Category: News Story

STORY

The Metropolitan Police has submitted its completed Grenfell Tower investigation files to the Crown Prosecution Service for charging decisions. The files relate to 54 individuals and 20 companies or organisations investigated following the fire, which killed 72 people in June 2017.

Police have asked prosecutors to consider potential offences including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, breaches of health and safety legislation, fraud and misconduct in public office. Submission of the files does not mean that charges will necessarily follow, and the CPS will independently assess whether the evidence meets the legal tests required for prosecution.

The investigation examined the involvement of more than 15,000 people and 700 organisations, producing approximately 165 million electronic files, 14,700 witness statements and more than 27,000 exhibits. The CPS has said it expects to make its charging decisions before the tenth anniversary of the fire in June 2027.

STORY

The British Chambers of Commerce has welcomed elements of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Labour Party conference speech, including his indication that the Government would avoid adding to business costs. Director General Shevaun Haviland said the forthcoming Budget would be the main test of whether the Government could reduce costs, encourage investment and support economic growth.

The BCC supported Burnham’s commitment to reducing welfare expenditure and welcomed a wider debate about the future of the state pension triple lock. It also backed his focus on artificial intelligence but called for a stronger strategy to help businesses adopt the technology. However, the organisation warned against making greater public control the default response to problems involving utilities and infrastructure.

The business group welcomed Burnham’s approach to rebuilding relations with the European Union and called for a long term plan to make trade easier, cheaper and faster. It also supported efforts to accelerate electricity grid connections and reduce energy costs, although it requested further details about how Great British Grid would operate. The BCC said most businesses would have to wait for wider market reforms before seeing reductions in their energy bills.

STORY

Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists have called for a fresh investigation into the murder of Sunday World reporter Martin O’Hagan. The appeal was issued on the 25th anniversary of his death, with no one having been held criminally responsible for the killing.

O’Hagan was shot dead near his home in Lurgan, County Armagh, on 28 September 2001 in an attack attributed to loyalist paramilitaries. In 2013, the Director of Public Prosecutions asked the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland to investigate the handling of the case by police. The Ombudsman has told Amnesty International that it remains unable to provide a timeframe for publishing its findings.

The organisations are seeking publication of the Ombudsman’s report alongside a new independent investigation intended to identify evidence capable of supporting prosecutions. They argued that the absence of accountability had contributed to an environment in which journalists investigating paramilitary activity continued to face threats and intimidation in Northern Ireland.

STORY

The average parish and town council tax charge for a Band D property in England has doubled since 2013, according to research published by the Adam Smith Institute. The think tank found that the average parish precept increased by 8.2 per cent in 2026, which it described as the second largest annual increase on record.

The research found substantial differences between individual councils. The Band D precept in Radcliffe on Trent increased by 179 per cent to £312, while the charge in Alford rose by 64 per cent to £353.68. The Institute also reported that the parish tax charged in Preston Brook had increased sixfold since 2022. Unlike larger local authorities, parish and town councils are not subject to a statutory limit on annual precept increases.

The Adam Smith Institute has recommended introducing limits on increases, strengthening value for money checks and grouping some smaller parish councils to share administrative costs. Its research used Government precept data, responses to 300 Freedom of Information requests and an examination of accounts from 80 parish councils. The report acknowledged that its smaller sample of council spending should be regarded as illustrative rather than representative.

STORY

A Flydubai passenger flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv has made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after transmitting an alert indicating possible unlawful interference. Flight FZ1073 landed safely at Tabuk Airport and all passengers were reported to be safe.

Flight tracking information showed that the Boeing 737 initially transmitted a general emergency signal before activating the code associated with a possible hijacking. The aircraft descended rapidly by approximately 14,000 feet before changing course towards Saudi Arabia. The incident prompted Israel to scramble military aircraft and hold emergency security consultations.

An Israeli official said the alert followed an altercation involving the pilots, although the precise circumstances remain under investigation. Flydubai confirmed that an incident had taken place but did not provide further details. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office subsequently said it did not believe the aircraft had been hijacked and that arrangements were being made to return the passengers safely to Israel.

