Category: News Story

STORY

A new European-led peace plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine has been unveiled, offering an alternative to the recent framework put forward by the United States which was felt to be a capitulation by President Trump. The proposal, drafted jointly by Britain, France, Germany and other EU countries retains Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as central principles while adjusting or removing elements of the earlier U.S. plan that proved contentious in Kyiv and other European capitals. The document calls for a ceasefire along existing front lines, long-term security guarantees and substantial reconstruction support once fighting ends.

UK officials involved in shaping the plan have stressed that any settlement must be acceptable to Ukraine and durable enough to ensure stability across Europe. While the proposal does not rule out future NATO membership for Ukraine or restrict its military capabilities, it seeks to establish a framework that would halt hostilities and open the door to broader political negotiations. Whether Russia will engage with the European version remains uncertain, with analysts noting that Moscow has shown little willingness to compromise in recent months.

STORY

The Government will announce its Budget later today, setting out tax plans and public spending decisions for the year ahead at a time of continued pressure on household finances and public services. Ministers have signalled that the statement will focus on economic stability and long-term growth, though the final balance between tax changes and spending commitments remains unclear. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is expected to emphasise measures intended to support investment while keeping borrowing within existing fiscal rules.

Opposition parties have called for targeted support for lower-income households and essential services, arguing that previous decisions have left public sector budgets stretched. They are also urging the government to provide clarity on funding for local authorities and the NHS after warnings from several organisations that current levels are insufficient to meet rising demand. The Treasury maintains that the Budget will be responsible and sustainable, stressing the importance of keeping inflation under control.

The Budget is being seen as a key test for the Government amidst poor polling for the Prime Minister. There remain concerns that much of the Budget has already appeared in the media, a situation which Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has already warned Parliament about.

STORY

Nathan Gill, the former Reform UK leader in Wales and MEP, has been sentenced to more than ten years in prison after admitting to taking payments from pro-Russian operatives in exchange for making favourable public statements about Moscow. The judge described the scheme as a calculated operation that undermined democratic integrity, pointing to the sophistication of the arrangements and the damage done to public trust.

Gill’s conviction has landed Reform UK in an intensely difficult position. Nigel Farage has insisted he knew nothing of Gill’s activities and has attempted to distance the party from the scandal, but the political fallout has already become significant. Opposition parties are demanding an inquiry into the party’s links to Russia and questioning whether Gill’s behaviour reflects a wider failure in Reform UK’s oversight, vetting and internal controls.

The timing is particularly awkward for Farage, who has been trying to broaden his party’s appeal and present it as a credible national force. Instead, Reform finds itself answering uncomfortable questions about foreign influence and the conduct of its senior figures. Analysts warn that the scandal may hinder the party’s attempts to court new voters and could damage Farage’s long-held claim that he stands against political corruption and external interference.

Investigators found that Gill had received tens of thousands of pounds in covert payments, communicated with his handlers using coded language, and even attempted to travel to Russia while under suspicion.

STORY

Baroness Mone, the disgraced Peer who admitted lying to the media as to her links with PPE Medpro, has denied allegations made by the Daily Mail that she bullied builders who were working on her London house.

Mone said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, that:

“It is deeply upsetting to read yet another false story, this time from a man who, seven years later, has chosen to sell a lie to make money from my name.”

Mone, who is resisting cross-party calls for her to quit the House of Lords following her lies to the media and also remains under investigation by the National Crime Agency, added:

“This is not journalism; it is persecution. But I will not be broken. I will continue to speak the truth.”

Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Opposition, said in October about Mone:

“I want to make sure is that people can see that the Conservative Party is a party of integrity. That’s why we removed Michelle Mone from our party. And it’s very, very important that people see that politicians, whether they’re in the Commons or in the Lords, are acting above board.”

STORY

The UK Government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, today announced sweeping changes to the country’s asylum system aimed at reducing the attractiveness of the UK to irregular arrivals and accelerating removals of those without a legitimate claim.

Although the Government argues these reforms represent the most significant overhaul of the asylum regime in decades, the proposals have already sparked criticism. Campaigners and some Labour MPs warn the changes risk harming vulnerable individuals fleeing persecution and could undermine integration by creating longer-term uncertainty. Mahmood is to make a more detailed statement on the Government’s plans later on today.

