Category: News Story

STORY

British police have confirmed they are assessing allegations of misconduct in public office against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, following the release of thousands of documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Thames Valley Police, the force responsible for the Windsor area, announced that officers are reviewing a report concerning the former prince’s conduct during his tenure as a UK trade envoy.

The allegations centre on claims that the former Duke of York used his official position to share sensitive government information with Epstein. Newly disclosed emails from 2010 and 2011 appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor forwarding confidential briefings regarding trade visits to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam. In one instance, a document was reportedly sent to Epstein just minutes after it was received from official advisers. Further reports suggest he may have shared a confidential Treasury briefing regarding the Icelandic financial crisis with a private contact, suggesting it could be useful before they made a “move” in the market.

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The United Kingdom has launched a blistering critique of Russian diplomacy at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, accusing Moscow of “blatant hypocrisy” for claiming to defend the group’s founding principles while simultaneously waging an illegal war in Ukraine.

Addressing the Permanent Council on 12 February 2026, British Ambassador Neil Holland dismissed recent Russian assertions that Western nations were responsible for the decline of the 57-nation security body. Holland argued that it is Russia alone that has undermined the organisation through its refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue, its continued detention of OSCE staff and its systematic violation of the Helsinki Final Act.

The British delegation specifically highlighted the plight of three OSCE staff members, Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov, who have now spent nearly four years in Russian detention. Holland noted that a state that imprisons its own colleagues while they are performing duties agreed upon by all participating members cannot credibly claim to uphold the rule of law.

The statement also addressed Moscow’s attempts to delegitimise OSCE mechanisms such as the Moscow Mechanism and the Early Warning Mechanism. These tools were originally created by consensus to manage regional crises, but the UK argues Russia has recently discarded them simply because they found the oversight uncomfortable.

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Senior Cabinet ministers have publicly backed Prime Minister Keir Starmer after the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on him to resign, deepening the crisis over the fallout from the controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein. Sarwar, speaking in Glasgow, said the “distraction” of successive rows was damaging Labour and argued that a change of leadership was now needed, becoming the most senior figure within the party to urge Starmer to step aside.

Within hours, ministers moved to rally round the Prime Minister, with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Housing Minister Steve Reed among those stressing the need to focus on the government’s agenda and arguing Labour should “stay the course”. Other senior figures, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, also signalled support, as Downing Street insisted Starmer had a mandate to deliver his programme and intended to continue.

The pressure on Starmer has intensified after resignations among key aides and renewed political attacks linked to Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States, a decision Starmer has acknowledged was a mistake. The controversy has reopened internal divisions, with critics claiming the issue has become a persistent drag on Labour’s credibility, while supporters argue that replacing a prime minister mid-mandate would hand opponents an easy victory and stall the government’s priorities.

STORY

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced that the annual cost of a TV licence will rise to £180 from 1 April 2026. This increase, which represents a rise of £5.50 from the current rate of £174.50, has been calculated in line with the consumer price index (CPI) as part of the 2022 Licence Fee Settlement. Households using black and white television sets will also see a proportionate increase, with their annual fee rising by £2 to a new total of £60.50.

The government has stated that this adjustment is necessary to provide the BBC with a stable financial footing, ensuring it can continue to deliver its public service mission and support the UK’s wider creative industries. According to recent figures, the BBC remains the nation’s most prominent media brand, with 94% of UK adults using its services every month. Beyond the BBC, the uplift will also benefit the Welsh-language broadcaster S4C, which is expected to receive approximately £100 million in funding for the 2026/27 period.

To mitigate the impact on households facing financial pressure, several support measures remain in place. Free licences will continue to be available for residents aged 75 and over who receive Pension Credit, while blind individuals and those living in residential care remain eligible for significant discounts. Additionally, the government highlighted the continued availability of the Simple Payment Plan, which allows licence holders to spread the cost of the fee across smaller, more manageable instalments.

This announcement comes as the government progresses with its Charter Review Green Paper, a public consultation exploring various options for the future funding of the BBC beyond the current charter period, which ends on 31 December 2027. Under the current agreement, the fee is set to rise once more in line with inflation in April 2027 before the settlement expires. Ministers have emphasised their commitment to ensuring that any future funding model is sustainable, fair and affordable for all licence fee payers across the country.