STORY

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said that rejoining the European Union should be considered as one of several options for the UK’s long term relationship with the bloc. His comments followed his Labour Party conference speech, during which he said Brexit had caused more harm than good.

Burnham told the BBC that the Government could retain the current arrangements, pursue a customs union, seek membership of the European single market or consider full EU membership. He said ministers would examine what was achievable and assess the advantages and disadvantages of each option before reaching any conclusions.

The Prime Minister said he intended to present the choices facing the country around the time of the UK and EU summit in November. No timetable or formal process for rejoining has been announced. Considering membership would represent a significant departure from Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which ruled out returning to the European Union, the single market or a customs union.

STORY

The Government has announced £79 million for tree planting and locally led environmental projects across England. The funding is intended to help communities restore natural habitats and prepare for climate risks including flooding and extreme heat.

A £53 million Community Trees Fund will support the planting of up to 500,000 trees between April 2027 and March 2030. The trees will be planted outside established woodlands, including in streets, parks and rural areas, with local authorities, strategic authorities, environmental organisations, farm clusters and national park authorities eligible to participate.

A further £26 million will support Local Nature Recovery Strategies being delivered by 48 responsible authorities. These plans identify local environmental priorities including wetland restoration, improving rivers and using vegetation to reduce the effects of flooding and heatwaves. Further details about applications to the trees fund will be announced later.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has used his first Labour Party conference speech as leader to set out proposals covering social care, pensions, electoral reform, public utilities and the UK’s relationship with the European Union. Speaking in Liverpool, Burnham called for a break with “politics as usual” and said Brexit had caused more harm than benefit to the country.

Burnham confirmed that the state pension triple lock would remain in place during the current Parliament. However, a Labour Government elected for a further term would replace it from April 2030 with a guarantee based on inflation or 2.5 per cent, while continuing to protect the value of the pension in relation to average earnings. He said the resulting savings would help fund a National Care Service providing support free at the point of use.

The Prime Minister also announced a national commission on electoral reform, with a commitment to include a change to the voting system in Labour’s next manifesto. He said the Government would examine options for a new long term relationship with the European Union, alongside forthcoming legislation on leasehold reform and the water industry. Burnham also announced plans for GB Grid to compete with privately owned electricity network companies and proposed an international code governing artificial intelligence.

STORY

Chancellor John Healey has announced a package intended to create or support 130,000 jobs by 2030, expand local apprenticeship services and restore the Union Learning Fund. The Government said the measures would connect more young people with employers and help workers develop new skills.

The National Wealth Fund will support employment across sectors including artificial intelligence, defence and clean energy. A further £100 million over two years will extend apprenticeship brokerage services to all 14 existing Mayoral Strategic Authorities with directly elected mayors from spring 2027.

The Government will also provide £15 million annually to restore the Union Learning Fund in England, with access available to employees regardless of union membership. Rolls-Royce separately announced £300 million of investment in engineering and manufacturing facilities in Derby, Bristol, Inchinnan and Rotherham.

STORY

The UK has told the United Nations Security Council that it intends to legislate to prohibit imports from illegal Israeli settlements and introduce sanctions against people and organisations which finance, support or facilitate settlement activity. Ambassador Kate Foster, the UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said that the measures were being developed with international partners to protect the viability of a two state solution.

Foster criticised the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and called for the proposed E1 development not to proceed, arguing that it would separate East Jerusalem from the West Bank. She also called on the Israeli Government to prevent settler violence and ensure that those responsible were held accountable. The UK urged Israel to release clearance revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority, provide sustainable banking arrangements and ease restrictions affecting movement, trade and employment.

Turning to Gaza, Foster said that the UK remained committed to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the 20 Point Peace Plan. She called for Hamas to surrender its weapons, dismantle its infrastructure and relinquish control of Gaza. The UK has pledged $117 million in humanitarian and early recovery assistance during 2026, while calling on Israel to remove restrictions on humanitarian aid, end the killing in Gaza and withdraw.