News 04/02/26

The government says it wants to recruit ten thousand more foster carers by the end of the next parliament, launching a major drive to reverse a long term decline in support for vulnerable children.

Backed by eighty eight million pounds in funding, ministers say the plan will open fostering to younger and more diverse households, remove outdated rules, and improve support so fewer carers leave the system. Fostering charities have broadly welcomed the announcement but say the ambition must be matched with further investment.

Earlier cancer diagnosis and faster treatment are being promised under a government plan in England aiming for three quarters of patients to survive cancer for at least five years by 2035.

Ministers say the strategy will deliver the fastest improvement in cancer outcomes this century. Latest figures for twenty twenty two show five year survival at sixty percent, leaving the UK behind comparable countries. The government also plans to meet the sixty two day waiting time target by twenty twenty nine.

Taxi drivers in Slough have been shut out of discussions about a policy to stop licensing new diesel vehicles, according to claims made during the consultation process.

Slough Borough Council had planned to stop issuing new licences for diesel private hire and Hackney carriage vehicles from the first of January twenty twenty six. The proposal follows earlier plans dating back to twenty eighteen to move all new licences and renewals to ultra low emission vehicles.

The court system is said to be on the brink of collapse as trial backlogs reach record levels.

Sir Brian Leveson warned there can be no selective response. His final review recommends one hundred and thirty efficiency changes.

A woman whose necklace was stolen thanked a bus driver who intervened after chasing the thief, later saying the incident was terrifying.