Author: David Pike

David Pike is an experienced news journalist with over 20 years experience as a UK News editor for WTX News and other news publications.

Mapped: Where Storm Ciarán will hit UK as new weather warnings issued The Independent says Storm Ciarán is bringing heavy rain and gusts of wind to the UK with large parts of the country under yellow, amber, and red “danger to life” warnings. The storm has been battering the British Isles and the Channel Islands, with strong winds and heavy rain forcing hundreds of schools to close and trains and flights to be cancelled. The…

Read More

Storm Ciarán live: Significant disruption and 1.2 million without power in France Follow the Guardian’s live feed on the Storm battering the UK and Europe. Winds of almost 80mph and very heavy rain have battered parts of south-west England as Storm Ciarán brings disruption to swathes of the UK. Hundreds of schools have been shut, roads closed, flights and bus and rail routes disrupted with “danger to life” amber warnings in place for wind across…

Read More

Hundreds of schools shut as Storm Ciarán batters southern England Storm Ciarán has hit the UK and the Channel Islands, with forecasts warning there is a risk to life. Strong winds and heavy rain are barrelling across southern England, with gusts of more than 110mph in France and the Channel Islands. People in Jersey were evacuated to hostels overnight as wind gusts of up to 102mph damaged homes. Major incidents are declared in Hampshire, the…

Read More

M&S pulls Christmas advert post after Palestinian flag criticism M&S has apologised and pulled an advert after complaints of a photo of Christmas party hats in the colours of the Palestinian flag on fire. The image was an outtake from one of the company’s TV adverts, showing red, green and silver hats burning in a fireplace. M&S said the advert was filmed in August before the Israel-Gaza conflict began. They said the intent was to…

Read More

Britons to leave Gaza in stages, says UK Foreign Office Brits will leave Gaza “in stages over the coming days,” the UK Foreign Office has said. The Rafah border crossing with Egypt is being opened for “controlled and time-limited periods” and to allow the seriously wounded to leave. The first group of foreign nationals were permitted to cross on Wednesday. Injured Palestinians were also allowed to cross into the border, where a field hospital has…

Read More

Is PMQs on today? Why there is no Prime Minister’s Questions after prorogation of Parliament There’s no PMQs session today as Parliament was prorogued last week, putting an end to the most recent session. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer normally face each other every Wednesday to debate the biggest issues facing the UK. The TV session gives the public a chance to judge the leaders as they vie for support…

Read More

Warning one in 10 county councils face effective bankruptcy Leaders of local governments have warned that one in 10 county councils in England are facing effective bankruptcy – putting vital services at risk. In September Birmingham City Council was forced to slash spending after declaring itself effectively bankrupt. A survey by the County Councils Network suggests more local authorities fear they could be next. They are calling for emergency funding from the government to stave…

Read More

Senior Met officer Julian Bennett sacked for refusing drug test Senior Met Police officer, Cdr Julian Bennett, has been sacked for refusing a drug test for cannabis. Bennet joined the Met in 1976 and drew up the force’s anti-drugs strategy, his actions have been found to have amounted to gross misconduct. A three-person disciplinary panel cleared him of smoking the illicit substance. His former flatmate Sheila Gomes accused him of using it daily before heading…

Read More

Storm Ciarán: England and Channel Islands prepare for disruption England is preparing for the arrival of Storm Ciarán, with people protecting their homes and businesses. Roads have been closed and ferries cancelled as the storm heads our way. The Met Office has issued yellow and amber warnings for wind and rain across the UK.  Gusts of up to 80mph could cause travel disruption, damage to buildings and flying debris. There are also flood warnings in…

Read More

Questions are piling up for Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak at the COVID inquiry – and it’s likely to get worse SKY NEWS SAYS This week at the COVID inquiry is about the advisers – the backroom officials now thrust into the spotlight. They reveal new details of the chaotic decision-making in Number 10 – and more widely across government – and extremely candid assessments of the key players, but particularly Boris Johnson. Today, Martin…

Read More