Tag: News Story

A 54-year-old man has been found guilty of murder following a horrific and random arson attack that claimed the life of an 82-year-old pensioner in Wednesbury. Andrew Gorrell, of Moss Grove, Saltney, was convicted at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday afternoon after jurors took less than four hours to reach their unanimous verdict. The court heard how Gorrell travelled from North Wales to the West Midlands in May last year before embarking on a series of deliberate acts that resulted in the death of John Edwards and left several family members with life-altering injuries.

The fatal incident occurred in the early hours of 11 May 2023 at the Edwards’ family home on Holyhead Road. CCTV evidence presented during the trial showed Gorrell loitering in the area and appearing near the property shortly before the blaze began. Prosecutors detailed how Gorrell intentionally moved a wheelie bin and positioned it directly against the front door of the terraced house before setting its contents alight. This strategic placement not only ensured the fire would spread rapidly into the structure but also effectively blocked the primary escape route for the occupants sleeping inside.

John Edwards suffered catastrophic burns in the fire and passed away in hospital on 25 May 2023. His wife, Doreen, and their two adult sons, Carl and Mark, were also present during the attack. Mark Edwards sustained severe burns to his face, hands, and eyes while attempting to alert his parents and brother, while Carl was forced to escape through a rear window. Investigators from the West Midlands Police homicide team noted that Gorrell had no prior connection to the Edwards family or the Wednesbury area, describing the targeting of their home as utterly random.

A particularly chilling detail noted by the prosecution was Gorrell’s attire at the time of the offence. He was captured on CCTV wearing a Chicago Bulls jacket and a T-shirt promoting the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street, which depicts a character who was burned alive. Following the fatal blaze, Gorrell continued through the streets of Wednesbury and admitted to setting three additional fires in various commercial and council waste bins that same morning.

While the defence argued that Gorrell’s actions were the result of chaotic behaviour while heavily intoxicated, the prosecution successfully maintained that he was capable of thinking through the consequences of his actions. In addition to the murder conviction, Gorrell was found guilty of two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, and arson with intent to endanger life

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London-based advisory firm Global Counsel has announced its intention to collapse into administration, bringing a sudden end to one of the most influential political consultancies in Westminster. The firm, which was co-founded by the former Labour minister Peter Mandelson, confirmed today that it could no longer withstand the commercial fallout from a mounting scandal involving Mandelson’s past ties to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement released to staff and clients, the firm described the current situation as a maelstrom that has made continued operations untenable.

The collapse follows a week of rapid disintegration for the consultancy. Major corporate clients, including the investment giant KKR and Barclays, had already moved to sever ties with the firm after new details emerged from a tranche of unsealed emails. These documents reportedly suggested that Epstein had been involved in the very early stages of the firm’s founding in 2010. While Global Counsel had recently attempted to distance itself from the controversy by facilitating the sale of Mandelson’s remaining 21% stake to the new chief executive Rebecca Park, the move was ultimately unable to stem the loss of institutional trust.

The crisis deepened further when Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, a co-founder and former director of strategic communications for Tony Blair, resigned as chief executive earlier this month. His departure was triggered by revelations that he and Mandelson had met with Epstein on multiple occasions during the firm’s infancy. The company will continue to operate only in a limited capacity during administration, with around 100 jobs feared to have been lost.

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The BBC has reported that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Police cars were reported to be at Sandringham in Norfolk this morning, following an investigation by Thames Valley Police of allegations of sensitive information being shared. King Charles III is yet to comment on the news.

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The prospective appointment of Dame Antonia Romeo as the United Kingdom’s first female Cabinet Secretary has reignited a debate over past allegations of professional misconduct. As Prime Minister Keir Starmer moves to overhaul his senior team following the sudden departure of Sir Chris Wormald, Romeo has emerged as the clear frontrunner to lead the Civil Service. However, the move has drawn sharp warnings from former colleagues and senior officials who argue that further “due diligence” is required before she takes the most powerful administrative seat in Whitehall.

The issue resurfaced this week when Sir Simon McDonald, the former Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Office and Romeo’s superior during her New York posting, issued a highly unusual public warning. Speaking to Channel 4 News, McDonald suggested that the previous vetting process had been insufficient and urged Number 10 to “start from scratch” with their due diligence processed.

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British police have confirmed they are assessing allegations of misconduct in public office against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, following the release of thousands of documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Thames Valley Police, the force responsible for the Windsor area, announced that officers are reviewing a report concerning the former prince’s conduct during his tenure as a UK trade envoy.

The allegations centre on claims that the former Duke of York used his official position to share sensitive government information with Epstein. Newly disclosed emails from 2010 and 2011 appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor forwarding confidential briefings regarding trade visits to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam. In one instance, a document was reportedly sent to Epstein just minutes after it was received from official advisers. Further reports suggest he may have shared a confidential Treasury briefing regarding the Icelandic financial crisis with a private contact, suggesting it could be useful before they made a “move” in the market.

