UK news

UK news

A 1 billion rise in Heathrow's debt has prompted campaigners against a third runway to argue the government's decision to back the airport's expansion is even more absurd. The company's accounts for last year, just released, show it reported 17.6bn of debt up from 16.6bn in 2024. The owners also reported pre-tax profits of 575m, down more than a third from 917m in 2024 - despite passenger numbers growing by 600,000.

Eleanor Lyons, the independent anti-slavery commissioner, warned that sexual exploitation of women and girls is on a clear and sustained rise in the UK, with pimps using the internet to reach new victims and advertise them online with subscription platforms then acting as a gateway to abuse.

Three judges dealt a humiliating blow to the government on February 13 when they ruled that the proscription of Palestine Action under terror laws was disproportionate, and that it did result in a very significant interference with the right of freedom of speech and the right to freedom of assembly.

Ministers have confirmed that all 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK will be retained, following a period of uncertainty and public concern over potential closures. The decision reverses an earlier proposal outlined in a government green paper last summer, which had suggested removing the 11,500-minimum branch requirement for the state-owned postal, banking, and retail service.

The sponsoring partner must meet a minimum income requirement set by immigration rules. That figure is fixed. If income falls short, even slightly, the application can be refused. The difficulty is often not the amount itself, but how it must be shown. Payslips must cover a defined period. Bank statements must match those payslips. Employer letters must confirm details in specific terms.

Safe Passage International, a charity working with unaccompanied children and refugees, has been granted permission to launch a judicial review of the decision to halt refugee family reunion after it claimed the suspension was unlawful. Mr Justice Fordham accepted that the suspension should be open to a legal challenge after the court heard that the decision breaches the Home Office's duty to have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Since his arrest last week he has been ordered not to go horse riding. It's considered a bad look. They don't think he should be seen grinning and smiling on his horse like he was in Windsor. But it was one of the few things he actually enjoyed doing so what on earth is he going to do with his time?

Sir Keir Starmer has committed to assisting students, informing MPs he will explore methods to enhance the fairness of the student loan system. This comes as the Prime Minister's official spokesman suggested that ministers might consider reducing interest rates and adjusting the repayment threshold on student loans.

It's been revealed that a trustee of William Blake House, a care home for adults with profound disabilities, embezzled £1m. There are very few homes in the country that offer this sort of care and now it faces closure. As a father of a disabled son myself can I tell the prime minister that this situation is one of my worst nightmares, and it's one of the worst nightmares of many parents with disabled adult children.

Done it twice now they think I'm insane. I'm a boss, so I always find my way, I'm that guy, the boss of the UK. The wanted criminal, whose music video is seemingly recorded while he is sitting in the back of a car and holding an inflated balloon, boasts about his ability to evade capture and his status as a criminal figure.

During an interview with the force, Mr Allen admitted that he had agreed to allow the package, the contents of which West Mercia Police estimated would have a street value of 20,000, to be delivered, having been asked to do so by a drug dealer. He told the school about it but offered a misleading explanation about the matter, saying he had agreed to receive the parcel but had no knowledge of what it would contain.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle tipped off the Metropolitan Police about Lord Peter Mandelson allegedly planning to flee Britain for the British Virgin Islands, prompting his arrest. The former ambassador to Washington was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released on bail after officers were warned he could leave the UK.

Creams marketed to lighten skin tone are being sold illegally on British high streets, including in butchers and specialist food shops. It is an unsettling discovery, but perhaps not a surprising one. Demand for these products is real and the profits are significant. But the ingredients that make them effective are also what make them dangerous.

Grieving families are increasingly having to delay burying relatives because of hold-ups in carrying out post-mortems in multiple counties. The post-mortems, ordered by coroners to find cause of death, are resulting in funerals taking place later than wished, with delays of several days or more than a week in some parts of the country, adding to the distress of the bereaved.

We will not forget what happened that night. We must make sure that nothing like it can ever happen again. Work on dismantling the tower began in September and the process is expected to last for two years. Reed said the government is on target to complete 70% of the inquiry's recommendations by the end of this year and work to remove and replace dangerous flammable cladding had been completed on 91% of high-rise residential and public buildings in England so far.

