Minister rejects Streeting call to consider national insurance cut A senior minister has warned of “consequences” for public spending of any cut to national insurance after Wes Streeting suggested the move as a way to boost employment. The Labour leadership hopeful suggested a “targeted reduction” of employers’ national insurance contributions in an interview with the
Nicola Sturgeon says Murrell has never explained his embezzlement crimes to her Nicola Sturgeon has said her estranged husband Peter Murrell has never explained to her why he embezzled more than £400,000 from the SNP as she spoke of the “trauma” she has gone through. The former Scottish first minister also said she feels like
UK’s biggest rail operator back in public ownership Govia Thameslink becomes part of Great British Railways The UK’s largest train operator’s services have been taken into public ownership. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander heralded the nationalisation of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) as “a defining moment in our reform of the railway”. GTR services carry more passengers than any
Arsenal miss out on Champions League glory Gunners suffer penalty shootout heartbreak after 1-1 draw with PSG A “devastated” Declan Rice insisted Arsenal will not be defined by their Champions League defeat to Paris St Germain – and vowed to use the emotional agony as fuel to win the competition next season. Arsenal’s bid to
Runner from London becomes first person in world to complete 1,000 parkruns A runner from London has become the first person in the world to complete 1,000 parkruns. Darren Wood was given a guard of honour from his fellow Sutton Runners as he approached the finish line to achieve his milestone on a warm, sunny
Rescuers free four villagers trapped in flooded Laos cave for 10 days Rescue workers in Laos said they have safely evacuated four villagers trapped in a flooded cave for 10 days, the day after another one was successfully extracted. Two men remain missing. Lao and Thai rescue groups posted about the successful operation on social
Downpours and cloudy skies for some this weekend after record-breaking heatwave Cloudy skies and downpours are expected for many this weekend as a record-breaking heatwave gives way to cooler weather ahead of a likely soggy start to June. While some will enjoy a continuation of the warm weather and sunshine this weekend, others will be
Swinney steps up calls to end ‘Westminster rip-off’ over energy John Swinney has stepped up his calls for Holyrood to be given control over energy, insisting it is the only way to end the current “Westminster rip-off”. The Scottish First Minister said handing over energy powers would allow his Government to end the “hated” windfall
Katie Boulter calls for French Open to remove advertising boards on courts Katie Boulter has called for the French Open to remove advertising boards at the back of courts after a doubles player tripped over one and was forced to retire. Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez had played only two games of her second-round women’s doubles match
Royal Mail misses annual delivery targets but hails progress amid £500m plan Royal Mail has missed its delivery targets for another year, but said more first-class mail has been sent on time over recent weeks after pledging to invest £500 million in improving its service. Some 75.7% of first-class mail arrived the next working day