Category: News Story

STORY

West Nile virus has been detected in UK mosquitoes for the very first time, health authorities have confirmed. Fragments of West Nile virus (WNV) genetic material were found in two pools of Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected from wetlands on the River Idle near Gamston, Nottinghamshire, during July 2023, as part of the Vector-Borne RADAR surveillance programme run by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Although this marks the first evidence of WNV in British mosquitoes, officials stress there is currently “no evidence to suggest ongoing circulation of the virus in birds or mosquitoes in the UK” and the risk to the general public remains “very low”.

West Nile virus belongs to the Flaviviridae family—a group that also includes dengue and yellow fever viruses—and typically circulates between birds and mosquito vectors. In rare instances, infected mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans or horses, causing anything from mild, flu-like symptoms to severe neurological diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis. Most human infections are asymptomatic, but around one in five people may experience fever, headaches or skin rash, while fewer than 1% develop neuroinvasive disease, which can carry a mortality rate of up to 17%. The Vector-Borne RADAR project pooled mosquitoes into groups of ten for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Of the 200 pools tested from the Nottinghamshire site, only two returned positive for WNV fragments, with the remaining 198 testing negative. This rigorous approach is designed to provide “early warning of potential threats” and enable the swift enhancement of disease surveillance and control activities, ensuring prompt testing for any suspected cases of encephalitis of unknown origin.

Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA Deputy Director for travel health, zoonoses, emerging infections, respiratory and tuberculosis, reassured the public “While this is the first detection of West Nile virus in mosquitoes in the UK so far, it is not unexpected as the virus is already widespread in Europe. The risk to the general public is currently assessed as very low”. Health professionals have been advised to consider WNV in unexplained encephalitis cases and to send samples to the UKHSA’s Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory as a precautionary measure.

Experts warn that rising temperatures and climate change are extending the range of mosquito-borne diseases northwards. Dr Arran Folly, lead arbovirologist on the RADAR project at APHA, noted that “in the wake of climate change, mosquito-borne diseases are expanding to new areas. Only through continued surveillance can we assess the risk to animal and public health”. As the UK experiences warmer summers, non-native mosquito species may find the climate increasingly hospitable, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring. To date, there have been no locally acquired human or equine cases of West Nile virus in the UK, seven travel-associated human cases have been recorded since 2000, and the main risk to UK residents remains travel to endemic regions overseas. Meanwhile, members of the public are encouraged to reduce standing water around homes, use insect repellent, and wear loose-fitting clothing to minimise mosquito bites.

STORY

In a bid to halve knife crime within a decade, the Home Office today announced its most ambitious weapons surrender initiative yet, partnering with the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime to bring “amnesty on wheels” directly to high-risk communities. Throughout July, anti-knife-crime campaigner Faron Paul will drive a purpose-built, fully secured “amnesty van” across London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, urging young people to hand in knives and other offensive weapons safely and anonymously. The scheme also expands fixed surrender points, with 37 new secure bins to be installed in those three regions in partnership with the charity Words4Weapons.

Policing and Crime Minister Dame Diana Johnson said the plan “is rooted in partnership with those who have first-hand experience of this devastating crime,” praising Faron Paul and Sandra Campbell of Words4Weapons for their leadership. “We know young people involved in crime often mistrust authority,” she added. “This collaboration gives them a discreet, no-questions-asked way to surrender weapons, helping to keep our streets safer.”

Faron Paul, CEO of FazAmnesty, described the amnesty van as “a symbol of hope, change and second chances” and welcomed the Home Office’s backing to “take our mission directly to the people.” Sandra Campbell, CEO of Words4Weapons, said the new bins will “provide communities with safe and anonymous disposal options” reinforcing neighbourhood trust and removing dangerous items from streets.

As part of the scheme, anyone handing in prohibited ninja swords—banned in their entirety from 1 August—can receive modest compensation by delivering them to designated police stations before the ban takes effect. After 1 August, possession of these weapons will carry custodial penalties. These measures form part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, which combines community-led initiatives with legislative reform, such as expanding surrender options, strengthening penalties for illegal weapons and funding youth outreach to tackle knife crime at its roots. The surrender van and new bins will operate all month long, giving local residents multiple safe avenues to dispose of weapons without fear of arrest.

STORY

The latest UK House Price Index shows that average property values rose by 1.1% between February and March 2025, taking the national average to £271,000 – a 6.4% increase on March 2024.

Key national figures:

Monthly change: +1.1% (versus +0.2% a year earlier)

Annual change: +6.4% (up from a revised +5.5% to February 2025)

Average price: £271,000

Regional highlights:

England overall: Prices rose 1.3% in March and are up 6.7% year-on-year, with the average English home now £296,000.

North East: biggest monthly gain (+4.2%) and the highest annual rise (+14.3%), average £168,000.

London: only region to see a monthly fall (−0.3%), with modest annual growth (+0.8%), average £552,000.

Wales: A slight monthly dip (−0.2%) but a 3.6% annual increase, placing the average Welsh home at £208,000.

