UK

The last Westminster parliament to run for a full five-year term ended in 2015. After that we had general elections every two years, in 2017 and 2019, followed by the election now expected by January 2025 at the latest, when this full term will expire. Not that there has been political stability since 2019. Rather

Nish Kumar says young women have been advised to steer clear of dressing rooms used by ‘predators’ still working on the comedy scene. The comedian also said the knowledge of Russell Brand‘s alleged abuse against young women was “a well-known open secret on the comedy circuit” and he thinks it’s likely “there’s more allegations to

An eight-year-old girl has become the first person in the UK to have a transplant – and not need to take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of her life. Aditi Shankar, who has a rare genetic condition, has received both a new kidney and bone marrow from her mother, Divya. Because she had a stem

It is arguably the most exciting non-event in recent economic history. For 14 successive monetary policy meetings, the Bank of England raised its official interest rate – all the way from 0.1% up to 5.25%. Today, for the first time since late 2021, it voted to leave borrowing costs unchanged. Reaction to BoE’s decision –

Rishi Sunak has confirmed he will be easing a series of green policies under a “new approach” designed to protect “hard-pressed British families” from “unacceptable costs”. Delivering a speech from Downing Street, he said he is still committed to reaching net zero by 2020, but the transition can be done in a “fairer and better

Three out of every four rape and sexual assault victims say their mental health was harmed during the police investigation, according to new research. In a significant survey of victims, 75% said they were negatively impacted by what police did or didn’t do in their case. The survey was based on 2,000 rape and sexual

Rishi Sunak looks set to weaken key climate pledges in a move that has drawn heavy criticism from Tory MPs and environmental groups. The prime minister said he remains committed to the net zero target by 2050 but will achieve it “in a better, more proportionate way”. It comes after a report in the BBC

Sara Sharif’s father will face trial for her murder next year after a court heard the 10-year-old suffered a “constellation” of injuries culminating in her death. Urfan Sharif allegedly fled the UK to Pakistan with Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool and his brother Faisal Malik the day before her body was found in Woking, Surrey, on

It will take at least two years – possibly more – to rid the Metropolitan Police of corrupt officers – with some of those facing criminal charges not set to go to trial before 2025, the force has said. Over the same period it is planning to hold 60 hearings a month relating to misconduct

The Met Police has said it has received an allegation of sexual assault against Russell Brand dating back to 2003. It comes after four women made sexual abuse allegations against the comedian between 2006 and 2013 as part of an investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches. Since publication, The Times

The Metropolitan Police has responded to allegations against Russell Brand, saying it encourages victims of sexual assault to contact the force. Four women have accused Brand of sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013 while the comedian was at the height of his fame, in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches.

Russell Brand has appeared live on stage in London hours after being publicly accused of rape and sexual assault. The comedian performed a show at the Troubabour Wembley Park theatre, which began just after 8pm on Saturday – roughly an hour after its scheduled start time, the PA news agency reported. A video of him

Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse in a Sunday Times and Dispatches investigation – allegations he denies. Four women have made allegations of sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013 while he was at the height of his fame, according to the newspaper. The Sunday Times reports

A 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Manchester has been named by police. Nathaniel Shani was fatally stabbed in Tavistock Square, Harpurhey, shortly after 6pm on Friday. Image: Nathaniel Shani, 14, died after being stabbed. Pic: GMP Two boys – aged 13 and 14 – have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Paying

Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland, is being poisoned to death by a toxic blue-green algae on an apocalyptic scale. It is killing fish, birds and dogs and there are serious concerns about public health because the lough provides 40% of Northern Ireland‘s drinking water. Peter Harper, shoreline environment officer

American XL bully dogs are a danger to communities and will banned, Rishi Sunak has said, after a man was mauled to death. Announcing the move, the prime minister stressed the need to end such violent attacks “and keep people safe”. Mr Sunak was responding to the latest incident in which a man died after

Three people have been charged with the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif. Surrey Police said the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges against Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner, Beinash Batool, 29, and Mr Sharif’s brother, Faisal Malik, 28, all of Hammond Road, Woking. They have also been charged with causing or allowing the death

Emails “threatening violence to children and staff” have been received by a number of schools in Leeds. West Yorkshire Police has launched an investigation – with officers “providing reassurance and safety advice to affected schools”. In messages to parents, one primary headteacher said police had been treating the threat as “credible” – and children were

Sara Sharif’s father, stepmother and uncle have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of the 10-year-old girl. In a statement, Surrey Police detective superintendent Mark Chapman said: “Two men, aged 41 years and 28 years, and a woman, aged 29 years, were arrested on suspicion of murder after disembarking a

Three adults who British police want to speak to in connection with the death of Sara Sharif are returning to the UK from Pakistan. Her father Urfan Sharif, stepmother Beinash Batool and uncle Faisal Malik were the subject of an international manhunt. Sara, who was 10 years old, was found dead in her home in