News- UK

Over £46m paid to survivors of abuse at Lambeth children's homes Survivors’ group secures payouts for 1,340 who suffered ‘horrific’ abuse across decadesSurvivors tell of abuse at Shirley Oaks children’s home A survivors’ group has secured a total of more than £46m compensation for 1,340 people who suffered “horrific” abuse in children’s care homes that were infiltrated by paedophiles over several decades.The highest individual payment to date has been £245,000, and with 620 applications still to be reviewed, and more survivors coming forward daily, campaigners believe the overall compensation bill could double. Continue reading... Go to Source

Liverpool are crowned Premier League champions – live reaction! Reds end 30-year wait | Klopp hails ‘incredible moment’Barney Ronay: Red machine at peak of its powerGet in touch! Email Rob or send us your thoughts 12.47am BSTA bit more from the wiresSteven Gerrard hailed Liverpool’s “incredible achievement” in being crowned champions for the first time in the Premier League era. 12.43am BSTFrom the news wiresLiverpool and Manchester City have set the benchmark for the rest of the Premier League to follow, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said after masterminding the 2-1 win over City that handed the Reds their first league title in 30 years on Thursday. Continue reading... Go to Source

Robert Jenrick faces questions over meeting with Israeli mining heir Minister met Idan Ofer in 2018 while assessing scheme that posed threat to Ofer’s businessRobert Jenrick is facing new questions over his links to wealthy Conservative donors after it emerged that he met an Israeli businessman with an interest in the future of a multibillion-pound project that the minister was overseeing.The housing secretary is already under pressure to resign over a disclosure that he “insisted” that a £1bn property development be rushed through so that the Tory donor Richard Desmond’s company could save £45m. Continue reading... Go to Source

Staycation holiday scams soar, banking watchdog warns UK Finance reports surge in fake listings and refund scams for trips cancelled due to Covid-19Consumers are being warned about a sharp rise in coronavirus-related holiday scams, including a spate of fake caravan and motorhome listings targeting those planning a summer staycation.The warning from UK Finance, the banking industry body, comes three days after the government announced an easing of the lockdown rules in England aimed at helping to get the tourism sector back up and running. Continue reading... Go to Source

Two Met police officers arrested over photo of murdered sisters Exclusive: ‘inappropriate’ image of pair killed in London was allegedly sent to group of peopleTwo Metropolitan police officers have been arrested after a photograph was allegedly taken of the bodies of murdered sisters in a London park, the Guardian has learned.Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were found stabbed to death in Fryent Country Park in north-west London this month. Continue reading... Go to Source

Keir Starmer sacks Rebecca Long-Bailey from shadow cabinet Labour leader’s spokesman says Long-Bailey shared article containing antisemitic conspiracy theoryRebecca Long-Bailey sacked from shadow cabinet – updatesKeir Starmer has sacked Rebecca Long-Bailey as shadow education secretary after she tweeted praise for an interview in which the actor Maxine Peake said the US police tactic of kneeling on someone’s neck was taught by the Israeli secret service.The Board of Deputies of British Jews had condemned Long-Bailey’s actions and called for her to delete the tweet and apologise. Long-Bailey sent a second tweet saying her praise was not “intended to be an endorsement of all aspects of the article”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Major incident declared as people flock to England's south coast Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council says services are ‘completely overstretched’ as visitors defy advice to stay awayCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA major incident was declared after tens of thousands of people defied pleas to stay away and descended in their droves on beaches in Bournemouth and other stretches of the Dorset coast.The local authority, BCP council – covering Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole – said it was forced to instigate a multi-agency emergency response to tackle issues ranging from overcrowding on the beaches, traffic gridlock and violence. Security guards had to be used to protect refuse collection teams. Continue reading... Go ...

