UK news

UK news

Work to fix hospitals built using unsafe concrete will not be completed in time to meet the government's target, a new report has warned. Seven hospitals built using Raac, or reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, were prioritised for remedial work last year, with the government setting a deadline of 2030. The new buildings are now expected to open in 2032 and 2033 - but some are already facing pressure to meet the revised timetable, the National Audit Office (NAO) said.

The UK economy returned to growth in November, expanding by 0.3 per cent after contracting in the month leading up to the autumn budget, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. The increase in GDP exceeded economists' expectations of a modest 0.1 per cent rise and suggests that economic activity proved more resilient than many sentiment surveys had indicated in the run-up to the budget on 26 November.

Around the turn of the 21st century, the U.K. witnessed a dramatic surge in housing prices: the costs rose from four times peoples' annual earnings in 1995, to eight times by 2010. Homeowners subsequently enjoyed a wealth windfall, and it resulted in their kids receiving more housing wealth and higher-paying jobs, according to recent research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Lower-income renters, on the other hand, were faced with new affordability challenges.

A burglar filmed himself before and after raids, with the footage used by police as key evidence to convict him. Hamza Ghafoor, 22, of Sunderland Road, Bradford, was part of a gang that travelled into Lancashire from Bradford to commit a total of nine burglaries of high-value vehicles. In one September 2023 incident, a 35,000 Volkswagen Tiguan was stolen, while in October that same year, a 79,000 BMW X3 was taken.

Filing your Self-Assessment tax return each year is usually considered one of the less enjoyable tasks, particularly for those who are self-employed or need to report additional income. However, it is not only important to file on time to avoid penalties - it is equally essential to ensure accuracy. Many people do not realise that HMRC can issue fines for careless mistakes, alongside interest on unpaid tax, even if errors are accidental. Leaving your return to the last minute also slightly increases the risk of errors and delays.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. 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

Image source, Getty Images Emma Raducanu's Australian Open preparations suffered a blow as she was stunned by world number 204 Taylah Preston at the Hobart International. British number one Raducanu was the top seed at the event - her final one before the first Grand Slam of the year begins on Sunday. However, she will travel to Melbourne with just one win under her belt after a 6-2 6-4 quarter-final defeat by Australia's Preston.

Footage shows Andrew Pickering, 50, raiding a service station in Ouston, Durham, before repeatedly wobbling on a stepladder in a haphazard bid to flee the scene through a hole in the roof. In the CCTV clips, released by Durham Constabulary, Pickering clambers up the ladder used to make his entry before making dramatic falls back to the ground four times - before eventually opting to exit via the door.

The N118 route will launch on Saturday January 17. It'll follow the same journey as the existing N18 bus, starting at Trafalgar Square and serving all the same stops up to Sudbury and Harrow Road station. From there, it'll turn off towards Ruislip station in Hillingdon, travelling via Whitton Avenue West, Sheridan Terrace, Pett's Hill, Alexandra Avenue, Eastcote Lane, Victoria Road and Pembroke Road.

Severe delays are expected on the M25 this afternoon following an earlier crash near the London commuter town of Brentwood. The crash happened at around 1.40pm just beyond Junction 28 (A12, Brentwood/Brook Street Roundabout), bringing the M25 anticlockwise to a standstill. Queues are stretching back to Junction 29 (Romford), and severe delays are expected. Emergency services have been contacted for comment about the earlier crash.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. 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.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. 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.

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.

It has been suggested by government representatives that these matters rest solely with the independent judiciary. This is not fully true. While decisions on bail are rightly made by the courts, we understand that the attorney general or the director of public prosecutions could notify defence counsel that should a fresh application for bail be made, the government will cooperate in bringing it promptly before the high court and will not oppose a grant of bail.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. 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.

