Author: David Pike

Concrete crisis: Headteachers in weekend dash to make schools safe to open Amid school closures due to unsafe buildings, England’s headteachers are scrambling this weekend to find ways to reopen their schools in time for the new term. Many of the 104 schools told to shut due to the buildings are busy rejigging timetables, seeking alternative classrooms and trying to rent temporary toilets. Parents are being emailed last-minute plans for home learning and moving children…

The King Charles III tartan, named after the monarch, is green, blue and red and was designed by the Scottish Tartans Authority.

One schoolgirl said that walking through the school gates felt like wading through vicious, sharp ice

‘This problem isn’t just financial, it’s emotional too.’

I am horrified that the Tory Party would continue to back a candidate who can make such disparaging comments and not apologise.

It is the first time a family member has spoken out.

Train strikes start ahead of weekend disruption Friday will see large parts of the country without train services as the latest strike action starts. Members of Aslef union – who work at more than a dozen train companies are striking and refusing to work overtime on Saturday. Saturday will also see up to 20,000 RMT union members at 14 operators also strike in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Operators running no services…

There’s a surprise inside.

It’s about time the police save Black men’s lives by taking themselves out of the equation.

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Friday’s front pages mostly lead with the last-minute closure of school buildings in England due to the buildings being made with aerated concrete. School closures in England The Guardian’s headline: “School chaos as buildings are shut over collapse fears.” The paper reports “Thousands of pupils in England may begin the autumn term taking lessons remotely or in temporary buildings.” The i newspaper reports parents with children in the schools…

It’s not that far off really…

The back-to-school struggle is real (Photo: Getty)

Check before you travel

The changes come after an inquiry into 2021’s Storm Arwen which left thousands without power for days.

Some 1,700 cases and accounts from 650 staff are being looked at as part of an independent review.

It is part of a long-running dispute over pay.

The toddler was found with horrific injuries at home in Blackpool on August 19.

Some schools will shut immediately.

Cabinet reshuffle latest: Grant Shapps appointment ‘ruffles feathers’ – as successor for his old job confirmed Sky News says The appointment of military novice Grant Shapps as defence secretary is a risky move by the prime minister at a time of war in Europe and major funding challenges for the armed forces. A senior Whitehall source said the choice suggests Rishi Sunak favours appearance over substance, placing a strong communicator into one of the most…

Grant Shapps becomes defence secretary and Claire Coutinho named energy secretary – cabinet reshuffle live The Independent says Claire Coutinho has been confirmed as the new energy secretary as Rishi Sunak carries out a mini-reshuffle of his cabinet. Ms Coutinho, the former education minister, replaces Grant Shapps, who took over from Ben Wallace after he resigned as defence secretary. A close ally of Mr Sunak who previously worked as his special adviser, Ms Coutinho becomes…

Cabinet mini-reshuffle predictions: Who Rishi Sunak could promote today, and why he’s replacing Ben Wallace The i newspaper says Rishi Sunak is expected to hold a mini Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday to replace Ben Wallace as Defence Secretary, with a fuller change-up of his top team expected in the coming weeks. The bigger changes are expected to take place in early September, just before or shortly after Parliament returns from its summer recess. Ahead of…

Grant Shapps named as new UK defence secretary after Ben Wallace steps down Grant Shapps has been announced as the new defence secretary, taking over from Ben Wallace. It’s Shapps’ fifth cabinet job in less than a year. Wallace is standing down as an MP at the next election after four years as defence secretary. In a statement, Mr Shapps said he was “honoured” to take on the role. He paid tribute to the “enormous contribution…

Police officers to face quicker sackings for gross misconduct in England and Wales The government has announced that police officers guilty of gross misconduct in England and Wales will face automatic sackings. The change follows high-profile cases of police officers committing rape and murder, such as rapist and killer Wayne Couzens and serial rapist David Carrick. Under the new system, chief constables or their deputies will chair misconduct panels hearing serious allegations against officers. Until…

Families welcome plan to force offenders into dock after Lucy Letby case A new law that gives judges more powers to make criminals attend sentencing hearings has been received well by families of victims. Some of the most recent high-profile murder cases have seen the killers refuse to appear in the dock during the sentencing. The mother of Olivia Pratt-Korbel – a nine-year-old shot dead by Thomas Cashman, and the sister of murdered Sabina Nessa…

He feels ‘so much happier’ after the £25,000 procedure.