Tag: News Story

NEWS STORY

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation after a Metrolink tram derailed on the approach to Piccadilly tram stop in Manchester on 5 April. The tram, travelling from Ashton to Bury, was moving at about 8mph when the wheels on one axle left the track, though the driver was initially unaware and the tram continued into the stop, where passengers were able to get off. No injuries were reported and only minor damage was caused.

Investigators said they will examine the sequence of events leading to the derailment, including the design, maintenance and management of the track, the condition and management of the tram itself, its operation at the time and any underlying contributing factors. The RAIB said its work is independent of any inquiries by the tram industry or the Office of Rail and Road, and that a final report with any safety recommendations will be published when the investigation is complete.

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Britain has announced a new £20.5 million humanitarian package for displaced people in Lebanon, as Middle East minister Hamish Falconer visited Beirut and urged all sides to end hostilities. The Foreign Office said the funding would support the Lebanese Government’s crisis response, with the minister using the first UK ministerial visit since the latest regional escalation to reaffirm British backing for Lebanon and for direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

During the visit, Falconer also met political leaders and viewed humanitarian projects backed by the UK, with ministers presenting the aid package as part of a wider effort to stabilise Lebanon amid a deepening regional crisis. The Government said security and stability in the Middle East would be a major issue at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, while the announcement comes against a backdrop of mass displacement and mounting international pressure for an end to the fighting.

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Ipswich Labour Party have made allegations about the conduct of Green party candidate Sue Hagley. The party stated that Hagley was involved in the vandalism of Ipswich Borough Council’s Grafton House and was found guilty of criminal damage.

The council confirmed that there was a cost of £273.57 incurred in fixing the vandalism, which the courts later ordered Hagley to contribute to. The Green Party confirmed that Hagley was standing for them at the May local elections.

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Olly Robbins has stepped down as the Foreign Office’s top civil servant after ministers lost confidence in him over the handling of Peter Mandelson’s security vetting for the role of UK ambassador to the United States. The resignation follows reports that Mandelson initially failed a security recommendation, but officials overruled that decision and approved his clearance without ministers being informed at the time.

The row has become one of the most damaging scandals facing Keir Starmer’s Government, with Mandelson already under intense scrutiny over allegations linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer has said it was “unforgivable” that he was not told about the failed vetting recommendation.

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The UK has voiced support for stronger coordination between the European Union and the United Nations on international peace and security, using a statement at the UN Security Council to underline a more cooperative tone in Britain’s relationship with the bloc. Speaking in New York, Ambassador James Kariuki said close cooperation between the UN and regional organisations was essential at a time of growing global instability, and pointed to the EU-UN Strategic Partnership as an important framework for maintaining peace and security.

Kariuki said the Government also welcomed improved UK-EU ties since the 2025 UK-EU Summit and the signing of the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership. He highlighted the EU’s backing for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, its role in the Western Balkans through the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and EUFOR Althea as well as wider cooperation on civilian protection, climate related security and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

The statement also pointed to areas beyond Europe where the UK sees the EU as a key partner, including the Middle East, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kariuki said the upcoming Berlin Conference on Sudan, co-hosted by the UK, the EU, Germany and others, would be a chance to drive practical action, while also backing efforts to reform the UN through the UN 80 process. He said Britain shared the goal of a reformed and representative UN capable of advancing peace, development and human rights.

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Government Press Release

STORY

Britain will not support or take part in any US led blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with the Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying the Government’s priority is to help restore freedom of navigation through the vital shipping route rather than become involved in further military escalation. The stance puts London at odds with Donald Trump’s latest move against Iran, after the US announced plans to enforce a blockade on maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports following the collapse of diplomatic efforts.

Starmer said British military assets in the region, including minesweepers, were there to support the reopening of the strait and protect shipping, not to participate in offensive action. Britain’s refusal has been echoed by other NATO allies, with France also backing a separate defensive approach focused on safe passage for commercial vessels and wider international coordination rather than joining Trump’s hard line strategy.

The split comes as fears grow over the economic consequences of prolonged disruption in the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz carries a large share of the world’s oil trade, and renewed tensions have already pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel, adding to concerns over inflation, fuel costs and wider pressure on the British economy.

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Donald Trump has launched a fresh public attack on Pope Leo XIV, accusing the pontiff of being “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” after the Pope criticised war rhetoric and defended the Church’s duty to speak for peace. The clash marks a striking escalation in tensions between the White House and the Vatican, with Trump also attacking the Pope’s stance on immigration and suggesting his election was politically motivated.

The Vatican has not stayed silent in the face of the remarks. Speaking while travelling to Algeria, Pope Leo said he was not afraid of Trump and would continue to speak out against war, insisting that his message was rooted in the Gospel rather than politics. In separate reporting, he was also said to have “no intention to debate” Trump directly, signalling that while he would not trade insults with the US president, he would not retreat from his criticism either.

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik al Said of Oman on Sunday as the two leaders discussed regional security, the peace talks held in Pakistan over the weekend and the need to maintain the ceasefire. According to Downing Street, both men agreed it was vital that all sides avoided any further escalation and found a way through the current tensions.

During the call, the Sultan updated the Prime Minister on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer thanked Oman for its efforts to rescue sailors from vessels in distress in the region. Downing Street said the Prime Minister also pointed to ongoing international work to restore freedom of navigation, following meetings led by the Foreign Secretary and British military planners.

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Government Press Release

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Golden eagles could return to England for the first time in more than 150 years under a new Government backed recovery programme announced by Defra. Ministers have approved an additional £1 million to explore reintroducing the birds, with a study by Forestry England identifying eight potential recovery zones, mostly in the north of England, where populations could be sustained.

The birds were once widespread across England but were driven close to extinction by persecution in the Victorian period, with only a handful of pairs recorded since and the last eagle in the Lake District dying in 2016. Under the new plans, juveniles aged six to eight weeks could be released as early as next year as part of a wider effort to restore the species.

The project will be led by the charity Restoring Upland Nature in partnership with Forestry England, drawing on the model used by the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, where populations have recovered strongly in recent years. Officials said some Scottish birds have already begun crossing into northern England, and the new funding will support further work with local communities, landowners, farmers and conservation groups before any reintroduction goes ahead.

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Government Press Release

The comments made by Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, on 12 April 2026.

Trump, Putin, Farage… your boy took a hell of a beating.

Congratulations to the people of Hungary for showing that populist extremists can be defeated – even despite Donald Trump’s best efforts.