Tag: News Story

STORY

Five people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud following allegations of electoral fraud connected with last month’s local elections in Tameside. Greater Manchester Police said four men and a woman, aged between 23 and 47, were arrested at addresses in Tameside on 21 May after concerns were raised about candidates in St Peter’s ward.

The investigation follows claims that individuals had been encouraged to stand as independent candidates in the ward in order to split opposition votes. Police said the inquiry is focused on how candidates were put forward and represented, and whether the process complied with electoral law and procedures.

Tameside Council said it placed great importance on protecting the integrity of elections and was working closely with the police and other relevant authorities. Greater Manchester Police said it was also working with the Electoral Commission while enquiries continue.

STORY

The Government has announced a £1bn package for PE and school sport, saying the funding is intended to reduce inequality in children’s access to physical activity. Ministers said the programme would provide targeted support for schools and pupils who currently face barriers to participation.

The Department for Education said the funding would support new opportunities for children and help improve physical fitness, wellbeing and attendance. The announcement comes amid wider Government concern about children’s health, mental wellbeing and regional disparities in access to sport and enrichment activities.

Ministers said the package formed part of efforts to end what they described as a fitness postcode lottery. Schools and sporting bodies are expected to play a central role in delivering the programme, with the Government arguing that sport can support wider educational and social outcomes.

STORY

Adrian Bird has been appointed as the new head of the Joint Intelligence Organisation and Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee. The Cabinet Secretary made the appointment with the approval of the Prime Minister, placing Bird in one of the most senior intelligence assessment roles in Government.

The Joint Intelligence Organisation supports ministers and senior officials by coordinating intelligence assessment across Government. The Joint Intelligence Committee provides strategic assessments on national security, foreign

policy and other major international issues.

The appointment comes at a period of heightened security challenges, including the war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, cyber threats and the use of new technologies by hostile states. The role is central to how intelligence is assessed and presented to ministers when making national security decisions.

STORY

The Government has announced a new Judicial and Legal Diversity Board aimed at improving diversity and transparency within the judiciary. The Ministry of Justice said the board would help identify barriers to judicial appointment and support work to ensure the judiciary better reflects modern Britain.

The initiative is part of wider efforts to increase confidence in the justice system and improve access to judicial careers. Ministers said the board would bring together senior figures from the justice system and legal profession to develop practical steps for widening participation.

The announcement comes alongside continued debate about representation in senior public institutions. The Government said improving diversity in the judiciary was important not only as a matter of fairness, but also for public trust in courts and tribunals.

STORY

Restaurant owners have criticised Rachel Reeves’ plan to cut tax on children’s meals, warning that the measure may have limited impact on family budgets or business costs. The Guardian reported that some restaurateurs described the proposal as a political soundbite rather than a policy likely to make a significant difference during the summer holidays.

The measure forms part of the Chancellor’s wider cost of living package, which is designed to show that the Government is responding to household pressure. Ministers have sought to focus on targeted support for families, including measures linked to food prices and children’s activities.

The response from parts of the hospitality sector underlines the difficulty facing the Treasury as it tries to design measures that are visible to voters but affordable within tight fiscal constraints. Reeves is facing pressure from Labour MPs to go further on living costs, while also seeking to reassure markets that the Government will maintain discipline over borrowing and tax policy.

STORY

Campaigning in the Makerfield by-election has entered its first weekend, with the contest attracting national attention because of Andy Burnham’s attempt to return to Westminster. ITV News reported that Burnham has said the by-election could “change Labour”, as the Greater Manchester Mayor seeks to win the seat for the party.

The Liberal Democrats have selected Stockport councillor Jake Austin as their candidate, while the Conservatives have named Michael Winstanley. Reform UK is standing Robert Kenyon, who came second in Makerfield at the 2024 general election. The Green Party is reopening its selection process after Chris Kennedy withdrew shortly after being chosen.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons, who stood down to clear a path for Burnham. The contest is expected to be watched closely because of Labour’s wider leadership tensions, Reform UK’s recent electoral advances and the importance of northern English seats to Labour’s parliamentary strength.

STORY

Rachel Reeves’ allies have begun making the case for her to remain Chancellor if Labour changes leader, according to reports. The Guardian said supporters of Reeves were arguing that she would be the best figure to maintain market confidence and protect the Government’s economic credibility during a period of political instability.

The intervention comes amid continuing speculation about Keir Starmer’s future and the possibility of a leadership contest. Reeves has faced criticism from within Labour over fiscal policy, but her supporters point to improved IMF growth forecasts, recent falls in inflation and the Government’s cost of living measures as evidence that her approach is producing results.

The Chancellor’s position is likely to become part of any wider debate about Labour’s direction. Some Labour figures have argued for a more expansive economic programme, while others have warned that any move away from fiscal discipline could unsettle investors and increase pressure on the public finances.

STORY

David Miliband has said the UK needs a national consensus on its future relationship with the European Union, following reports that the Government has proposed a single market for goods with the bloc. The former Foreign Secretary said the UK required a more substantial reset than the current approach, while accepting that the terms Britain had before Brexit were no longer available.

Miliband said the EU itself had changed significantly since the 2016 referendum, particularly because of the war in Ukraine and the question of future enlargement. He argued that the UK needed to think strategically about its long-term place in Europe, rather than treating the relationship as a narrow trade negotiation.

His comments come as Labour faces internal debate over Europe, with some figures calling for a closer economic relationship and others warning ministers not to abandon the party’s election commitments. The Government has said it will not rejoin the EU, the customs union or the full single market, but is seeking practical measures to reduce trade friction.

STORY

The UK Government has proposed creating a single market for goods with the European Union as part of efforts to deepen post-Brexit trade links, according to reports. Reuters said the proposal had been put forward during discussions with Brussels, with ministers seeking ways to reduce barriers for businesses while maintaining Labour’s stated red lines on free movement and full single market membership.

The EU is reported to have rejected the proposal in its current form, arguing instead that the UK would need to consider options such as a customs union or closer alignment with the European Economic Area. The Government has said it wants a closer and more stable relationship with the EU, particularly on food standards, emissions trading, defence procurement and industrial cooperation.

The talks come ahead of a planned UK-EU summit in July, where both sides are expected to seek progress on trade and cooperation measures. The issue is politically sensitive for Labour, with ministers facing pressure from business groups for closer alignment and from opponents who warn against reopening major elements of the Brexit settlement.

STORY

The Government has announced pilots to overhaul the fit note system in England, saying the current arrangements do not provide enough support for people who become ill, employers or healthcare professionals. The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care said four pilots would test new approaches through selected NHS WorkWell sites and major employers.

The Government said around 11 million fit notes are issued each year, with more than nine in ten declaring the person not fit for work. The pilots will cover up to 100,000 appointments and run for up to a year, testing personalised “stay in work” and “return to work” plans. Patients may either receive an initial fit note from a GP before being referred to a support service, or be referred directly to a separate service staffed by clinical and non-clinical practitioners.

The pilots will begin from July in Birmingham and Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and Lancashire and South Cumbria. Ministers said the reforms are intended to reduce unnecessary GP administration while bringing together patients, employers and trained professionals to discuss adjustments and support. The Government said findings from the pilots will inform future legislation on fit note reform.