Boris Johnson backs Robert Jenrick despite planning row Senior MP says questions remain over links between housing secretary and Richard DesmondBoris Johnson has full confidence in the housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, Downing Street has insisted, despite fresh revelations about his relationship with the billionaire property developer Richard Desmond, in documents published this week.Pressed about Jenrick’s role in rushing through a decision on the development, allowing Desmond to avoid a £45m payment under the community infrastructure levy, Johnson’s official spokesman signalled that No 10 had no concerns. Continue reading... Go to Source

Violence at street party in Brixton leaves more than 20 police injured Priti Patel condemns disorder sparked by efforts to break up illegal event in south LondonMore than 20 police officers were injured in south London overnight after attempts to break up a street party triggered violent clashes, which have been widely condemned.Videos of the incident shared on social media showed police vehicles being smashed and officers chased during skirmishes with a large crowd near the Angell Town estate in Brixton. Continue reading... Go to Source

EU parliament leader: Boris Johnson seems unwilling to find compromise in Brexit talks Exclusive: David Sassoli says UK appeared unenthusiastic in recent trade negotiationsBoris Johnson appeared unwilling to compromise in order to secure a trade and security deal with Brussels when he joined EU leaders for a summit last week, one of the three who attended the meeting has told the Guardian.David Sassoli, the president of the European parliament, punctured a recent outbreak of optimism over a potential deal by warning that the EU had been left concerned at the end of a video conference call by the lack of “enthusiasm” to find common ground on the most contentious issues. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus live news: cases surge in Europe since lockdown easing, says WHO Cases worldwide growing by 1m per week; Latin American death toll expected to reach 390,000 by October; Texas hospitals near capacity; volunteers receive first doses of experimental vaccineIsrael brings back tracking system after surge in Covid-19 casesWHO warns cases likely to reach 10m within daysUS records highest one-day total in coronavirus cases since AprilGlobal report: WHO warns of global shortage of oxygen equipmentSee all our coronavirus coverage 12.51pm BSTNews on another epidemic – Eastern Congo has marked an official end to the second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history. The disease killed 2,280 people over nearly two years as armed groups and community mistrust undermined the promise of new ...

Minister suggests voters could raise planning issues at Tory fundraisers Nadhim Zahawi defends Robert Jenrick’s overruling of planning decision after lobbying at eventPolitics news – latest updatesA business minister has suggested voters could consider attending Conservative fundraising events if they want to raise planning issues with MPs, after the property developer Richard Desmond lobbied a cabinet minister at a Tory party dinner.Nadhim Zahawi said the communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, had done nothing wrong as calls grew for Jenrick to resign after the release of documents showing he “insisted” a planning decision for a £1bn development by Desmond should be rushed through to reduce costs by £45m. Continue reading... Go to Source

Royal Mail to cut 2,000 management roles Company announces one in five managerial jobs will go and says cuts will not involve delivery staffRoyal Mail has announced a cost-cutting plan that will involve slashing about 2,000 jobs in a move accelerated by the Covid-19 crisis.One in five of its near-10,000 management roles will go by March 2021, in areas including IT, finance, marketing and sales. The company’s 90,000 postal workers would not be affected by the cuts, Royal Mail said. Continue reading... Go to Source

Robert Jenrick under pressure to resign after donor-row documents released Housing secretary ‘insisted’ planning decision for a £1bn development should be rushed through The housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, is under pressure to resign after newly released documents indicated that he “insisted” a planning decision for a £1bn property development should be rushed through so a Tory donor’s company could reduce costs by £45m.In one document, a civil servant in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government wrote that the secretary of state (SoS) wanted the Westferry development in east London to be signed off the following day so that Richard Desmond’s company would avoid the community infrastructure levy (CIL). Continue re...

