Category: News Story

STORY

The Office for Product Safety and Standards and other regulators have issued a joint statement warning that consumer products containing asbestos must be removed from sale and recalled. The statement said the UK operates a zero-tolerance approach to asbestos in consumer goods, reflecting the ban on its use and importation since 1999.

The regulators said enforcement decisions are generally based on risk and proportionality, but that products found to contain asbestos must be recalled from consumers. They said the position was not an indication of the level of risk in any individual case, but reflected the legal approach to asbestos in consumer products.

The statement places responsibility on businesses to ensure they are meeting product safety obligations. It comes as ministers and regulators continue to focus on product safety, consumer protection and the removal of unsafe goods from the UK market.

STORY

The Government has launched a consultation on the framework for future decisions on a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Ministers said the consultation was intended to support a final planning decision in 2029 and would test proposals against noise, air quality, climate and economic growth requirements.

The Department for Transport said Heathrow handled a record 84 million passengers last year and argued that additional capacity would support jobs across the UK. The Government said the expansion process must demonstrate that environmental and community concerns can be addressed before any final decision is taken.

The issue has long divided political parties, environmental groups, business organisations and local communities. The launch of the consultation moves the third runway proposal into another stage of the planning process, although any final decision remains several years away.

STORY

Around 7,300 offenders are expected to be made to wear alcohol monitoring tags during the World Cup, the Ministry of Justice has announced. The Government said the tags would be used for offenders released from prison or serving community sentences where alcohol misuse was linked to their offending.

The tags test alcohol levels through the wearer’s skin and operate continuously. Ministers said they were intended to reduce alcohol-related crime during a period when drinking is expected to increase as football fans watch matches in pubs and at home.

The Ministry of Justice said alcohol-related offending places a significant cost on communities and public services. The policy forms part of the Government’s wider criminal justice programme, with ministers arguing that technology can be used to monitor offenders outside prison more effectively.

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The Office for National Statistics has said an operational error affected the collection of labour market data between 3 May and 10 June. Reuters reported that the error reduced response rates for the Labour Force Survey, which is used to produce official employment and unemployment statistics.

The ONS said the issue was caused by too few interviewers being allocated to the survey while work continued on a replacement system. It said the quality of the July labour market statistics would be reduced as a result, with some smaller effects likely to continue into later releases.

The ONS has faced scrutiny in recent years over the reliability of economic data, particularly after falling response rates during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest issue comes at a politically sensitive time, with employment, wages and inactivity central to the Government’s economic agenda.

STORY

The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75 per cent after its Monetary Policy Committee voted by seven to two to keep Bank Rate unchanged. Two members voted to increase rates by 0.25 percentage points to 4 per cent.

The Bank said the decision reflected uncertainty over inflationary pressures, including the impact of international energy prices. Governor Andrew Bailey said developments around the US-Iran agreement were encouraging, but the Bank continued to expect inflation to rise further before easing.

The decision leaves ministers facing continued pressure from borrowing costs, mortgage rates and household budgets. The Government has said its economic policy is focused on growth and stability, while opposition parties have continued to criticise Labour’s handling of the economy.

STORY

The Government borrowed more than expected in May, increasing pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves as she seeks to keep within her fiscal rules. Public sector net borrowing reached £23.3 billion during the month, according to figures reported by Reuters, around 30 per cent higher than in May last year.

The increase was driven in part by higher debt interest costs, with inflation affecting the cost of servicing index-linked gilts. Borrowing over the first two months of the financial year was also reported to be ahead of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast, adding to the challenge facing the Treasury before the next Budget.

Reeves has said reducing borrowing costs remains an important priority for the Government. The figures come as Labour faces wider political pressure over public spending, tax policy and the fiscal implications of possible changes in leadership.

STORY

Andy Burnham’s allies have said they are increasingly confident that he could replace Keir Starmer without a prolonged Labour leadership contest, following his victory in the Makerfield by-election. Reports said supporters of the new Labour MP believe his parliamentary backing has grown sharply since the result, with some arguing that the party should now move towards an orderly transition.

Burnham won the seat with 54.8 per cent of the vote, defeating Reform UK and returning to the House of Commons after serving as Mayor of Greater Manchester. The result has intensified pressure on Starmer, who has said he will fight any leadership challenge and warned against internal division.

Labour figures remain divided over whether any change of leader should take place through a negotiated handover or a formal contest. Burnham has not formally declared a leadership challenge, but his victory has made him eligible to stand and has turned Labour’s internal debate into the dominant issue at Westminster.

STORY

Liberal Democrat MP Cameron Thomas has been arrested on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour and assault. Gloucestershire Police said a man in his 40s from Tewkesbury was arrested on Wednesday 17 June, interviewed by officers and later released on police bail while enquiries continue.

Thomas, who represents Tewkesbury, has had the Liberal Democrat whip suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation. His party membership has also been suspended. A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said the party was unable to comment further while the police investigation was ongoing.

Thomas was elected to Parliament at the 2024 general election, winning Tewkesbury from the Conservatives. Before entering Parliament, he served in the Royal Air Force and worked as a military police officer. He sits on the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

STORY

Emergency services have been called to a collision involving two trains near Bedford, with injuries reported and major disruption on the Midland Main Line. British Transport Police, Bedfordshire Police and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were responding to the incident, while passengers were told to avoid the area.

The crash led to all lines being blocked between Luton and Bedford, with Thameslink suspending services on that section and East Midlands Railway saying trains could not run between London St Pancras and Leicester while emergency services dealt with the incident. The Times reported that Bedford Hospital had been preparing for a significant number of casualties, while emergency services including air ambulances were sent to the scene.

Footage posted online appeared to show a damaged Luton Airport Express train and passengers standing beside the tracks, although the cause of the collision has not yet been confirmed. The incident happened during the evening peak and rail operators advised passengers to delay travel or check before starting their journeys while the emergency response continued.

STORY

Andy Burnham’s victory in Makerfield has intensified pressure on Keir Starmer, with Labour MPs and former ministers expected to consider whether to force a leadership contest. Around a quarter of Labour MPs had already called for Starmer to resign after the party’s recent local election losses.

Under Labour rules, a challenger would need support from 20% of Labour MPs in the House of Commons to trigger a contest. This would currently mean 81 MPs backing a single candidate, including the challenger, before members could vote in any leadership election.

Burnham has said that he would stand in any Labour leadership contest. Starmer has said he would contest any challenge and warned his party against creating political instability, but the scale of Burnham’s win has strengthened the position of those calling for a managed transition.