Labour to pledge to renationalise railways if elected

“biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation” Labour will pledge to renationalise the railways if elected, in what the party will call the “biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation.” A Labour government would expect to transfer rail networks to public ownership within its first term by folding existing private passenger rail contracts into a new body as they expire, shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh will say at a launch event […]

April 25, 2024 2

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Sunak promises to increase defence spending

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised an extra £75 billion in defence spending over the next six years. He says it will put the UK arms industry on a “war footing” in the face of threats from an “axis of authoritarian states” including Russia and China. He said the UK will spend 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2030 because the world was “the most dangerous it has been since […]

April 24, 2024

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Migrants die attempting Channel crossing after Rwanda Bill passes

Five people including a child died while attempting to cross the English Channel as government says it is doing “everything we can” to stop the boats. Five people including a child died while attempting to cross the English Channel just hours after the Rwanda law aimed at deterring migrants cleared Parliament. Home Secretary James Cleverly said “these tragedies have to stop” and insisted the Government is doing “everything we can” […]

April 23, 2024

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Rishi Sunak says Nothing will stand in our way of getting Rwanda flights off the ground

The Prime Minister has said “nothing will stand in our way” of getting flights off the ground after the Government’s Rwanda deportation plan passed through Parliament. The Prime Minister has said “nothing will stand in our way” of getting flights off the ground after the Government’s Rwanda deportation plan passed through Parliament. The House of Lords had been engaged in an extended tussle over the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill on Monday, sending it […]

April 23, 2024 1

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Two men charged following China ‘spying’ investigation

Two men have been charged with spying for China after an investigation by counter-terrorism police. Christopher Berry, 32, from Witney in Oxfordshire, and Christopher Cash, 29, from Whitechapel in east London, are both accused of an offence under the Official Secrets Act, the Metropolitan Police said. It is alleged that between December 2021 and February 2023 Berry “for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State, obtained, collected, recorded, […]

April 23, 2024 1

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ASLEF to stage Bank Holiday strike action

Train drivers at 16 rail companies are to stage a fresh series of strikes in the week of the May bank holiday. Members of Aslef will walk out on May 7, 8 and 9 at different operators and ban overtime for six days from May 6. The union said it had not met employers or the government for more than a year, accusing ministers of “giving up” trying to resolve […]

April 23, 2024 1

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Rishi Sunak to urge peers to back Rwanda plan

Rishi Sunak is urging peers to back his Rwanda plan as it faces its final parliamentary showdown. The Prime Minister has made the call ahead of crunch votes on the legislation aimed at making the plan to send asylum seekers on a one-way trip to Rwanda legally watertight. Weeks of parliamentary back-and-forth are set to come to a head on Monday night. The Government has vowed to keep Parliament sitting […]

April 22, 2024

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Report finds smart motorway safety systems fail

Technology aimed at keeping drivers safe on smart motorways frequently stops working, an investigation has found. There have been hundreds of incidents when safety equipment was out of action in recent years, figures obtained by BBC Panorama show. AA president Edmund King said these failures are “every driver’s worst nightmare” as he called for hard shoulders to be reinstated on all smart motorways where they have been removed. National Highways […]

April 22, 2024

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Youth mobility scheme ruled out by UK

UK rejects talks on EU-wide youth mobility scheme. The Government has ruled out any post-Brexit deal that would make it easier for young Britons to live, study and work in the EU. The European Commission said on Thursday it would seek permission from EU member states to open negotiations on a “youth mobility scheme” for UK citizens aged 18-30. But a Government spokesperson said there was no interest from the […]

April 21, 2024 2

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