Author: David Pike

MPs ask if Elon Musk ‘personally intervened’ on Russell Brand’s status on X The Independent says Social media site X has been asked by a senior MP if owner Elon Musk, who changed its name from Twitter, “has personally intervened in any decisions on Russell Brand’s status on the platform”. Following rape and sexual assault allegations being made against Brand, online content platforms that host his content including YouTube and podcasting company Acast said that…

Government borrowing rose to £11.6bn in August Newly released official figures show government borrowing was higher than economists had expected in August, having risen to £11.6bn last month, according to the ONS. Borrowing – the difference between spending and tax income – was £3.5bn more than a year earlier and the fourth-highest August borrowing since monthly records began in 1993. Public borrowing had been predicted to stand at £11.1bn last month. However, it still comes…

Rishi Sunak says we’ll hit net zero despite his massive U-turn Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has insisted the UK will still hit net zero by 2050, despite yesterday announcing a major u-turn on the government’s green policies. “I believe in net zero and I want to deliver it,” he tells BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. On Wednesday Sunak announced the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales is being pushed back from 2030 to…

Daniel Khalife denies Wandsworth prison escape Daniel Khalife, the former British Army soldier who escaped prison and led police on a 75-hour UK-wide manhunt, has pleaded not guilty to escaping from Wandsworth prison on 6 September. Khalife, 21, appeared in court by video link from HMP Belmarsh wearing a bright blue and yellow sweatshirt. He had reportedly escaped the prison via the kitchen having strapped himself under a truck leaving the prison grounds.  You may…

UK interest rate decision set to be close call after inflation fall Investors remain divided over whether interest rates will be raised again on Thursday after a shock slowdown in price rises. A 15th rise in a row to 5.5% from 5.25% was widely predicted, but now only half of investors are predicting a rise. Expectations changed after inflation was revealed to have fallen unexpectedly to 6.7% in the year to August. The Bank of…

Fall in students accepted into university in UK UK university acceptances for 18-year-olds have fallen for the first time in five years. Uni applications also fell after demand rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, and about 85% of applicants were accepted in both years. Fewer applicants got into their first choice of university this year but more qualified for their second choice or got accepted through clearing. This year saw top A-level results drop again, as…

Chris Kaba: Met Police officer to be charged with murder BBC News says A police officer is to be charged with the murder of Chris Kaba, who was shot dead in south London last year. Mr Kaba was shot during a police operation in Streatham Hill on 5 September 2022. The Met Police officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he will be charged. The…

Police officer who shot dead Chris Kaba charged with murder Sky News says The Metropolitan Police officer who shot dead Chris Kaba will face a murder charge, the Crown Prosecution Service has said. Mr Kaba, 24, died the day after he was hit by a single gunshot from a police firearms officer in Streatham Hill on 5 September last year. The car he was driving was followed through south London by an unmarked police car…

Chris Kaba: Police officer ‘who shot unarmed Black man dead’ charged with murder The Independent says A police officer accused of shooting an unarmed Black man dead has been charged with murder, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Chris Kaba, 24, who had been due to become a father, was killed on 5 September 2022 in Streatham Hill, south London. He died when he was shot through the windscreen of the Audi he was driving in.…

Police officer who shot dead unarmed rapper Chris Kaba charged with murder The Telegraph says The police officer who shot dead unarmed rapper Chris Kaba in south London last year has been charged with murder, the Crown Prosecution Service said. The officer, who has only been identified as NX121 was charged following a review of evidence provided by the Independent Office for Police Conduct which carried out an investigation. Mr Kaba, a 24-year-old expectant father,…

Flood warnings as rain leaves hundreds without power More than 500 properties have been hit by power cuts as a band of heavy rain is causing flood warnings. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning due to heavy rain until 18:00 BST on Wednesday and also covers the north-west England. The forecaster said up to 2-4 inches of rainfall is likely, with as much as 6-8 inches in some locations. The National Grid…

England’s junior doctors join consultants in joint NHS strikes England’s junior doctors are joining consultants for their first joint strikes in the history of the NHS. Consultants began striking on Tuesday and junior doctors followed on Wednesday morning. The British Medical Association strike by consultants will last two days whilst the junior doctor’s strike is planned for three. There will be emergency care throughout but NHS bosses said patients were still in danger. Doctors and…

