Author: UK News

Hunt challenged over consecutive Tory VAT increases | News Jeremy Hunt was confronted over the Conservatives’ increases to VAT over the years during a live interview with Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, 30 May. It came as the Tories and Labour ruled out hikes if either party wins the General election. “I am not pretending that there haven’t been times when Conservative governments haven’t put up taxes,” Mr Hunt said. Margaret Thatcher’s government increased VAT from 8 per cent to 15 per cent in 1979. It was then increased to 17.5 per cent, remaining at this figure…

Tory fury as Sunak allies ‘parachuted’ into winnable seats Rishi Sunak’s allies have been accused of “operating a chumocracy” in ”parachuting” special advisers and people close to the inner circle around the prime minister for winnable seats in the General election. David Goss, the prime minister’s deputy political secretary, became the latest high profile figure from Downing Street to be selected for a winnable seat in Wellingborough and Rushden, recently lost to Labour in a gruelling by-election. He followed former army officer James Clark, a special adviser to defence secretary Grant Shapps, being selected for Great Yarmouth last night. Others…

Ex-Labour candidate Faiza Shaheen says she faced campaign of’ racism, Islamophobia and bullying’ from inside party A left-wing candidate dropped by Labour claims she faced “a systematic campaign of racism, Islamophobia and bullying from some within the party”. Faiza Shaheen said she was considering legal action against the party after it blocked her on Wednesday from standing at the General election. In a statement hitting out at Labour insiders, the former candidate claimed there had been numerous examples of how she had been singled out for unfair treatment. Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with Faiza Shaheen, who has been stopped from…

What are cancer vaccines and have scientists finally found a cure? The NHS in England is recruiting for the first large-scale trial of its kind, with hopes high that the personalised jabs could be a gamechanger Cancer vaccines are a form of immunotherapy. Unlike vaccines that protect from an infection, such as the Covid-19 jab, cancer vaccines treat people who already have the disease. They are designed to help the patient’s immune system recognise and then kill cancer cells – and prevent them from coming back. Continue reading… https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/may/31/what-are-cancer-vaccines-and-have-scientists-finally-found-a-cure

Fears over London festival this weekend as site turns into ‘mud bath’ Ticket holders of a London festival are slightly nervous after the venue turned into a ‘mud bath’ over the weekend. Mighty Hoopla is set to attract 30,000 people to Brockwell Park on Saturday and Sunday. The line-up includes acts like Nelly Furtado, B*witched, Jessie Ware, Rita Ora and Bambie Thug. However, attendees are on edge and ‘manifesting sunshine’ after seeing the weather forecast as well as photos of the condition of the park just a few days ago. Earlier this week snaps taken at the City Splash Festival…

A4046 Aberbeeg Roundabout towards Cwm closed due to crash A road has been closed following a crash in Ebbw Vale Diversions are in place which may cause queues of trafficYou are a news editor and write a short and succinct summary of the article in 75 words without repetition like a journalist https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/24356765.a4046-aberbeeg-roundabout-towards-cwm-closed-due-crash/?ref=rss

Campaign launched to protect young people from vape adverts They’re urging General Election candidates standing in Scottish constituencies to support their campaign calling for the end of vape advertising and marketing being targeted at children and young people. The campaign aligns with World No Tobacco Day 2024, which is marked on Friday 31 May. The health charities want General Election candidates in Scotland to join their calls to specifically stop the marketing of sweet-flavoured, brightly coloured vapes and their promotion by organisations funded by tobacco firms targeting young people. Candidates in Scotland are also being asked to pledge to uphold…

Labour says GB Energy will fix cost-of-living crisis with clean power Labour is pledging it will get working within months of election victory to build clean power that will “turn the page” on the cost-of-living crisis. Sir Keir Starmer will warn that “family financial security depends on energy security”, accusing the Tories of failing to make Britain resilient, as he launches the logo and website for Great British Energy at an event in Scotland with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Labour’s pledge to set up a publicly owned company to invest in domestic power sources – part of the party’s…

