Browsing: UK featured

Zia Yusuf has resigned as chairman of Reform UK, saying campaigning for the party is no longer a “good use” of his time. His departure follows tensions around a controversial call by Reform’s newest MP to ban the burka—an idea Yusuf publicly criticised.

Scottish Labour pulled off an unexpected victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, taking the seat from the SNP despite sliding poll numbers and backlash over UK-wide policies like cuts to winter fuel payments.

Scottish Labour’s Davy Russell won the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election with 8,559 votes, defeating the SNP’s Katy Loudon, who received 7,957 votes.

Investigators have concluded a three-day search near Praia da Luz for Madeleine McCann, who disappeared 18 years ago, without discovering significant evidence.

Sarina Wiegman has announced the 23-player England squad for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, including 13 players from the 2022 championship-winning team despite the surprise retirements of Mary Earps and Fran Kirby.

Cliff Notes – Grading big signings in men’s soccer Premier League clubs significantly increased their January transfer spending to £370…

Good morning! ☕ Let’s grab a coffee and dive into the headlines for Thursday, 5 June 2025. After weeks of glorious sunshine, a touch of morning rain has struck the capital – so don’t forget your brolly if you’re heading out.

It’s all politics this morning. There’s coverage of the government’s U-turn on the winter fuel payments after the prime minister announced more pensioners will be eligible for the payment by this winter.

The government has also announced that they will be expanding free school meals as part of a broader effort to tackle child poverty in the UK.

Donald Trump and the US are, of course, in the headlines as the president of the US has announced a travel ban on 12 countries and the US was the only country to veto a full ceasefire in Gaza.

The UK government has announced that 500,000 more children in England will become eligible for free school meals from September 2026, as part of a major expansion aimed at tackling child poverty. From that date, any family receiving Universal Credit—regardless of income—will qualify. Currently, parents must earn less than £7,400 a year after tax to be eligible.

The government has confirmed that more people will qualify for the winter fuel payment this year, in a U-turn on one of Labour’s first controversial policies. Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated the increased eligibility will be in place “this winter,” though specific details on the new threshold and who qualifies remain vague.

Two men, Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves, have pleaded guilty to arson attacks linked to a warehouse supplying StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine, causing £1 million in damages.