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Latest news, breaking news and current affairs coverage from across the UK from theguardian.com
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Plagiarism and a pig’s head: the rise and fall of Jason Arday – podcast
Published: August 7, 2026 02:00
Jason Arday’s appointment as Cambridge’s youngest black professor made global headlines. Then questions about his meteoric rise began to snowball. Lanre Bakare reports.When the University of Cambridge appoints a new professor, it doesn’t usually make…
‘It is British life’: No 10 vows to stop councils trying to limit standing in pubs
Published: August 6, 2026 21:07
Westminster council has recommended banning ‘vertical drinking’ or ordering at the bar in new draft licensing policyNo 10 has vowed to confiscate powers from local councils which try to restrict customers from standing up while drinking in pubs or ordering…
Cambridge dons demand accountability over Jason Arday appointment
Published: August 6, 2026 18:40
Exclusive: Academics say university must take responsibility for ‘grotesque racism’ unleashed and hold independent inquiryThe University of Cambridge’s leaders deserve blame for the “grotesque racism unleashed” by Jason Arday’s appointment as professor,…
Covent Garden victims stabbed in the back with pair of scissors, court hears
Published: August 6, 2026 18:06
Stella Gollovena, 47, has been charged with four counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harmA woman has appeared in court accused of stabbing four men in the back with a pair of scissors in one of London’s busiest tourist districts.Stella…
Norfolk police arrest two men after officers injured during unrest over asylum plans
Published: August 6, 2026 18:06
Homes of people believed to be asylum seekers attacked during two nights of violence in ThetfordTwo men have been arrested after police were injured as they intervened to protect men believed to be asylum seekers from angry mobs trying to break into their…
Baby safely delivered after mother died in nine-storey fall
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/06/baby-safely-delivered-mother-died-fall-emma-atkinson
Published: August 6, 2026 16:13
Emma Atkinson, 38, was seven months pregnant when she fell from window of flat in Leeds tower blockA pregnant woman who died from a nine-storey fall had her baby safely delivered 30 minutes after her death, an inquest has heard.Emma Atkinson, 38, was seven…
Why has Kemi Badenoch given a former neo-Nazi an advisory role? – The Latest
Published: August 6, 2026 15:46
Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist, has been offered a role as an adviser to the Conservative party by Kemi Badenoch after he withdrew as a Tory candidate for next year’s local elections. The role will reportedly be focused on how young men…
Trains stop across north-west England after power cut hits signalling centre
Published: August 6, 2026 15:40
Passengers awaiting Northern and TransPennine trains advised not to travel, with cancellations and other services delayedTrains across parts of north-west England have ground to a halt after a power failure hit the signalling centre controlling the railway…
Burnham ‘personally intervened’ over possible early prison release of grooming gang perpetrators
Published: August 6, 2026 15:32
Government ‘urgently’ identifying men convicted in historical cases who could be freed in scheme loopholeUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham’s government is “urgently” identifying any grooming gang perpetrators who may still be eligible for early…
BBC hires 26-year-old entrepreneur to help reach younger audiences
Published: August 6, 2026 15:00
Brandon Relph, who founded first company at 13, joins strategy team in ‘much-needed step’ for the broadcasterA 26-year-old business prodigy and self-styled gen Z whisperer has been drafted in by the BBC as it battles to reach young audiences increasingly…
E-scooters far more dangerous than motorbikes or cycles, analysis suggests
Published: August 6, 2026 15:00
Study of accidents in England and Wales shows e-scooter riders three times more likely to suffer traumatic brain injury than bikersElectric scooter riders are three times more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries than motorcyclists, according to an…
