Author: News Desk

HS2 boss defends spending £100m on ‘bat shed’ that Starmer described as ‘absurd’ – UK politics live Mark Wild also admitted that HS2 had been rushed and ‘construction started way too early’ In her response to the statement from Karin Smyth, Caroline Johnson, the shadow health minister, suggested the extra money for hospices would not fully compensate the extra costs the sector is facing because of the national insurance increase and the rise in the living wage. She said: On October 30 the chancellor decided to break her election promise by increasing employers’ national insurance contributions and reducing the threshold…

The teenager accused of murdering schoolgirl Elianne Andam shouted, ‘do you want to end up like her, six feet under?’ at another prisoner, jurors have heard. Hassan Sentamu, 18, has been accused of knifing the 15-year-old to death outside a bus stop in Croydon town centre, south London, in September 2023. But prosecutor Alex Chalk KC said while Sentamu was on remand he got in an ‘angry’ shouting match at Oakhill Secure Training Centre just two weeks after Elianne was killed. When the fellow prisoner accused him of killing Elianne, Sentamu responded: ‘I’ll do it again. I’ll do it to…

London Underground travel status update Victoria line – Minor delays due to train cancellations Northern line – Minor delays between High Barnet and Camden Town southbound only due to a shortage of trains, while the rest of the line has good service Piccadilly line – The section between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge at the end of the line remains suspended due to difficult track conditions, while the rest of the line has minor delays because of a shortage of trains Severe delays on London Underground Piccadilly line | News UK

Gently swaggering onto the O2 Arena stage last night at the age of 82, Sir Paul McCartney’s silhouette looked much like it always has – save for a slightly gravity-inclined head and neck thanks to 60 years of strumming on guitars. Incredibly, he sounded just about the same too, even though he’s two years into his lauded Got Back tour. In recent years Sir Paul’s voice has been criticised as being a ghost of its former glory, but there wasn’t a whiff of shakiness last night: he swung through those iconic swooping Beatles notes like an eagle on a hunt.…

Police have launched an urgent hunt for a food delivery rider after a man was raped in Earl’s Court. The victim, aged in his 30s, was approached by the man riding a bike at midnight on October 4 in Hesper Mews. They spoke for a few minutes before the victim was raped, Metropolitan Police has said. The suspect, who had a food delivery bag on his back, is described by the force as having being aged in his 20s, white, with dark hair and ‘a distinctive large angular nose’. He was wearing all black clothing. After the attack the suspect…

An influencer has warned Londoners to be on alert after a thief walked into her changing room and stole her brand new Birkin bag. Janice Joostema posted CCTV footage of the moment her £10,000 red Hermes JPG Shoulder Birkin was swiped while trying on clothes in Manière De Voir on Oxford Street. The 29-year-old’s passport was also inside the bag, forcing the model to cancel her upcoming holiday to Switzerland. Footage shows the thief walking around the shop looking for the perfect moment to steal something. She is then seen sneaking into the changing room while Janice ‘was probably topless’…

Labour minister Tulip Siddiq caught up in Bangladesh corruption probe A Labour minister has been embroiled in a Bangladeshi corruption probe after the country’s government accused her of helping her aunt embezzle billions of pounds. City minister Tulip Siddiq, has been accused of helping Sheikh Hasina, the recently ousted prime minister of Bangladesh, to siphon off £5.2bn intended to be used building eight large-scale projects including a nuclear power plant. The Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate has not commented on the allegations, but Labour figures have described them as “spurious”, while Syed Faruk, the UK general-secretary of Ms Hasina’s…

Waspi women latest: Starmer faces growing Labour rebellion after ‘breaking promise’ on pensions Keir Starmer faces a growing Labour rebellion after being accused of breaking a promise in a decision not to compensate Waspi women. Up to 50 Labour MPs would vote against the government’s decision to rule out spending £10bn compensating the women if a vote is held, The Independent understands. Waspi refers to a woman born between 1950 and 1960 who was disadvantaged by the 1995 Pensions Act, which increased their pensionable age from 60 to 65. The group – Women Against State Pension Inequality – was set…

Water bills set for steep price hike after Ofwat review – how much will yours rise by? Increases by water company: Anglian Water: 2024/25 £491; 2029/30 £631; up £140 (+29%)Dwr Cymru: 2024/25 £455; 2029/30 £645; up £190 (+42%)Hafren Dyfrdwy: 2024/25 £392; 2029/30 £557; up £165 (+42%)Northumbrian Water: 2024/25 £422; 2029/30 £510; up £88 (+21%)Severn Trent Water: 2024/25 £398; 2029/30 £583; up £185 (+47%)Southern Water: 2024/25 £420; 2029/30 £642; up £222 (+53%)South West Water: 2024/25 £497; 2029/30 £610; up £113 (+23%)Thames Water: 2024/25 £436; 2029/30 £588; up £152 (+35%)United Utilities: 2024/25 £442; 2029/30 £585; up £143 (+32%)Wessex Water: 2024/25 £508; 2029/30…

What Christmas will look like for Prince Andrew and Fergie as they are sidelined from royal festivities When King Charles leads the Royal family on their traditional Christmas Day walk to St Mary Magdalene church, one notable absence will draw attention: his embattled younger brother, the Duke of York. It was revealed earlier this week that Prince Andrew had struck up a close friendship with an alleged Chinese spy, who has been banned from the UK. It is the latest in a string of controversies faced by Andrew in recent years, the most notable being his resignation which came after…