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In a blow to the Downing Street administration, Morgan McSweeney has resigned as Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff. The departure of the Prime Minister’s most senior aide follows days of intensifying pressure and internal party turmoil regarding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States. In a statement released this afternoon, McSweeney admitted that the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson was “wrong” and stated that he takes “full responsibility” for advising the Prime Minister to proceed with the selection despite significant concerns.

The resignation comes after a bruising week for the Labour government, during which several MPs publicly called for McSweeney to step aside. The controversy centred on Lord Mandelson’s ties to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, which came under renewed scrutiny following the disclosure of files that suggested the peer had been less than forthcoming during the initial vetting process.

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The UK Government has announced a new wave of sanctions against several high-ranking Iranian officials and entities accused of involvement in serious human rights violations. This move, part of a coordinated international effort to hold the Iranian regime accountable, targets individuals within the country’s judiciary, security forces and transport infrastructure who have been instrumental in enforcing repressive laws and stifling dissent.

Among those designated are five key figures linked to the imposition and enforcement of mandatory hijab laws, which the UK government identifies as a tool of systemic discrimination against women. The sanctioned individuals include Hassan Shahrestani and Ali Salehi, alongside security and metro officials Alireza Adyani, Ali Akbar Javidan and Masoud Dorosti. The Government claims that these individuals have played a direct role in the suppression of fundamental freedoms and the mistreatment of citizens exercising their right to protest.

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Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, has said that he is asking for all files relating to the decision to make Peter Mandelson the US Ambassador to be released. It is expected that the files will be made public by the end of the week, with work needed to redact any sensitive information relating to national security.

The release of the Epstein files revealed potential serious allegations of corruption, leaking of confidential material, encouraging individuals to threaten Government Ministers and sharing financially sensitive information.

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The Met Police have confirmed that they have started an investigation into allegations of misconduct in public life by Peter Mandelson. The disgraced former Cabinet Minister faces allegations of corruption, with emails from the Epstein Files suggesting one of the largest scandals in British political history.

Mandelson, who has left the House of Lords, has been condemned by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister. Gordon Brown, the former Prime Minister, has demanded an investigation into the serious allegations of misconduct that have been made against Mandelson.

The Met Police Commander, Ella Marriott, said in a statement:

“Following the further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice, the Met received a number of reports into alleged misconduct in public office including a referral from the UK government.

I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former government minister, for misconduct in public office offences.

The Met will continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation and won’t be commenting any further at this time.”

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The Department for Education has announced that free breakfast clubs will be expanded to a further 500 primary schools across England starting in April 2026. This roll-out is part of a broader government initiative that will see 1,250 schools participating in the programme by the end of the 2026 Easter holidays, making the service available to more than 300,000 children. The scheme is designed to save working families up to £450 per year per child and is currently prioritising schools in disadvantaged areas.

Schools participating in the programme will receive varied levels of funding to cover the costs of provision. Mainstream schools are set to receive £1 per pupil for each day they attend the club, alongside a £25 daily payment to cover fixed costs like staffing. Special schools and alternative provision settings will receive a higher rate of £3.23 per pupil and a fixed daily payment of £18.95. Additionally, every school joining the programme will be granted a one-off start-up payment of £1,000 to assist with equipment, training and infrastructure.

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UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a new cooperation agreement with Ethiopia aimed at curbing illegal migration from the Horn of Africa during a diplomatic visit to Addis Ababa. During her visit on 2 February 2026, Cooper met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos to establish partnerships intended to disrupt criminal gangs and provide economic alternatives to irregular migration.

The new partnership involves direct support from the UK’s Border Security Command, which will provide funding and expertise to help Ethiopian law enforcement tackle the smuggling networks operating in the region. Cooper emphasised that the UK must increase international cooperation with both source and transit countries to address the rising number of migrants attempting to reach Britain.

As part of a broader effort to address the root causes of migration, the Foreign Secretary also signed agreements to support job creation and infrastructure. These include two energy-transmission projects led by the UK investment group Gridworks, which are expected to boost regional economic stability. Additionally, the UK pledged £17 million in funding to address local humanitarian issues, including malnutrition assistance for 68,000 children, support for displaced persons and initiatives to combat violence against women and girls.