Tag: News Story

STORY

UK inflation fell to 2.8% in the year to April, easing more than expected after lower household energy bills offset some of the upward pressure from fuel prices. The fall from 3.3% in March was reported after the April energy price cap reduction fed through into household bills.

The figures will be watched closely by ministers and the Bank of England as they assess the pressure on household finances. Food inflation also slowed, while economists said the softer headline number reduced the immediate likelihood of a further increase in interest rates.

The improvement may prove temporary, with fuel costs rising sharply following disruption in the Middle East and further pressure possible later in the year. For the Government, the figures provide some relief, although ministers remain under pressure to show that lower inflation is being felt in living standards.

STORY

Rachel Reeves has announced that the Government will give the Competition and Markets Authority stronger powers to investigate suspected price gouging during national or international crises. The Chancellor said the new anti-profiteering framework would allow regulators to act more quickly where companies are accused of exploiting sharp increases in costs.

The proposed powers would allow regulators to scrutinise company margins during supply shocks and publish data showing how those margins have changed. In more serious cases, ministers could give time-limited powers to order firms to stop exploitative pricing and impose penalties.

The announcement comes as ministers face pressure over rising living costs and energy prices linked to disruption in the Middle East. The Government has also been seeking voluntary action from supermarkets on essential food prices, although the retail sector has expressed concern about the practicality of such measures.

STORY

Knife robberies have fallen by 21% across the seven highest-volume police areas, according to new Home Office figures published at the start of Knife Crime Awareness Week. The Government said robberies involving a knife had fallen from 15,918 in summer 2024 to 12,633 by March 2026.

The figures cover the Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Avon and Somerset and British Transport Police. Ministers said the fall followed work by the Home Office-led Knife-Enabled Robbery Group, which was set up in October 2024 to improve intelligence-sharing, investigations and offender management.

Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said the figures showed what could be achieved through focused national leadership and close work with police forces. The Government said the reduction formed part of its wider commitment to halve knife crime, combining enforcement with early intervention and prevention work.

STORY

Andy Burnham has been confirmed as Labour’s candidate for the Makerfield by-election, opening the way for the Greater Manchester Mayor to seek a return to the House of Commons. The Guardian reported that Labour’s National Executive Committee approved Burnham’s candidacy and that he was the only candidate shortlisted by the party.

The by-election follows the resignation of Josh Simons, who stood down as MP to allow Burnham to contest the seat. The contest is expected to take place on 18 June, subject to confirmation by Commons authorities, and will be closely watched because of wider speculation about Labour’s leadership and direction.

Burnham is expected to face Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, who previously contested Makerfield at the 2024 general election and came second to Labour by 5,399 votes. The by-election is likely to be seen as a major test for Labour in a seat the party has held since its creation in 1983, particularly after recent Reform gains in the area.

STORY

The Charity Commission has said £2.5 million has been recovered for the Players Foundation after an inquiry found serious mismanagement at the football charity. The organisation was previously known as the Professional Footballers’ Association Charity and was established to support former and current professional players.

The regulator said £1.9 million had been transferred from the charity’s bank account to the Professional Footballers’ Association trade union without adequate explanation or governance. It also found that the charity had allowed the union to occupy its properties rent free for several years, causing financial loss to the charity.

The Charity Commission said the transferred sum, interest and outstanding rent had been repaid after it raised concerns. It said trustees had let down the players the charity was intended to support, and one trustee had been disqualified from serving as a trustee or holding a senior management position in a charity for four years.

STORY

Plaid Cymru has used the start of the new parliamentary session to press the UK Government for further devolution following its victory in the Welsh election. The Guardian reported that the party had tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech calling for additional justice, infrastructure and welfare powers to be transferred to the Senedd.

The move follows a major shift in Welsh politics, with Plaid Cymru taking office after an election in which Labour lost power and Reform UK became the main opposition in the expanded Senedd. Rhun ap Iorwerth’s party narrowly missed an absolute majority, leaving the new administration to define its relationship with Westminster.

The amendment is unlikely to force immediate constitutional change, but it signals that the new Welsh Government intends to test Labour’s stated openness to reform. It also creates an early political challenge for Starmer at a time when his Government is already facing pressure from within Labour and from opposition parties.

STORY

The debate over Britain’s future relationship with the European Union has returned to Westminster politics after senior Labour figures raised the prospect of closer ties or eventual re-entry. The Independent reported that former European officials warned the UK should not expect a bespoke arrangement if it sought to rejoin the bloc.

Sandro Gozi, a former Italian Europe minister and current MEP, said any future UK application would have to address the issues expected of any candidate country. The report said this could include questions around the euro, Schengen and the absence of the budget rebate the UK previously secured as a member state.

The issue has re-emerged after Wes Streeting (in photo) made pro-European arguments in his first speech from the back benches and Andy Burnham distanced himself from previous comments about reversing Brexit as he seeks support in Makerfield. Starmer has also suggested that rejoining the EU could be discussed years in the future, while maintaining that it is not the Government’s current policy.

STORY

A proposed rescue deal for Thames Water has reportedly been affected by political uncertainty around the future of the Government. The Guardian reported that ministers have been negotiating with a consortium of creditors led by Elliott Management over a possible takeover deal for the heavily indebted water company.

Government sources told the newspaper that the talks had run into difficulties partly because of uncertainty over whether Keir Starmer would remain Prime Minister. The report said some potential investors were concerned that Andy Burnham, if he eventually entered Downing Street, could take a more interventionist approach to utilities and public ownership.

A Government spokesperson said ministers would act in the national interest and that Thames Water remained financially stable, while the Government remained ready for all eventualities, including special administration if necessary. Thames Water has been attempting to avoid financial collapse after building up debts of more than £17 billion.

STORY

Andy Burnham has emerged as the clear favourite among Labour members in a poll on a possible future leadership contest. Sky News reported that a YouGov survey of Labour members placed the Greater Manchester mayor on 47% as first-choice candidate, ahead of Keir Starmer on 31%.

The poll was published as Burnham seeks to return to Parliament through the Makerfield by-election, although he has not yet been selected as Labour’s candidate. The by-election was triggered after Labour MP Josh Simons announced his intention to stand down, creating a possible route back to Westminster for the former cabinet minister.

The survey found Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary last week and said he would stand in any leadership race, on 4% as first choice. Starmer has continued to insist that he wants to lead Labour into the next general election, while allies have said the party should focus on governing rather than internal speculation.

STORY

UK employers cut hiring and posted fewer vacancies in April, according to official data that added to pressure on the Government over the state of the economy. Reuters reported that early payroll figures from HM Revenue and Customs showed a fall of 100,000 employees between March and April, the largest monthly drop since the early stages of the pandemic, though the Office for National Statistics said the estimate was likely to be revised.

The unemployment rate rose to 5.0% in the three months to March, while vacancies fell to their lowest level since early 2021. The ONS said lower-paying sectors including hospitality and retail had seen some of the largest falls in payroll numbers and vacancies over the latest period and across the year.

The figures come as ministers seek to demonstrate that the Government can deliver growth despite domestic political pressure and international economic uncertainty. Employers have warned that higher labour costs and employment law changes are affecting hiring plans, while the Government argues that its wider economic programme is designed to support investment and living standards.