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  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 17 May 1926

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 17 May 1926

    17 MAY 1926

    The return to work following the General Strike continues. A settlement of the dockers’ dispute in London has been reached. Provisional arrangements have been made for the resumption of work in the general printing trade, and an agreement has been framed by London newspaper proprietors and the Unions concerned.

    The dockers’ strike has been settled.

    The Government’s coal proposals have been considered by a miners’ delegate conference. The Conference was adjourned till Thursday, representatives of the miners are in the meantime to ask the Government to explain certain points in the proposals. The Central Committee of Coalowners is to meet again to-day for further consideration of the Government’s plan. A Cardiff message says that miners are opposed to the proposals.

    Raoul Péret, French Finance Minister, arrived in London to discuss with the British Government matters relating to the settlement of the French debt.

    Marshal Pilsudski has assumed power in Poland, and a new Government has been formed.

    Amundsen’s airship, the Norge, has successfully concluded her trans-Polar flight.

    Mohammed VI., ex-Sultan of Turkey, has died in exile at San Remo.

    The French National Council of the Miners’ Federation have threatened to promote a general strike unless agreement has been reached before the end of the month on their proposals for higher wages.

    Lord Lloyd unveiled at Port Tewfik the memorial to the men of the Indian units of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force who fell during the war.

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 16 May 1926

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 16 May 1926

    16 MAY 1926

    The Prime Minister’s proposals for settling the coal dispute were reported to have been well received, but miners were still outside the wider industrial peace and coal rationing was expected to continue.

    Railway companies hoped services would improve quickly after the end of the strike, although many railwaymen were said to be dissatisfied with the terms agreed between managers and union representatives.

    Marshal Józef Piłsudski’s forces were reported to have secured control after fighting in Warsaw, with the country’s president resigning and a new Polish Government being formed.

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 15 May 1926

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 15 May 1926

    15 MAY 1926

    The railway strike was ended at a conference between the managers and the representatives of the men, and work will be resumed to-day as far as possible. The Unions admit that the strike was a wrongful act. A settlement was also reached in a number of other industries, the Prime Minister’s advice to both sides to get together having been acted on.

    The Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons the progress made in the negotiations for a resumption of work by the principal services involved in the industrial dispute, and made known his decision to step between the parties to the mining dispute with a plan of his own.

    Mr Baldwin has submitted to the mine owners and the Miners’ Federation proposals which he considers would lead to a reasonable and fair settlement of the mining problem. He has asked them to consider them carefully over the week-end.

    The text is given of the agreement reached between the Scottish Alliance of Master Printers and the Executive Council of the Scottish Typographical Association.

    Some anxiety is felt for the safety of Captain Amundsen and his fellow-adventurers in the Polar airship Norge. Wireless touch with them has been lost, and they are said to have encountered bad weather.

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 14 May 1926

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 14 May 1926

    14 MAY 1926

    A hitch has occurred in the resumption of work after the cessation of the general strike. As a consequence the railway Trade Unions have ordered their men to remain out. The Trade Union Congress General Committee also counsel men not to sign individual agreements. Peace, they say, depends on the employers abstaining from attempts at victimisation.

    A debate on the industrial crisis took place in the House of Commons.

    The airship Norge, returning from its Polar flight, has, it is reported, been sighted off Alaska. Scraps of wireless messages from the airship have been picked up.

    It is reported that Marshal Pilsudski’s troops have occupied Warsaw, and that the Marshal has become President of Poland.

  • Richard Hermer – 2026 Comments on the Fordingbridge Three 

    Richard Hermer – 2026 Comments on the Fordingbridge Three 

    The comments made by Richard Hermer, the Attorney General, on 26 May 2026.

    There has understandably been a huge amount of public interest, and concern, at this horrific case.

    I directed my officials to work urgently, to allow me to consider this decision swiftly, and to begin to bring closure to the victims and their families.

    It is clear to me from their powerful personal statements, that these girls have displayed immense bravery in coming forward.