Initially, £300 million was put forward as the maximum value of procurement, to run the service from September 2028 to September 2033, with a possible one-year extension. The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency later published two more notices, both putting the same price tag on the work, but to run the service for a maximum of seven years. In the most recent notice published last week, the maximum value went up to £700 million - excluding tax - for a maximum of nine years from September 2028 until September 2037.

This deliberate murder was clearly a wicked act. He knew his co[ntrol over his actions]. The Crown's case emphasized that despite Skebas's mental health struggles, he possessed the capacity to understand what he was doing, had deliberately attempted to avoid detection following the attack, and had intended to flee the country, demonstrating premeditation and consciousness of guilt.

The BBC has been reviewing what happened at Bafta on Sunday evening. This was a serious mistake and the director-general has instructed the Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) to complete a fast-tracked investigation and provide a full response to complainants.

Paramedics and police attended the defendants' home on Kingsway at 11:34 GMT on 30 January. Paramedics performed emergency first aid at the scene and then rushed Adam to hospital. Prosecutor Joel Smith KC said Adam suffered bleeding on the brain and fractures to both sides and top of the skull.

UK motorists are facing higher vehicle ownership costs after Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) that will increase charges from April 2026. The policy, implemented through HM Treasury fiscal reforms, forms part of a wider transition toward emissions-based transport taxation as fuel duty revenues decline. Officials say the system is designed to balance climate targets with long-term funding for road infrastructure. The steepest increases will affect motorists buying high-pollution cars.

A surge in capital gains tax, employers' National Insurance contributions and a boost in income tax receipts helped buoy the government's finances last month. An uptick in tax receipts, which far outstripped spending, created a 30.4bn surplus in January. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it was the highest surplus in any month since records began in 1993, without adjusting for inflation, and nearly double last January's 15.4bn figure.

The government has named former Amazon executive Doug Gurr as its preferred candidate to become permanent chairman of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), cementing a leadership change designed to align the regulator more closely with its pro-growth agenda. Peter Kyle confirmed that Gurr, who has held the role on an interim basis since January last year, will be put forward for a full five-year term, subject to a non-binding hearing by the Commons business and trade select committee.

Improved mobile connectivity could help create 49,000 new businesses across the UK and add £6.6bn a year to the economy within a decade, according to research commissioned by VodafoneThree. The modelling, carried out by consultancy WPI Strategy, suggests that stronger and more reliable mobile coverage would unlock entrepreneurship in underserved areas, driving long-term economic growth by 2036.

Job vacancies in Britain have fallen to their lowest level in five years, with graduate recruitment bearing the brunt as employers contend with higher payroll costs and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence. Data from Adzuna show that advertised vacancies dropped to 694,940 in January, down 16 per cent year-on-year and 3 per cent compared with December. It is the first time since January 2021 that the number of vacancies has dipped below 700,000.

We're sorry for any disruption caused by the planned engineering works taking place on the Elizabeth line and London Overground in March. These essential upgrades will help us maintain a safe, reliable service for our customers. We advise customers to check your journey before travelling, using the TfL Go app or at TfL.gov.uk, and allow a little extra time where needed.

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.

Go-Ahead announces it has reached 1,000 zero-emission buses in operation at Go-Ahead London. The milestone confirms the operator as the largest zero-emission bus fleet owner in the United Kingdom, based on figures released in a press note by Go-Ahead. The 1,000th vehicle was charged in London in the presence of Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, and Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy.

A fault with the signalling system at Lewisham is causing disruption to services this morning, with trains running through the station subject to cancellations, delays or revisions until around 9am. The issue means services from Hither Green towards central London are currently unable to use platform 1 at Lewisham. As a result, trains heading towards central London from Sidcup and Sevenoaks are unable to call at Lewisham.

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.

I remember our meeting during her time with the Welsh Guards, where her warmth and compassion were unmistakable. She served with courage and distinction as a medic and sought always to help others. I send my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.

Curran has warmed up with strapping on his right leg. Wasn't stopping him bowling. He was wearing it the other day also, probably no big deal Share Our man on the ground, Simon Burnton, has been in touch with the most important report of all the weather. He reports: Sunshine! Last night Kandy was on the receiving end of an extraordinary 10-hour thunderstorm, and the chances of this game being played felt very slim.

Officers, the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance rushed to reports of a stabbing on The Broadway, Wimbledon, at 12.37am on Sunday, February 22. A man was found with stab wounds and treated at the scene by paramedics. Despite their efforts, he died shortly after their arrival. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.