Farmer who killed lodger and hid body in concrete in South Yorkshire jailed for life
Published: August 6, 2026 14:33
Christopher Wright, 73, who shot Richard Dyson and dismembered his remains, given 35-year minimum termA man who killed his lodger and concealed his dismembered body in a barrel filled with concrete for more than five years has been jailed for a minimum of…
Octopus Energy denies it is anti-union as workers push for recognition
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/06/octopus-energy-workers-union-recognition
Published: August 6, 2026 14:00
GMB says that as a top-rated ethical company, UK’s largest energy firm should welcome involvement of unionsWorkers are pushing for union recognition at the UK’s largest energy company, Octopus Energy, known as a progressive organisation with a focus on…
Heatwave Britain: why are politicians so slow to act? – podcast
Published: August 6, 2026 13:57
As another summer of extreme heat rumbles on, warnings about excess deaths, ageing infrastructure and potential food shortages are growing louder. So how well prepared is the UK to cope, both now and in the years ahead? Jessica Elgot and Alexandra Topping…
Foster + Partners cleared over man’s death when window fell from London penthouse
Published: August 6, 2026 13:55
Crown court rules architecture firm not responsible for fatal incident but project managers and engineers found guilty of safety breachesThe architecture firm founded by Norman Foster has been cleared over the death of a man killed by a window that fell 90…
Nearly 50 asylum seekers deported under ‘one in one out’ scheme have returned to the UK
Published: August 6, 2026 13:32
Figure raises questions about deal with France despite UK ministers insisting repeat arrivals will be removedAlmost 50 asylum seekers deported using the “one in one out” scheme have been recorded as returning to the UK a second time, the Guardian has…
Jason Arday claimed he was paid ‘1.4 million’ by publisher for memoir
Published: August 6, 2026 13:29
Academic who resigned as a Cambridge professor on Wednesday did not specify if amount from Simon & Schuster was in pounds or US dollarsJason Arday, the former Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism and embellishment, claimed he was paid “1.4 million”…
Raleigh bike brand faces chop after owner begins insolvency proceedings
Published: August 6, 2026 12:45
Fate of historic bicycle name in hands of administrators after Netherlands-based Accell Group fails to find buyerThe bicycle company that owns the historic Raleigh brand has started insolvency proceedings after failing to find a buyer.The Netherlands-based…
Woman, 47, charged after four men stabbed in Covent Garden
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/06/woman-charged-four-men-stabbed-covent-garden
Published: August 6, 2026 12:42
Stella Gollovena accused of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after assaults in central LondonA 47-year-old woman has been charged after four men were stabbed in central London.Stella Gollovena, of no fixed address, was charged with four…
Extreme rightwing referrals to Prevent rise 20% amid record anti-terror reporting
Published: August 6, 2026 11:53
Scheme aiming to stop people turning to terrorism has 39% overall rise in referrals in year to September 2025A record number of people have been referred to the government’s anti-terror programme in England and Wales, with a 39% rise over the last year,…
‘It’s beautiful but fragile’: fears £150m redevelopment of Falmouth Docks threatens habitats and town itself
Published: August 6, 2026 11:05
Plans involve dredging and expanding the docks to allow larger cruise ships to visit with up to 200,000 passengers annuallyJanavi Kramer had just enjoyed a swim with friends and was sitting on a bench taking in a wonderful Cornish view – headlands plunging…
Diageo shares bounce back as new CEO Dave Lewis lifts spirits with $1bn savings plan
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/06/diageo-strategy-cost-cuts-dave-lewis
Published: August 6, 2026 10:56
Ex-Tesco boss known as ‘Drastic Dave’ for his cost-cutting zeal pledges more of the same at flagging Guinness ownerShares in Diageo have bounced after the Guinness owner’s chief executive, “Drastic Dave” Lewis, passed the first big test of his plan to…