    There is an epidemic of violence against women and girls in this country, and this government will not hesitate in taking action to ensure all women and girls feel safe and have confidence in the justice system.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Attorney General refers Fordingbridge Three cases to Court of Appeal [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Attorney General refers Fordingbridge Three cases to Court of Appeal [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General on 26 May 2026.

    The Attorney General has made the decision to refer the cases of the Fordingbridge Three to the Court of Appeal.

    Following a swift and detailed examination of the cases, the Attorney General has made the decision to refer the cases of the Fordingbridge Three to the Court of Appeal.

    After receiving multiple requests to review the sentences, the Attorney General’s Office obtained copies of the papers relating to this case. These included the facts of the offending, the judge’s findings and the sentencing guidelines, which have been carefully considered.

    A reference under the Unduly Lenient Scheme can only be made if a sentence is not just lenient, but likely to be unduly so.

    The Court of Appeal will now decide whether the sentence imposed was unduly lenient, and whether to increase the existing sentence.

    The Attorney General Richard Hermer KC says:

    There has understandably been a huge amount of public interest, and concern, at this horrific case.

    I directed my officials to work urgently, to allow me to consider this decision swiftly, and to begin to bring closure to the victims and their families.

    It is clear to me from their powerful personal statements, that these girls have displayed immense bravery in coming forward.

    There is an epidemic of violence against women and girls in this country, and this government will not hesitate in taking action to ensure all women and girls feel safe and have confidence in the justice system.

    Notes for Editors

    • Anyone can ask for a Crown Court sentence to be reviewed if they think it’s too low.
    • The Law Officers can review sentences given by the Crown Court in England and Wales if they’re asked to. The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to carefully consider the case and make a decision
    • By law only certain types of case can be reviewed, such as: murder, manslaughter and rape
    • Victims and their bereaved families will have up to six months in the interests of justice to ask for a sentence to be reconsidered – rather than being strictly limited to 28 days: Victims and bereaved get more time to challenge lenient sentences – GOV.UK
    • More information on the ULS scheme, including who can refer and for what reasons, can be found on our website: Ask for a Crown Court sentence to be reviewed – GOV.UK
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Government releases a further £102.6 million for reform of NI public services [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Government releases a further £102.6 million for reform of NI public services [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 26 May 2026.

    Secretary of State Hilary Benn MP has announced the release of £102.6 million by the UK Government to support public service transformation in Northern Ireland.

    • The £102.6m funding represents the final allocation of the £235m transformation fund, provided by the UK Government as part of the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive package in 2024.
    • This package will support six Executive projects across health, communities, finance, and agriculture.
    • The largest single allocation, £42 million, is dedicated to the ePharmacy Primary Care Digital Reform Programme which will replace over 45 million annual paper prescriptions with an instant digital transfer.

    Secretary of State Hilary Benn MP has announced the release of £102.6 million by the UK Government to support public service transformation in Northern Ireland.

    The latest funding marks the final allocation of  the £235 million transformation fund provided to the Northern Ireland Executive as part of the restoration package in 2024.

    The major new package, announced by finance minister John O’Dowd, will support six Executive projects across health, communities, finance, and agriculture. 

    Some £42 million will go towards the ePharmacy Primary Care Digital Reform Programme. This project will replace paper-based prescriptions with a digital process that will enable the electronic transfer of prescriptions to community pharmacies across Northern Ireland. This is expected to dramatically improve services by replacing the manual processing of over 45 million paper prescriptions a year with instant digital transfer. 

    Speaking as the funding was announced, the Secretary of State said:

    This £102.6 million investment is a significant milestone for Northern Ireland, and a clear signal of this Government’s commitment to supporting the Executive to deliver better public services for the people of Northern Ireland.

    At the heart of this funding is a simple goal: making public services work better for the people who rely on them every day. 

    The full allocation of the £235m transformation fund is supporting the framework to transform service delivery for the long term.

    I look forward to seeing the results of all successful projects in the months ahead.

    Matthew Patrick MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office said:

    We promised to work with the Executive to transform public services and that’s exactly what we’re doing. From transforming access to prescription services, to giving children and families the support they need to thrive – this Government is funding real change for people in Northern Ireland.

