Category: News Story

STORY

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a period of more than a decade. Murrell, who was chief executive of the Scottish National Party for more than 20 years and was formerly married to Nicola Sturgeon, admitted embezzling £400,310.65 when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh. He had originally faced a higher embezzlement charge of about £459,000, but pleaded guilty to an amended indictment and was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 23 June.

The offences took place between 2010 and 2023 and involved the misuse of SNP funds for personal spending. Reports said the spending included vehicles and luxury goods, with Murrell accused of using false documentation and party money to conceal purchases. A fuller narrative of the facts is expected to be heard when the case returns to court on 2 June.

The case follows the long-running Police Scotland investigation into SNP finances known as Operation Branchform. Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie were also arrested during the inquiry but were later cleared of wrongdoing. Current SNP leader John Swinney described Murrell’s actions as a profound betrayal, while opposition parties called for further answers about financial oversight inside the party.

STORY

The Government is considering whether to introduce new restrictions on children’s use of social media, including a possible ban for under-16s, according to a House of Commons Library briefing.

The briefing said ministers launched a consultation in January 2026 on children’s relationships with mobile phones and social media, with the process opening on 2 March and closing on 26 May. It is seeking views on whether there should be a minimum age for social media, whether addictive features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay should be switched off, whether overnight curfews should be introduced and how age verification should be strengthened.

The issue has moved beyond consultation after parliamentary pressure over the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools legislation. The briefing said Part 3 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 will require the Government to impose some form of age or functionality restrictions for children under 16, following defeats in the House of Lords over proposals that would have created a social media ban for under-16s.

Ofcom figures cited in the briefing show the scale of children’s online use. Mobile phone ownership rises from 19% among three to five-year-olds to 97% among 13 to 15-year-olds, while 95% of 13 to 15-year-olds use social media and 96% of that age group have their own social media profile. The briefing also noted arguments against a ban, including warnings from children’s charities and online safety groups that it could push children into less regulated online spaces and limit access to support, advice and communities.

STORY

Business and consumer confidence remained subdued in May, although some indicators showed a modest improvement, according to a House of Commons Library economic briefing. The briefing said that, in the two weeks ending 17 May 2026, 16.7% of businesses responding to the ONS Business Insights and Conditions Survey expected their performance to increase over the next 12 months, while 16.8% expected it to decrease. Confidence surveys are watched closely because they are often published before official economic data and can provide early indications of changes in the wider economy.

The CBI Industrial Trends Survey also suggested that manufacturers remained cautious. In May, more manufacturers expected output to fall over the next three months than expected it to rise, with a balance of -13%. This was an improvement on April’s figure of -20%, but still pointed to continuing weakness in expectations for industrial output.

Consumer confidence also remained negative, despite improving slightly. The GfK Consumer Confidence Index rose to -23 in May, up two points from April, which had been the lowest level since October 2023. The index measures expectations about the general economic situation, household finances and views on making major purchases.

STORY

Retail sales in Great Britain fell in April, with the total quantity of sales volumes down by 1.3% compared with March, according to figures summarised by the House of Commons Library. The fall followed a 0.6% increase between February and March, while the total value of retail sales stood at £9.3 billion per week, down from £9.4 billion the previous month.

The briefing said sales volumes were still 1.1% higher in the three months to April 2026 than in the same period last year, and 0.5% higher than in the previous three-month period. However, overall sales volumes remained 1.7% below their pre-pandemic level in February 2020, underlining the continuing pressure on parts of the retail sector.

Food store sales increased by 0.8% between March and April, but non-food stores saw sales fall by 1.0%. Clothing stores were particularly affected, with sales down 2.4% to their lowest level since June 2025. Retailers attributed the decline to variable weather, lower demand and greater consumer price sensitivity. Internet sales averaged £2.7 billion per week in April, excluding fuel, accounting for 28.1% of all retail sales.

STORY

The Government has announced a £30 million fund to restore and create wildlife habitats across some of England’s best-known protected landscapes, including National Parks, National Landscapes and the Broads.

The Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund will provide £10 million a year from 2026 to 2029 and is intended to support thousands of hectares of new or restored habitat. Ministers said the funding would help species including hedgehogs, hazel dormice, water voles, curlews and turtle doves, which have been affected by habitat degradation.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said the programme would help restore nature “field by field” across England’s most iconic landscapes. The funding forms part of the Government’s wider Wild Again programme, which aims to halt species decline by 2030 and support the UK’s international commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by the same year.

Projects will be delivered through the existing Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, with 36 of England’s 44 protected landscapes participating in the first year. The Government said schemes would be rooted in local priorities, working with conservation groups, farmers, land managers and communities, and would contribute to the Environment Act target to restore more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042.

STORY

The Public Accounts Committee has said the Government wrote off close to £7 billion of public money in losses during 2024-25, describing the figure as an example of poor value for the taxpayer.

The committee’s report, drawing on National Audit Office work, said £6.6 billion represented spending that had not achieved its intended objectives or created value. It also raised wider concerns about the quality and timeliness of Government financial reporting.

The report adds to pressure on ministers over public sector efficiency and Whitehall accountability. The committee said Government spends around £1.1 trillion a year, making accurate and timely reporting essential for parliamentary and public scrutiny.

STORY

The European Parliament has called on the European Commission to assess whether there could be a clear risk of a serious breach of EU values by Slovakia’s Government.

In a resolution adopted by 347 votes to 165, with 25 abstentions, MEPs said they were deeply concerned about the deterioration of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Slovakia. They also warned that systemic deficiencies could endanger the protection of the EU’s financial interests.

MEPs reiterated their call for the Commission to use the tools available to it, including infringement procedures and the rule of law conditionality mechanism. The resolution referred to concerns over criminal law reforms, judicial independence, anti-corruption safeguards, whistleblower protection and the use of EU funds.

STORY

Shropshire Council has said its newly agreed Corporate Plan will support a long-term programme to rebuild the authority’s finances, organisational capacity and local services.

The council said the Liberal Democrat administration’s first year in office had focused on restoring stability after a difficult period financially and organisationally. It said adult and children’s social care accounted for around three quarters of the council’s budget, making financial sustainability a central priority.

The authority said key measures had included declaring a financial emergency in September 2025, introducing a council-wide improvement plan, securing exceptional financial support from Government and strengthening financial management. It said budget monitoring returns submitted on time had improved from around 40% to more than 95%.

STORY

Essex County Council has promised to challenge the Government’s decision to cancel a new primary school planned for Witham.

The Lodge Farm Free School had been expected to provide 420 primary school places for children on the 750-home Lodge Farm development in the north of the town, along with a 56-place nursery. The council said the Government notified it in December that it planned to cancel the long-awaited project, before confirming that decision on 21 May.

Councillor Peter Harris, the council’s leader-elect, described the decision as disappointing and short-sighted, saying it would affect a rapidly growing community already under pressure for school places. Essex County Council said it would write directly to the Government to challenge the decision and continue making the case for local investment.

STORY

Councillor Graham Harrison has been confirmed as the new leader of Hartlepool Borough Council following the authority’s annual council meeting.

The Reform UK councillor, who was elected earlier this month for the Burn Valley ward, said his first priority would be to understand the council’s financial position. He said residents expected public money to be managed responsibly and that he wanted a clear and transparent review of the authority’s finances.

Councillor Harrison said the new administration would look for opportunities to deliver services more efficiently, while acknowledging that many councillors were newly elected and still learning how the council operates. He said the council would focus on serving all parts of Hartlepool fairly and treating residents with respect.