Category: News Story

STORY

The UK Government has announced it will fund an additional 1,250 Crown Court sitting days this year, bringing the total to 111,250 days, the highest level on record, in a bid to reduce the backlog of criminal cases and deliver swifter justice for victims.

Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the backlog inherited by the current administration exceeds 78,000 cases, meaning many victims wait three to four years for their trial. He described the new investment as the biggest on record under the government’s Plan for Change, while admitting that long-term reform will also be required.

Lammy said in a statement:

“The Crown Court backlog we inherited stands at over 78,000 and behind each case is a real person, waiting years for justice. That is why we are acting with the biggest investment on record as part of our Plan for Change. An additional 1,250 sitting days will be allocated to the Crown Court this financial year, allowing it to hear many extra cases. We know there is more to do, and generational reform that cannot wait, but this investment will help ease the torment and bring swifter justice to many more victims.”

STORY

Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, has launched an attack on Robert Jenrick, her rival in the Conservative Party leadership contest last year. The move, which comes as a surprise given party hopes of showing a united front at this week’s party conference, reopens the divide between the two politicians.

Badenoch claimed that Jenrick was simply presenting views which were mostly hers which had been “repackaged” and she added:

“I don’t mind that he says what he thinks. The advantage of having a leadership contest is that you’ve kind of already said what you think. Repeating it, which is what Rob tends to do, is not new information.”

Badenoch will give two speeches at this week’s Conservative Party conference in Manchester in an attempt to gain the initiative from Reform who is out-polling the party.

STORY

In a judgement delivered in London’s High Court, PPE Medpro has been ordered to repay £122 million to the UK government after it was found to have supplied surgical gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic that failed to meet required sterility and safety standards. Mrs Justice Sara Cockerill ruled that the gowns breached the contract with the Department of Health and Social Care, declaring that the company had not followed validated sterilisation processes or kept sufficient documentation to prove compliance. The decision represents a heavy blow to a company embroiled in controversy and deceit.

The company is linked to the disgraced and discredited Baroness Michelle Mone who admitted to being a liar in an attempt to hide her financial benefit from the business. Despite public anger about her behaviour, she has refused to stand down from the House of Lords.

Barrowman, the partner of Mone, launched an attack on the judicial process following the judgement. A spokesperson for Barrowman said that the medical equipment was of the required standard and that the decision was “an establishment win”. The company has been ordered to repay the Government £122 million by 15 October 2025.

STORY

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has firmly rejected speculation that the government is considering introducing VAT on private healthcare services, declaring that “it’s not happening” when questioned at the Labour Party conference. His confirmation came amidst mounting rumours that the government might look for new revenue streams ahead of the upcoming budget. Streeting is making a speech at conference today with an expected emphasis of the contribution made by foreign NHS staff.

STORY

Keir Starmer has expressed public support for the new US-led peace initiative for Gaza, calling the proposal “profoundly welcome” and urging all parties, especially Hamas, to “agree to the plan and end the misery.” In an official statement from 10 Downing Street, Starmer announced that the UK will back efforts to end hostilities, free hostages, and facilitate urgent humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza.

Starmer’s remarks were timed soon after the US unveiled a 20-point plan reportedly focused on disarming Hamas, forming a transitional governing structure for Gaza, and orchestrating a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces. He said that achieving a sustainable peace will require “collective effort” from the international community, not just diplomatic pledges.

Reactions across the world have been mixed. While leaders in Europe and parts of the Middle East have cautiously endorsed the proposal, many in Gaza and among the Palestinian leadership remain sceptical, pointing to previous peace efforts that foundered on demands for disarmament. There is a fear that the plan may unfairly penalise Palestinians and sideline Hamas entirely without a realistic path forward. practice is wide.

STORY

Sir Menzies Campbell, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats and long-serving MP for North East Fife, has died at the age of 84. He passed away peacefully in London after a period in respite care, surrounded by family. Known affectionately as “Ming”, his family said that he had watched some of last week’s Liberal Democrat conference.