    I am also proud that this Government has been able to secure the largest ever devolution settlement for Northern Ireland, and an additional £750m in Barnett consequentials through the Budget and Spring Statement. These funding streams, alongside the transformation fund, provide the opportunity for the Executive to deliver the changes that public services need to ensure that they work for the people of Northern Ireland.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors 

    Background and further project information

    • The funding comes following the recommendations of the Public Sector Transformation Board. 
    • The Board, comprising officials from the Northern Ireland Civil Service and UK Government, supported by independent experts, provides recommendations to the Finance Minister about allocation of £235 million ringfenced funding. 
    • The transformation funding is part of the broader £3.3 billion Executive restoration package for Northern Ireland.

    The six proposals recommended by the Transformation Board and being funded are;

    • £42 million for the ePharmacy Primary Care Digital Reform Programme, delivering electronic prescription transfer and a new digital platform for community pharmacy clinical services, expanding access to care and bringing treatment closer to patients’ homes.
    • £29.2m, for the Together for Families project. A new partnership between the Department of Health, The National Lottery Community Fund and the Voluntary and Community sector which will establish a regionwide, tiered model of early help to ensure families can access the right help, at the right time and in the right place. The National Lottery Community Fund will contribute an additional £30m to the project – its first strategic investment of this kind in Northern Ireland.
    • £16m for Department for Communities’ led Pathway to Work and Wellbeing proposal, this investment will deliver a redesigned Health and Work model in partnership with the Department of Health and Department for the Economy, offering stronger integration between employability and health services to support more people to find and sustain employment.
    • £6m for the Department of Finance’s Digital Workplace programme, to modernise records and information management across the Civil Service, to reduce duplication and manual handling, helping to support faster access to information and freeing up staff time for citizen-facing activity.
    • £4m for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ Bovine Tuberculosis Research Project to deliver a first of its kind regionalised pilot, working with partners across Ireland, to redesign the control of bovine tuberculosis. A Shared Island Fund investment of approximately £5.6m will also be used to support the Bovine Tuberculosis Research Project.
    • £5.3m for Department of Finance’s NISRA Data Linkage programme to deliver the capability to safely link data across departments in support of evidence-based policy making improving outcomes and better targeting of public services.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Third new national forest to bring nature closer to communities [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Third new national forest to bring nature closer to communities [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department For Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 May 2026.

    Government commits up to £7.5 million and calls for delivery partners to submit bids to help deliver landmark new forest covering more than 200 square miles.

    The creation of a third new national forest has taken an exciting step forward today (Tuesday 26 May), with the government committing up to £7.5 million over a five-year period to support the project. This marks continued progress towards fully delivering the government’s manifesto commitment to create three new national forests in England. 

    The new national forest – to be located in either the Midlands or North of England – is expected to be between up to 600 square miles in scale, large enough to make a significant long-term contribution to tree-planting targets, while sitting comfortably within the area’s existing landscape and local identity. Eligible organisations across the Midlands and North of England are invited to submit bids to become a delivery partner. 

    The third new national forest will have a particular focus on improving health outcomes for communities, with low-income communities disproportionately feeling the impacts of poor access to green and blue spaces. There is compelling evidence that access to woodland and green spaces delivers substantial public health benefits, including: 

    • better mental health and reduced healthcare costs 
    • increased physical activity and chronic disease prevention 
    • cardiovascular benefits and stress relief 
    • stronger social connections and community engagement 
    • cognitive development in children and young people 

    Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:

    In our manifesto we promised three new national forests, and after the Western Forest and the OxCam arc forest we’re looking for England’s newest forest in the Midlands or the North.

    Too many communities can’t access the green spaces that benefit mental and physical health. This new national forest will help change that, and I encourage every eligible organisation with the vision and expertise to come forward.

    The National Forest in the Midlands has demonstrated what is possible, planting 10 million trees to transform the landscape, increasing tree canopy and woodland cover from 6% to 26%, and supporting more than 5,000 jobs in the visitor economy.

