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Showing posts from December, 2025

Grooming gang row 'could have been handled better' - Constance

Angela Constance's remarks about Prof Alexis Jay are to be independently investigated to determine if they breached the ministerial code. from BBC News https://ift.tt/P4OulwU via IFTTT

Chris Mason: Why 2026 is Keir Starmer's make or break year

With devolved elections coming up, questions over Labour’s direction and internal 'campaigning' already underway according to some insiders, where does this all leave the prime minister? from BBC News https://ift.tt/hD9bsQk via IFTTT

Starmer backs down in farm tax row - but why now?

A U-turn on inheritance tax plans for farmers raises more questions about political judgement in government. from BBC News https://ift.tt/XVTuR28 via IFTTT

Government waters down inheritance tax plan for farms

The government has now said it will lift the intended threshold from £1m to £2.5m. from BBC News https://ift.tt/9kyfzRG via IFTTT

Tributes as UK's first female Asian lord mayor dies

Councillor Manjula Sood, who served Leicester throughout her political career, dies aged 80. from BBC News https://ift.tt/NzxiRqj via IFTTT

Scrap non-crime hate incidents, police leaders to recommend

College of Policing chair says a "sensible" new approach is needed, focused on the most serious incidents. from BBC News https://ift.tt/d9OaThR via IFTTT

Justice secretary's grooming gang comments probed for code breach

Angela Constance has been accused of misrepresenting Prof Alexis Jay's position on public inquiries into child sexual abuse and exploitation. from BBC News https://ift.tt/9o6f1iY via IFTTT

Lib Dems write to human rights watchdog over election delays

The government has indicated it would postpone elections if requested by local authorities. from BBC News https://ift.tt/Iv5qZ7i via IFTTT

Hen cages and pig farrowing crates face ban

The government says its animal welfare strategy will bring "the biggest reforms in a generation". from BBC News https://ift.tt/xVRXHWr via IFTTT

Starmer backs down in farm tax row - but why now?

A U-turn on inheritance tax plans for farmers raises more questions about political judgement in government. from BBC News https://ift.tt/oygFwNJ via IFTTT

UK lacks 'coherent' social mobility plan, top government adviser says

The chair of the Social Mobility Commission has called on the prime minister to set out a clearer strategy. from BBC News https://ift.tt/6kuCbMe via IFTTT

Foreign prison officers exempted from stricter visa rules

It follows warnings some jails were facing a staffing crisis after salary requirements were raised. from BBC News https://ift.tt/v16JLiF via IFTTT

Michelle Mone-linked PPE firm liquidated and unlikely to repay £148m

The firm led by Baroness Mone's husband Douglas Barrowman breached a contract to supply surgical gowns during the Covid pandemic. from BBC News https://ift.tt/be8xjUg via IFTTT

Farage will not face police inquiry into spending

It comes despite a former aide claiming Reform UK overspent on Farage's election campaign. from BBC News https://ift.tt/Yp8U7gG via IFTTT

Starmer faces rebellion over plan to cut jury trials

Nearly 40 Labour MPs send a letter to Sir Keir Starmer warning the proposal will "limit a fundamental right". from BBC News https://ift.tt/lF4vhy8 via IFTTT

Bomb disposal robot destroys Labour MPs' Christmas cards

Remnants of Christmas cards intended for Labour MPs and constituency offices were found at the site. from BBC News https://ift.tt/PZYyBm2 via IFTTT

Welsh secretary labelled 'dinosaur' for only communicating in English

A Plaid Cymru politician says Jo Stevens showed an "incredible lack of respect" for the Welsh language. from BBC News https://ift.tt/V27YnzQ via IFTTT

Sunak defends Covid loan scheme over excessive fraud claims

Critics say Bounce Back Loans were vulnerable to fraud, but Sunak cited need for speedy rollout from BBC News https://ift.tt/09sG6Tp via IFTTT

Violence against women a national emergency, Mahmood says

Specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams will be introduced to every police force in England and Wales by 2029. from BBC News https://ift.tt/2uDdqHA via IFTTT

No 10 says it backs pubs as landlords bar Labour MPs in tax protest

The government says it delivered a £4.3bn support package for pubs and restaurants in the Budget. from BBC News https://ift.tt/Mjx7GHr via IFTTT

Reform claims to now have more members than Labour

Nigel Farage's party says it has overtaken Labour to have more members than any other party in the UK. from BBC News https://ift.tt/TteBZi8 via IFTTT

Russia poses acute threat, new MI6 chief to warn

Blaise Metreweli will say the threat is posed by "an aggressive, expansionist and revisionist Russia". from BBC News https://ift.tt/QDNTbqY via IFTTT

Acting Reform UK council leader says it is time to 'move on'

Former leader Ian Cooper had his membership of Reform UK revoked after being accused of making racist comments on social media. from BBC News https://ift.tt/NUS9cP5 via IFTTT

