Tag: News Story

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.

STORY

The Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill is due to receive its second reading in the House of Lords on Tuesday. Members will debate the principles of the Bill before it moves to further stages if approved.

The legislation relates to public ownership of the steel industry and follows continuing political debate over the future of UK steelmaking, industrial capacity and support for strategic industries. The House of Lords debate will allow members to question the Government’s approach and propose concerns for later scrutiny.

The Bill will proceed to committee stage if it receives a second reading. At that stage, peers would be able to consider amendments and examine the text of the legislation in detail.

STORY

Kemi Badenoch has called on Labour leadership figures to support cuts to welfare spending and redirect savings towards defence. The Conservative leader made the intervention as the Government faces pressure over the Defence Investment Plan following ministerial resignations.

Sky News reported that Badenoch said Labour politicians arguing for higher defence spending needed to say where the money should come from. She said welfare spending should be reduced to make room for additional military investment.

The Government has said defence is a priority and has committed to increasing spending to 3% of GDP in the next Parliament. The dispute over the timetable and scale of funding has continued after the resignation of John Healey as Defence Secretary and Al Carns as Armed Forces Minister.

STORY

Employment Minister Kate Dearden has defended the Government’s workers’ rights reforms following criticism from business groups over the cost of the changes. She said the measures were intended to bring the UK closer to standards in other OECD countries.

The reforms include changes to sick pay, dismissal protections and union access to workplaces. Dearden said ministers were also continuing work on rights for unpaid carers and on the effects of artificial intelligence on employment.

Business groups have raised concerns that the measures could increase costs and reduce flexibility. Dearden said the Government wanted to support secure work while maintaining flexibility where it was genuinely chosen by workers.

STORY

Keir Starmer has spoken to US President Donald Trump about efforts to end the conflict with Iran. Downing Street said the Prime Minister welcomed progress towards a possible agreement and stressed the need for any settlement to deliver a lasting peace.

The Government said Starmer told Trump that the UK was ready to support the implementation of any peace agreement and to work with international partners. The two leaders also discussed the need to restore freedom of navigation because of the wider economic effects of the conflict.

The call took place ahead of the G7 summit, where international security and economic disruption linked to the conflict are expected to be discussed. Downing Street said the two leaders had agreed to remain in close contact.

STORY

The UK and Japan are expected to agree investments and partnerships worth more than £18 billion as the Prime Minister meets Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The Government said the package would support jobs in technology, clean energy, infrastructure, life sciences and defence related industries.

The agreement includes a proposed offshore wind compact intended to unlock up to £9 billion of Japanese investment into UK projects. The Government said the projects could support the development of 5.9GW of floating offshore wind capacity, including schemes off Scotland and in the Celtic Sea.

The two countries are also expected to agree a new frontier technology partnership covering artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, civil nuclear and defence technology. Ministers said the visit would strengthen the UK Japan relationship ahead of the G7 summit.

STORY

The Prime Minister has told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the Government will publish its Defence Investment Plan before the NATO summit in Ankara. The call followed the resignation of John Healey as Defence Secretary over the level and timing of defence spending.

Downing Street said both leaders agreed that NATO allies needed to strengthen collective defence and deliver more quickly in response to shared threats. Starmer said national security would remain the Government’s top priority and repeated his commitment to reaching defence spending of 3% of GDP in the next Parliament.

Rutte welcomed the UK’s increased defence investment, according to the Government readout. The forthcoming plan is expected to set out how ministers intend to fund military readiness, procurement and long term capability after recent criticism from former defence ministers.

STORY

UK forces have boarded a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the English Channel in the first UK led operation of its kind against Russia’s shadow fleet. The Government said Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers boarded the vessel Smyrtos after it entered UK territorial waters.

The Ministry of Defence said the operation lasted six hours and was supported by Royal Navy and RAF assets, including HMS Sutherland, HMS Ledbury, Maritime Air Group aircraft and an RAF P 8 aircraft. The vessel is to be held and monitored off the south coast while investigations continue.

The Prime Minister said the action was intended to disrupt Russia’s war economy. Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said the operation had been carried out by armed forces personnel and law enforcement officers and formed part of wider UK action against Russian sanctions evasion.

STORY

The Prime Minister and Taoiseach Micheál Martin have agreed to continue work to strengthen the integrity and security of the Common Travel Area. Downing Street said the two leaders discussed enhanced data sharing and joint intelligence operations during a call on 12 June.

The Prime Minister also raised the attack in Belfast earlier in the week and said his thoughts were with Stephen Ogilvie and his family. Downing Street said he condemned the violence that followed the attack and praised the response of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The leaders also discussed UK-EU relations ahead of Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency and a second UK-EU summit later this year. Downing Street said they reflected on progress towards closer cooperation intended to support business, the economy and shared interests.