Campbell represented North East Fife from 1987 until 2015 and led the Liberal Democrats between 2006 and 2007. He was widely respected for his integrity, sharp intellect and authority on foreign affairs, becoming one of the party’s most trusted voices in Parliament. A staunch critic of the Iraq War, he was regarded as a politician of principle, admired across the political spectrum. After standing down as an MP, he took a seat in the House of Lords as Lord Campbell of Pittenweem.

Before entering politics, Campbell was a world-class athlete, representing Great Britain at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and holding the British 100m record for seven years. He later pursued a successful legal career and served as Chancellor of the University of St Andrews. Tributes have described him as a “true Liberal giant” and a statesman who embodied decency and dedication throughout public life.

STORY

A new national safety rule, known as Jess’s Rule, is being introduced across England to prevent missed diagnoses after the death of 27-year-old Jessica Brady, who visited her GP more than 20 times before her cancer was detected. Under the rule, GPs must review a patient’s case if they have attended three appointments without a clear diagnosis or if symptoms worsen, prompting further tests, referrals or second opinions.

Developed by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the Royal College of General Practitioners alongside Jessica’s family, the measure aims to catch serious illnesses earlier and reduce health inequalities. The government said the rule would ensure patients “do not fall through the cracks” and that Jessica’s death was a “preventable tragedy” that must not be repeated.

While supporters say the policy could save lives, some warn it may increase pressure on already stretched GP services. The rule will now be implemented in practices across England, with guidance and training provided to help doctors integrate the change into daily care.

STORY

In a major new policy development, the UK Government today indicated plans to introduce a compulsory digital identity card for all adults residing in the country. The so-called ‘Brit Card’ proposes to act as the primary vehicle for verifying an individual’s right to live, work, rent property and access certain services.

Sources at the Home Office said the measure aims to tighten immigration control and reduce fraudulent use of identity documents. Under the plans, starting a new job or entering into rental agreements would require individuals to present their digital ID via a smartphone app or other secure verification method tied to a central registry. The Government claims that this system will make it much harder for people without legal status to work or claim tenancy, by closing loopholes in existing identity checks.

Details of the plans are expected to be announced by the Prime Minister within the next day, in the hope of reasserting his authority after some troubled weeks.

STORY

Walkers and nature fans now have more reason to lace up their boots: Natural England and Suffolk County Council today officially opened 26 miles of new coastline access between Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey. The new stretch, part of the King Charles III England Coast Path, includes 11 miles of brand-new access rights around the Deben Estuary.

The new section links to existing paths from Shotley Gate to Felixstowe Ferry, extending continuous walking opportunities along Suffolk’s coast. Along the way, walkers pass through or close to towns and villages including Woodbridge, and traverse landscapes that shift from saltmarsh and estuary banks to farmland and protected habitats.

Hannah Thacker, Deputy Director for Norfolk and Suffolk at Natural England, said she is “personally looking forward to walking this stretch,” adding that it opens up a part of the Suffolk coast that was previously inaccessible to the public. The route is designed to balance public access with environmental protection: there are dog-on-lead zones, bird-watching hides, and fencing or path positioning to avoid disturbing sensitive habitats used by species such as dark-bellied brent geese and avocets.

STORY

In a combative and wide-ranging address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Donald Trump sought to reassert his brand of “America First” foreign policy, sharply criticising multilateral institutions, immigration policies and green energy initiatives. But his performance was overshadowed by moments of uncertainty, technical issues and mounting questions about the damage done to U.S. credibility abroad for short-term political theatrics.

Trump’s speech, delivered on the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, proclaimed that the world is in crisis and accused global bodies of failing to defend national sovereignty. He called on countries to “close their borders” and expel foreigners, arguing that liberal migration policies have “devastated” nations. In a risk to the credibility of the US, he dismissed climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” casting doubt on decades of scientific consensus and lambasting the European Green agenda as economically destructive.

Yet the address was marred by logistical glitches. Midway through, Trump broke from his script to complain about a stalled escalator and a malfunctioning teleprompter, blaming the UN for both incidents. UN officials, however, quickly pushed back as the escalator had been triggered by a safety mechanism, and to Trump’s humiliation it transpired responsibility for the teleprompter lay with his White House team.