News 27/02/26

Nigel Farage says Reform UK has reported claims of family voting in the Gorton and Denton by election to the Electoral Commission and the police.

In a statement he said the party had reported many cases to both authorities. He described what was witnessed as deeply concerning and said it raised serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas. He added that if it was happening at polling stations, there was potential for coercion with postal votes.

After overnight strikes by both Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Afghan Taliban say they do not want war.

Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters they want to resolve the latest conflict with Pakistan through dialogue. Tensions have escalated between the neighbouring countries, but the Taliban insist they are seeking talks rather than further fighting.

Waitrose is suspending sales of mackerel products over concerns about overfishing.

The supermarket says it will stop sourcing fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by 29 April, and will halt sales of tinned mackerel once current stocks are gone. Marine groups have recommended cutting catches in the North East Atlantic to prevent a collapse in population numbers. Waitrose says it is the first UK supermarket to take this step and will only resume sales when the fish meets its high sourcing standards.

Sir Keir Starmer says he is not considering resigning after what he described as a very disappointing result.

Speaking to broadcasters, he said incumbent governments often face difficult mid term results but he understands voters are frustrated and impatient for change. He said he entered politics late in life to fight for those who need an NHS that works, access to a doctor’s appointment when required, money in their pockets to pay bills, and the chance of a decent and better life.

Soham murderer Ian Huntley remains in a serious condition in hospital following a prison assault.

The 52 year old was taken to hospital after being found in a pool of blood following an alleged attack by an unknown inmate on Thursday. Durham Constabulary said there had been no change in his condition overnight and he remains seriously ill. Huntley was convicted of murdering 10 year olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002.

The statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square in Westminster has been defaced with graffiti including the words Zionist war criminal.

Other phrases sprayed in red paint on the bronze sculpture included Stop the Genocide and Free Palestine. Officers from the Metropolitan Police were alerted shortly after 4am on Friday. A 38 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage and remains in custody.

Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has dropped his legal claim against the BBC and will not receive any payment in costs or damages.

He had been seeking up to ten thousand pounds, alleging the broadcaster caused him distress and harassment by failing to comply with a request for copies of his personal data. Court documents show the claim against the BBC and BBC Studios has been discontinued. Wallace was sacked from the cooking show in July.

Netflix has withdrawn its proposal to buy Warner Bros Discovery, leaving Paramount Skydance set to secure a deal worth around 111 billion dollars, or 82.2 billion pounds.

Warner Bros said Paramount’s latest bid was superior, while Netflix declined to raise its offer, saying the deal was no longer financially attractive. The buyer would gain control of the studio, its films and media networks.

The Green Party has won the Gorton and Denton by election.

Hannah Spencer becomes the party’s fifth MP in Parliament after defeating Reform UK and Labour. The Greens secured 14,980 votes, giving them a majority of more than 4,400. Reform finished second with 10,578 votes, while Labour came third on 9,364.

Pakistan’s defence minister says the country is now in what he described as open war with neighbouring Afghanistan after both nations launched strikes overnight.

Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Islamabad’s patience had run out as tensions escalated, with casualties reported on both sides. In a social media post he wrote that the cup of patience had overflowed and it was now open war between the two countries. He accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into a colony of India and exporting terrorism.

Hillary Clinton has told a congressional panel she had no idea about Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and urged lawmakers to question President Donald Trump under oath about his past association with the late sex offender.

The former US secretary of state spoke after hours of closed door testimony to a committee investigating Epstein. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, is due to testify on Friday. The couple had resisted a subpoena, calling it politically motivated, before agreeing to appear as potential contempt proceedings loomed. The Clintons and Trump deny wrongdoing.

More towns are bidding for the UK Town of Culture 2028 competition as Slough prepares to enter the race.

The town has launched what it calls a bold campaign to reshape its national image after decades of what it describes as unfair reputations and tired The Office stereotypes. Dozens of places are competing, including Chesham in Buckinghamshire, while Malvern in Worcestershire is asking residents to help shape its pitch.

Provisional Met Office figures show UK rainfall this winter is nine percent above average, wet but far from record breaking.

Regional contrasts are stark. Parts of southern England may see a second wettest winter, while north west Scotland has been much drier due to a blocked pattern.