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  • NEWS STORY : Liberal Democrat MP Cameron Thomas Arrested and Suspended From Party

    NEWS STORY : Liberal Democrat MP Cameron Thomas Arrested and Suspended From Party

    STORY

    Liberal Democrat MP Cameron Thomas has been arrested on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour and assault. Gloucestershire Police said a man in his 40s from Tewkesbury was arrested on Wednesday 17 June, interviewed by officers and later released on police bail while enquiries continue.

    Thomas, who represents Tewkesbury, has had the Liberal Democrat whip suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation. His party membership has also been suspended. A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said the party was unable to comment further while the police investigation was ongoing.

    Thomas was elected to Parliament at the 2024 general election, winning Tewkesbury from the Conservatives. Before entering Parliament, he served in the Royal Air Force and worked as a military police officer. He sits on the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

  • RMT Union – 2026 Comments on the Bedford Rail Crash

    RMT Union – 2026 Comments on the Bedford Rail Crash

    The comments made by RMT union on 19 June 2026.

    We are deeply concerned by reports of a train collision between Bedford and Luton and the serious injuries sustained by on-board train staff and passengers.

    The thoughts of the whole union are with those affected and we continue to monitor the situation.

  • Heidi Alexander – 2026 Statement on Bedford Rail Crash

    Heidi Alexander – 2026 Statement on Bedford Rail Crash

    The statement made by Heidi Alexander, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 19 June 2026.

    I’m deeply concerned to hear reports of the collision involving 2 East Midlands Railway passenger trains.

    I’m grateful to emergency services who are on the scene, attending to those affected.

    We’re working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to support passengers.

  • NEWS STORY : Injuries Reported After Two Trains Collide Near Bedford

    NEWS STORY : Injuries Reported After Two Trains Collide Near Bedford

    STORY

    Emergency services have been called to a collision involving two trains near Bedford, with injuries reported and major disruption on the Midland Main Line. British Transport Police, Bedfordshire Police and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were responding to the incident, while passengers were told to avoid the area.

    The crash led to all lines being blocked between Luton and Bedford, with Thameslink suspending services on that section and East Midlands Railway saying trains could not run between London St Pancras and Leicester while emergency services dealt with the incident. The Times reported that Bedford Hospital had been preparing for a significant number of casualties, while emergency services including air ambulances were sent to the scene.

    Footage posted online appeared to show a damaged Luton Airport Express train and passengers standing beside the tracks, although the cause of the collision has not yet been confirmed. The incident happened during the evening peak and rail operators advised passengers to delay travel or check before starting their journeys while the emergency response continued.

  • NEWS STORY : Burnham Victory Increases Pressure on Starmer Over Labour Leadership

    NEWS STORY : Burnham Victory Increases Pressure on Starmer Over Labour Leadership

    STORY

    Andy Burnham’s victory in Makerfield has intensified pressure on Keir Starmer, with Labour MPs and former ministers expected to consider whether to force a leadership contest. Around a quarter of Labour MPs had already called for Starmer to resign after the party’s recent local election losses.

    Under Labour rules, a challenger would need support from 20% of Labour MPs in the House of Commons to trigger a contest. This would currently mean 81 MPs backing a single candidate, including the challenger, before members could vote in any leadership election.

    Burnham has said that he would stand in any Labour leadership contest. Starmer has said he would contest any challenge and warned his party against creating political instability, but the scale of Burnham’s win has strengthened the position of those calling for a managed transition.

  • NEWS STORY : Burnham Wins Makerfield By-Election in Major Boost to Leadership Ambitions [June 2026]

    NEWS STORY : Burnham Wins Makerfield By-Election in Major Boost to Leadership Ambitions [June 2026]

    STORY

    Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield by-election for Labour, clearing the immediate parliamentary obstacle to a possible challenge against Keir Starmer. Burnham secured 54.8% of the vote, with Reform UK in second place on 34.5%.

    The contest had been watched closely because Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, needed a seat in the House of Commons before he could realistically seek to replace Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister. His victory returns him to Westminster after nearly a decade away from Parliament.