Is King Charles a ‘white Briton’? Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe won’t say
Published: August 6, 2026 10:21
Lowe questioned on BBC about definition in report for hard-right party that both parents need to be born in UKRupert Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain, refused to say he believes King Charles can be classified as a “white Briton” in an extraordinary…
All bodies of water in England polluted with toxic chemicals, official data shows
Published: August 6, 2026 10:03
Environment Agency assessments find just 14.3% of country’s surface waters in good ecological statusEvery single English water body is polluted with toxic chemicals, new government data shows, while just 14.3% of surface waters achieved good ecological…
Blue Note to bring world-famous jazz club to London
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/06/blue-note-jazz-club-london
Published: August 6, 2026 09:00
Grammy-winning pianist Robert Glasper will headline opening of club’s first UK venue in Covent Garden next monthThe world-famous New York jazz club Blue Note will open its first UK venue in London next month.Located in the basement of St Martins Lane…
University of Greater Manchester ends contract of embattled vice-chancellor
Published: August 6, 2026 09:00
George Holmes was suspended in 2025 over allegations involving financial mismanagement and other misconductThe University of Greater Manchester’s embattled vice-chancellor has had his contract terminated by the university’s governing body, ending a period…
Reform to unveil controversial plan to fine firms and jail bosses who employ illegal workers – UK politics live
Published: August 6, 2026 08:35
Reform say employers would be held responsible even if they were unaware of the worker’s immigration statusHello and welcome to the UK politics live blog.Reform UK says it will fine firms 10% of their global revenues and imprison bosses who employ illegal…
Positive Persimmon looks to tap into ‘Burnham bounce’ on housebuilding
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/06/persimmon-housebuilding-burnham-new-homes
Published: August 6, 2026 08:07
Firm lifts outlook saying it’s well placed to benefit from PM’s focus on new homes despite ongoing cost pressures of Iran warUK housebuilder Persimmon has lifted its outlook, saying it is “well-placed” to benefit from prime minister Andy Burnham’s policy…
Healey urged to be bold on borrowing in first test of Burnham’s growth pledge
Published: August 6, 2026 06:00
Some want the chancellor to exploit newly flexible fiscal rules – others want a more creative approach, such as borrowing from marketsWith just 12 weeks to go until his first budget, new chancellor John Healey is seeking ways to ramp up public investment,…
Council wants pubs in London’s Soho and West End to ban standing
Published: August 6, 2026 06:00
Sadiq Khan criticises Westminster council’s ‘anti-growth policies’ after it recommends stopping ‘vertical drinking’Waiting at the bar and trying to catch the bartender’s eye so you can order a pint, before going to stand with your friends and have a…
Has the UK government’s strategy on small boat crossings been effective?
Published: August 6, 2026 05:00
As the number of migrants crossing the Channel is down by 43%, have ministers cracked the problem?The headline figures show that small boats crossing the Channel are down by 43% compared with January to mid-July 2025 – from 21,690 last year to 12,469 over…
Cambridge professor Jason Arday resigns amid accusations of plagiarism
Published: August 5, 2026 20:08
Sociology professor to stand down after university announces investigation into his qualifications and career• Playbooks, plagiarism and a pig’s head: the claims surrounding a star Cambridge professorJason Arday, the Cambridge professor accused of…
NHS must prepare for annual summer heat pressures, says Yvette Cooper
Published: August 5, 2026 20:00
Health secretary says global heating means UK hospitals and GPs will have to prepare for summer as well as winter peaks of demandAdapting to global heating: which UK public services are struggling in hot weather?The NHS has been warned to prepare for…
Adapting to global heating: which UK public services are struggling in hot weather?