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The United Kingdom has launched a blistering critique of Russian diplomacy at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, accusing Moscow of “blatant hypocrisy” for claiming to defend the group’s founding principles while simultaneously waging an illegal war in Ukraine.

Addressing the Permanent Council on 12 February 2026, British Ambassador Neil Holland dismissed recent Russian assertions that Western nations were responsible for the decline of the 57-nation security body. Holland argued that it is Russia alone that has undermined the organisation through its refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue, its continued detention of OSCE staff and its systematic violation of the Helsinki Final Act.

The British delegation specifically highlighted the plight of three OSCE staff members, Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov, who have now spent nearly four years in Russian detention. Holland noted that a state that imprisons its own colleagues while they are performing duties agreed upon by all participating members cannot credibly claim to uphold the rule of law.

The statement also addressed Moscow’s attempts to delegitimise OSCE mechanisms such as the Moscow Mechanism and the Early Warning Mechanism. These tools were originally created by consensus to manage regional crises, but the UK argues Russia has recently discarded them simply because they found the oversight uncomfortable.

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Senior Cabinet ministers have publicly backed Prime Minister Keir Starmer after the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on him to resign, deepening the crisis over the fallout from the controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein. Sarwar, speaking in Glasgow, said the “distraction” of successive rows was damaging Labour and argued that a change of leadership was now needed, becoming the most senior figure within the party to urge Starmer to step aside.

Within hours, ministers moved to rally round the Prime Minister, with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Housing Minister Steve Reed among those stressing the need to focus on the government’s agenda and arguing Labour should “stay the course”. Other senior figures, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, also signalled support, as Downing Street insisted Starmer had a mandate to deliver his programme and intended to continue.

The pressure on Starmer has intensified after resignations among key aides and renewed political attacks linked to Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States, a decision Starmer has acknowledged was a mistake. The controversy has reopened internal divisions, with critics claiming the issue has become a persistent drag on Labour’s credibility, while supporters argue that replacing a prime minister mid-mandate would hand opponents an easy victory and stall the government’s priorities.

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The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced that the annual cost of a TV licence will rise to £180 from 1 April 2026. This increase, which represents a rise of £5.50 from the current rate of £174.50, has been calculated in line with the consumer price index (CPI) as part of the 2022 Licence Fee Settlement. Households using black and white television sets will also see a proportionate increase, with their annual fee rising by £2 to a new total of £60.50.

The government has stated that this adjustment is necessary to provide the BBC with a stable financial footing, ensuring it can continue to deliver its public service mission and support the UK’s wider creative industries. According to recent figures, the BBC remains the nation’s most prominent media brand, with 94% of UK adults using its services every month. Beyond the BBC, the uplift will also benefit the Welsh-language broadcaster S4C, which is expected to receive approximately £100 million in funding for the 2026/27 period.

To mitigate the impact on households facing financial pressure, several support measures remain in place. Free licences will continue to be available for residents aged 75 and over who receive Pension Credit, while blind individuals and those living in residential care remain eligible for significant discounts. Additionally, the government highlighted the continued availability of the Simple Payment Plan, which allows licence holders to spread the cost of the fee across smaller, more manageable instalments.

This announcement comes as the government progresses with its Charter Review Green Paper, a public consultation exploring various options for the future funding of the BBC beyond the current charter period, which ends on 31 December 2027. Under the current agreement, the fee is set to rise once more in line with inflation in April 2027 before the settlement expires. Ministers have emphasised their commitment to ensuring that any future funding model is sustainable, fair and affordable for all licence fee payers across the country.

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In a blow to the Downing Street administration, Morgan McSweeney has resigned as Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff. The departure of the Prime Minister’s most senior aide follows days of intensifying pressure and internal party turmoil regarding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States. In a statement released this afternoon, McSweeney admitted that the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson was “wrong” and stated that he takes “full responsibility” for advising the Prime Minister to proceed with the selection despite significant concerns.

The resignation comes after a bruising week for the Labour government, during which several MPs publicly called for McSweeney to step aside. The controversy centred on Lord Mandelson’s ties to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, which came under renewed scrutiny following the disclosure of files that suggested the peer had been less than forthcoming during the initial vetting process.

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The UK Government has announced a new wave of sanctions against several high-ranking Iranian officials and entities accused of involvement in serious human rights violations. This move, part of a coordinated international effort to hold the Iranian regime accountable, targets individuals within the country’s judiciary, security forces and transport infrastructure who have been instrumental in enforcing repressive laws and stifling dissent.

Among those designated are five key figures linked to the imposition and enforcement of mandatory hijab laws, which the UK government identifies as a tool of systemic discrimination against women. The sanctioned individuals include Hassan Shahrestani and Ali Salehi, alongside security and metro officials Alireza Adyani, Ali Akbar Javidan and Masoud Dorosti. The Government claims that these individuals have played a direct role in the suppression of fundamental freedoms and the mistreatment of citizens exercising their right to protest.