    Burnham said in his victory speech that the result could be a turning point for British politics and told Labour that it had a final chance to change direction. Starmer congratulated him, saying voters had chosen Labour’s campaign over division and hate.

  • NEWS STORY : Three Year Old Seriously Injured After Incident at Crocodile Enclosure

    NEWS STORY : Three Year Old Seriously Injured After Incident at Crocodile Enclosure

    STORY

    A three-year-old boy has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after an incident at a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons Zoo near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. Cambridgeshire Police said officers were called at 1.24pm on Thursday following reports of a child in the enclosure, with the boy later taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

    Police said the child was in a critical but stable condition and that a 30-year-old man from Norfolk had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Detective Inspector Verity McCann said officers were speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time to understand more about the circumstances. Police said they did not believe the man arrested and the child were known to each other.

    The zoo, based at Johnsons of Old Hurst, describes itself as being home to more than 100 animals, including lions, Bengal tigers and crocodiles. Police said officers were supporting the boy’s family at hospital and asked witnesses to assist the investigation. Local MP Ben Obese-Jecty said the incident was being treated as a critical incident and urged people not to speculate while the criminal investigation continued.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Changes made to The Crown Estate Board [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Changes made to The Crown Estate Board [June 2026]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 18 June 2026.

    Dan Labbad has been reappointed as Chief Executive and Second Commissioner of The Crown Estate. Anne Kavanagh and Clare Shine have also been reappointed as Board Members of The Crown Estate Board.

    On the recommendation of the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Dan Labbad has been reappointed as Chief Executive and Second Commissioner of The Crown Estate, to serve a third four-year term from 1 January 2028. Anne Kavanagh and Clare Shine have also been reappointed as Board Members of The Crown Estate Board for second terms of four years.

    Dan has served as CEO of The Crown Estate since 2019. Prior to The Crown Estate, Dan held a number of senior positions at the global property and infrastructure group Lendlease, including Group Chief Operating Officer and the dual roles of Chief Executive Officer, International Operations and Chief Executive Officer, Europe. Dan has actively championed sustainability and technology throughout his professional life, having previously served as a director of the Green Building Council of Australia and as Chairman of the UK Green Building Council.

    In addition to her existing responsibilities on the Board, Anne will take on additional responsibilities as Commissioner with special responsibility for England, to ensure the Board’s decisions reflect the conditions, priorities and opportunities in England.

    This follows the passage of the Crown Estate Act 2025, which provides for the appointment of Commissioners who, either solely or alongside their wider Board responsibilities, can support the Board’s understanding of English, Welsh and Northern Irish interests. This helps to ensure The Crown Estate’s strategic objectives are aligned with the conditions in each nation. Linked to this, the Crown Estate Act 2025 also increased the maximum number of Commissioners from eight to twelve in line with modern corporate governance standards.

    On 19 May 2026, Michael Plaut OBE was announced as being appointed to The Crown Estate Board to serve a four-year term from 1 July 2026 as Commissioner with special responsibility for Wales. A further announcement on a Commissioner with special responsibility for Northern Ireland will be made in due course.

    This non-executive appointment process was carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. All appointments have been approved by His Majesty The King, following recommendation by the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

    All appointments are made on merit, and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in line with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity to be made public. Dan, Anne, and Clare confirmed that they have not engage in any political activity in the last five years.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Freedom of Expression [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Freedom of Expression [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 June 2026.

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Freedom of Expression. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

    Thank you, Mr Vice President,

    We thank the Special Rapporteur for her important work and today’s report. We commend her dedication throughout her mandate during which she has been a principled and authoritative voice for the protection of freedom of expression worldwide. We express our deep appreciation for her leadership, independence, and consistent defence of journalists, human rights defenders, and open civic space.

    We remain committed to the right to freedom of opinion and expression, online and offline including through our role as co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition. This right is foundational to democratic societies, accountability and the protection of all other human rights.

    Digital platforms and large technology companies play an increasingly significant role in shaping public debate. Their decisions have profound implications for access to information, media pluralism, and the safety of users.  We therefore support efforts to promote greater transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights in the design and governance of digital platforms.