Published: August 5, 2026 20:00
As NHS told to prepare for extreme weather, strain also felt in other areas including transport and farmingNHS must prepare for annual summer heat pressures, says Yvette CooperThe NHS has been told it must become more resilient to increasingly frequent…
Chief constable considers joining legal action if PC’s killers are released early
Published: August 5, 2026 19:51
Thames Valley’s top officer says he may join Police Federation in court if convicted pair are freed from jailThe chief constable of Thames Valley police has said he will consider joining legal action against the government if it fails to block the early…
Cambridge announces investigation into professor accused of plagiarism
Published: August 5, 2026 18:16
University says it has ‘new information’ about academic career of Jason Arday, the youngest black professor in its historyJason Arday, the Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism and embellishment, is to face investigation by the university after what it…
More than 1,100 people convicted of illegal arrival in UK since 2022
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/05/convicted-illegal-arrival-migration-asylum-channel
Published: August 5, 2026 17:54
Data shows victims of torture and trafficking among those prosecuted for crossing Channel by irregular meansMore than 1,100 people, including survivors of torture and trafficking, have been convicted of illegally arriving in the UK since 2022, according to…
Former neo-Nazi activist withdraws as Conservative election candidate
Published: August 5, 2026 16:06
Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who was convicted of harassing Jewish MP, says Badenoch has offered him advisory role instead• UK politics live – latest updatesA former neo-Nazi activist who was convicted of harassing a Jewish MP has withdrawn as a Conservative…
Woman arrested after four men stabbed in Covent Garden – latest
Published: August 5, 2026 14:43
Police arrested a woman in central London after four men were found with stab wounds in the shopping and entertainment districtArjan Gjorga, who works at fish restaurant the Rock and Sole Plaice, witnessed the attack. He said that the woman was known to…
Woman arrested after four men stabbed in London’s Covent Garden
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/05/woman-arrested-three-stabbed-london-covent-garden
Published: August 5, 2026 14:42
Metropolitan police say 47-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of possession of offensive weapon and assaultCovent Garden stabbings – latest updatesA woman has been arrested after four men were stabbed in Covent Garden in central London, police said.Four…
‘Alarming’ surge in bluetongue disease among UK sheep
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/05/bluetongue-disease-uk-sheep-rise
Published: August 5, 2026 14:00
Farmers advised to vaccinate after recent hot weather provides ideal conditions for virus-carrying midgesThere has been an “alarming” surge in the number of sheep affected by an outbreak of bluetongue in the UK, with farmers whose livestock are at risk…
‘Leicester Square, please guv’: Self-driving taxis cleared for London streets ‘later this summer’
Published: August 5, 2026 12:45
Wayve Uber wins first minicab licence for autonomous cabs from TfL but vehicles will have a safety driver (at first)The taxi app company Uber and the autonomous technology developer Wayve have been granted the first minicab licences in London, allowing…
Former Pakistani minister arrested over alleged child rape in 1990s Manchester
Published: August 5, 2026 11:30
Exclusive: Rukhsar Ahmed was re-elected as an MP in Pakistan last week despite being on police bail in the UKA former Pakistani state minister has been arrested on suspicion of raping vulnerable young girls in Manchester in the 1990s, the Guardian can…
Man charged in connection with death of girl on camping trip in Scotland
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/05/man-charged-girl-death-arbroath-scotland
Published: August 5, 2026 11:06
Police say man, 35, was known to nine-year-old girl, who was found seriously injured on industrial estate in ArbroathA man has been charged in connection with the death of a nine-year-old girl on a family camping trip in Scotland.The girl, from West…
Andy Burnham reveals wife’s reaction to third Labour leadership bid
Published: August 5, 2026 10:59
Burnham said his wife, Marie-France van Heel, took some persuading after he ran and lost in contests in 2010 and 2015Andy Burnham has revealed his wife’s dismayed reaction when he told her he wanted to make another attempt at becoming Labour leader.Burnham…
Justice minister defends early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers amid possible legal challenge – UK politics live
Published: August 5, 2026 09:22
Jake Richards acknowledges ‘unimaginable pain’ of Harper’s family but says government faces an ‘unenviable position’A former MP has urged the Tory leader to drop an election candidate who was previously jailed for a campaign of antisemitic abuse against…
Burnham considering public inquiry into UK activities of Jeffrey Epstein
Published: August 5, 2026 08:42
Minister says PM has agreed to meet victims of sex offender and could launch separate inquiry into Mohamed Al FayedAndy Burnham is considering launching a public inquiry into the UK activities of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a minister has…
OpenAI and Anthropic models ‘went rogue’ during UK cybersecurity test
Published: August 5, 2026 08:40
AI Security Institute says tools engaged in potentially harmful activity and incident reveals new type of riskAdvanced AI models developed by OpenAI and Anthropic went rogue during a cybersecurity test and showed a new type of risk posed by the technology,…
Badenoch defends decision to allow man jailed for antisemitism to stand as councillor
Published: August 5, 2026 08:37
Tory leader praises Joshua Bonehill-Paine’s ‘contrition’ but says she has higher thresholds for MP candidatesUK politics live – latest updatesKemi Badenoch has defended her party’s decision to allow a former neo-Nazi who was jailed for subjecting a…
Next upgrades profit outlook again as it benefits from summer spending
Published: August 5, 2026 08:30
Retailer expects to end year with pre-tax profit of £1.2bn, about £25m higher than forecast previouslyNext has raised hopes that UK shoppers are still willing to spend despite pressures on household budgets, as it upgraded its profit guidance for the third…
Right turn on green: is the Telegraph changing its tune on the climate?
