UK News

Scottish Conservative leadership candidate Murdo Fraser has called on his two rivals to drop out of the contest so a coronation can take place. Launching his campaign in Perth, Mr Fraser said Russell Findlay and Meghan Gallacher could “bring this sorry chapter to a close” and endorse him to unite the party. When asked by journalists at the event if ...

All rules have been followed in the appointment of a Labour Party donor to a senior Treasury role, a government minister has insisted. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme that appointing Ian Corfield as director of investment at the Treasury was “perfectly appropriate” and “it’s good to bring in external expertise”. ...

Sir Keir Starmer has denied giving “false hope” to Port Talbot steel workers ahead of the planned closure of the town’s last blast furnace next month. The Labour UK government is in discussions to try to save jobs at Tata Steel, where thousands face redundancy. The prime minister said the Labour UK government will do “everything we can” but added: ...

King Charles has met survivors of the Southport knife attack that claimed the lives of three young girls. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, died when a knifeman attacked at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Hart Street, on 29 July. Ten others were seriously injured including yoga teacher, Leanne Lucas, 35, who ...

A Lancashire man has denied intentionally encouraging murder and violent disorder in relation to recent riots in Southport and Liverpool. Andrew McIntyre, 39, of Cousins Lane, Rufford, pleaded not guilty to encouraging murder through electronic communication and encouraging violent disorder through electronic communication, at Liverpool Crown Court. He also denied possession of a pocket knife in a public place on ...

A 13-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to violent disorder following a protest at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Aldershot. Prosecutors said the girl was among a crowd gathered outside Potters International Hotel and was seen punching and kicking at the entrance of the hotel. A police officer was injured when disorder broke out at the demonstration involving about 200 ...

Monday has been declared the hottest day of the year in the UK so far, reaching 32.4C in Wisley, Surrey – with up to 34C (93F) expected in parts of the country. The higher temperatures will be confined to central and southern England, according to the Met Office, and yellow heat health alerts are in place for millions of people. ...

Suspended Labour councillor Ricky Jones has been charged with encouraging violent disorder after comments at a London counter-protest. Videos appeared online which seem to show Mr Jones, 57, telling a crowd in Walthamstow that far-right demonstrators should have their throats cut. The Dartford councillor was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on Thursday and was charged on Friday, said the Crown ...

The number of overseas workers, students and their families applying for visas to come to the UK has fallen by a third over the last 12 months. The sharp decline follows rule changes, introduced by the Conservative government, which banned most international students and health and social care workers bringing family to the UK. Provisional figures from the Home Office ...

A record high of more than 150,000 children are living in temporary accommodation in England, according to the latest official figures. The situation was branded a “national scandal” by the new Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, who warned the country faces an “acute housing crisis”. At the end of March, there were 151,630 children living in temporary ...