Author: UK News

Rishi Sunak calls for Stormont return for Good Friday Agreement anniversary Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has praised the political leaders who shaped Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement on its 25th anniversary, calling it “born of partnership between the British and Irish governments.”  The 1998 Good Friday Agreement ended Northern Ireland’s decades-long violent conflict known as the Troubles. Sunak called on Stormont politicians to “get on with the business of governance” and commended those who “took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership.” He also welcomed US President Joe Biden to Northern Ireland as part of the milestone date. Sunak said…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Monday’s newspapers feature a variety of headlines, with no one story dominating the papers. But one of the most popular being splashed includes updates on the contentious attack ad campaign launched by the Labour Party against Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Many of the front pages report on the royal family attending an Easter service and the King’s upcoming coronation. NHS chaos amid doctors’ Strikes   According to The Daily Telegraph, GP surgeries across England are cancelling routine appointments for up to a week to cope with the NHS junior doctors’ strike. NHS trusts have advised…

  A quarter of century since the signing of a peace deal that largely ended violence in Northern Ireland, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said efforts had to be intensified to restore the power-sharing government central to the accord. Advertising Signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998, the Good Friday agreement is considered one of the most significant peace deals of the late 20th Century, seeking to end three decades of sectarian strife that killed more than 3,600 people. But peace has come under strain following Britain’s exit from the European Union and other political crises have overshadowed this week’s…

The Sunday Papers Sunday Papers – Doctors Strike, Coronation and Olivia’s mum Sunday’s front pages report on a variety of topics including King Charles III’s upcoming coronation suggesting that the event will help the Conservative party by “eclipsing a predicted Tory wipeout in town hall elections”. Millions of people across the country will go to the polls to vote in the council elections on 4 May, with the coronation taking place two days later on 6 May. Other coronation news reports the King is at odds with the Church of England over the event and fears over the safety of…

Sheffield woman hit and killed by car named after boy, 12, charged UPDATE: The 12-year-old boy has now been charged with murder of Marcia Grant, 60 – who died after being hit by a car in Sheffield. A 60-year-old woman, Marcia Grant, has been described as a “warm, loving” figure in her community after being hit by a car and killed in Sheffield. The incident occurred in the Greenhill area of the city on Wednesday evening, and Mrs Grant died at the scene. A 12-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder and possession of a bladed article and…

Millions travelling for Easter weekend break facing massive delays Millions of people are preparing to travel for their Easter holiday weekend, but transport companies warn of possible delays. Around 15 million drivers are expected on the roads on Saturday, and those travelling via Dover have been warned of possible two-hour queues at border control. Extra measures have been implemented at Dover to cope with the increased demand, and port officials have warned of waiting times during the busiest travel hours. Candice Mason, founder of Masons Coaches, hopes to see these measures continue throughout the summer season to prevent long queues. …

Warnings of dissident republican disorder during Easter Police in Northern Ireland have warned of potential public disorder during the Easter period linked to dissident Republicans, who may attempt to draw officers into gun or bomb attacks. The threat level for terrorism in Northern Ireland was raised to severe by MI5 recently, meaning that an attack is highly likely. Events are being held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended the 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles, costing more than 3,500 lives. The PSNI has made temporary changes to shifts to…

How to save money on pet care as the cost of living rises The rising cost of living crisis in the UK is affecting every aspect of our lives, and many animal lovers across the country are worried about rising bills and looking after our four-legged friends. From pet insurance to food, toys, treats and more – it all adds up and can make pet ownership a major stress in such difficult financial times. Animal charity PDSA has said the average dog over its lifetime costs around £30,800. For cats, the figure is around £18,000 for an average lifespan. Many…

Cost of living crisis UK: Cutting energy and water costs – 5 major changes you can make today As the cost of living crisis continues to grip the UK, many are looking on ways to reduce household bills – the bathroom is an area of the house that can rack up massive energy costs. Water bills have risen from April 1 and the energy rebate scheme finishes at the end of April 2023. The bathroom and the kitchen are two areas where we use a lot of water, and as the country continues to battle rising prices, we look at…

Nicola Sturgeon pulls out of climate event as police search continue Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s former first minister, withdrew from the Climate of Change event after her husband, Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), was questioned by police on Wednesday in relation to party finances. Murrell was released without charge pending further investigation, and a police search of the couple’s Glasgow home resumed on Thursday. Ms Sturgeon said that the cabinet secretary for net zero, Màiri McAllan, would take her place at the event to ensure that the focus remained on the critical issue of…

King Charles supports study into royal family slavery links King Charles is supporting an independent study into the British monarchy’s links to the slave trade in the 17th and 18th centuries. Buckingham Palace is working with the University of Manchester and Historic Royal Palaces to grant full access to the Royal Archives and the Royal Collection for the PhD project, expected to be completed in 2026. The King and the Prince of Wales have both expressed their personal sorrow over the suffering caused by the slave trade. The King wishes to continue his commitment to deepening his understanding of the…

Dorset asylum seeker barge will not be like a prison, says minister The Guardian says A barge due to be used to house hundreds of asylum seekers in Dorset is not a prison but efforts will be made to avoid asylum seekers needing to leave the port to access services in the local community, a minister has said. As the government struggled to drum up support among local politicians for the plans, the transport minister Richard Holden claimed amenities such as doctors’ surgeries would be set up on site. He said the barge and other similar planned projects would be…

