Author: News Desk

Ministers warned not to repeat same mistakes by leaving Afghan heroes at mercy of Taliban Ministers have been warned not to repeat the same mistakes over Afghan soldiers, with fears their pledge to finally relocate special forces soldiers who fought with the UK could still leave 1,500 at the mercy of the Taliban. Campaigners and former military top brass hailed armed forces minister Luke Pollard’s announcement this week that acknowledged the troops had worked for Britain. He pledged to bring an estimated 500 to safety following a Ministry of Defence review. But campaigners warned the decision to only grant sanctuary…

Pictured: Note allegedly found by Sara Sharif’s body saying ‘It’s me Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter’ A note that was allegedly found by Sara Sharif’s body in her father’s handwriting has been pictured in court. Taxi driver Urfan Sharif, 42, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of his 10-year-old daughter’s murder alongside Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle, Faisal Malik, 29. It is alleged within hours of her death the defendants had booked a flight out of the country. Police found Sara’s body in a bunk bed in her home in Woking, Surrey, on 10 August last…

Keir Starmer met Taylor Swift at London gig as questions continue over her blue-light escort Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer met with pop star Taylor Swift at one of her London concerts to discuss the Southport attack. It is understood that Sir Keir and his family spoke to the Shake if Off singer and her mother after he was invited to attend the Wembley gig on 20 August. This comes amid questions over government intervention in talks over the security for the concerts after Swift was given a taxpayer-funded police escort. Last week, it was claimed the Metropolitan Police’s special…

General Sir Mike Jackson, former head of British Army, dies aged 80 General Sir Mike Jackson, the former head of the British Army, has died aged 80. He served as Chief of the General Staff between 2003 and 2006. In a statement, the British Army announced his death, saying:” It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of General Sir Mike Jackson GCB, CBE, DSO, on 15 October surrounded by his family. “General ‘Jacko’ served with distinction for over 40 years, finishing his career as Chief of the General Staff. “He will be greatly missed, and…

Budget 2024 live updates: Inflation falls to lowest rate in three years, Reeves ‘eyes £40bn’ in cuts and spending Rachel Reeves will announce Labour’s first Budget in 15 years later this month, leading one of the most highly-anticipated fiscal events in over a decade. As the chancellor looks to fill the £22bn “black hole” in public spending she announced in late July, speculation has mounted about what measures will be included on 30 October. During the Labour’s first few months in power, ministers have warned that “tough decisions” will be required to balance the books. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer…

Majority of parents not deterred by fines for term-time family holidays – survey The majority of parents say fines for unauthorised absences would not deter them from taking their children out of school for a holiday, a survey has found. Half of parents are opposed to the policy in England where fines are considered if a child misses five days of school without permission, according to a poll by Parentkind charity. The survey, of nearly 5,500 parents from across the UK, found that nearly three in five (57%) parents have or would consider their child missing school for a day…

Food guru Tim Spector and health experts call on NHS to make vegan food the norm in hospitals Food guru Tim Spector has joined healthcare chiefs and at least 1,000 health experts in calling on the NHS to make vegan food standard in UK hospitals. In an open letter to every NHS trust and healthcare leader in the UK, they ask healthcare organisations to implement “plant-based by default” menus. It follows a trial in New York in 2022, which they say led to a 36 per cent drop in food carbon emissions, cost savings and a more than 90 per…

Assisted dying ‘dangerous’ says Archbishop of Canterbury as bill to be introduced today – UK politics live The new bill to allow assisted dying will be introduced to the Commons today amid claims by the Archbishop of Canterbury that the concept is “dangerous”. Meanwhile, Downing Street has rejected suggestions that Sir Keir Starmer received free Taylor Swift tickets as a “thank you” after she was given taxpayer-funded police security while performing in London. No 10 would not say whether the prime minister was confident that perceptions of a conflict of interest had been avoided but insisted “operational decisions” were “ultimately”…

Deaths of people sleeping rough up 42% as nearly 1,500 homeless people died last year Deaths of rough sleepers in the UK have increased by 42 per cent in a year in an alarming indicator of the surging homelessness crisis. New research from The Museum for Homelessness found that 1,474 people died while homeless in 2023, up 12 per cent on the year before. Deaths of rough sleepers also rose from 109 to 155 in a year. The investigation found that people experiencing homelessness are at least three times more likely to be murdered. The Museum of Homelessness has been…

Assisted dying: What is the current law and will it change? The assisted dying debate will return to Parliament this week as a new bill is formally introduced in the House of Commons. Campaigners who are terminally ill or have watched loved ones die in pain have called the existing legislation “unbelievably cruel” and pointed out that animals suffering severely can be legally euthanised. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater will formally introduce a private member’s bill (PMB) on assisted dying on October 16. A debate on the bill next month will mark the first time the controversial issue has been voted…