Category: News Story

STORY

Vandemoortele will be required to sell its pastry manufacturing plant in Worcester and its UK sales operations in Staines-upon-Thames after the Competition and Markets Authority concluded that its acquisition of Délifrance would substantially reduce competition in the UK. Both companies supply frozen viennoiserie products, including croissants and pains au chocolat, to supermarkets and foodservice businesses.

The CMA found that the acquisition would make Vandemoortele the largest UK supplier of frozen viennoiserie products, potentially resulting in higher prices or lower quality for businesses and consumers. Vandemoortele conceded during the investigation that the merger raised competition concerns, allowing the regulator to consider remedies at an earlier stage and complete its investigation almost seven weeks ahead of the statutory deadline.

The Worcester plant and Staines sales operation must now be transferred to a suitable purchaser. The sale package will include the assets, staff, customer relationships, contracts and other rights required for the business to continue operating independently. Vandemoortele will remain active in the UK, while the CMA will monitor implementation of the sale.

STORY

Regional mayors across England are set to receive new powers allowing them to intervene in major local planning decisions and overrule councils as part of the Government’s drive to increase housebuilding. Under proposals announced on Sunday, mayors will be able to “call in” significant applications and direct councils to approve or refuse them, bringing their powers closer to those already available to the Mayor of London.

The new arrangements would apply to developments involving more than 150 homes, commercial schemes covering more than 15,000 square metres and buildings at least 30 metres tall. Mayors would also be able to grant permission in advance for development in designated areas. Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the additional powers were an essential part of the tools mayors needed to deliver new homes and regeneration, while a public consultation on the proposals is expected to begin next week.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has argued that intervention may sometimes be necessary where local decision making prevents major development, although he has stressed that the powers could also be used to stop inappropriate schemes. The Conservatives have questioned whether councils should lose control over decisions affecting their communities, while the Liberal Democrats said the proposals risked weakening the voice of local residents. The changes form part of the Government’s wider devolution and housing programme and its commitment to build 1.5 million homes during the current Parliament.

STORY

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he wants the men’s football World Cup to return to the United Kingdom in 2042. Burnham raised the idea during informal discussions with regional mayors in Manchester, saying he wanted the tournament to be staged in the British Isles almost eight decades after England last hosted it in 1966.

No formal bid has yet been launched, although Downing Street is understood to be supportive if the Football Association decides to pursue one. A future bid could involve England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while the four home nations are already due to stage Euro 2028 jointly with the Republic of Ireland. England’s previous attempt to host the 2018 World Cup was unsuccessful.

FIFA rules mean a European country is not expected to be eligible to host the men’s tournament again until 2042. The 2030 competition will be centred on Spain, Portugal and Morocco and the 2034 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia. Burnham has also discussed the possibility of a multi-city Olympic and Paralympic bid for northern England in the 2040s, with UK Sport already examining whether such a bid could be viable.

STORY

MPs declared almost £400,000 of complimentary tickets, hospitality and other gifts between January and July 2026, prompting renewed criticism over the acceptance of freebies by politicians. The total does not include foreign trips and follows controversy in previous years over ministers and opposition politicians accepting tickets to sporting, cultural and entertainment events.

Recent declarations include £858 of Harry Styles tickets accepted by education secretary Lucy Powell from PRS for Music, £1,839 of Chelsea Flower Show hospitality accepted by defence secretary Wes Streeting from Lloyds Banking Group and £1,480 of Wimbledon men’s final tickets accepted by transport secretary Heidi Alexander. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also declared Wimbledon tickets worth £1,360, while shadow chancellor Mel Stride accepted Chelsea Flower Show hospitality worth £1,839.

The hospitality was declared under parliamentary transparency rules and acceptance of a declared benefit does not itself indicate that any rule has been broken. However, Spotlight on Corruption and Transparency International UK have questioned whether politicians should accept some invitations even when permitted, arguing that MPs should consider why businesses and organisations are offering hospitality and how its acceptance may be viewed by the public.

STORY

Russia has withdrawn its ambassador to the United Kingdom, with no replacement yet announced as relations between London and Moscow remain severely strained over the war in Ukraine. Andrey Kelin left Britain last month after seven years in the post and his name has now been removed from the diplomatic list published by the Russian embassy.

