Category: News Story

STORY

Junaid Dar, a 34-year-old fitness company owner from Birmingham, has received a suspended sentence after dishonestly obtaining £45,500 in Covid Bounce Back Loans and misusing a significant portion for personal expenses, including trips to a safari park, restaurant meals and credit card payments. Dar, of Stratford Road, Birmingham, made fraudulent applications to three different banks for Bounce Back Loans in 2020 for his company, JDARPT Ltd. Businesses were only entitled to one such loan, designed to provide vital financial support during the pandemic. Dar, however, submitted three applications, falsely inflating his company’s turnover in each instance. His first application in May 2020 was for £13,000, claiming a turnover of £55,000. Just two days later, he applied for £15,000, stating a turnover of £60,000. A third application in September 2020 secured £17,500, with a claimed turnover of £70,000. Insolvency Service analysis later revealed the company’s actual turnover was closer to £61,000.

While some of the funds were used for legitimate business purposes, investigators from the Insolvency Service uncovered numerous transactions for personal use. These included payments to online retailers like Amazon and Argos, spending at restaurants and meat stores, and even payments to West Midlands Safari Park. A portion of the money was also used to pay off personal credit card debt. At Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday, 10 July, Dar was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity, 180 hours of unpaid work, and pay costs of £2,400.

David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, condemned Dar’s actions, stating, “Junaid Dar deliberately made false representations to fraudulently receive three Bounce Back Loans when businesses were only entitled to one. Instead of using this money to support his fitness business through the pandemic as intended, he diverted significant sums for personal spending.” Mr Snasdell reiterated the Insolvency Service’s commitment to pursuing fraudsters who exploited schemes designed to help legitimate businesses during a national crisis. JDARPT Ltd, incorporated in March 2017 with Dar as its sole director, went into liquidation in July 2021. Dar has also been disqualified as a company director for 11 years, commencing in April 2022, due to his misconduct.

STORY

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has announced the appointment of Ms Alexandra Cole as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia. Ms Cole will succeed Mr John Gallagher, who is set to transfer to another Diplomatic Service appointment. She is expected to take up her new role in September 2025.

Ms Cole brings a wealth of diplomatic experience to the position. Her extensive career includes serving as Deputy Head of Mission in Doha from 2020 to 2023, and in Tbilisi from 2018 to 2020. Prior to these postings, she held the role of Counsellor for Specialised Agencies at the UK Mission to the UN in Geneva from 2013 to 2018. Her background also includes roles in contingency planning, policy, and consular affairs across various regions, including the Middle East and North Africa, Cairo, Islamabad, and Sarajevo.

This appointment marks a new chapter in the diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Armenia, with Ms Cole poised to lead the British Embassy in Yerevan and further strengthen bilateral ties.

STORY

Three Labour Members of Parliament, Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, and Neil Duncan-Jordan, have today been suspended from the party for what are understood to be “persistent breaches of party discipline.” The move, enacted by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, signifies a clear effort to reassert authority within the party following a series of backbench rebellions. The trio, all of whom were first elected in last year’s general election, reportedly lost the whip after voting against the Government’s planned welfare reforms earlier this month. This rebellion marked the largest backbench dissent Starmer has faced since becoming Prime Minister. The suspensions mean the MPs will now sit as independents in Parliament, no longer representing the Labour Party.

Brian Leishman, who represents Alloa and Grangemouth, confirmed his temporary suspension, stating he remains a “proud Labour member” and is “committed to the party.” He added that his votes against the Government were an effort to “effectively represent and be the voice for communities,” and that he firmly believes it is not his duty “to make people poorer, especially those that have suffered because of austerity and its dire consequences.”

The disciplinary action comes as MPs prepare for the summer recess next week and follows speculation that some Labour MPs might have been in discussions to join a new political party. While the exact number of MPs affected was initially unconfirmed, sources close to the party have indicated that these suspensions are a direct consequence of repeated deviations from the party line. This decisive action by Sir Keir Starmer underscores his determination to maintain party unity and control, particularly on key policy matters. The suspensions are expected to send a strong message to other Labour MPs regarding adherence to party discipline as the government navigates its legislative agenda.