Three detained British activists who spent weeks refusing food have ended their hunger strike, citing a report that a United Kingdom-based subsidiary of a major Israeli weapons company was denied a UK government contract. The Prisoners for Palestine group said in a statement on Wednesday that hunger-strikers Kamran Ahmed, Heba Muraisi and Lewie Chiaramello ended their strike after one of their key demands was achieved.

The UK government is appealing the September 2025 decision to dismiss the case against Liam Og O hAnnaidh, which was thrown out on technical grounds relating to how the charge against him was brought. He was charged in May after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, in November 2024.

According to CNT, Gatwick's main issue is essentially that it punches above its weight. Despite being the second busiest airport in the country, it only has one runway, which means that congestion and bottlenecks are not uncommon. There's pressure to have everything running smoothly, which is basically impossible because one small hiccough can 'ripple quickly across schedules' and cause widespread disruption.

A points failure at West Drayton has resulted in delays on the Elizabeth line this morning. There are also delays on the District and Windrush lines, while a points failure at Victoria also means there is a reduced service on the Gatwick Express.

My immediate feeling was just one of shame really. I was very emotional, she said, just born from the perspective that I really felt like I'd let down the girls that I was running for and I'd really kind of got this narrative in my head and psyched myself up that what I was doing was just so insignificant in comparison to what they're enduring.

Rail services were halted after a massive fire broke out on train tracks between Peckham and Bermondsey on Tuesday evening, causing travel chaos for Londoners. The fire broke out between Queen's Road Peckham and South Bermondsey railway stations. Three fire engines and approximately 15 firefighters were rushed to the scene, trains were stopped in both directions and power was cut. In videos shared to social media, the huge fire can be seen illuminating the night sky.

A domestic abuser has been found guilty of murdering her partner in a hotel room. James Self, 47, died six weeks after Polly Murphy attacked him in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, on 8 November 2023. Essex Police said Murphy had inflicted a "sustained campaign of abuse" upon Self and was "increasingly volatile" in the weeks leading up to the murder. Murphy, 42, of Hornsey Lane Gardens in Highgate, London, will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on 4 February.

A former singer with Spandau Ballet told a woman 'thanks for being cool about it' when she calmly talked him down from raping her, a court has heard. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she woke up to find Ross Davidson trying to have sex with her in a hotel in Thailand without her permission and without a condom.

Child killer Jon Venables is set to have his latest bid for freedom heard by the Parole Board. The 43-year-old, who tortured and murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, will have his case heard by parole chiefs at an oral hearing more than two years after his last appeal. In 2023, the Parole Board rejected the bid and found he still posed a danger to children and could go on to offend again.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. 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.

There are hundreds of open investigations into content shared on X, a senior Irish police officer has said, amid concerns over potential child sexual abuse material (CSAM) generated on the platform using the artificial intelligence tool Grok. Irish politicians convened on Wednesday for an Oireachtas Media Committee hearing with Irish police and other experts which largely dealt with growing concerns over the proliferation of CSAM and other AI-generated sexualised material on the social network.

I reflect on my seven years at the club with a huge amount of gratitude. I arrived at the club in 2019 with a few suitcases and a girlfriend, I'm leaving the club with a lot of memories, new friends, a wife and baby,

A deepening area of low pressure will head north eastwards across the UK on Thursday, bringing heavy rain and potentially strong winds. The exact track of the low is uncertain, so it's best to keep an eye on the forecast as the week progresses and we firm up on the details. A Yellow warning for rain covers southern England, southeast Wales and parts of the Midlands, with 20 to 40mm of rain expected widely.

Hiring across London's financial services sector softened in the final quarter of 2025 as organisations responded to economic, political and market pressures. While Q4 is traditionally the most conservative hiring period due to seasonality, this slowdown was amplified by global market volatility, US trade tensions and uncertainty ahead of the November budget. Signals around potential tax and levy increases, prompted many businesses to pause or reassess hiring plans. In London's internationally connected financial ecosystem, discretionary recruitment was deferred, while critical and strategically important replacement roles continued to be filled.