HS2 finishes construction on longest tunnel Construction work has been completed on HS2’s longest tunnel, including extensions designed to prevent sonic booms. HS2 Ltd said it will take just three minutes for trains travelling at 200mph to traverse the 10-mile long Chiltern tunnel under the Chiltern Hills. Sonic booms can be caused by high-speed trains
Thousands of DWP workers to vote on strikes over pay The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said 50,000 of its members at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be balloted in the coming weeks on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action. The union members work in Jobcentres, universal credit service
Starmer tells Trump it is ‘wrong’ to apply tariffs to allies over Greenland Sir Keir Starmer has told Donald Trump that “applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is wrong” in a telephone call, Downing Street said. It comes after the US president said he would charge the UK a
Security services will not be ‘exempt’ from Hillsborough Law, says Nandy The security services will not be “exempt” from the Hillsborough Law, the Culture Secretary has said amid fears from campaigners and backbench Labour MPs that the duty of candour is being watered down. The mayors of Liverpool and Manchester have called on the Government
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley calls for dramatic police reforms Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has called for sweeping reforms of the policing system, which he says needs to change “quite dramatically”. Sir Mark said policing reforms were overdue and described the current model as “out of date for the challenges of today”. He
Scottish A&E waits over 12 hours surge by more than 7000% – Lib Dem analysis The number of people waiting more than 12 hours in A&E in Scotland has soared by more than 7000% in a decade, according to an analysis by the Scottish Liberal Democrats. The party said waits over four, eight and 12
Four Lions star says he was asked about terrorism by airport security Actor Adeel Akhtar says he was asked if he was linked to terrorist organisations by airport security when he travelled with his girlfriend to an audition in New York. The Four Lions star told BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs he had his
Trump announces new UK tariffs in Greenland row The US President says a 10% tariff will be applied to all goods sent to the US from next month Sir Keir Starmer has called Donald Trump’s plan to apply tariffs to the UK until a deal is reached to purchase Greenland “completely wrong”, and said he would be
Green Party calls for free bus passes for everyone under 22 The Green Party is calling for free bus travel in England for those under the age of 22. Leader Zack Polanski said introducing the universal bus pass for the group could help young people shut out of employment and training by the cost of
Government criticised for ‘glacial pace’ writing UN high seas treaty into law The Government is moving at a “glacial pace” to ratify a landmark UN pact to protect delicate ecosystems in international waters, a coalition of green groups has said. Eighteen environmental organisations called on Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to speed up the process on