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Burnham is jetting to Kyiv as Russians rage at UK drone raids
Andy Burnham, the UK Prime Minister, is travelling to Kyiv to mark Ukraine’s independence day and reaffirm British support, in a trip that comes as tensions with Russia sharply escalate over the use of UK-supplied drones in strikes deep inside Russian territory. The Kremlin has warned of “consequences” for Britain’s growing involvement and has recalled…
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Government vows to make business rate valuations for pubs and hotels fairer
The UK government has pledged to overhaul how business rate valuations are calculated for pubs and hotels in England and Wales, following mounting pressure on Andy Burnham to support the struggling hospitality sector. An independent review will examine how the valuation system could be made fairer ahead of the next revaluation in 2029, after venues…
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UK productivity growing faster than official figures suggest, thinktank finds
Analysis by the Resolution Foundation suggests UK productivity is growing more strongly than official statistics indicate, hinting that the economy may finally be shaking off the long-term effects of the 2008 financial crisis. The thinktank’s findings imply that Chancellor John Healey may have inherited an economy in better shape than headline figures suggest, which matters…
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Arriva bus strikes return as City close in on Bouaddi, Kejelcha smashes half marathon record
More than 1,500 Arriva North London bus drivers strike next week after talks collapsed; a report criticises a £8m Albanian prisoner transfer scheme; DR Congo and M23 agree a peace roadmap; and Man City near a €100m deal for Ayyoub Bouaddi.
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Showdown at the top of Police Scotland as chief is told: ‘You’ve lost the dressing room’
Police Scotland’s chief constable, Jo Farrell, has reportedly been told by a senior colleague that she has “lost the dressing room” amid growing turmoil at the top of the force. According to sources cited by the Mail, Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Middleton raised the concerns directly with Farrell, warning her that colleagues lacked confidence in…
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Wean-spotting! Ewan McGregor on his joy at son’s Scots accent, and moving back to Scotland to be closer with family
Ewan McGregor has revealed he moved back to Scotland to be closer to his ageing parents, with the added bonus of his young son picking up a Scottish accent. The 55-year-old Trainspotting star, who left home at 16, said being separated from his elderly parents and brother for two years during the Covid pandemic made…
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STEPHEN DAISLEY: Sadly for patients, the NHS has gone down with the sickness of secrecy… a malady that starts at the very top
Columnist Stephen Daisley argues that the Scottish NHS is being undermined by a culture of secrecy that prioritises institutional reputation over patient safety, warning that this makes patients less likely to trust the healthcare system with their lives. He cites senior figures including BMA Scotland chief Dr Iain Kennedy and patient safety commissioner Karen Titchener…
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How the Great British chippy now costs £11: Average price of traditional fish and chip takeaways soars as overfishing of cod and sanctions against Russia take their toll on shops
The average cost of a portion of fish and chips in Britain has risen sharply to around £11, up from £6.95 five years ago, as overfishing of cod and haddock combines with sanctions on Russian fishing firms to squeeze supply. The traditional Friday-night takeaway is becoming increasingly unaffordable, prompting some chip shops to substitute cod…
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The National Grid collapses, Britain goes dark… chaos is unleashed: Nightmare scenario that Britain’s Net Zero obsession is pushing us ever closer to, by energy expert KATHRYN PORTER
An energy analyst has laid out a hypothetical scenario in which a supply-demand imbalance triggers a cascading failure of Britain’s national grid, plunging the country into darkness and disrupting hospitals, transport, communications and emergency services. Writing as a warning rather than a prediction, energy consultant Kathryn Porter argues the grid is now more fragile than…
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Chinese research centre owned by car giant Chery near MoD site means Beijing could snoop on Britain’s Armed Forces and steal military test data, says ex-spy chief
A Chinese-owned research centre being set up by carmaker Chery near the UTCA Millbrook testing site in Bedfordshire has raised security concerns, as it means the company will use the same tracks as the Ministry of Defence to test its vehicles. Millbrook is one of Europe’s largest vehicle testing facilities and is used by the…