over concerns about impartiality — including how a Panorama documentary edited a speech by US President Donald Trump. The programme, Trump: A Second Chance?, aired before last year’s US election and featured spliced clips from the former president’s January 6th address, making […]

The chief inspector of prisons says the string of mistaken early prisoner releases is “a symptom of a system close to breaking point.” Charlie Taylor’s comments come after it was revealed two inmates wrongly freed last year remain at large, along with two more believed to have been released in error this summer. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, he described the situation as “embarrassing and potentially dangerous,” blaming it on […]

James Watson, the scientist who helped unlock the secret of life, has died at the age of 97. Watson shared the 1962 Nobel Prize with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for discovering the double-helix structure of DNA — a breakthrough that transformed medicine, forensics and genetics. Their 1953 discovery paved the way for modern genetic research and testing. Despite his scientific legacy, Watson’s later years were marred by controversy after […]

Police have arrested six people ahead of the Europa League clash between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Birmingham. The build-up to the game has been dominated by security fears and political tension, with a ban placed on away supporters following large pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group said last month visiting fans would not be allowed to attend due to public safety risks. The government later said it […]