STORY

In a forceful address at the Organisation for Security and Co‑operation in Europe, British Ambassador Neil Holland accused Russia of mounting a deliberate campaign of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, plunging communities into darkness, hobbling hospitals and water supplies and creating a “nuclear risk just waiting to happen.” The UK stated that the strikes, which have led to widespread blackouts and are being assessed by the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission as likely breaches of international humanitarian law, were not acts of restraint but rather tactical efforts to degrade Ukraine’s civilian resilience as winter sets in.

Holland warned that the damage to power networks feeding nuclear plants and spent-fuel cooling systems presents a “persistent risk” of catastrophe, and called Russia’s purported proposals for peace “coercion dressed up as diplomacy”, arguing that any settlement which rewards territorial theft would merely lay the groundwork for further aggression. The UK reaffirmed its commitment to a just and lasting peace grounded in international law and suggested Russia’s “security interests” cannot outweigh the basic rights of nations to sovereignty and safety.

NEWS STORY

PPE Medpro, a company tied to former Conservative peer Michelle Mone, now faces a £39 million tax bill revealed in administration documents, on top of vast debts owed after a judge ruled the company breached a government contract to supply sterile surgical gowns during the pandemic. The company had already been ordered to repay £122 million, with interest lifting the total claim to £148 million, and now finds itself with total liabilities of around £188 million.

The disgraced Baroness Mone and Barrowman denied involvement for years, only to admit later to benefiting from the profits, including transfers into an offshore trust. Now, amid ongoing investigation, taxpayers are left scrambling for recovery while the individuals at the centre face little tangible threat of personal liability due to corporate protections and limited assets.

Mone, who has admitted telling lies to the media, said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter):

“Most days, I wake up and struggle to find the strength to face yet another round of government-led (“spin doctor”) lies being printed by elements of the UK press.”

Despite cross-party condemnation of Mone’s behaviour, including from the Conservative Party leader, she has refused to quit the Lords.

STORY

The Government has reclaimed £74 million from companies running hotels for asylum seekers after finding that they had made excessive profits from public contracts. The move follows months of scrutiny over the costs of housing asylum seekers in temporary accommodation, with reports suggesting that some firms had charged the Home Office substantially above market rates. Ministers said the money would be returned to taxpayers and that stronger measures were being introduced to ensure fair pricing in future contracts.

The UK currently spends more than £8 million a day on hotel accommodation for asylum seekers, a figure that has drawn sharp criticism amid record backlogs in processing claims. Officials said the reclaimed funds mark the start of wider efforts to tighten financial oversight across the asylum estate, with a focus on reducing reliance on hotels and shifting people into cheaper, longer-term housing. The Home Office added that it was committed to ensuring “value for money” and would continue to challenge suppliers found to be profiting excessively from the system.

STORY

Scandal hit Andrew Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, is to be stripped of his naval titles as allegations of misconduct continue and risk engulfing the Royal Family. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said that Windsor would have his title of Vice-Admiral removed and said that there will be an update too on whether his medals would also be stripped away.

Windsor has refused to answer questions about his behaviour, including allegations relating to financial, sexual and personal misconduct.

STORY

Serious new allegations have been made about the conduct of Andrew Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, relating to payments from Pegasus Group. It is alleged that Windsor arranged a private tour of Buckingham Palace in 2019 for two businessmen from Pegasus Group Holdings, a cryptocurrency mining company that later collapsed, costing investors millions.

The alleged visit, which took place while the late Queen was in residence, was followed by the pair’s attendance at his Pitch@Palace event and a dinner with Andrew, Sarah Ferguson and Princess Beatrice. Ferguson, who was employed by Pegasus as a brand ambassador and was promised up to £1.4 million, had been promoting a Bitcoin-mining scheme in Arizona that ultimately failed.

The revelations have renewed scrutiny over the couple’s business relationships and raised further questions about whether Andrew used his royal position for private benefit. Andrew Windsor has refused to comment on the latest allegations.