Child abuse victims to sue Celtic FC in landmark case Civil action claims Scottish club failed to protect them from paedophiles working around Celtic Boys’ ClubVictims of a number of paedophiles are to sue Celtic football club in a ground-breaking civil action amidst claims it failed to protect them from sex abusers working around Celtic Boys’ Club.Three victim-survivors aim to use a civil trial to “knock down the defence wall” they say Celtic has erected in order to distance itself from the Boys’ Club, the Guardian has learnt. Continue reading... Go to Source

Life almost as we know it: England's lockdown changes on 4 July Scientists describe measures for easing lockdown as nuanced and ‘an art, not a science’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAs multiple lockdown measures are eased on 4 July, England will enter uncanny valley territory: life almost as we know it, but with notable exceptions.Weddings can go ahead at religious venues – but with a cap of 30 participants and no singing. Two households can meet indoors, but must make an effort to stay physically distanced. Hugs will have to wait for now. Playgrounds and pubs can open, but casinos and swimming pools will remain shut. Continue reading... Go to Source

Dominic Cummings could face inquiry over special advisers Exclusive: MPs asked to examine whether PM’s chief of staff exerts excessive control• Gazza, Caino and Roxstar: the strange world of Dominic Cummings’ ‘spads’Dominic Cummings is facing a possible parliamentary inquiry following claims No 10 is exerting excessive control over ministers’ special advisers, the Guardian has learned.The FDA union, which represents more than a dozen “spads”, has asked the public administration and constitutional affairs committee to investigate why the prime minister’s chief of staff has been given extra powers. It follows concerns that Cummings, on behalf of Boris Johnson, has centralised power in No 10 and is impeding the roles of cabinet ministers...

Ahmaud Arbery: grand jury indicts three men in murder case The killing of a young black man who was jogging in a Georgia town when he was shot dead has become a part of national debate A grand jury has returned indictments on the three suspects in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a young black man who was accosted and shot dead as he went for a jog in a Georgia town, US media has reported.The killing sparked widespread outrage and has since become a key part of an intense national debate around racism and police killings of Black people in America. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson challenged over track and trace system and app at PMQs Keir Starmer questions PM over tracing; Johnson claims UK has effective ‘cluster-busting’ operationHealth leaders call for review of second wave risk Key points for businesses in England on how to reopenFive children have died of coronavirus in UK, study revealsEight times Chris Whitty has diverged from the government lineGlobal coronavirus updates – live 12.36pm BSTMatt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East, asks about the attack at the weekend. Will the investigation get all it needs?Johnson thanks Rodda for the question and pays tribute to the police and members of the public who intervened. If there are any lessons to be learnt, they will be learnt, he says. And he says they w...

Top private school asks teachers to exaggerate exam predictions Exclusive: Sevenoaks policy reveals predictions for lowest-performing students may be boosted ‘to facilitate application to a more selective university’One of the UK’s most prestigious private schools has a policy of asking teachers to exaggerate predicted exam results for some of its lowest-performing students on university applications to help them secure offers, documents seen by the Guardian reveal.Sevenoaks school, which charges more than £38,000 a year for boarding pupils, prides itself on its students’ “tremendous record of achievement” in winning university places. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK Border Force detained pregnant woman for 24 hours, inspectors find Report says children are routinely handcuffed and those detained often held in ‘very poor conditions’ A pregnant woman was detained at the UK border for more than 24 hours with “little meaningful contact”, a damning report into the agency responsible for controlling entry to the country has revealed.Children are being routinely handcuffed by Border Force when they arrive in the UK before they are detained in its short-term holding facilities, which are often in “very poor” condition, inspectors said. Continue reading... Go to Source

China defies court order over building of wall at Belfast consulate Embassy in London claims construction project is covered by diplomatic immunityA row over the construction of a wall at the Chinese consulate in Belfast has escalated after China said it would ignore a legal order to temporarily halt the work.A letter from lawyers for the Chinese embassy in London to residents objecting to the security wall said diplomatic staff did not recognise the jurisdiction of courts in Northern Ireland. Continue reading... Go to Source

Rees-Mogg loses vote to let MPs debate bullying claims MPs and women’s groups said proposal would have weakened efforts to stop harassmentMPs have voted down controversial proposals introduced by the leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, that would have allowed them to debate complaints about serious bullying and harassment.In an open letter seen by the Guardian, past and present parliamentary staff, union leaders, MPs and women’s groups had accused Rees-Mogg of undermining a new independent system designed to prevent bullying and sexual harassment in parliament, by allowing MPs to debate serious sanctions made by a new independent expert panel (IEP). Continue reading... Go to Source

