Category: News Story

STORY

Counter Terrorism Policing has reopened an investigation into an attempted burglary reported in Greater London in April 2025 as part of the inquiry into the murder of former minister and Reform UK politician Ann Widdecombe. The earlier investigation had been closed after no arrests were made.

Police said a line of inquiry identified during the Widdecombe investigation should have been pursued during the original case. The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is examining the actions of a Counter Terrorism Policing London staff member. Reports have linked the 2025 incident to a property associated with Nigel Farage.

Joshua Kerry, 28, of Rotherham, has been charged with Widdecombe’s murder and remanded in custody. The reopening of the 2025 investigation does not itself establish a connection between the two incidents, and police have not announced any further charge arising from the earlier case.

STORY

The Trades Union Congress has called on Chancellor John Healey to order a ‘root and branch’ review of the Office for Budget Responsibility, arguing that the fiscal watchdog’s approach can hold back public investment. The union wants the issue examined ahead of Healey’s first Budget on 28 October.

The TUC has focused particularly on the OBR’s treatment of public investment and its assumption that some Government spending can crowd out private capital. General secretary Paul Nowak said the watchdog had become a ‘millstone preventing good growth across the country’ and argued that its economic models should be reassessed.

The union also wants the Government to expand the mandate of the National Wealth Fund so it can support investments taking up to 15 years to generate a return. A Treasury spokesperson said fiscal discipline remained the foundation of economic stability and national security and that the Government would continue to meet its fiscal rules with a buffer against uncertainty.

STORY

The United States embassy in London is offering up to $500,000 for public education and civic engagement programmes in the United Kingdom under a scheme called ‘Liberty Under Law: The Shared Anglo-American Tradition’. The funding opportunity, published by the US Department of State, is open to eligible US organisations and UK charities, educational institutions or non-profit bodies working with a US partner.

The official notice says priority will be given to projects connecting principles including freedom of speech, due process, trial by jury, limited government, the rule of law and taxation by consent with contemporary civic life. It lists total programme funding of $500,000, with three awards expected and individual grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000.

Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart accused the United States of ‘meddling in British democracy’ and criticised what she described as ‘Trump’s Maga money’. The US embassy said the initiative was intended to strengthen US-UK ties and deepen understanding of constitutional principles, the rule of law and democratic norms, and the funding notice states that it is not intended to support partisan political activity or lobbying.

STORY

The Competition and Markets Authority has proposed bringing Aldi and Lidl within rules designed to stop major supermarkets using restrictive land agreements that can prevent rival grocers opening nearby. The regulator said the change would help maintain consumer choice as the two discounters have grown their UK store networks.

The rules currently apply to Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, the Co-op, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose. The CMA said its provisional view was that Aldi and Lidl should now be included because of the scale and geographic reach of their networks, the range of groceries they sell and their procurement model. Aldi is the UK’s fourth-largest grocer and Lidl is fifth.

The CMA has opened a consultation running until 7 September and expects to make a final decision in the autumn. Aldi and Lidl both said the proposal would not affect their UK growth plans, with each continuing to plan further store expansion.

STORY

Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake has told Conservative councillors that Tory-run local authorities should comply with Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance on single-sex spaces. His intervention followed reports that some councils led by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens could choose not to follow the guidance.

The guidance covers the operation of single-sex services including toilets and changing rooms under the Equality Act 2010. The Guardian reported that it states such facilities should be used according to a person’s sex at birth and sets out the circumstances in which a service remains legally separate or single-sex.

Hollinrake said he would ensure Conservative-run authorities comply and circulated his position in a letter to Tory councillors that was subsequently posted online. The letter followed reports that some Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green-led councils could choose not to follow the guidance.

STORY

Scottish Labour leadership contender Monica Lennon has criticised the state of the party as she continues trying to secure enough support to reach the ballot in the contest to succeed Anas Sarwar. Lennon said Scottish Labour had “turned to rubble” after 19 years in opposition and six Holyrood election defeats.

Lennon made the intervention after Labour MP Jon Trickett publicly called for her to be included on the ballot. At the time of the latest update, she had not secured enough support to join MSPs Michael Marra and Joe Fagan in the leadership contest.

Lennon said the party needed more time to determine its future direction before losing further members and activists. The nomination process remains ongoing as Scottish Labour prepares to choose Sarwar’s successor.

STORY

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ordered an urgent review of historical grooming gang cases after concerns that some offenders could remain eligible for early release despite Government promises to exclude grooming gang members from the scheme. Downing Street said the Prime Minister had personally intervened in the issue.

The concern relates to offenders convicted for abuse committed before changes to sexual offences legislation in 2003. Some were prosecuted for offences such as indecent assault rather than offences that now fall within the Government’s explicit exclusions, creating the possibility that the legal wording of older convictions could affect eligibility.

Around 5,000 prisoners are expected to qualify for earlier release under the revised sentencing arrangements, reduced from an earlier estimate of 6,000 after additional categories of serious sexual offenders were excluded. The Ministry of Justice is examining case records to identify grooming-related convictions and determine whether further changes are required before the scheme begins.

STORY

Komborero Sibanda has been found guilty following a trial arising from allegations that he sexually assaulted women at a nightclub in Norwich. The case concerned incidents at Mojo’s Nightclub on Prince of Wales Road, with Sibanda having previously denied charges of sexual touching.

The court had heard that the allegations related to separate incidents involving two women at the venue. Sibanda, who was reported as being 38 when he appeared before Norwich Magistrates’ Court last year, had pleaded not guilty. He had also faced an allegation of assault involving a security guard following an incident on 25 May 2026.

Sibanda was found guilty at the trial but avoided prison, being sentenced to a twelve month community order.

STORY

Referrals to the Government’s Prevent counter-radicalisation programme rose by 39% to 10,293 in the latest annual figures, the highest total recorded since the current data series began. The increase followed heightened concern about people displaying an interest in extreme violence after the Southport murders committed by Axel Rudakubana.

The figures show that extreme right-wing ideology was the largest identified ideological category, accounting for around one fifth of referrals and increasing on the previous year. Referrals linked to Islamist extremism fell, while a newer category covering fascination with extreme violence without a clear ideological motivation accounted for hundreds of cases.

Rudakubana had previously been referred to Prevent on three occasions, but the cases were closed because officials did not identify a clear terrorist ideology. The case prompted renewed scrutiny of how the programme deals with individuals whose behaviour presents serious concerns without fitting established extremist categories.