STORY

Jacob Corrie, 31, from Carlisle, will now spend ten years and four months in prison after the Court of Appeal ruled his original sentence was too lenient. Corrie abused two teenagers over several years, targeting a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, grooming them online and coercing them into sending explicit images.

He first contacted the boy through social media in 2013 and repeatedly abused him between 2013 and 2015, sending sexually explicit messages throughout. In the same year, he also abused a 15-year-old girl, threatening her into silence and later demanding further sexual images, claiming he would share compromising photos if she refused. In 2020, he was separately convicted for sending further threatening messages to the same girl in an attempt to obtain more photos.

Corrie denied the allegations but later pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual activity with a child, eight counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sexual communication with a child. Victim impact statements described how his abuse left lasting psychological harm, including trauma, anxiety and depression. In April, Carlisle Crown Court sentenced him to six years and four months. The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC, referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, arguing it failed to reflect the seriousness of his crimes. Judges agreed and increased the sentence by four years.

Lucy Rigby KC said: “Jacob Corrie’s crimes were appalling. I commend Cumbria Police for their thorough investigation and welcome the decision to increase his sentence.”

STORY

The UK Government has today launched a comprehensive review into the future of the Post Office, inviting postmasters and customers to help shape its direction for the next decade. This marks the first such in-depth examination in 15 years and comes in the wake of significant challenges, including the Horizon IT scandal and evolving consumer behaviours. The “Post Office Green Paper,” published on 14 July 2025, aims to usher in a “decade of renewal” for the vital national institution. It seeks to transform the organisation’s culture and ensure its continued relevance in a rapidly changing world. Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas emphasised the need for a fresh vision, stating, “This Green Paper marks the start of an honest conversation about what people want and need from their Post Office in the years ahead.”

A 12-week public consultation, open until 6 October 2025, will gather views on several key areas. These include how Post Office services should adapt to meet changing consumer needs, ways to strengthen the relationship between the Post Office and its postmasters, and options for modernising the network while ensuring services remain locally accessible. The consultation will also explore how the Post Office can improve and develop its banking services. The review acknowledges the Post Office’s enduring importance, with research published alongside the Green Paper highlighting its social value of approximately £5.2 billion per year to households and £1.3 billion annually to small and medium-sized businesses. Despite a decline in traditional postal services and a rise in online transactions, the Post Office has seen growth in areas such as bank deposits and parcel drop-offs.

To support this transformation, Ministers have announced a proposed new subsidy package of up to £118 million. This funding will support the Post Office’s Transformation Plan and further investment in the network, protecting key services like access to cash and government services, and helping to deliver cost-saving measures. Neil Brocklehurst, Post Office Chief Executive, described this as a “once-in-a-decade opportunity” for a national conversation about the role of post offices in communities across the UK. The Post Office will also be launching a survey in partnership with the National Federation of SubPostmasters, the Voice of the Postmaster, and the Communication Workers Union to gather further input. The government is also considering changes to the Post Office’s ownership structure, including the possibility of a mutual model that could hand ownership to its thousands of subpostmasters. This comprehensive review aims to rebuild trust, embed a culture of transparency and accountability, and ensure the Post Office remains at the heart of communities for generations to come.

STORY

European foreign ministers have issued a stark warning to Georgia over what they describe as a deliberate and dangerous slide towards authoritarianism. In a strongly worded joint statement, ministers including the UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the recent detention of opposition leaders, journalists and activists as politically motivated and incompatible with democratic principles.

The statement, issued on 11 July, said the arrests, which occurred shortly before local elections, appeared to be timed to undermine political competition and silence dissent. Ministers expressed alarm at Georgia’s adoption of repressive laws, including those targeting civil society and independent media, which they claim represent a serious breach of European values. The coordinated crackdown on peaceful protesters and critics of the government was described as deeply troubling and a sign that Georgia’s ruling authorities are turning their back on democratic norms.