Easing several lockdown rules at once could boost virus, say UK scientists Sage advisers warn of risks of halving 2-metre rule while reopening venues in England Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe easing of multiple lockdown measures in England at once risks Covid-19 gaining a fresh foothold, scientists advising the government have warned.They raised concerns over the halving of the 2-metre physical distancing rule at the same time as reopening venues, saying the country was currently experiencing up to 4,300 Covid-19 infections a day and had no effective digital track-and-trace system, while highlighting research that showed transmission of the virus was more likely to happen indoors. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK government to act on all 30 Windrush recommendations Priti Patel says she will do all she can to help people wrongly told they were in UK illegally‘Lambs to the slaughter’: 50 lives ruined by the Windrush scandalPriti Patel has promised significant cultural and systemic reform of the Home Office, as she accepted all 30 recommendations of the independent review into the Windrush scandal.The home secretary’s announcement commits the government to undertaking a “scrupulous” evaluation of the risks and effectiveness of its controversial hostile environment legislation, and to ensure that all Home Office policies are “rooted in humanity”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Hancock tried to block plan to build 400 homes in Newmarket Exclusive: health secretary claimed scheme would damage horse racing industry, from which he received donationsThe health secretary, Matt Hancock, repeatedly urged fellow Conservative ministers to block a plan to build 400 homes and a primary school in his constituency, claiming it would damage the horse racing industry.His opposition to the development came as senior figures in horse racing leading the opposition made financial donations to him. Continue reading... Go to Source

Nigerian ex-Eton pupil says he will return to accept racism apology Novelist Dillibe Onyeama wrote book about abuse received during time at elite school• Contains language some readers may find offensiveA Nigerian novelist who was one of Eton’s first black students says he will visit the school after the current headmaster apologised for the “appalling” racism he experienced in the 1960s and extended an invitation.Dillibe Onyeama says he was shocked by the school’s offer of an apology, but would return as long as Eton covered the cost of his travel and accommodation. He said: “Who is going to pay for the trip? If they want to pay for the airfare, the hotel and everything else, then I would be happy to go.” Continue reading... Go to Source

Reading attack: further tributes to victims as police question suspect David Wails, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and James Furlong were all killed in park stabbingsFurther tributes have been paid to three men from the LGBT community killed in the knife attack in Reading, as detectives continued to question the suspect in custody.David Wails, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and James Furlong were stabbed to death in broad daylight in Forbury Gardens in the Berkshire town on Saturday. It has since been declared a terrorist incident by police, although detectives said on Monday they were “keeping an open mind as to the motive”. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson ditches 2-metre rule for '1-metre-plus' in England Members of two households will be able to eat, drink or dine together from 4 July; pubs, restaurants and hairdressers to open from same date. Gyms, bowling alleys and waterparks to stay closed• Whitehall not sharing Covid-19 data on local outbreaks, say councils• Global coronavirus news live - latest updates 12.48pm BSTJohnson says pubs and hairdressers will be allowed to open up in England from 4 July.Some other services, like nail bars, will be allowed to open if they can do so in a safe way, he says. 12.44pm BSTJohnson says the government cannot lift all restrictions at once.He says it is making balanced judgement. Continue reading... Go to Source

Publish action taken to support BAME people in pandemic, says Doreen Lawrence Exclusive: Labour peer writes to PM for steps implemented and future-action timescaleCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDoreen Lawrence has spoken out for the first time about Covid-19 and its impact on the black and minority ethnic community by demanding the government publish what steps it has taken to help frontline workers.The Labour peer and the party’s race relations adviser has written to the prime minister to ask which of the seven recommendations from a Public Health England report into the BAME community and the virus have been implemented, as well as a timescale for future action. Continue reading... Go to Source