The embassy’s list of senior diplomatic staff currently names Vasily Tsyganov as chargé d’affaires. A Russian embassy spokesperson said no candidate had yet been put forward to replace Kelin and accused the UK Government of pursuing a confrontational approach towards Russia. Kelin joined the Soviet diplomatic service in 1979 and had served as ambassador in London since 2019.

The change comes amid renewed tension over British support for Ukraine. The Russian embassy warned of consequences last week after reports that attack drones made by British companies had been used by Ukrainian forces against targets inside Russia. UK defence sources indicated that reports concerning the British-made drones were accurate, while the Government has maintained its support for Ukraine.

STORY

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has ruled out an electoral deal or coalition with Reform UK and criticised former Conservatives who have defected to Nigel Farage’s party. Speaking at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Badenoch described some of those who had left the Conservatives for Reform as among the most dishonest people she had met and said she did not want what she called “drama queens” returning to the party.

Former Conservative parliamentarians who have moved to Reform include former home secretary Suella Braverman and former shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick. Badenoch said some defectors had left when the Conservatives were at a low point after having themselves contributed to the party’s problems. She also criticised Reform’s approach to policymaking and said the Conservatives would seek to win the next general election on their own terms.

Badenoch said she would not support a Conservative-Reform coalition even if the next election produced a hung parliament, arguing that another election would be preferable if no party could form a government. An Ipsos poll carried out between 30 July and 4 August put Labour on 28%, Reform UK on 25% and the Conservatives on 18%. The next general election must be held by August 2029, although it can be called earlier.

STORY

Ethel Caterham, recognised as the world’s oldest living person, is celebrating her 117th birthday at her care home in Surrey. Caterham was born in Hampshire on 21 August 1909 and became the world’s oldest person in May 2025 following the death of a 116 year old Brazilian nun.

Her 116th year included a visit from King Charles, who met her at Hallmark Lakeview Care Home last September. Caterham told the King that she remembered watching his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969 and joked that all the girls at the time had wanted to marry him. She said meeting the King had been one of the highlights of her year.

Caterham is the last surviving person who was a subject of Edward VII, who died in 1910. Six monarchs have occupied the British throne during her lifetime: Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI, Elizabeth II and Charles III. She is spending her birthday with friends and family at the care home.

STORY

Prince Harry and Meghan are planning to move back to Britain with their children for an extended period, six years after stepping away from royal duties and relocating to the United States. A person close to the couple told Reuters that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will attend school in Britain and the family will live outside London in a non royal residence.

The move has renewed questions over security arrangements for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Harry lost a legal challenge in 2025 over changes to his police protection after he ceased to be a working royal. Former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu told Sky News that state provided protection, if granted, could cost millions of pounds, while private security personnel in Britain cannot be armed.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the couple’s security was a private matter and wished them well with the move. Harry and Meghan will remain non working royals. Buckingham Palace and Harry’s spokesperson declined to comment on the move when approached by Reuters.

STORY

Travelodge chief executive Joanna Boydell has left the budget hotel chain following criticism of its handling of guest security incidents. Boydell departed after 13 years with the company and chief financial officer Ray Reidy has been appointed interim chief executive while Travelodge searches for a permanent replacement.

The company has faced scrutiny after two cases in which men were given access to rooms occupied by women. In one case, a guest at a Travelodge in Maidenhead was sexually assaulted in December 2022 by a man who had been given a key card to her room. Kyran Smith was jailed for seven and a half years in February. A second woman later said staff at a London hotel gave a key to a domestic abuser who then assaulted her.

Travelodge has introduced a new room access policy requiring explicit permission from the guest before an additional or replacement key can be issued. It has also commissioned an independent review led by barrister Paul Greaney KC, introduced additional training and carried out a deadbolt audit across its UK rooms. Reidy said the company would remain focused on the safety and wellbeing of guests.

STORY

The UK public finances recorded an unexpected £1.8 billion deficit in July, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected the public finances to be broadly balanced, while the Office for Budget Responsibility had forecast a £500 million surplus for the month.

The ONS said higher Government spending offset record self assessed income tax receipts. Central Government spending on social benefits was £2 billion higher than in July 2025, while spending on goods and services, including staff costs, increased by £1.2 billion. The deficit for June was revised down from £16 billion to £12.8 billion.

Public sector borrowing reached £56.7 billion during the first four months of the 2026 to 2027 financial year, compared with the £54.4 billion forecast by the OBR. Chancellor John Healey said the Government remained committed to its fiscal rules ahead of the Budget in October.