In response to these developments, the foreign ministers announced a recalibration of relations with Georgia. This includes reductions in assistance and cooperation, with further measures such as sanctions not ruled out. The statement emphasised that should the Georgian government continue to erode democratic space and disregard fundamental freedoms, further actions would be considered both individually and collectively by the signatory nations. Despite the severity of the criticism, the ministers noted that it is not too late for Georgia to change course. They called for the immediate release of those detained for political reasons, the repeal of repressive legislation, and a return to genuine democratic dialogue that includes all political stakeholders.

STORY

The Charity Commission has issued a formal warning to the Al-Manar Centre Trust in Cardiff after finding the trustees had shared a video that could be interpreted as supporting Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation. The regulator described the charity’s conduct as “reckless, grossly mismanaged and falling far below the standards expected of those entrusted with public confidence and charitable funds” and the trustees of the charity have agreed in the future not to promote terror, violence or hate speech.

The offending video was posted to the mosque’s Facebook page in November 2023 and remained online for nearly three days. It contained content that appeared to glorify or justify the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. The Charity Commission reported that the trustee responsible admitted he hadn’t even watched the full video before sharing it, relying solely on the audio and a flowchart to decide if the content aligned with the charity’s aims. The Commission dismissed this as a dereliction of duty and noted that even the audio should have raised red flags.

This wasn’t the charity’s first brush with extremism-related concerns. It had been warned by the Commission as far back as 2014 to strengthen its safeguards against such risks, but despite this, the trustees still lacked even basic social media controls, leading the Commission to issue a statutory order requiring them to remove all potentially harmful content and implement proper oversight procedures. The Commission’s head of compliance, Joshua Farbridge, said the trustees had shown an “alarming lack of care” and stressed there was “no excuse” for their failure. He warned that charities can lose public trust in an instant through careless online behaviour, particularly when it involves material that could be construed as supporting terrorism. The Al-Manar Centre has since complied with the regulator’s demands, revising its governance procedures and removing the problematic content.

STORY

Unite the Union, one of the UK’s largest and most influential trade unions, has dramatically suspended the membership of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. The decision, taken today at the union’s policy conference in Brighton, stems from her perceived failure to intervene effectively in the ongoing Birmingham bin strike and her backing of the Labour-run city council. The move comes as Unite grapples with its own internal challenges, including a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) probe into a controversial hotel complex in Birmingham, which has links to allegations of financial wrongdoing in Liverpool.

The emergency motion, overwhelmingly passed by 800 delegates, condemned Birmingham City Council and the Labour government for their handling of the bin workers’ dispute, which centres on “fire and rehire” tactics and potential pay cuts of up to £8,000 for some staff. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham stated that Ms Rayner “has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute but has instead backed a rogue council that has peddled lies and smeared its workers fighting huge pay cuts.” Birmingham council leader John Cotton and other Labour councillors have also had their Unite memberships suspended, facing an investigation with a view to expulsion for “bringing the union into disrepute.”

This unprecedented suspension of a high-profile Labour figure by its largest affiliated union signals a deepening rift between Unite and the Labour Party. Delegates also voted to “re-examine its relationship” with Labour, a move that could jeopardise significant financial backing for the party and trigger a funding crisis for Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

The controversy surrounding Ms Rayner’s membership adds to a challenging period for Unite. The union has been crisis hit by allegations of financial impropriety linked to a £112 million hotel and conference complex in Birmingham. This project, developed by a Liverpool builder, is now the subject of an SFO investigation. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham commissioned a QC-led inquiry into the spiralling costs of the hotel, which was independently valued at just £29 million. The union has stated that these inquiries have revealed “serious financial wrongdoing” during the previous leadership’s tenure, with some allegations connecting to broader fraud investigations in Liverpool involving a former mayor and a construction tycoon. Unite’s leadership under Sharon Graham has pledged to “leave no stone unturned” in uncovering any wrongdoing and has initiated legal claims to recover lost funds, but there are fears that the decision today were made to distract from the union’s crisis.