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/aug/05/telegraph-climate-tories-kemi-badenoch-net-zero
Published: August 5, 2026 06:00
Flurry of articles has raised eyebrows and drawn response from Kemi Badenoch defending stance on net zero“Nobody can deny that the UK is getting warmer and high temperatures are becoming a clear threat to homes, nature and food security,” read the lengthy…
Women must not feel pressure to have ‘ideal birth’, says Yvette Cooper
Published: August 5, 2026 05:00
Exclusive: New health secretary promises root-and-branch reform after damning maternity scandalsWomen should not feel pressurised into experiencing an “ideal birth”, the new health secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said, promising a root-and-branch reform of…
Bank battle: history suggests Burnham faces fight if he opts for windfall tax
Published: August 5, 2026 05:00
As lenders’ profits soar, calls grow for a levy to help new PM ease cost of living pressures on householdsIt has been a stellar week for UK banks. Fuelled by high interest rates and market turbulence rippling out from the US war on Iran, major lenders have…
Calls to ban ‘toxic’ pet flea treatments that harm UK wildlife and environment
Published: August 5, 2026 05:00
Over-the-counter treatments for cats and dogs contain chemicals that are banned in pesticides and pollute waterwaysOver-the-counter flea treatment for cats and dogs should be banned as millions of hazardous chemicals are unnecessarily applied to UK pets…
Palantir paid just £2m corporation tax in UK in 2024 despite lucrative public sector contracts
Published: August 5, 2026 05:00
Software group benefits from global systems and accounting practices ‘that enable tax to be shirked’, says union bossThe software group Palantir paid just £2m in corporation tax in the UK in 2024, despite holding public sector contracts worth hundreds of…
Charity Commission to investigate donations to illegal Israeli settlements
Published: August 4, 2026 23:01
Official action by regulator for England and Wales comes after formal complaint made by Labour MP about the fundsAn official investigation has been launched into charities in England and Wales donating funds to illegal Israeli settlements in…
MI6 is top European foreign intelligence service, peer review finds
Published: August 4, 2026 22:40
UK’s Secret Intelligence Service praised for playing long game and having ‘a taste for dirty tricks’MI6 has been ranked as the most powerful foreign intelligence service in Europe ahead of France and the Netherlands, according to a peer review.The British…
Government contracts to require job creation instead of green targets under new rules
Published: August 4, 2026 21:30
Louise Haigh says taxpayer money must benefit local communities amid backlash from environmental groupsMinisters will scrap the requirement for companies to prove their green and progressive values before they are awarded government contracts, and instead…
Calls to ban disposable barbecues in England and Wales over wildfire risk
Published: August 4, 2026 17:46
Lib Dems and many Labour MPs join farmers, landowners and firefighters in urging temporary prohibitionFarmers and landowners are calling for a temporary ban on disposable barbecues in England and Wales, as they warn of the risk of igniting wildfires.The…
Labour members ‘have tougher view on welfare than you might think’, poll suggests
Published: August 4, 2026 17:17
Survey finds party members see health, the economy, cost of living and climate crisis among biggest challengesAndy Burnham has inherited a Labour membership that is sceptical about increased welfare spending, supportive of higher defence spending, and…
‘We fought for a tougher sentence’: victims’ families’ fury over early release scheme
Published: August 4, 2026 17:15
Partner of woman killed by dangerous driver among those who say they are devastated at killers leaving jail earlyWhen Calvin Buckley, whose pregnant partner was killed by a dangerous driver in 2023, secured a tougher sentence for the man who took her life,…
Ex-MP urges Tories to drop candidate jailed for campaign of antisemitic abuse against her