'Double whammy' of flu and strikes a risk to patients, Streeting says

Hospitals could struggle with rising numbers of flu patients and forthcoming strikes by resident doctors in England next week, says Health Secretary. from BBC News https://ift.tt/eg7928m via IFTTT

2025 was a crazy year in politics. But 2026 could be wild

Reform’s rise, Labour’s woes and Trump’s presence have changed our politics. What will the next 12 months bring? from BBC News https://ift.tt/K1d68FC via IFTTT

Inquiry into role of Budget watchdog launched by MPs

It comes after intense scrutiny of the Office for Budget Responsibility in the run-up to the Budget. from BBC News https://ift.tt/0or8OYW via IFTTT

Palestine Action hunger strikers call for urgent meeting with ministers

Lawyers for eight remand prisoners waiting to go on trial say they could die in prison as part of their protest. from BBC News https://ift.tt/2fwxFpS via IFTTT

Too many unauthorised pre-Budget leaks, says Reeves

The chancellor tells MPs many of the stories leaked to the media were inaccurate and "very damaging". from BBC News https://ift.tt/sFIZqUW via IFTTT

Don't let Trump interfere with UK democracy, Davey tells PM

The Lib Dem leader criticises US national security strategy, which warns Europe faces "civilisational erasure". from BBC News https://ift.tt/atp4lGV via IFTTT

Branding and logo for Great British Railways unveiled

The new red, white and blue branding mirrors the colours of the Union Flag, and will start to appear from next year. from BBC News https://ift.tt/TWjs3An via IFTTT

Much of £11bn Covid scheme fraud 'beyond recovery', report says

The response to the pandemic led to "enormous outlays of public money which exposed it to the risk of fraud and error", a report says. from BBC News https://ift.tt/ZlRnfps via IFTTT

Budget could knock 0.5% off inflation next year, Bank chief says

Bank of England deputy governor Clare Lombardelli said inflation would be brought down by measures cutting energy prices and freezing rail fares. from BBC News https://ift.tt/VQbUC5G via IFTTT

The Global Story

Fifa’s new ‘Peace Prize’ raises questions about politics in the world’s biggest sport from BBC News https://ift.tt/4e2OMUS via IFTTT

Young people to lose benefits if they turn down work, says minister

Pat McFadden says they would need a "good reason" to decline one of 55,000 new work placements. from BBC News https://ift.tt/6fvqmXc via IFTTT

Starmer rejects EU customs union after Lammy comments

It comes after the deputy prime minister said countries in a customs union with the EU see benefits. from BBC News https://ift.tt/6fAkdnj via IFTTT

Government pledges to end children living in B&Bs

The strategy also includes making childcare more accessible for families on Universal Credit. from BBC News https://ift.tt/9yHaPnt via IFTTT

Reform revokes council leader's party membership

It follows an investigation by the party into racist content on social media. from BBC News https://ift.tt/ghrx9Kc via IFTTT

Trans women will not be allowed to attend main Labour Women's Conference events

The conference will take place in 2026 after being cancelled for a year in light of the Supreme Court's gender ruling. from BBC News https://ift.tt/EAwYFBc via IFTTT

Farage accuses BBC of double standards after racism allegations

The Reform UK leader turns fire on the BBC as he faces further questions about allegations of teenage racism. from BBC News https://ift.tt/uHPGaQ3 via IFTTT

New mayoral elections to be delayed in four areas of England

The new mayoralties in Greater Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, Hampshire and the Solent, and Sussex and Brighton will now be contested in 2028. from BBC News https://ift.tt/2FqjX1O via IFTTT

Henry Zeffman: Less than meets the eye to Starmer's words on Brexit

This week, the PM was trying to set the scene for what is to come on the UK-EU relationship, sources say. from BBC News https://ift.tt/kMihv3f via IFTTT

Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnoses

The health secretary says the aim is to tackle a rising demand for services and pressure on the NHS. from BBC News https://ift.tt/TPIdy6M via IFTTT

Walescast Senedd debate

The debate comes as parties look ahead to next May's Welsh Parliament election. from BBC News https://ift.tt/H3hBy8Y via IFTTT

Politicians thrash out key issues in live TV debate

They clashed over the NHS, the two-child benefit cap and increasing Senedd members. from BBC News https://ift.tt/GgzRDyU via IFTTT

Doctors to stage five-day strike before Christmas

Walkout in England begins on 17 December and will be 14th strike in pay dispute. from BBC News https://ift.tt/XD7xu3p via IFTTT

Man cleared of harassing Sir Ed Davey and family

A magistrate was not satisfied Inigo Rowland's behaviour, although unwelcome, was criminal. from BBC News https://ift.tt/0hq4LXp via IFTTT

What scrapping the two-child benefit cap means

Politics South reporter Emily Hudson explains the two-child benefit cap and why it was scrapped. from BBC News https://ift.tt/7vRqErb via IFTTT