The PM has dropped plans to postpone local elections affecting about 4.6m voters after legal advice warned the move would be unlawful. Ballots will proceed as scheduled, following criticism from councils and campaigners that the proposal risked undermining democratic accountability.
A bereaved mother campaigning for online safety welcomes a change requiring social media firms to preserve user data, but urges the PM to act faster with tougher safeguards for children, stronger enforcement and penalties for platforms that fail to curb harm.
The PM has scrapped proposals to postpone upcoming council elections after legal advice warned the delay could be unlawful and a legal challenge loomed from Reform. Votes will now proceed on schedule, avoiding disruption for millions of voters.
After opposition and legal concerns, the PM has dropped proposals to cancel local elections, with polls in about 30 councils now set to proceed. The reversal follows pressure from rivals including Nigel Farage and backbench unease, restoring the vote for millions.
Senior Conservatives accuse the PM of planning a Brexit reset that would tie the UK to EU rules, carry high exit costs and bind future governments, risking sovereignty and higher taxpayer bills. Supporters say closer alignment could stabilise trade and relations.
An Oscar-winning American actor, famed for The Godfather, has died aged 95, his wife confirming the death. Tributes from across film hail his artistry, range and six-decade career, crediting him with shaping modern screen acting.
Ministers scrapped plans to delay May’s local elections after a Reform UK legal challenge. The state will pay the party’s costs. Farage calls it a win. The U-turn increases pressure on the PM amid forecasts of council losses and talk of a reshuffle.
The PM has dropped a plan to postpone May’s local elections after advice suggested a likely court defeat. Ministers confirmed polls will proceed on schedule, following backlash from councils and opposition figures over cost, confusion and the risk to democratic fairness.
The PM pledged action to curb harmful AI and protect children online, weighing a social‑media age ban and stricter rules on bots and deepfakes. He promised to hold tech firms to account, but campaigners say any crackdown will falter unless platforms co‑operate and enforcement has real teeth.
Downing St has scrapped plans to delay about 30 council elections after a Reform UK legal challenge and advice that a postponement risked being unlawful. The votes will go ahead in May, posing political risk for Labour. Nigel Farage called for Steve Reed to resign over the reversal.
European intelligence reports a hostile state is recruiting ex-members of a disbanded paramilitary network to carry out sabotage across the continent, using vulnerable recruits for cash. UK and allied services are foiling plots and bolstering protections for critical infrastructure.
A new TV drama scrutinises water companies over sewage discharges, highlighting risks to public health and beaches. Echoing the Post Office exposé, it seeks accountability, tougher regulation and potential compensation, as affected families call for action and greater transparency.
MPs are urging police to open a full inquiry into allegations that Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor abused his role as UK trade envoy to share sensitive information. Pressure follows the release of Epstein-related files, with senior figures calling for a criminal probe.
Campaigners urge the King to intervene to save Veeraswamy, the UK’s first Indian restaurant, from closure. The century‑old London venue is hailed as a piece of cultural history; supporters say its preservation would protect a landmark of British‑Indian cuisine.
Ministers plan to prohibit under-16s from using social media this year, using new fast‑track powers. Proposals include robust age verification and curbs on addictive features such as infinite scroll and auto‑play. A consultation will shape the rules so they can be implemented within months.
Campaigners warn overnight dimming or switch-offs of street lights to save money are putting women and girls at risk and increasing collision rates. Councils are urged to prioritise well‑lit routes where people walk, travel and wait, and to restore lighting between 1am and 5am.
The US is preparing to offer refuge to a man on trial in Britain for burning the Koran, framing it as a free‑speech case. The State Department is in talks to admit him if he loses in court, a move that could strain relations with London and test public‑order laws.
Government to shrink a programme countering hostile-state activity after a newly revealed poison threat linked to a foreign power. Opposition brands the change irresponsible; the PM says funding will be redirected to the most acute national security risks as allies prepare further sanctions.
Research indicates deaths linked to domestic abuse are vastly undercounted. A police-led project logged 98 suspected deaths in 2024, outstripping 80 intimate-partner homicides. Local data suggest the national toll could be many times higher. Experts urge better recording, safeguarding and funding.
Yvette Cooper urges tougher sanctions and allied action after new scientific analysis suggests Alexei Navalny was killed in custody using a rare toxin. She says truth and transparency must counter state disinformation, with Britain pressing to hold those responsible to account.
Residents of a European capital face a harsh winter as energy infrastructure is repeatedly targeted, causing rolling blackouts and heat shortages. Community aid, shelters and generators keep essentials going, while Britain and partners are urged to intensify support for repairs.