Published: August 4, 2026 17:11
Luciana Berger says Joshua Bonehill-Paine should have no role in public life because of ‘his racism and his view of women’A former MP has urged the Tory leader to drop an election candidate who was previously jailed for a campaign of antisemitic abuse…
Huw Edwards criticised for entering Welsh poetry competition
Published: August 4, 2026 16:41
BBC actor Sera Cracroft says if disgraced former newsreader had won it would be hurtful to abuse survivorsThe disgraced former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been criticised after entering a Welsh poetry competition under a pseudonym.The actor Sera…
North Sea oil is a litmus test for Burnham | Letters
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/04/north-sea-oil-is-a-litmus-test-for-burnham
Published: August 4, 2026 15:58
John Barstow says oil expansion is a necessity, while David Parker wonders if the prime minister will protect the planet or the fossil fuel industryNorth Sea oil expansion is a necessity (Burnham risks first revolt as PM over apparent support for North Sea…
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey gives UK poetry sales an epic boost
Published: August 4, 2026 15:02
Poetry sales surpassed £8m in the first 30 weeks of 2026 and are expected to reach a record high this year thanks to blockbuster adaptation of Homer’s 2,700-year-old poemUK poetry sales are on course to reach a record high this year, buoyed by the success…
Star Wars dubbed into Welsh for first time for S4C broadcast
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/04/star-wars-dubbed-welsh-s4c
Published: August 4, 2026 14:59
Rhys Ifans, Matthew Rhys, Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Mark Lewis Jones among actors voicing characters from 1977 blockbusterThere are a few links between the Star Wars franchise and Wales, including the secretive building of the Millennium Falcon in an old…
Electronic tagging system unprepared to monitor thousands of early-release prisoners, watchdog warns
Published: August 4, 2026 14:14
Probation inspector for England and Wales says ‘clunky’ system needs huge increase in staffUK politics live – latest updatesThe electronic tagging system that will be relied upon to monitor thousands of offenders released early from prison is failing to…
Peter Gill, playwright who turned ordinary lives into extraordinary drama, dies aged 86
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/aug/04/peter-gill-playwright-dies
Published: August 4, 2026 13:53
Beginning his career as an actor, Gill went on to write plays including The York Realist as well as directing for the Royal Court and National TheatreTributes have been paid to the director and playwright Peter Gill who died on Monday at the age of 86. His…
Gatwick airport to open second runway after legal challenge fails
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/04/gatwick-airport-second-runway-legal-challenge-fails
Published: August 4, 2026 12:09
£2.2bn project will allow about 100,000 more flights a year to use Britain’s second busiest airportBusiness live – latest updatesGatwick airport is to start development of its second runway after campaigners lost a legal challenge to the plans.The court of…
Prisoner early release scheme gives Burnham his first taste of unpopularity
Published: August 4, 2026 11:23
After a blitz of small wins, PM is finding that like Keir Starmer there is only so much he can control on the big calls UK politics live – latest updatesIf Andy Burnham wanted to demonstrate he was the anti-Keir Starmer, the first fortnight could not have…
A rail nightmare: what it’s like on England’s busiest commuter-only train
Published: August 4, 2026 11:00
This evening service from London to Crewe is hot, sweaty and heaving with people, many having to stand or sit in the gangwaysThe 5.46pm train from London Euston to Crewe is the low point of Nikhil Patel’s week. “I’ve never gotten a seat. I always stand up…
Dinghy carrying 157 people capsizes in Channel after engine catches fire
Published: August 4, 2026 10:38