    Delivery partners for the third new national forest will work with Defra and the National Forest Company to help identify and establish the forest, providing targeted economic, environmental, and social benefits. 

    National Forest Company Chief Executive John Everitt said:

    Opening the competition for the third new national forest is a major milestone in accelerating our tree planting ambitions. We are looking forward to seeing some strong applications that can make a real difference for the health and wellbeing of communities across the Midlands and North of England.

    The government is keen to prioritise locations and approaches that best demonstrate how a richer, more accessible natural environment can improve health and wellbeing for the people who need it most. 

    This investment forms part of the government’s commitment to the largest ever investment in nature, with over £1 billion invested in tree planting and support for the forestry sector this parliament. This will make a significant contribution to Environment Act targets, including the statutory target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover to 16.5% by 2050. It will also contribute to the government’s target to halt the decline of species and protect 30% of land for nature by 2030.  

    New national forests will accelerate progress towards woodland creation targets, while shaping policy innovation that speeds up tree planting delivery across the country. 

    This announcement builds on significant progress already made. Planting has already begun at the Western Forest — the first new national forest in more than 30 years — which will see more than 20 million trees planted across Bristol, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset by 2050. A competition for a delivery partner for the second new national forest in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor has also recently taken place, with more details to follow in due course. 

    Additional information:

    • The third new national forest is expected to be between 200 and 600 square miles in scale. 
    • Bids to become the Delivery Partner can be submitted from 26 May. The window to submit bids for the first stage of the competition will be open for 6 weeks and will close on 7 July.
    • Further information on how organisations can apply can be found at X (add link on Tues morning once live). 
    • The government has committed over £1 billion to tree planting and the forestry sector this parliament.
    • The Environment Act target is to increase tree canopy and woodland cover to 16.5% of total land area in England by 2050.
    • The existing National Forest in the Midlands has seen 10 million trees planted, with tree canopy and woodland cover increasing from 6% to over 26%.
  • Cheryl de Freitas – 2026 Comments on Youth Sentencing

    Cheryl de Freitas – 2026 Comments on Youth Sentencing

    The comments made by Cheryl de Freitas, the Chief Operating Officer of the Youth Justice Board, on 26 May 2026.

    Confidence in the justice system matters, particularly in cases involving violence against women and girls and it is essential that public concern is not dismissed.

    It is also important that individual judges and frontline youth justice services are not unfairly critiqued for applying the legal framework and the evidence they are required to consider in youth cases.

    The overwhelming majority of children do not commit offences of this seriousness. But where they do, the response must balance accountability, public protection, victim harm, deterrence, and the long-term goal of preventing future violence.

    Above all, we must acknowledge the immense bravery of the girls who came forward, whose courage in speaking out is paramount as we work to ensure justice and safety for all victims.

    We welcome the Attorney General’s review of this case and will not be commenting further as we await the outcome of this review.

  • NEWS STORY : Youth Justice Board Welcomes Review of Fordingbridge Rape Sentences

    NEWS STORY : Youth Justice Board Welcomes Review of Fordingbridge Rape Sentences

    STORY

    The Youth Justice Board has said public concern over the sentencing of three boys convicted in the Fordingbridge rape case should not be dismissed, while warning that youth justice services and judges should not be unfairly criticised for applying the law.

    The statement was issued after criticism of the decision not to impose custodial sentences in the case, which involved serious sexual offences against two girls. Cheryl de Freitas, Chief Operating Officer of the Youth Justice Board, said confidence in the justice system mattered, particularly in cases involving violence against women and girls. She said it was essential that public concern was taken seriously.

    De Freitas said that, while most children did not commit offences of such seriousness, the response in those cases had to balance accountability, public protection, victim harm, deterrence and the long-term aim of preventing future violence. She also acknowledged the “immense bravery” of the girls who came forward.

    The Youth Justice Board said it welcomed the Attorney General’s review of the case and would not comment further while awaiting the outcome. The review follows calls for the sentences to be examined under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, amid wider debate over youth sentencing, public confidence and the treatment of victims of sexual violence.