Browsing: UK politics

Thursday’s news briefing – John Prescott dies, final goodbyes to Liam Payne, cold snap closes schools across UK, Cpt Tom’s family made money from charity  

News Briefing

The former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott died on Wednesday at the age of 86. His family confirmed he died listening to jazz music at the care home he’d been living in since being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Prescott served during the Tony Blair government – tributes are pouring in from across the political spectrum.

Yesterday, former One Direction boyband member Liam Payne was laid to rest in a small and private service in Buckinghamshire. His funeral was attended by his former bandmates Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson. The 31-year-old died last month in Argentina after falling from his hotel balcony.

The UK’s cold snap continues to bite with schools being closed this Thursday morning and severe travel disruptions affecting the country.

A long-awaited report into the family of Captain Tom Moore has finally been released. The report says the family’s refusal to donate any of the £1.4m received from his book deal damaged public trust in charities. It says the family of Sir Tom made profit off the charity set up in his name.

Wednesday’s news briefing – Higher energy bills push up inflation, farmers warn of more protests to come, cold snap bites UK, Pep extends City contract 

News Briefing

Images from yesterday’s farmer’s protest in London dominate much of the UK media – online and in print – amid warnings that the protests are just the start.

The prime minister assures the public that the inheritance tax rule will affect only a small amount of farmers. Around 13,000 farmers protested outside Westminster yesterday and were joined by Jeremy Clarkson and Nigel Farage.

Higher energy rates have pushed up UK inflation the latest figures show. The rate is at its highest in six months. The latest figures come after the government revealed that around 50,000 pensioners will be living in relative poverty next year due to the winter fuel allowance cuts.

The UK cold snap has arrived and more weather warnings have been issued across the country as the wintery weather causes travel disruptions and school closures.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has signed a one-year extension to his contract, keeping him in the Premier League for a little longer.

Away from domestic news, much of the UK media – in print and online – also looks at the latest developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden permitted Ukraine to use US-made weapons to strike Russia – which they did yesterday.

Russia’s Putin has called it a major escalation of war and has, in response, lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike on the West. It’s led to fears a nuclear war may be on the horizon.