Labour treatment of Abbott having impact on voters, senior lawyer says Highlight the bias, if any in the title by underlining the biased words or phrase in the original title Martin Forde, who investigated allegations of racism in the party in 2022, says there is a perception that right-leaning figures get lenient treatment A senior lawyer who investigated claims of racism within Labour said the party was “underestimating” the impact its treatment of Diane Abbott and Faiza Shaheen was having on voters. Martin Forde KC was appointed by Keir Starmer to investigate allegations of sexism, racism and bullying in the…

Fly-tippers to face driving bans and prison under Tory purge on antisocial behaviour Fly-tippers will get points on their driving licences and face prison time, under new plans by the Conservatives. It’s part of a drive by the party against antisocial behaviour that would also see disruptive social housing tenants given three strikes before being evicited if the party is elected. Those caught fly-tipping currently face fixed-penalty notices of up to £1,000 – but the worst offenders face unlimited fines through the courts. The Tories have said they will go further by making penalty points on driving licences a punishment…

‘Purge’ of Labour leftwingers must end, Keir Starmer told Labour leader accused of ‘cull’ and picking close allies to contest safe seats as others are blocked from standing for party in UK election Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure to end what his critics say is a “purge” of those on the Labour left before a meeting of the party’s governing body next week. Party members on Thursday accused the Labour leader of orchestrating a “cull of leftwingers” after several high-profile figures were told they would not be selected as candidates for seats they held or had previously contested. Continue…

Reform UK leader Richard Tice accuses cash-only barber shops of money laundering Nigel Farage and Richard Tice took aim at barber shops and candy stores at Reform UK’s immigration policy launch. Speaking at a press conference in central London on Thursday, the Reform UK leader Mr Tice suggested some cash-only barber shops on UK high streets were “fronts for money laundering and drug money”. He was speaking as his party proposed a multi-billion pound tax on businesses employing overseas workers. “You can see high streets with five, six, seven barber shops in them, thousands of new barber shops,” Mr Farage…

$10m prize launched for team that can truly talk to the animals AI expected to help researchers unlock two-way communication, say team that includes Tel Aviv University In the Dr Dolittle books and films, the ability to “talk to the animals” captured the imagination. Now scientists are being offered a $10m prize to create real conversations. The Coller Dolittle Challenge for Interspecies Two-Way Communication has been launched by the Jeremy Coller Foundation and Tel Aviv University. While the use of AI is not obligatory, the team say the technology can boost almost all proposals. Continue reading… https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/may/30/10m-prize-launched-for-team-that-deciphers-animal-conversation

Call for UK crackdown on plastic packaging to drive green economy FTSE 100 firm DS Smith, which works with firms over alternatives, urges next government to match global standards Whoever wins the UK general election must tighten regulations to slash the use of plastic packaging, match global standards and drive “green consumption”, the boss of one of the sector’s biggest manufacturers has urged. Miles Roberts, the chief executive of the packaging firm DS Smith, made the call to the next government as the company celebrated surpassing its target to replace more than 1bn pieces of plastic 16 months early. Continue…

Tories taunt Keir Starmer over Diane Abbott fiasco Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has ruthlessly seized on the chaos in the Labour Party over the future of Diane Abbott which has sparked a revolt on the left of the party. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was accused on Radio 4’s Today Programme this morning of “dithering” over the trail-blazing MP and first black woman to be elected to Parliament in Britain. She has vowed to stand again for her Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency and accused Labour bosses of trying to bar her from being a candidate after almost four decades…

Urgent hunt for girl, 9, missing for two days Police are urgently appealing for information about a schoolgirl who has been missing for two days. Soraya, nine, was last seen in Canning Town in London on Tuesday, and is believed to be in the company of her mother. A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said: “Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace a young girl who has gone missing from Hemel Hempstead. “Soraya, aged 9, was last seen in Beckton Road in Canning Town, London at around 5pm on Tuesday 28 May. “She is usually seen wearing colourful leggings.…

