News 30/09/25

Sir Keir Starmer has declared he will take “no more lectures” from Nigel Farage as he warned the next four years will be a fight for the soul of the country against Reform UK.

In a speech outlining his vision of national renewal, the prime minister attacked what he called “snake oil merchants” on both the right and the left, questioning whether Mr Farage and his party “genuinely love our country.” He also urged the public for patience as he implements his promised change, following a difficult 14 months in office.

Reform UK continues to lead in opinion polls, while dissent within Labour has grown, fuelled by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s recent criticism of government direction.

The mother of a student who died after wrongly being told he could not graduate says her son was “failed” by the University of Glasgow.

Ethan Scott Brown, 23, was due to graduate in December 2024 after studying geography, but in September that year he was informed he had not been awarded a grade for one course and would not qualify for Honours. On the day of his planned graduation, Ethan took his own life. His mother, Tracy Scott, discovered him at home, saying the university’s mistake had devastating consequences.

A migrant who crossed the Channel by small boat and later attacked staff and residents at an asylum hotel has been jailed.

Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, assaulted a cleaner, a head chef and two residents at The Bell Hotel in Essex in August. His barrister told Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court he had suffered a mental breakdown and now wished to return to Syria. Sharwarq was jailed for 16 weeks after admitting the assaults.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump have delivered a sharp warning to Hamas over the new peace deal.

At a news conference, Trump promised Netanyahu his full backing “to do what you would have to do” if the plan fails. Within the past hour, Netanyahu’s office reinforced that message, saying that if Hamas rejects the plan, or accepts it only to undermine it, then Israel will “finish the job by itself.”

The remnants of two hurricanes are heading for the UK this week, bringing the risk of heavy rain and strong winds.

Western Scotland faces the worst conditions, with a yellow Met Office warning in place from Wednesday evening until Friday morning.
Forecasters say up to 75mm of rain could fall widely, rising to 150mm on west-facing slopes, and as much as 250mm in the wettest areas. Travel disruption is expected as the storms cross the Atlantic.

In Pakistan, a powerful car bomb has killed at least ten people outside a paramilitary security forces’ base in Quetta.

Six attackers engaged in a gun battle with troops before detonating their vehicle, with the explosion so loud it was heard miles away.
Dozens were wounded and rushed to hospital as rescue crews worked at the gates of the Frontier Constabulary.

Train operator Great Western Railway will return to public ownership in about a year’s time, according to its managing director.

Mark Hopwood confirmed the timeline ahead of a speech by the transport secretary at Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool.
The operator, which links London, Wales and the south-west, is among four companies set to be renationalised under plans to bring nearly all English rail services under public control by 2027.

Most companies hit by ransomware over the past year have paid their attackers, according to an insurance specialist’s new report.

Hiscox says the outcomes are mixed, warning that businesses often don’t recover their data fully, even after handing over money. The findings come as major names like Marks and Spencer, the Co-op and Jaguar Land Rover have all faced cyber attacks in recent months. JLR has now secured a £1.5bn government loan guarantee to protect its supply chain during a month-long factory shutdown. Ministers say it’s vital support for the 200,000 jobs tied to the carmaker, but smaller firms hit by hackers rarely receive the same help.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to unveil a sweeping reform of the NHS today, pledging to launch what he calls an “online hospital” by 2027.

In his keynote speech to Labour’s conference, the prime minister will outline NHS Online, a digital service designed to cut waiting times and provide millions of extra appointments. Through the NHS app, patients would be able to access prescriptions, book scans and tests, manage appointments, and even schedule in-person procedures at hospitals, surgical hubs or diagnostic centres. Labour says the service could deliver up to 8.5 million extra appointments within its first three years.

Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia is “prevailing” in Ukraine, as Kyiv waits for a decision from President Trump on whether it can deploy long-range missiles capable of striking Moscow.

In a video message, Putin praised his forces for advancing on the frontline, insisting the entire country is united in what he described as a righteous battle. The remarks come as Russia claims to have seized two more settlements in the Donetsk region.

Thousands of British military personnel are suing over faulty ear protection they say caused lifelong hearing damage.

The lightweight combat earplugs, supplied to the Ministry of Defence by US giant 3M, were used in Afghanistan and other operations. The same product led to a $6bn settlement for American servicemen and women last year, though 3M denied liability, saying the plugs worked when used correctly. The company has vowed to contest the UK claims.