Month: February 2025

A major opportunity to boost inclusive economic growth will be lost unless a looming £8 billion funding gap in council finances is not addressed in the forthcoming spending review, the Government has been warned..

The Government will “wait and see” whether tariffs announced by Donald Trump on Friday “actually come to pass”, a senior minister has said. The US president announced what he called “reciprocal tariffs” on all other countries on Friday evening, claiming it was “fair to all”. But immediately following his announcement, it was unclear how this would apply to the UK, especially as Mr Trump suggested his policy regarded VAT as […]

London Museum has announced it has acquired Banksy’s piranhas artwork for display in its new location. The artwork, which saw fish painted on a police sentry box, made headlines last summer when it appeared as part of the street artist’s animal-themed collection in the capital, which concluded with a gorilla appearing to lift up a shutter on the entrance to London Zoo. London Museum will display the work at its […]

Strikes planned by Avanti West Coast train managers over the next three Sundays have been suspended to allow negotiations in a long-running dispute over rest day working. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) have already taken industrial action and were due to walk out again on the coming Sundays. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “This breakthrough has been achieved through the strength and determination of our […]

A 70-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of 86-year-old widow Una Crown in 2013 after DNA which matched his profile was found on her nail clippings. Retired postmistress Mrs Crown was found with her throat cut, stab wounds to her chest and her clothing set on fire in her bungalow in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on January 13 2013. Police did not initially consider her death suspicious and there […]

Two brothers have denied assaulting police officers in a disturbance at Manchester Airport. Footage of the fracas at the airport’s Terminal Two building on July 23 last year was widely shared online. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, is alleged to have assaulted Pc Zachary Marsden and Pc Lydia Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of Pc Ellie Cook in the […]

Former footballer Joey Barton has appeared in court accused of sending offensive messages to TV personalities Lucy Ward and Jeremy Vine. The 42-year-old stood in the dock, speaking only to give his name and date of birth at the start of the 20-minute hearing at Liverpool Crown Court. He is accused of sending communications of an indecent or grossly offensive nature on social media platform X to ex-England footballer and […]

A chief constable promised to “ensure your memory, your contribution and your sacrifice are never ever forgotten” as he spoke at the funeral of a police officer who died after she stopped to help at a road crash. More than 800 people gathered at York Minster on Thursday for the full ceremonial funeral of Pc Rosie Prior, who died along with a man last month near Thirsk in North Yorkshire. […]

Britain’s economy unexpectedly eked out growth in the final three months of last year, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she was “still not satisfied” as fears remain over a lacklustre performance. Official figures showed gross domestic product (GDP) edged 0.1% higher between October and December, defying forecasts by analysts and the Bank of England for a contraction in the quarter. It follows zero growth in the previous three months, which […]