Murder investigation after man and woman found dead in quiet village A murder probe has been launched after a woman and young man were found dead at a home near Bishop’s Stortford. Emergency services were called to an address on Cambridge Road, in Ugley, on Tuesday evening after reports two people were seriously injured at an address. Officers found a woman in her fifties and a man in his twenties with injuries. They were pronounced dead at the scene. A 63-year-old man from Ugley has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody. Detective inspector Lydia George,…

Faiza Shaheen speaks out after Labour blocks candidacy Faiza Shaheen has spoken out after Labour did not endorse her for the Chingford and Woodford Green seat in northeast London. Reports suggested the economist would be suspended by the party after she allegedly liked a series of posts on X that downplayed antisemitism accusations. Ms Shaheen says she was informed of the decision shortly before appearing on Newsnight on Wednesday, 29 May. “They briefed the press before they even had the decency to call me… I’m so shocked right now,” she added. A Labour spokesperson told The Independent: “The NEC has…

Diane Abbott: Timeline of her suspension from racism comments to Labour ‘election ban’ The Labour party has become embroiled in a political row following the fallout around veteran MP Diane Abbott’s readmission to the party – and lack of clarity over whether she can still stand for it. After being suspended from Labour for just over a year, Ms Abbott was readmitted to the party in late May, once again becoming a Labour MP. Ms Abbott has represented Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, securing a majority of over 33,000 at the last General election. For the latest political…

Family pays tribute to football coach killed with one punch: ‘I’ve lost my compass, my guide’ The family of a football coach killed after suffering a single but fatal punch outside a pub have mourned losing their “heart and soul” after his attacker was jailed. Scott Hendy, 46, fell and suffered a critical head injury after being struck by George Baylis in pub car park in Redwick Road, Pilning, at about 12.10am on 2 March. He was taken to hospital where he tragically died the following day. Baylis was arrested a short distance away approximately 30 minutes after the incident.…

Worker pulls faces as Rishi Sunak gives election speech in Devon A worker was caught on camera pulling faces as she listened to Rishi Sunak deliver a Conservative General election campaign speech during his tour of Devon. The prime minister was delivering a speech to workers at a defence firm on Wednesday (29 May). As Mr Sunak said “It’s been difficult the last few years”, the woman in the shot of the camera can be seen pulling a face. Discussing the Covid pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, the Conservative leader added: “I hope you saw throughout that I had your back.”…

Jon Stewart calls rejection of UK candidate for liking one of his sketches ‘dumbest thing since Boris Johnson’ The US late-night satirist Jon Stewart has responded after Britain’s Labour Party blocked left-wing academic Faiza Shaheen from standing as a candidate in the upcoming General election for liking a number of potentially offensive social media posts, one of which featured a clip from The Daily Show. “This is the dumbest thing The UK has done since electing Boris Johnson… what the actual f****…,” the comedian wrote on X when he was notified of the controversy. The clip in question, dating from…

Angela Rayner defies Keir Starmer to back Diane Abbott as Labour election candidate Angela Rayner has given Diane Abbott her full backing to run for Parliament in the General election in a dramatic intervention. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer was forced to deny that he is trying to “purge” the left of the party as the row over Ms Abbott and candidate selections threaten to derail his campaign. The row appears to have left Labour on the brink of open civil war and handed Rishi Sunak and the Tories an unexpected lifeline as the struggle to close the gap…

Mortgage crisis deepens as one in four face missing payments this year A quarter of Britain’s mortgage holders face missing their payments by the end of this year as interest rates continue to soar, analysis shows – with thousands told already that they could lose their homes. Some 1.6 million homeowners will come to the end of their fixed-rate deals this year, with an average hike of about £1,800 annually on their repayments as they move on to higher interest rates. Since the actions of Liz Truss as prime minister in 2022 sent rates spiralling, charities say pleas for financial…

General election live news: Angela Rayner backs Diane Abbott as Faiza Shaheen calls in lawyers over Labour row There is no bias in the title provided. Related: Starmer responds to Jeremy Corbyn standing as an independent candidateSign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailLabour deputy leader Angela Rayner says she backs Diane Abbott to stand as a Labour candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington at the general election.Defying her own party, Sir Keir Starmer’s right hand said: “I don’t see any reason why Diane Abbott can’t…