Braverman and Facebook clash over private message plans Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Facebook owner Meta have clashed over the Meta’s plans to encrypt messages. They have hit back at a government campaign strongly critical of its plans. Messages protected with end-to-end encryption would mean that they could only be read by sender and recipient. Braverman has said encryption could not come at the cost of children’s safety, amid fears it might be used to…

‘How Have You Let It Get To This?’ Sky News Presenter Skewers Steve Barclay On NHS Strikes HuffPost says Steve Barclay was put on the spot over the government’s failure to end the NHS strikes as consultants and junior doctors prepare to walk out at the same time. The co-ordinated industrial action – the first of its kind in the history of the health service – is part of the long-running dispute over pay and…

Government outlines plan to crack down on NHS staff strikes The Independent says Rishi Sunak’s government has revealed its plan to crack down on NHS strikes by forcing some doctors and nurses to work during future industrial action. Health secretary Steve Barclay is proposing strict “minimum service level” regulations for urgent and emergency care in hospitals in a bid to stop disruption affecting patients. It follows controversial anti-strike legislation passed in the summer – bitterly…

Steve Barclay criticises ‘increasing militancy’ of NHS strikes as consultants walk out Sky News says Health Secretary Steve Barclay has criticised the “increasing militancy” and “politically” motivated strikes, and said that is why new legislation to curtail walkouts is being introduced. Mr Barclay was speaking as consultants took industrial action today, with junior doctors set to join them tomorrow in the first joint strike in NHS history. The government is consulting on adding requirements for…

Chelmsford murder probe: Human remains found at defendant’s home Human remains have been found at a home in Pump Hill, Chelmsford. The remains are believed to be those of a couple, whose daughter is charged with their murder. Police were called to the address in Chelmsford on Wednesday over concerns for the welfare of two people in their 70s, who were missing. Their daughter, Virginia McCullough, 35, appeared before magistrates on Monday accused of murdering…

Number of English schools with Raac increases to 174 New figures published by the government show the number of schools in England affected by crumbling concrete (RAAC) has increased to 174. The number was 147 as of 30 August but has now increased by 27 as of 14 September. Officials said surveyors have been checking hundreds of schools every week for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, known as Raac. The government said it would be updating…

1,000 Met Police officers suspended or on restricted duties The Met Police have said more than 1,000 Metropolitan Police officers are currently suspended or on restricted duties as the force attempts to root out rogue cops. The Met has come under serious criticism over the past few years following convictions of former cops David Carrick, a serial rapist and Wayne Couzens, a Met cop who kidnapped, raped and murdered a woman walking home. So far…

Covid boosters: Over-65s called for jabs as hospital cases rise The over-65s in England are being urged to get their COVID-19 vaccine booster as hospital cases begin to rise. Those eligible can book via the NHS website, on the NHS app, or by calling 119. The booster rollout has been brought forward as a precaution against a highly mutated new Covid variant called BA.2.86. Hospital admissions are up but intensive care admissions remain low. The…

Boris Johnson: Officials discussed raising concerns about former PM to Queen A new BBC documentary series, Laura Kuemssberg: State of Chaos, has revealed shocking allegations that senior government officials spoke to Buckingham Palace at the height of the pandemic to express their concern over Boris Johnson’s conduct in office. Officials had even discussed suggesting to the Queen that she raise the concerns with Boris Johnson during private audiences. The revelations come in episode two of…

Brexit: Labour will seek re-write of deal, Starmer says Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to the Financial Times about Labour’s plans if they win the next general election – expected at some time in 2024. Starmer told the FT that the current Brexit deal, which is due for review in 2025, is “too thin.” Speaking at a conference of centre-left leaders in Canada, Starmer ruled out re-joining the customs unions, the single market or the…

Liz Truss urges PM to cut taxes and benefit increases Former Prime Minister Liz Truss is set to call on PM Rishi Sunak to cut taxes, reduce benefit increases, raise the retirement age and delay net-zero commitments. In a speech, she will defend her chaotic 44 days in office and the policies she tried to push through. She will also acknowledge she tried to do too much in a short amount of time. Truss, who…

‘Not sure I have ever seen rain like that in London.’

The Met Office has warned there could be a ‘danger to life’ from floodwater in certain areas.