    We will continue to engage on this important matter, working with partners to ensure that digital technologies strengthen, rather than restrict, freedom of expression.

    Special Rapporteur, what practical steps can states take to ensure technology companies respect freedom of expression while avoiding over-regulation or unintended restrictions on legitimate speech?

    Thank you

  • PRESS RELEASE : Culture Secretary marks Jewish Cultural Month with £1 million boost for The Jewish Museum London [June 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Culture Secretary marks Jewish Cultural Month with £1 million boost for The Jewish Museum London [June 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 17 June 2026.

    The Government has announced up to £1 million is to be awarded to The Jewish Museum London, supporting its vital outreach and engagement programmes with schools and communities, and accelerating its search for a new permanent home.

    The announcement was made by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy during a visit to the launch of ‘Two Rooms’ a new interim space for the Jewish Museum London, while it searches for its permanent home. The space is located at JW3 in North London. The visit marked the opening of two new exhibitions celebrating the richness of the museum’s collections and the long history of Jewish families in Britain.

    The Jewish Museum London closed its Camden site in 2023 and has since continued its work as a “museum without walls”, delivering exhibitions, learning programmes and community engagement activities across the capital. The funding will support the museum’s ongoing audience development and outreach work, while also helping it develop its plans for a new permanent home in the future.

    The news comes as the UK’s first Jewish Cultural Month comes to a close. It also follows the Prime Minister’s recent announcement of a comprehensive package of measures to tackle antisemitism. As part of this work, Arts Council England is engaging proactively with Jewish colleagues, creatives and the wider sector, to inform the actions they will take to challenge antisemitism and anti-Jewish racism. The government is also working with the Arts Council on an independent audit to ensure their processes are robust and effective in addressing complaints about antisemitism.

    Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy said:

    Jewish culture, history and heritage are woven into the fabric of this country, and of our national story. The Jewish Museum London and the Manchester Jewish Museum do extraordinary work keeping these stories alive and opening them up to everyone, and they deserve our full support.

    Today’s investment is about bringing communities together, helping us to understand one another and sending a clear message that in the face of hatred and division, we will always choose unity.

    Nick Viner, Chair of Trustees of Jewish Museum London said:

    I would like to thank the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy. The DCMS support will be invaluable in helping us over the next period as we become more outward facing, expanding our education outreach and increasing our collection loans across the country. It will also help us in our search for a new permanent home, enabling us to create a welcoming space where we can share our stories with the public and create new dialogues. We are very grateful for this strong expression of confidence in our future plans. 

    We value the fact that Government realises the importance of the Jewish Museum’s programme at this time of mounting antisemitism and shares our belief that the British Jewish community is an integral part of the story of immigration and cultural identity in Britain, not a world apart.

    The Jewish Museum London plays a critical role in preserving and sharing Jewish history, heritage and culture with people from all backgrounds. Home to a nationally significant collection, it cares for objects and stories that help deepen understanding of Jewish life in Britain over centuries. This investment will help protect that collection for future generations, while enabling more people across the UK to engage with and benefit from it.

    The funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be distributed through Arts Council England.

    In addition, the government intends to provide Manchester Jewish Museum with a £100,000 investment to support the museum’s vital community work. This funding aims to ease the burden of increased security costs, helping to protect the vibrant events, exhibitions and community activities that make it such a vital part of the city’s cultural life.

    The investment will also fund a new schools outreach pilot that brings children from different backgrounds together to explore Jewish heritage, history and culture. DCMS is developing this as a cultural extension to the Department for Education’s Protecting What Matters commitment to fund community-led school linking projects. The aim is to create safe, welcoming spaces where young people can meet, learn together and build connections that last.

    Beyond this immediate support, the Government is working with communities and stakeholders to ensure that our Jewish cultural institutions have the long-term support they need to remain secure and sustainable. Jewish cultural institutions play an irreplaceable role in our shared national story, and we want to make sure they can continue to thrive by keeping them open, accessible and enriching for everyone.