Bomb disposal robot destroys Labour MPs' Christmas cards

Remnants of Christmas cards intended for Labour MPs and constituency offices were found at the site.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/SAC4cMi

Welsh secretary labelled 'dinosaur' for only communicating in English

A Plaid Cymru politician says Jo Stevens showed an "incredible lack of respect" for the Welsh language.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/rIUOwnA

Sunak defends Covid loan scheme over excessive fraud claims

Critics say Bounce Back Loans were vulnerable to fraud, but Sunak cited need for speedy rollout

from BBC News https://ift.tt/ks1oUpO

Violence against women a national emergency, Mahmood says

Specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams will be introduced to every police force in England and Wales by 2029.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/JnEhoHA

No 10 says it backs pubs as landlords bar Labour MPs in tax protest

The government says it delivered a £4.3bn support package for pubs and restaurants in the Budget.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/T24LDSc

Reform claims to now have more members than Labour

Nigel Farage's party says it has overtaken Labour to have more members than any other party in the UK.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/x2dO7lA

Russia poses acute threat, new MI6 chief to warn

Blaise Metreweli will say the threat is posed by "an aggressive, expansionist and revisionist Russia".

from BBC News https://ift.tt/MnpKl7k

Acting Reform UK council leader says it is time to 'move on'

Former leader Ian Cooper had his membership of Reform UK revoked after being accused of making racist comments on social media.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/yUOx3ub

'Double whammy' of flu and strikes a risk to patients, Streeting says

Hospitals could struggle with rising numbers of flu patients and forthcoming strikes by resident doctors in England next week, says Health Secretary.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/Np3JUVu

2025 was a crazy year in politics. But 2026 could be wild

Reform’s rise, Labour’s woes and Trump’s presence have changed our politics. What will the next 12 months bring?

from BBC News https://ift.tt/Bv9sAyY

Inquiry into role of Budget watchdog launched by MPs

It comes after intense scrutiny of the Office for Budget Responsibility in the run-up to the Budget.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/Vlmn2Fy

Palestine Action hunger strikers call for urgent meeting with ministers

Lawyers for eight remand prisoners waiting to go on trial say they could die in prison as part of their protest.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/OsBrwdS

Too many unauthorised pre-Budget leaks, says Reeves

The chancellor tells MPs many of the stories leaked to the media were inaccurate and "very damaging".

from BBC News https://ift.tt/5TuXaj2

Don't let Trump interfere with UK democracy, Davey tells PM

The Lib Dem leader criticises US national security strategy, which warns Europe faces "civilisational erasure".

from BBC News https://ift.tt/17zPgEH

Branding and logo for Great British Railways unveiled

The new red, white and blue branding mirrors the colours of the Union Flag, and will start to appear from next year.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/mZB40Lo

Much of £11bn Covid scheme fraud 'beyond recovery', report says

The response to the pandemic led to "enormous outlays of public money which exposed it to the risk of fraud and error", a report says.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/yKOPCab

Budget could knock 0.5% off inflation next year, Bank chief says

Bank of England deputy governor Clare Lombardelli said inflation would be brought down by measures cutting energy prices and freezing rail fares.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/ZcVKWrO

Rayner will make return to cabinet, says Starmer

The prime minister says his "hugely talented" former deputy will one day return to government.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/crkXKWU

Young people to lose benefits if they turn down work, says minister

Pat McFadden says they would need a "good reason" to decline one of 55,000 new work placements.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/gnB5KmI

Starmer rejects EU customs union after Lammy comments

It comes after the deputy prime minister said countries in a customs union with the EU see benefits.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/WKrbIml

Government pledges to end children living in B&Bs

The strategy also includes making childcare more accessible for families on Universal Credit.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/XmsJ8qv

Reform revokes council leader's party membership

It follows an investigation by the party into racist content on social media.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/MgIF0A1

Farage accuses BBC of double standards after racism allegations

The Reform UK leader turns fire on the BBC as he faces further questions about allegations of teenage racism.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/9YDXBt4

New mayoral elections to be delayed in four areas of England

The new mayoralties in Greater Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, Hampshire and the Solent, and Sussex and Brighton will now be contested in 2028.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/yGl3dzI

Henry Zeffman: Less than meets the eye to Starmer's words on Brexit

This week, the PM was trying to set the scene for what is to come on the UK-EU relationship, sources say.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/C2JELA0

Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnoses

The health secretary says the aim is to tackle a rising demand for services and pressure on the NHS.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/jryBd2L

Walescast Senedd debate

The debate comes as parties look ahead to next May's Welsh Parliament election.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/c59up0E

Politicians thrash out key issues in live TV debate

They clashed over the NHS, the two-child benefit cap and increasing Senedd members.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/FBwetg0

Doctors to stage five-day strike before Christmas

Walkout in England begins on 17 December and will be 14th strike in pay dispute.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/auW4Ax6

Man cleared of harassing Sir Ed Davey and family

A magistrate was not satisfied Inigo Rowland's behaviour, although unwelcome, was criminal.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/xXL1dVy

What scrapping the two-child benefit cap means

Politics South reporter Emily Hudson explains the two-child benefit cap and why it was scrapped.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/zqEn9Yo