STORY

In a significant blow to the Conservative Party, former Cabinet Minister Jake Berry MP has today announced his defection to Reform UK. The move, revealed in a statement this morning, sees the prominent figure, who previously served as Minister without Portfolio and Chairman of the Conservative Party, cross the political floor, citing profound disillusionment with the direction of the opposition. Mr Berry, a long-standing Member of Parliament for Rossendale and Darwen, stated his decision was driven by a belief that the Conservative Party had “lost its way” and was no longer representing the values he held dear. He highlighted concerns over high taxation, what he described as a failure to control immigration and a perceived drift from conservative principles.

“After much soul-searching, I have concluded that the Conservative Party, which I have served faithfully for many years, is no longer the vehicle for the change our country desperately needs,” Mr Berry said. “The promises made to the British people, particularly on issues of sovereignty and economic common sense, have been broken. Reform UK offers the bold, clear vision and genuine commitment to delivering for the people that is now sorely lacking in Westminster.”

The defection has caused further concern through the Conservative ranks, with fears that the current leader Kemi Badenoch is failing to make sufficient progress. A spokesperson for the party expressed disappointment, stating, “Jake has been a valued colleague, and we are naturally saddened by his decision. However, the Conservative government remains focused on delivering for the British people, tackling inflation and growing the economy.” Some Conservative MPs privately suggested the move was opportunistic, given Reform UK’s recent rise in opinion polls.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warmly welcomed Mr Berry, describing him as a “principled individual who understands the true challenges facing Britain.” Farage added, “Jake’s decision is a testament to the growing momentum behind Reform UK. We are building a serious movement of common-sense patriots who believe in a brighter future for our nation, free from the failures of the establishment.”

The defection adds further pressure on the Conservative government, already trailing in the polls ahead of the next general election. Political analysts suggest Mr Berry’s departure could embolden other disaffected Conservative MPs and further legitimise Reform UK as a viable alternative for right-leaning voters. His move marks one of the most high-profile defections in recent British political history and is likely to intensify the debate over the future direction of Conservative politics in the UK.

STORY

Construction has officially begun on the new state-of-the-art headquarters for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) at the University of Reading’s Whiteknights Campus. A ground-breaking ceremony on 9 July 2025 marked the start of work on this cutting-edge facility, which is set to become a global hub for meteorological research and forecasting. Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, led the ceremony, joined by key stakeholders including ECMWF Directors, Penny Endersby, CEO of the Met Office and President of the ECMWF Council, and Mark Bourgeois, CEO at the Government Property Agency (GPA), which is overseeing the project. Representatives from the University of Reading and Mace, the design and build contractor, were also in attendance.

The modern, accessible and highly sustainable headquarters, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), is anticipated to be ready for occupation in early 2027. ECMWF will relocate from its current premises in Reading, where it has been based for half a century, to this new purpose-built facility. Once operational, the building will accommodate up to 300 scientists and staff, supporting world-leading work on all aspects of weather prediction systems, forecast production and crucial research into climate change. The advanced facility will facilitate the use of the latest developments in areas such as data assimilation, earth system modelling, predictability and reanalysis, all aimed at enhancing weather predictions and our understanding of the climate.

Lord Vallance expressed the UK’s pride in continuing to host the ECMWF headquarters, highlighting that the new facility positions the UK at the forefront of international efforts to comprehend weather and climate patterns better. He noted that improved weather predictions will enable optimised energy consumption estimates, effective adjustments to transport schedules and provide farmers with crucial time to prepare for extreme weather, ultimately helping individuals and businesses save money, reduce energy use and enhance safety. Florence Rabier, ECMWF Director General, conveyed her satisfaction with the move to sustainable premises after 50 years at Shinfield Park, anticipating excellent facilities for staff and visitors and closer collaboration with university colleagues. She also emphasised ECMWF’s leadership, alongside its 35 member and cooperating states, in spearheading the artificial intelligence and machine learning revolution in weather science for the benefit and protection of citizens worldwide. The project has been designed to industry-leading net-zero carbon standards, reflecting a strong commitment to sustainable development and scientific innovation.