News – World and UK

Working with the Conservatives when they were in government “could not have been more awful” but relationships with Westminster are “incomparably better” now Labour is in power, John Swinney has said. The Scottish First Minister made the comment after talks with Sir Keir Starmer in Edinburgh, with the Prime Minister and the leaders of all the devolved administrations joining the British-Irish Council summit on Friday. Mr Swinney said afterwards he […]

Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department has returned to the top of the UK albums chart as her record-breaking Eras Tour comes to a close, the Official Charts Company has confirmed. It marks the LP’s ninth non-consecutive week at the summit of the charts after a new anthology version was released, with 79% of the record’s sales made up of physical copies, seeing it also claim number one on the […]

Chancellor Rachel Reeves told a shop owner the Government was “trying to help” as she visited independent retailers ahead of Small Business Saturday. Ms Reeves toured the Leeds Corn Exchange on Friday where Deborah Bellamy, owner of Hidden Wardrobe, told her that businesses had found it “very tough” in recent years with rising costs and minimum wage increases, and had to let some staff go. The Chancellor said: “I know […]

The UK is the “sick man of Europe” when it comes to spending on medicines and community pharmacies, leaders from the sector have said. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) urged the Government to “get round the table and start to deliver the funding necessary” to stop pharmacies closing and improve care for patients. NPA analysis of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) figures found the UK has fewer pharmacies […]

Dame Mary Berry has been announced as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Women In Film And Television Awards. The former Great British Bake Off star was given the award at a ceremony at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Friday. The event also saw Jessica Gunning win the Best Performance Award for her role as Martha in Netflix series Baby Reindeer, and Newsnight host Kirsty […]

The Princess of Wales has made a rare public appearance with her family to celebrate Christmas with selfless individuals who have supported others. Kate is making a gradual return to public events after completing her cancer treatment and joined William and their children at Westminster Abbey for her annual Together at Christmas carol service. The royal couple walked into the historic Abbey where they married in 2011 with Prince George, […]

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has apologised after being accused of making light of serious safeguarding failures in the Church of England. Mr Welby’s final speech in the House of Lords on Thursday was criticised by a bishop who said she was “deeply disturbed” by the language used, and by an abuse survivor who said it was “tone deaf”. The Archbishop had referenced a 14th century beheading which prompted laughter […]

A rare red warning for wind, which warns of significant disruption and a “danger to life”, has been issued by forecasters as Storm Darragh hits the UK. The warning covers parts of Wales and the South West of England, including Cardiff, Bristol and Devon, and is in place from 3am to 11am on Saturday. The Met Office warns of “damaging winds”, with gusts of 90mph possible over the coasts and […]

Generous households across Britain will give around £2.8 billion in total to charities during November and December this year, according to an estimate from the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). November and December are typically the peak months for giving, the foundation said, with several high-profile campaigns such as Children In Need and the Poppy Appeal taking place towards the end of the year. YouGov research for the CAF found half […]