Politics

Calls from pubs and the Liberal Democrats for alcohol licensing laws to be relaxed for Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final have been rejected by ministers. Pubs can choose when they open on Sundays, but the time from which they can start selling alcohol varies depending on each pub’s individual licence. The British Beer and Pub

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has been criticised for suggesting employers won’t ask pupils about their A-levels in a decade’s time. Ms Keegan said students “shouldn’t be disappointed” if their results were not what they had hoped for as top grades fell from last year – although they remain above pre-pandemic levels. Please use Chrome browser

The government has confirmed that two-thirds of NHS England cancer targets will be scrapped by the autumn as it aims to bring cancer care “into the modern era”. The new guidelines will see the 10 targets currently in place reduced to three – and the two-week wait target will be scrapped in favour of the

Better data over the use of handcuffs and other restraints on young innocent people in care is needed to help bring an end to the “brutal handcuffing of vulnerable children”, a cross-party group of MPs and peers has said. In a letter to children’s minister Claire Coutinho, the signatories said they are concerned at what

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to “say something” about the case of a man who spent 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit before having his conviction overturned. Former justice secretary Robert Buckland has said the Labour leader – who was director of public prosecutions (DPP) and head of the

The government will have left households in Britain “worse off”, even if official data on Wednesday shows a slowdown in the rate of inflation, Labour has said. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is expected to reveal the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation was down to 6.7% in July, from 7.9% the previous

Rishi Sunak has refused to say whether he was personally warned about potential health risks for asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm after bacteria was discovered on the barge. All 39 asylum seekers were removed from the vessel, which is currently docked in Portland, Dorset, on Friday after Legionella bacteria was found in the vessel’s

Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel has accused her former department of being “evasive” and “secretive” over how long it plans to use a former RAF base to house asylum seekers. In a letter to her successor Suella Braverman and the immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, earlier on Monday, Dame Priti wrote that the “lack of

Ministers are injecting £250m into the NHS ahead of winter as they try to get a grip on record waiting times for treatment. The funding for 30 NHS organisations across England will create 900 new beds in urgent and emergency care services to avoid patients needing to be admitted and occupying hospital spaces. However, a

Asylum seekers should still be put back on the Bibby Stockholm barge despite the row caused by the discovery of Legionella, the health secretary has said. Legionella bacteria can cause a potentially deadly lung infection known as Legionnaires’ disease. It is contracted by people breathing in droplets of water containing the bacteria. None of the

The government has defended its immigration strategy after deaths in the English Channel prompted renewed criticism of the “stop the boats” pledge – including from Tory MPs. At least six people died after a small boat crossing from France to the UK capsized and sank, in what has been described as an “appalling and preventable”

The deaths of six people after a migrant boat capsized in the English Channel has been described as an “appalling and preventable tragedy”. Campaigners are urging the government to create more safe routes to the UK, with the Refugee Council warning “more people will die” unless urgent action is taken. Meanwhile, MPs from across the

Asylum seekers on board the Bibby Stockholm were not told to stop showering or drinking water during their stay despite Legionella bacteria being discovered in the water supply, a source told Sky News. Stand Up to Racism, who have been in contact with migrants who have been moved from the barge, heard reports that the

Jeremy Hunt’s younger brother has died from an ‘aggressive’ form of cancer aged 53. Charlie Hunt, a father-of-three, died peacefully on August 2, his family said in a statement to the Daily Telegraph. The chancellor spoke last month about how the disease had hit his family, with his sibling having been diagnosed with sarcoma in

Asylum seekers are being removed from the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset after Legionella bacteria was found in the water. All of those on board are likely to be taken to new accommodation as a precautionary measure. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick is understood to be chairing meetings about the situation. Legionella bacteria, which is commonly

The discovery of Legionella on board the Bibby Stockholm is the latest embarrassing setback in a plan beset with controversy and delay from the very start. Thankfully, no one on board has developed any symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially serious form of pneumonia spread by infected water droplets. The Home Office insist the 39

The number of people who have crossed the English Channel in small boats in the past five years is now likely to have passed 100,000. Government figures show that since 2018, when records began, 99,960 people have made the perilous journey from France to the UK as of Tuesday. With more than 40 people believed

Thousands of patients stuck on NHS waiting lists could be offered treatment much sooner at another facility – as long as they are willing and able to travel. As part of government efforts to bring down record waiting lists for healthcare, the NHS is expanding its new online “matching” platform to offer more patients quicker

Diane Abbott has been accused of exploiting the deaths of 41 migrants in a shipwreck off Italy in a now-deleted tweet about the tragedy. The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, who is currently suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party, tweeted a link to an article about the deaths earlier today, and wrote: “These

A government minister has called for “absentee” Tory MP Nadine Dorries to officially resign, saying her constituents are not being properly represented – while a Labour MP has said the Conservative is “taking voters for a ride”. Robert Jenrick said Downing Street will “consider” proposals to oust her from the Commons but she should “get