News 12/05/26

A fourth minister has resigned from government, saying he has lost confidence in Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

Health minister Zubir Ahmed quit in a letter saying the public across the UK had lost confidence in the prime minister. The Glasgow South West MP said voters repeatedly cited Starmer’s name during the Scottish Parliament elections as a reason for turning away from Labour.

Israel’s Eurovision entry has qualified for the final after singer and songwriter Noam Bettan performed Michelle during the first semi final in Vienna.

The Israeli entrant received a mixed reaction at the Wiener Stadthalle, with some audience members booing during quieter moments of the song. After finishing his performance, the twenty eight year old thanked the crowd.

A man reported to be a television chef has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.

The media personality was arrested last month over an alleged offence said to have taken place in London in January. Metropolitan Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. A woman is being supported by specially trained officers while enquiries continue.

A man has been shot dead by police after pulling a gun during a stand off in Bedfordshire.

Officers were called to reports of vehicles being damaged in Bedford late on Monday evening. Police found a man in his forties barricaded inside a property in Aylesbury Road and making threats. Armed officers, negotiators, paramedics, air ambulances and fire crews attended the scene for several hours.

David Lammy says Sir Keir Starmer has his full support and urged Labour colleagues to take a breath.

Speaking outside Downing Street, the deputy prime minister said the country must come before party. Lammy added the only person benefiting from Labour navel gazing is Nigel Farage.

A man has been shot dead by police after pulling a gun during a stand off with officers in Bedfordshire.

Police were called to reports of vehicles being damaged in Bedford before quarter to eleven on Monday night. Officers found a man in his forties barricaded inside a property in Aylesbury Road and making threats. Armed officers, negotiators, paramedics, air ambulances and fire crews attended the scene for several hours.

Defence Secretary John Healey says Britain will contribute drones, Typhoon jets and HMS Dragon to a mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Healey announced the plans after co chairing a meeting of forty defence ministers building support for the UK led operation. The Ministry of Defence says Britain will also deploy mine hunting equipment and counter drone systems as part of the mission.

Life insurance group Just Group is expected to cut hundreds of jobs weeks after being taken private by Canadian investor Brookfield.

The company, chaired by former Legal and General boss Sir Nigel Wilson, is understood to be planning workforce reductions of up to twenty percent. Just employed around fifteen hundred people before the recent takeover was completed.

James “Whitey” Bulger’s British bank accounts have been targeted by UK investigators, with more than fifty three thousand pounds seized by the National Crime Agency.

Bulger, a former FBI Ten Most Wanted fugitive and leader of the Winter Hill Gang in Boston, was convicted of multiple murders, drug dealing, racketeering, firearms offences, money laundering and extortion. He was killed in prison in 2018 at the age of 89.

Downing Street is facing renewed pressure as a series of ministerial resignations continues, though at a slower pace than previous political crises.

The prime minister’s recent political move has not eased tensions within government. While comparisons have been drawn with the downfall of Boris Johnson, officials say the current level of resignations is limited and does not yet threaten the stability of the government.

Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler remains in hospital in Portugal after emergency intestinal surgery.

The 74-year-old Total Eclipse of the Heart singer is described as seriously ill but stable in Faro. Her spokesman says doctors remain positive about a full recovery. She was placed in an induced coma after the operation, and fans have been posting messages of support online.

A former British Airways pilot convicted of murdering his wife will remain in prison after a parole hearing ruled he still poses a risk to the public.

Robert Brown refused to give evidence, and the panel said he had not completed meaningful risk reduction work and continued to deny posing danger. He attacked his wife Joanna Simpson in 2010 at their home near Ascot while their children were nearby.

Andy Burnham has arrived at Euston Station in London as pressure grows on the prime minister to resign after Labour’s election losses.

The Manchester mayor had been due to speak at a conference in the capital but pulled out. Burnham is said to want any leadership challenge slowed down so he has time to return to parliament and potentially stand himself.

Sir Keir Starmer has told cabinet ministers the process for changing Labour leader has not been triggered and the country expects the government to continue governing.

The prime minister said he accepted responsibility for the election results and for delivering the change Labour promised. He warned the past forty eight hours had been destabilising for government and carried a real economic cost for the country and families. Starmer added that Labour has a process for challenging a leader and that process had not been triggered.

World Health Organization director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says he expects more hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius outbreak.

He said there had been a delay between the first case onboard and the illness being identified as hantavirus, along with steps being taken to stop its spread. He repeated the organisation’s message that the outbreak is not another COVID pandemic. Dr Tedros also said the WHO believes passengers who left the ship have been located.

UK government borrowing costs have risen to a new decade high as pressure on the prime minister intensifies.

The benchmark 10 year bond yield reached 5.1087 percent, last seen in July 2008. Longer term borrowing also climbed, with 30 year yields hitting 5.794 percent, a level not recorded since May 1998, according to trading data this morning in London markets.

From 12 May, new rules will change how driving tests are booked in an effort to reduce waiting times of up to six months and stop bots and resellers buying up slots.

Only learners will be allowed to book, change or swap their own driving tests, meaning driving instructors will no longer be able to do it on their behalf. The changes will not affect tests that have already been booked under the old system.

The last passengers have left the hantavirus hit cruise ship after authorities confirmed three new positive cases linked to the outbreak.

The MV Hondius left Tenerife for the Netherlands on Monday after its final six passengers including one Briton and some crew members disembarked. Three passengers have died after travelling on the ship including two with confirmed hantavirus. The World Health Organization says seven linked cases have been confirmed with two others suspected.

MPs say students need better protection if a university in England becomes insolvent and cannot pay its debts.

The Education Select Committee says twenty four institutions are considered at risk of insolvency within the next year with some already cutting jobs closing courses and selling buildings or land. Committee chair Helen Hayes said the priority must be protecting students who have invested time, money and energy into their studies. The government says it remains committed to securing universities’ future.

The Green Party says leader Zack Polanski may have failed to pay council tax while living on a houseboat in London.

A party spokesperson said he had taken steps to pay any council tax owed and apologised for what was described as an unintentional mistake. Polanski has faced questions over whether the houseboat in Hackney had been his primary residence.