Northern Ireland: (published quarterly) latest data show continued gradual rises.

Market activity:

Transactions: An estimated 177,000 property sales (value £40,000+) completed in March—104.3% more than a year ago, and a 61.7% increase on February, seasonally adjusted.

Funding mix in England: Mortgage-backed purchases averaged £301,000 (+7.1% annual) while cash buyers paid £282,000 (+6.0%). First-time buyers’ average price was £250,000 (+7.7%).

Property types in England:

Detached: £471,000 (+5.0% annually)

Semi-detached: £291,000 (+8.5%)

Terraced: £247,000 (+8.4%)

Flats/maisonettes: £231,000 (+3.9%)

New builds vs existing homes:

New-build prices remain volatile due to small sample sizes; January data show new homes at £416,000 (+17.4% year-on-year) versus £285,000 (+3.6%) for existing resales.

HM Land Registry Chief Executive Clinton Blackburn said “March’s figures underline the resilience of the housing market, with strong activity and price rises outside London. Buyers continue to compete for a still-limited supply of homes.”

STORY

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities today set out a carefully staged programme for the sensitive deconstruction of Grenfell Tower, reaffirming its commitment to work hand-in-hand with bereaved families, survivors and the local community as the eighth anniversary of the tragedy approaches.

Under the new roadmap:

Specialist contractor confirmed: After an open competition, the government will award the dismantling contract to a firm with proven experience in controlled deconstruction and community engagement. A mandatory 30-day standstill period will follow before works formally begin.

Transparent timeline published: In July, detailed plans will be released covering every step—from environmental safeguards and health-and-safety protocols to the creation of a secondary site for respectfully storing materials not used in the on-site memorial. Physical preparatory works will start in August, with full deconstruction slated to begin in September, taking approximately two years to complete behind protective screens.

Ongoing community dialogue: Regular public forums—both large and in small groups—will be held to share progress, gather feedback on anniversary commemorations and ensure the site’s future custodianship reflects local wishes. One-to-one meetings and written updates will also be available on request.

Wellbeing support remains in place: The Grenfell Wellbeing Service, operated by the NHS, continues to offer confidential counselling and advice. Survivors or residents can call 020 8637 6279 daily (8 am–8 pm) or contact their GP for referrals. An out-of-hours helpline is available at 0800 0234 650.

Communities Minister Laura Farris said, “We owe it to everyone affected by the Grenfell fire to carry out this work with the utmost care, compassion and transparency. By engaging families and residents at every stage, we will ensure the tower is dismantled respectfully and safely, leaving a lasting tribute to those we lost.”

STORY

The chair of Thames Water, Sir Adrian Montague, has conceded he “may have misspoken” when telling MPs that senior executive bonuses worth up to 50% of salary were “insisted upon” by the company’s creditors. His clarification to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) select committee casts doubt on whether Parliament was accurately informed about the controversial retention payments, leading to a fear that the chair had deliberately misled Parliament.

Last week, Sir Adrian told MPs that lenders behind Thames Water’s £3 billion emergency loan had demanded substantial bonuses to retain key staff amid “hair-raising” financial pressures. Those comments sparked criticism, given the company’s warning that it had come “very close to running out of money entirely.”

However, documents seen by the Guardian newspaper, including the loan term sheet and a recent High Court judgment, indicate that while creditors agreed to the scheme, they did not require it. In a letter to the EFRA committee made public today, Sir Adrian said:

“I appreciate that in the heat of the moment I may have misspoken when I stated that the creditors insisted on the management retention plan.”

He went on to explain that the retention plan “rose from our discussions related to our liquidity extension transaction” and was agreed as part of a broader effort to safeguard experienced executives during a period of uncertainty. Thames Water is likely to issue further clarifications about their chair “misspeaking” later today.

STORY

Homes England has surpassed all three of its key housebuilding milestones for 2024/25, provisional figures published today reveal. The government’s housing and regeneration agency enabled the completion of 36,757 new homes—exceeding its target of 36,484—while construction started on 37,782 homes against a target of 33,095. It also unlocked land capable of delivering a further 78,986 homes, comfortably outstripping its goal of 59,956.

This performance comes amid the government’s drive to build 1.5 million homes during this Parliament. By partnering with local authorities, combined mayoral authorities and private developers, Homes England has stepped up interventions in places such as Nottingham, York and Bristol, and forged strategic “place partnerships” with regions including Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.

Matthew Pennycook, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, said:

“Homes England is playing a crucial role in our Plan for Change to deliver 1.5 million new homes and the biggest rise in social and affordable housing in a generation. Exceeding these targets shows the agency’s vital contribution to unlocking land, backing SME builders and regenerating communities across England.”

Pat Ritchie, Chair of Homes England, added:

“I’m immensely proud of our 2024/25 results. Our colleagues’ passion for housebuilding and regeneration shines through these figures. As we move to a more regionally focused model, we’ll be even better placed to meet local housing needs and support the government’s growth agenda.”

Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive of Homes England, remarked:

“Since January, I’ve been impressed by our team’s dedication. By exceeding our delivery targets and deepening collaboration with mayors and councils, we’re ensuring everyone has a place they’re proud to call home.”

STORY

Marking International Clinical Trials Day, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) today hailed “remarkable” progress under its new risk-proportionate clinical trial regulations and launched a six-week public consultation on using real-world data to support future trial designs. Since introducing the most significant overhaul of UK trial rules in over 20 years, the MHRA reports that 100% of clinical trial applications have met statutory approval timelines, with the combined MHRA–Health Research Authority review now taking an average of 40 days, down from 150. Chief Executive Lawrence Tallon emphasised that one in eight trials in the UK test treatments in humans for the first time, and that these reforms will help bring cutting-edge therapies to patients more swiftly.

Lord O’Shaughnessy, author of the landmark 2023 review into the UK’s commercial trial landscape, praised the agency’s delivery on his recommendations, saying that the MHRA is once again taking a global lead with world-class approval times and fresh reforms to boost speed and flexibility. Professor Sir Martin Landray, CEO of Protas, added that this “regulatory enlightenment” is vital if the UK is to remain at the vanguard of innovative trial methodologies against life-threatening diseases.

STORY

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today approved guselkumab (Tremfya) to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC) who have failed other therapies or cannot tolerate them.

Previously authorised for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, guselkumab is the first IL-23 inhibitor in the UK licensed for inflammatory bowel disease. It can be given by intravenous infusion or subcutaneous injection for Crohn’s disease, and by infusion for the initial treatment of UC.

Clinical trials underpinning the approval included:

Crohn’s disease: Up to 56% of patients on guselkumab achieved clinical remission at 12 weeks, versus 15–22% on placebo. Endoscopic response—indicating reduced intestinal inflammation—was observed in up to 41% of treated patients compared to 11–21% with placebo.

Ulcerative colitis: After 12 weeks of induction therapy, 23% of guselkumab-treated patients reached clinical remission, compared to 8% on placebo. Maintenance dosing saw remission rates climb to 50% at 44 weeks versus 19% for placebo.

Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said:

“Patient safety is our top priority, which is why I am pleased to confirm the approval of guselkumab to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We’re assured that the appropriate regulatory standards of safety, quality and efficacy for the approval of this new formulation have been met. As with all products, we will keep its safety under close review.”

STORY

Britain’s potato industry has been put on notice after fresh sightings of the Colorado beetle – a voracious pest capable of devastating potato, tomato and pepper crops – prompted the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to urge immediate vigilance among home gardeners, allotmenteers and commercial growers.

The warning follows laboratory confirmation of Colorado beetle larvae in a Kent potato field in 2023. Left unchecked, both adult beetles and their larvae can strip foliage completely, threatening yields and inflicting significant economic damage. Previous outbreaks in the 1930s, 1950s and 1970s were eradicated through coordinated inspection and public reporting, APHA notes.

Professor Nicola Spence, Defra’s Chief Plant Health Officer, stressed the public’s critical role:

“The Colorado beetle poses a significant threat to plants and the wider potato industry. We need everyone—gardeners, allotmenteers and farmers—to report suspected sightings with a photograph and location details so we can act swiftly to protect UK biosecurity.”

APHA Interim Chief Executive Dr Jenny Stewart added that the agency’s surveillance network “protects UK borders from a wide range of pests” but success hinges on public assistance. Gardeners handling imported leafy vegetables, salad leaves, fresh herbs or frozen produce should inspect for hitchhiking beetles and report any finds immediately.

STORY

The Court of Appeal today dismissed an application by Lucy Connolly, upholding her 31-month prison sentence for inciting racial hatred over a social media post in the wake of the Southport knife attacks. It was also revealed that she had planned to feign mental health issues. The court decision [in .pdf format] stated:

“There is no arguable basis on which it could be said that the sentence imposed by the judge was manifestly excessive.”

Connolly, a former childminder and wife of ex-Conservative councillor Ray Connolly, posted on X last July:

“Mass deportation now, set fire to all the fucking hotels full of the bastards for all I care … if that makes me racist so be it.”

Her posts inciting arson were viewed more than 310,000 times before deletion, the tweet called for hotels housing asylum seekers to be torched after three girls were fatally stabbed at a holiday club in Southport on 29 July 2024.

At her October sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, Connolly pleaded guilty to one count of stirring up racial hatred. Prosecutors told the court she compounded her offence by feigning a mental health crisis to avoid responsibility, explicitly admitting in WhatsApp messages that she would “play the mental health card” if arrested and deny authorship of the post if questioned. The appeal judges rejected arguments that her sentence was excessive, confirming the seriousness of using incendiary rhetoric to target a vulnerable group. In refusing Connolly’s challenge, the court noted the high-profile reach of her online tirade and the risk it posed to community cohesion. Despite a local MP’s demand that Ray Connolly step down from West Northamptonshire Council, he retained his position until this year’s local elections, where he was voted out. Connolly was told that she would serve 40% of his sentence in prison before being allowed to be released on licence.