UK news

UK news

For Alec Priest, an instrument technician at Sullom Voe oil terminal on Shetland, the case for digging tunnels under the narrow stretches of ocean that separate his home from work is clear-cut. As things stand, two ageing ferries crossing tidal sounds notorious for their powerful currents break up his commute. For a casual tourist, that adds to the mystique. For time-pressed islanders, care workers and businesses, it adds delays, stress and costs.

Transport for London (TfL) is spending up to £11million annually on cracking down on graffiti on Tube trains, it has emerged. From soggy piles to wooden beams: Inside Colindale's new timber tube station ianVisits HS2 head office managers sent out to sites Construction Enquirer Thousands gather to say goodbye to 'iconic' SWR trains that have served Surrey for decades Surrey Live A rail commuter who regularly travels into London has said smaller replacement trains are frequently causing overcrowding. BBC News

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum.

Londoners making journeys by car and train will be keeping a close eye on the weather as snow and ice threaten to cause travel disruption.

It's time to break out the champagne as UK stock markets have delivered a New Year's treat.

"Someone came up to me speaking nonsensically, I didn't understand what he was saying," he said. "I tried to leave and as I turned my back he struck me in my lower back. "When you wake up and think 'what's my day going to be like?' you really don't want to think about 'maybe I'll be attacked today'." Mr Gregory added: "We're not out here to get you, we're trying to keep traffic flowing."

This warning highlights the risk of disruptive snow showers and icy surfaces, particularly in northern and eastern areas, with impacts on travel and potential hazards for the public. We expect this cold spell to persist into the weekend and on into next week, with further warnings possible as temperatures remain well below average and snow showers continue in places.

Hundreds of families in one of England's poorest neighbourhoods will be evicted under a 90m plan described by critics as a mass dispersion of vulnerable people. Four hundred homes in Blackpool will be bulldozed this summer and replaced with 230 new properties under levelling up proposals signed off by Rishi Sunak's government. The area has more than 800 people about 250 of them children who are in the poorest 10th of the population of England, according to official documents.

A combination of a world record-breaking trawler, a floating lighthouse and a dizzying array of maritime objects that include a stuffed polar bear called Erik are all helping to make Hull one of the top 25 places in the world to visit in 2026. The East Yorkshire city is on the verge of completing an ambitious 70m transformation, which, supporters believe, will propel it into becoming an international tourist destination.

Ten English fire services tackled a record number of grassland, woodland and crop fires during what was the UK's hottest spring and summer on record, figures show. In total nearly 27,000 wildfires were dealt with by fire services in England during the prolonged dry weather of 2025, according to analysis by PA Media. One fire chief said the summer was one of the most challenging that crews had ever faced and the frequency and intensity of the wildfires was putting a strain on resources.

The UK's train companies are set to kick off the new year with a January sale, offering discounted fares for journeys across the UK. The participating operators in the Great British Rail Sale are: All the DfT-regulated train companies are taking part in the Great British Rail Sale, and while GWR is also part of the January sale, it is also running an additional promotion here.

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum.

My parents wanted this to their final resting place, but it isn't going to be because of the sea. Projections suggest at least part of the churchyard could fall into the sea in the next 80 years, but Mason fears it will happen much sooner. I think it's got less than 20 years, if you look at what's happened in the last 30 years, he said.

The 'Next UK General Election - Most Seats' betting market has been hugely popular with bettors this week. Reform are the odds-on favourites at 10/11 to win the most seats at the next general election.

It's been a bit of a mixed bag, if I'm honest. The first half of the year was rather hampered by health gremlins, which put a definite dent in my usual habit of wandering off in random directions and spotting odd, interesting things simply by being out and about. That said, there's always a flip side. It turned out to be a cracking year for exhibitions,

At the start of the year, hundreds of swimmers returned to south-west London for the Cold Water Swimming Championships at Tooting Bec Lido. Almost 100 races, including a best hat competition, were held in the 5.5C (41.9F) water, marking the first time the championships had been held at the venue since before the Covid pandemic.

Facebook hosted terrorist propaganda that celebrated the murder of Jews and praised Islamic State, a leading anti-hate group has alleged. The posts included celebrations of the Bondi beach massacre that the Community Security Trust says Facebook has been too slow to take down. The posts were still on Facebook on 16 December, two days after the attack, and received shares and likes.

People will be barred from watching London's New Year's Eve fireworks from a popular beauty spot where thousands usually flock to celebrate. The park in Camden has panoramic views of the capital and in 2024 an estimated 30,000 revellers marked the beginning of year at the park. As officers prepare for one of the busiest nights of the year for emergency services, the force reminded Londoners and visitors not to try and gather in Primrose Hill as they have been able to in previous years.

Aaron Anderson, from Consett, sustained life-threatening injuries when a John Deere Gator overturned at a farm near Burnopfield, County Durham, on December 21. Durham Police confirmed the incident, and in a tribute released through the force, Aaron's family described him as a "cheeky chappie who was always smiling and would never fail to brighten up your day". He had been receiving treatment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

A hundred years ago, if you wanted a knighthood, say, a baronetcy or even a peerage and, worthy or not, were prepared to pay for it, you called on a man named Arthur Maundy Gregory, who had set up in a large office almost directly opposite Downing Street. Liveried servants, their uniforms so closely modelled on those of House of Commons messengers that you could not tell the difference, would usher you into Gregory's office, where the man himself, immaculately dressed,

Parts of the UK have been placed under an amber health alert as Brits prepare to ring in the 2026 New Year's celebrations amid frosty conditions. Snow may be in store for some parts of the country, with temperatures dipping to -4 degrees, and there are even reports that the first week of January may see a sprinkling of snow in London. But what about New Year's Eve?