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Sir Keir Starmer has not included a second attempt to reform welfare in Wednesday’s King’s Speech. His first major effort to change the system, including tightening eligibility for some health related benefits, triggered a major revolt by Labour MPs and a government climbdown in June 2025. Since then ministers have launched reviews and introduced limited measures aimed at encouraging more people into work. It is understood the government is not […]

The repatriated Britons from the hantavirus cruise ship have arrived at Arrowe Park after landing in Manchester earlier today. They were taken by bus to the Wirral hospital site in Merseyside, where they will remain for seventy two hours while medics carry out checks. Hospital trusts say the group will stay in a managed setting for clinical assessment and testing. Sir Keir Starmer will promise bolder action on challenges facing […]

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been appointed as a special envoy on global finance. Downing Street says the prime minister has committed to boosting the country's security and resilience, and in the role Brown will advise on how global finance co operation can help achieve that aim. The appointment follows former deputy prime minister Harriet Harman becoming an adviser on women and girls. Two men have been charged with […]

The home secretary has described election results as devastating, especially in Birmingham, where Labour lost control of the council after fourteen years. Writing on X, Shabana Mahmood said public servants, colleagues and friends had lost their seats. She said the results were a verdict on Labour rather than opponents and agreed with Sir Keir Starmer that the government must do better. Mahmood added it was a privilege to serve the […]

A thirty nine year old man has been charged after an incident near the Norfolk home of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Alex Jenkinson, from Stowmarket in Suffolk, faces two charges of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to harass someone or cause alarm or distress. He is also charged with failing to provide a specimen of blood in custody after his arrest in Wolferton. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham […]

Two British nationals are self isolating at home after possible exposure to hantavirus on board the MV Hondius cruise ship, the UK Health Security Agency has said. Both left the vessel before the outbreak was confirmed and are currently symptom free. They travelled back to the UK via Johannesburg after disembarking at St Helena in late April. Health officials are tracing contacts from their journey home, although the risk to […]

A Dutch cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak is to sail to the Canary Islands, according to Spain. The health ministry says officials are deciding which passengers need urgent evacuation from Cape Verde, where the vessel is docked. Remaining passengers will continue to the islands, expected within three to four days, with no port confirmed. Three passengers have died after the MV Hondius left Argentina around a month ago. Hate […]

Teenager Brodan Dubickas died after being hit by a falling tree while playing in a park in Stafford, with his family saying he was truly the best of us tragically in Stafford. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached a settlement over civil claims brought by the actress following their work together on It Ends With Us. Lively had accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and of co ordinating a smear […]

Three people have died following a virus outbreak on board a cruise ship, with five more suspected cases under investigation. One case of Hantavirus has been confirmed on the MV Hondius. The illness is typically linked to exposure to infected rodents’ urine or faeces and can lead to severe respiratory problems. The ship had been travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde. Iran has received a response from the United States […]