News 12/02/26

Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald, the United Kingdom’s most senior civil servant, is leaving Downing Street.

The Cabinet Office said the prime minister and the cabinet secretary have agreed that he will stand down as cabinet secretary and head of the civil service by mutual agreement from today. Sir Chris said it has been an honour and a privilege to serve as a civil servant for thirty five years, and a particular distinction to lead the service. He thanked the civil servants, public servants, ministers and advisers he has worked with.

Reform leader Nigel Farage has been speaking about Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments on migration.

Asked about the apology from the INEOS and Manchester United co owner, Mr Farage said Sir Jim had only apologised for using the word colonisation. He repeated Sir Jim’s incorrect claim that the UK population has grown by twelve million since twenty twenty, adding that he meant since two thousand. Mr Farage said what was non controversial was discussing an explosion in the population without financial compensation to improve people’s lives.

NHS staff in England and Wales will receive a three point three per cent pay rise in the next financial year.

The award covers around one point five million health workers, including nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and porters, but not doctors, dentists or senior managers. The increase is higher than the Department of Health and Social Care initially proposed to the independent pay review body. The government said it accepted the recommendation to show its commitment to NHS staff, and the Welsh government has done the same.

The BBC is to make cuts amounting to about ten per cent of its costs as it faces substantial financial pressures.

The broadcaster said the savings will be made over the next three years. A spokesman declined to give a figure, but the total is expected to run into hundreds of millions of pounds. The BBC’s public service spending last year was more than four billion pounds. No details have been given about which programmes or services could be affected.

Vincent Chan has been jailed for eighteen years for dozens of sexual offences against young girls and women while working in nurseries and schools.

The forty five year old, from Finchley, admitted fifty six offences committed over thirteen years. They included molesting girls aged three and four at the Bright Horizons nursery in West Hampstead, north London. Sentencing him at Wood Green Crown Court, Judge John Dodd KC described his conduct as utterly wicked, perverse and depraved and said he had become a sexual predator who had lost all moral compass.

Donald Trump’s deportation drive in Minnesota is drawing to a close, according to his border czar.

Tom Homan, who is leading the White House anti immigration campaign, said the administration had agreed to end Operation Metro Surge. Around three thousand armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were sent to the state, particularly Minneapolis. Mr Homan said that as a result of their efforts, Minnesota is now less of a sanctuary state for criminals.

A multi billion dollar lawsuit brought by Donald Trump against the BBC has been scheduled for trial in February 2027.

Court documents show a Florida judge rejected the BBC application to delay the discovery process. Mr Trump is suing for defamation over a Panorama programme which edited two sections of a speech together, making it appear he directly encouraged supporters to storm the US Capitol on 6th January 2021.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has issued a statement after telling Sky News the UK had been colonised by immigrants.

The founder of the INEOS chemicals group and Manchester United co owner said he was sorry that his choice of language had offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern. However, he said it was important to raise the issue of controlled and well managed immigration that supports economic growth. He added that his comments were made while answering questions about UK policy at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, where he was discussing economic growth, jobs, skills and manufacturing.

The killer of twelve year old schoolboy Leo Ross has been named after a court order protecting his anonymity was lifted.

Kian Moulton, who was fourteen at the time, stabbed Leo in the stomach as he walked home from school in Birmingham in January twenty twenty five. Moulton, now fifteen, was sentenced to a minimum term of thirteen years at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to murder last month. He also admitted a string of other offences after attacking three elderly women in the days before the killing, leaving two with severe injuries.

Merlin Entertainments has reversed plans to tighten access to its disability queuing system at theme parks following strong criticism from people with autism, ADHD and anxiety.

The company had intended to introduce new eligibility rules for its Ride Access Pass, which offers a non queueing option for those unable to stand in long lines. Under the proposals, visitors who only had difficulty with crowds would no longer have qualified. Merlin said it had listened carefully to extensive feedback and decided to pause the trial while it explores alternative options.

England manager Thomas Tuchel will lead the national side through the 2028 European Championship after signing a two year contract extension.

The former Chelsea, Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich boss said he was very happy and proud to extend his time with England. He added that he has loved every minute working with his players and coaches and cannot wait to lead them to the World Cup. The Football Association said he guided the team to record breaking qualification for this summer’s tournament, scoring twenty goals without conceding.

Plans to replace flammable cladding at fire hit flats in Slough have moved forward, almost eighteen months after a major blaze left many residents in temporary accommodation for months.

A planning application has been submitted to the borough council for works at Mosaic House, 26 to 40 High Street. The proposal includes replacement cladding, render and brick slips, installation of cavity barriers and cast stone panels, along with new balconies with aluminium decking and replacement soffits.

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has been banned from competing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics over a helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed since Russia’s invasion.

The International Olympic Committee said that after being given one final opportunity, he would not be able to start his race. The IOC said he refused to comply with its guidelines on athlete expression and declined to offer any compromise in a final meeting with committee president Kirsty Coventry.

A thirteen year old boy has been charged after two pupils were seriously injured in a stabbing at a London school.

The Metropolitan Police said the incident happened at lunchtime on Tuesday at Kingsbury High School in Brent, north west London. Two boys, aged twelve and thirteen, were taken to hospital in a serious condition. In a letter to parents, the head teacher described it as a deeply traumatic event for the whole school community. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called the attack shocking.

The economy grew by zero point one per cent in the final quarter of last year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

The increase was in line with economists’ expectations. The ONS also reported that gross domestic product rose by zero point one per cent in December on a monthly basis. However, November’s monthly figure was revised down from zero point three per cent to zero point two per cent, slightly reducing the previously reported rate of growth.

After prolonged wet and gloomy conditions, wintry weather is set to return to parts of the United Kingdom, with snow and ice forecast for many areas.

Arctic air will move in, bringing temperatures as much as six degrees below average. The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice across Scotland and northern England from four pm on Thursday until midday on Friday. Rain is expected to fall as snow over higher ground before reaching lower levels overnight.

Nottingham Forest have sacked head coach Sean Dyche after four months in charge.

The announcement came hours after a nil nil draw with bottom side Wolves. Forest are seventeenth in the Premier League, three points above the relegation zone with twelve games remaining. A club statement confirmed Dyche had been relieved of his duties, thanked him and his staff for their efforts, and said no further comment would be made at this time.

Sex offenders could be recalled to prison if they fail to report a pregnancy in their relationship under recommendations from a national safeguarding review.

The review followed the case of baby Victoria, who died at the hands of her mother Constance Marten and her father Mark Gordon. Marten, aged thirty eight, and Gordon, fifty one, who is a convicted rapist, went on the run with their daughter after four other children were taken into care. Victoria’s body was later found inside a shopping bag.

Scrutiny panel members have stopped short of fully endorsing plans to roll out controlled parking zones across Slough, saying they should be backed in areas with residents’ support.

In 2023, the council’s cabinet agreed a coordinated rollout would help manage traffic pressures and improve air quality. Slough currently has twenty three zones, mainly around the town centre to tackle inconsiderate parking. Councillor Paul Kelly said there is a high level of nuisance parking.

Legislation to allow sixteen and seventeen year olds to vote at the next general election is beginning its passage through Parliament.

The Representation of the People Bill will also tighten rules on political donations and guard against foreign interference. Seven councils will test polling booths in places such as stations or supermarkets. The government says lowering the voting age will engage young people.