Government reveals full details of plan to house 500 asylum seekers on a barge in Dorset The Metro says The government has laid out controversial plans to house around 500 asylum seekers on a barge off the coast of Dorset. The Home Office said the three-storey vessel, named Bibby Stockholm, would be berthed in Portland, where the local MP and council have threatened legal challenges. The 93-metre long barge, being leased from Liverpool-based Bibby Marine Limited, previously saw at least one person die and reports of rape and abuse on board when it was used by the Dutch government to…

Inside the floating barge that’s set to hold 500 asylum seekers The Metro says A three-storey barracks barge will now be the temporary home for asylum seekers arriving on British shores, the Government has confirmed. The Home Office said today that the Bibby Stockholm, a large block of flats stacked atop a floating platform, has been leased for 18 months. The ‘basic and functional accommodation’ will have around-the-clock security on-board to ‘minimise the disruption to local communities’, the Home Office said. Bibby Stockholm contains a basic gym, bar, games room and more than 220 en-suite bedrooms, according to a fact…

A new proposal to handle the refugees crisis in Dublin could resort to refugees could be housed in Dublin’s exclusive Blackrock suburb. A five-storey office building in the south Dublin suburb of Blackrock – the most expensive postcode in the country – could be used to accommodate refugees, the Irish Independent has learned. Refugees could be housed in Dublin’s exclusive Blackrock suburb The Department of Equality has said Frascati House, on Temple Road, has been offered to house people seeking refuge from the war in Ukraine or for international protection (IP) applicants amid an unprecedented number of arrivals in the…

Police moved from serious crime units to help clean up Met Police Around 90 Metropolitan Police officers have been diverted from fighting serious crime and terrorism to investigate wrongdoing within the force, according to the Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. In an open letter to the Mayor of London and Home Secretary, Rowley stated that the officers were supporting the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS), and that in the last decade, four in five of the original inquiries into officers accused of domestic and sexual violence did not result in the correct action and should be reassessed. The move follows a…

Patients at risk during doctor strike – NHS bosses Hospital managers in England have expressed concerns that patient safety could be at risk during the upcoming four-day strike by junior doctors. The strike, which starts on Tuesday, will affect both emergency and planned care. Managers have warned that they will struggle to staff rotas during the action. The British Medical Association (BMA) has refused to exempt any services from the action but claims it will meet trade union requirements for life-and-limb cover by withdrawing junior doctors if individual hospitals report lives are in immediate danger. During a similar strike last…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Several of Thursday’s front pages lead with the arrest of Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive and husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, as part of an investigation into party finances. Government plans to house migrants on a barge off Dorset s another lead story for the newspapers. According to The Daily Telegraph, there are concerns that Police Scotland may have faced political pressure to delay the arrest of Peter Murrell, husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, until after her successor was appointed. While the police deny notifying Sturgeon in advance,…

Police Scotland launched a formal investigation into the SNP

Nicola Sturgeon’s husband arrested in SNP finance probe The husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in connection with an investigation into Scottish National Party finances. Peter Murrell, 58, was taken into police custody on Wednesday morning. More to follow

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Wednesday’s front pages are dominated by the historic arrest and arraignment of Donald Trump – the first time a former US president has ever faced criminal charges. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records for his alleged role in paying hush money to hide damaging personal stories during the 2016 election campaign. According to The Independent, it was a day that shook America, as most newspapers lead with a photograph of Donald Trump sitting between his lawyers in a New York court. The defendant is described as “ashen-faced” by The Financial…

London airport officially scraps 100ml liquids rule in hand luggage from today The Metro says People travelling through London City Airport will no longer to have to limit their liquids to 100ml in their hand luggage from today. It is the first airport in the capital – and first mainstream airport in the UK – to scrap the rules following the introduction of new high-tech CT scanners just in time for Easter. The government has set a deadline of June 2024 for all major UK airports to install the machines. Teeside Airport was the first in the country to scrap…

Asylum seeker barge plan would face legal challenge The UK government’s plan to house asylum seekers on a barge off the coast of Dorset is facing legal challenges, according to reports. The Bibby Stockholm, a three-storey vessel capable of housing more than 500 people, could be docked off Portland as part of the controversial plan aimed at reducing reliance on hotels. Local Conservative MP Richard Drax has said that “all legal routes” are being explored to try to prevent the move, while charities have said that boats are an inadequate solution for housing those fleeing war and persecution. The government…

Former Tory Chancellor Nigel Lawson dies aged 91 The former Conservative chancellor Nigel Lawson, who served in several cabinet positions under former PM Marget Thatcher in the 1980s, has died at the age of 91. He is often viewed as one of the most consequential of all post-war UK chancellors. The former chancellor played a significant role in creating a powerful entrepreneurial environment. However, the era was also marked by increasing inequality and deindustrialisation, which caused great hardship in many communities. Tributes have poured in from political figures, with PM Rishi Sunak describing him as an ‘inspiration’ former PM Liz…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Many of Tuesday’s front pages lead with the life sentence handed to Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s killer on Monday. The death of Nigel Lawson – who lead the Thatcher privatisation drive that put swathes of the public sector under the control of private companies – makes several of the front pages. And the conviction of Phillip Schofield’s brother for sexually abusing a teenage boy is another topic splashed on the front pages. ‘Tax-slasher’ Nigel Lawson dies Several front pages feature the death of Nigel Lawson, with the Daily Telegraph describing him as “Thatcher’s tax slasher” and carrying…