Category: News Story

STORY

The Government is considering proposals to allow England’s regional mayors to retain more of the revenue raised from business rates. The plan is part of wider work on fiscal devolution and would be intended to give regional leaders more control over economic development and public services.

Local Government Secretary Steve Reed has said regions should benefit from growth generated in their areas, while retaining arrangements to prevent poorer areas being disadvantaged. The proposals could be developed further by the Treasury ahead of the Budget.

Business rates remain a significant source of revenue and have been the subject of long-running debate among councils, high street businesses and hospitality firms. Any reform would be scrutinised for its impact on regional inequality, local budgets and the balance of power between Whitehall and devolved institutions in England.

STORY

The Government is continuing discussions over future defence spending after John Healey resigned as Defence Secretary over the level of funding in the Defence Investment Plan. Dan Jarvis has been appointed to replace him, following confirmation from Downing Street that Healey and Armed Forces Minister Alistair Carns had left the Government.

Reuters reported that ministers are still considering the final spending position ahead of the NATO summit. Jarvis has said the Armed Forces must be properly supported, while the Government has said it must balance defence requirements with wider fiscal pressures.

The resignation has increased pressure on Starmer over national security policy and public spending choices. Opposition parties are expected to continue pressing ministers on whether the final plan will meet the scale of the threats identified in recent defence reviews.

STORY

British armed forces have intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel in an operation involving military personnel and the National Crime Agency. The vessel, identified in reports as the Smyrtos, was boarded near the south coast as part of enforcement action linked to sanctions on Russia.

The Government said the operation was aimed at disrupting attempts to move Russian oil outside the sanctions regime. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the action, saying it was an important step in restricting revenue used to fund Russia’s war.

The National Crime Agency has said an Indian national was arrested on suspicion of sanctions offences. The incident comes amid wider debate in the UK about defence spending, support for Ukraine and the enforcement of sanctions against Russia.

STORY

Labour MP Lauren Edwards is to reintroduce an assisted dying bill to the House of Commons after securing a high place in the private members’ bill ballot. The proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults to seek assistance to end their lives, subject to safeguards and approval processes.

A previous version of assisted dying legislation passed the Commons but was blocked in the House of Lords after extensive opposition and amendments. Supporters of the bill have argued that the elected House had expressed a clear view and that Parliament should be given another opportunity to consider the issue.

Opponents of assisted dying have continued to warn about the risks to vulnerable people and the adequacy of proposed safeguards. The return of the bill is likely to renew a major parliamentary debate on end-of-life law, medical ethics and the respective roles of the Commons and the Lords.

STORY

Labour MPs have urged the Government to set targets to increase the number of male teachers in England, arguing that schools should play a larger role in supporting boys and young men. The Labour Men and Boys group has said the issue should form part of a broader response to concerns about harmful online influences and social isolation.

The group has highlighted figures showing that men make up a minority of the teaching workforce, with particularly low representation in primary schools. Supporters of the proposal say that a more balanced workforce could provide more visible role models for pupils and help schools respond to the needs of boys as well as girls.

The Department for Education has said it is considering ways to attract more men into teaching, including financial incentives. The proposal sits alongside calls from Labour MPs and campaign groups for improvements to paternity leave and wider policies focused on fathers, boys and family life.

STORY

Keir Starmer has announced that children under the age of 16 will be banned from using major social media platforms, saying the Government intends to introduce the measure as part of wider online safety reforms. The Prime Minister said the policy was intended to reduce harms linked to online abuse, addictive content and contact from strangers.

The Government said the ban would build on the Online Safety Act and would be brought forward through regulation. Starmer said ministers would look at international examples, including Australia, and argued that age restrictions could still be justified even if some young people attempted to bypass them.

The announcement follows pressure from campaigners, bereaved families and MPs who have called for stronger protections for children online. Opposition parties and campaign groups are expected to scrutinise the details of enforcement, age verification and the responsibilities placed on technology companies.

STORY

Roy Hattersley, the former deputy leader of the Labour Party, has died at the age of 93. He served as Labour deputy leader under Neil Kinnock from 1983 to 1992 and was a Labour MP from 1964 until 1997. After leaving the House of Commons, he was appointed to the House of Lords as Baron Hattersley of Sparkbrook.

Hattersley held ministerial office under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, including serving as Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection from 1976 to 1979. In opposition, he held several senior shadow posts and became closely associated with Labour’s efforts during the 1980s to recover from electoral defeat, challenge the influence of the Militant tendency and move the party towards a more electorally viable position.

Alongside his political career, Hattersley was a writer, columnist and broadcaster. He wrote more than 20 books, including works of history, biography and memoir, and continued to comment on Labour politics after leaving Parliament. He was also critical of later developments in the party, including aspects of Tony Blair’s New Labour and Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. He is survived by his wife, Maggie Pearlstine.

William Hutchings has been jailed after admitting dangerous driving following a head-on collision in Sevenoaks. Kent Police said officers saw a silver Ford Fiesta carry out a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on London Road towards Amherst Hill at around 8.15pm on 19 April 2025.

Police indicated for the vehicle to stop, but Hutchings continued driving at excessive speed, using hatched markings and the wrong side of the road. The pursuit ended on the A25 Westerham Road near Sevenoaks, where the Fiesta collided head-on with a black Land Rover Defender. The occupants of the Land Rover sustained minor injuries, while Hutchings suffered severe injuries and received life-saving first aid from officers until paramedics arrived.

Hutchings, 31, of Boughton Avenue in Bromley, London, was later charged with dangerous driving after a lengthy stay in hospital. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on 4 June 2026 to 16 months in prison. He will also be banned from driving for five years and six months after his release and will have to pass an extended test before driving again.

STORY

Eileen Fox has been dismissed from her job at a One Stop convenience store in Bootle after trying to stop a suspected shoplifter. Fox, 56, said the woman was known locally and had been stealing from the shop over a period of years.

The incident involved an attempt to take packets of bacon from the store. Fox said she grabbed the woman’s coat sleeve and that, during the scuffle, the woman bumped into a metal stand. Fox said no one was injured.

Fox was called to an investigatory meeting with senior managers and was suspended the following day. She said she was later dismissed from her job on 11 May.

A dismissal letter reported by the BBC and cited by the Guardian said Fox had “followed” the suspected shoplifter and then “grabbed her and slammed her into a metal stand”. Fox disputed that description, saying she had approached the woman while she was taking items from a shelf and had taken hold of her sleeve.

A spokesperson for One Stop said the safety of customers and colleagues was the company’s priority. The company said staff were told not to risk their own safety and were given training on how to respond to incidents, alongside investment in security measures and work with police.

Local customers and a number of businesses have supported Fox, stating that the problem of shoplifting has been getting worse and that One Stop should focus more resources on protecting team members.

STORY

Peers are due to begin detailed scrutiny of the Social Housing Bill in committee stage on Monday. The House of Lords has scheduled two days of line by line consideration, with further sessions possible depending on progress.

Amendments tabled for the first day include proposals relating to the Right to Buy scheme, home ownership, first refusal on acquiring social rent dwellings, social housing provision and protection for vulnerable groups. Committee stage allows members to test the wording of the legislation and suggest changes.

The Bill forms part of the Government’s housing agenda and will continue through the Lords before returning to the Commons if amendments are made.