Passengers rescued by French and British vessels and some being taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer in FranceA dinghy carrying 157 people has capsized in the Channel after its engine caught fire at sea.They were rescued from the water by French vessels aided by two…
Calls for UK bank tax to fund cost of living help as HSBC profits hit £7.5bn
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/04/uk-bank-tax-hsbc-profits-andy-burnham
Published: August 4, 2026 09:10
Levy could raise £19bn to help pay for Andy Burnham’s support for those struggling with bills, say campaignersBusiness live – latest updatesCampaigners have renewed calls for a windfall tax on UK banks that could raise £19bn towards Andy Burnham’s cost of…
UK plastic ‘waste colonialism’ found to be polluting Turkey’s farming heartland
Published: August 4, 2026 09:00
A Guardian investigation finds irrigation canals polluted with microplastics in Turkey, a major destination for UK waste• ‘Nobody cares’: Turkish farmers bear the burden of UK’s plastic waste problemHigh levels of microplastics and other plastic…
About 1,000 fewer prisoners to get early release as Burnham tightens rules
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/aug/04/fewer-prisoners-early-release-burnham-tightens-rules
Published: August 4, 2026 08:16
Justice secretary says ministers would have liked to block more but doing so would cause prison system to ‘break’UK politics live – latest updatesAbout 1,000 fewer prisoners will be released early after Andy Burnham’s intervention to exclude those…
Mother of PC Harper ‘bitterly disappointed’ that son’s killers remain eligible for early release – UK politics live
Published: August 4, 2026 08:04
Government revises plans to tackle prison overcrowding amid pressure from MPs and victims but domestic abusers and killers could still be released earlyPrisoners serving time for some sexual or violent offences where the automatic release stage is set at…
BP profits more than double as Iran war sends oil prices soaring
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/04/bp-profits-iran-war-oil-prices-shell
Published: August 4, 2026 06:54
Energy company’s $5.73bn quarterly profits come after Shell posted second highest quarterly earnings on recordBusiness live – latest updatesBP has reported its highest quarterly profits since the first year of Russia’s war on Ukraine because of rising oil…
Metro Bank customer fights for £14,000 refund after AI-linked fraud
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/04/metro-bank-refund-ai-fraud
Published: August 4, 2026 06:00
Lender was told money was being taken without authorisation, with cash used to buy credits for Claude chatbotA Metro Bank customer has told of his fight to get more than £14,000 back after its systems failed to stop a fraud involving the AI chatbot…
Tuesday briefing: Inside the right’s heated climate-denial debate
Published: August 4, 2026 05:45
In today’s newsletter: A small chorus of right-leaning critics are trying to convince politicians that climate action is deeply unpopular, downplaying its seriousness in the processGood morning. Half of England and all of Wales are officially in drought,…
Approval of east London datacentre labelled ‘slap in the face’ for local democracy
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/04/brick-lane-redevelopment-approval-datacentre-london
Published: August 4, 2026 05:00
Campaigners decry Angela Rayner’s backing for Brick Lane project that has only 11 affordable homesA £500m redevelopment of the Truman Brewery estate in Brick Lane, east London, has been approved, clearing the way for the construction of a datacentre,…
GPs’ breast cancer guidelines ‘miss’ 95% of women who will develop disease
Published: August 4, 2026 05:00
Findings prompt calls for review of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence criteriaYoung women in England who later develop breast cancer are not being referred for early tests or preventive treatment because current guidelines used by GPs miss…
UK plastic manufacturer could face legal action over toxic emissions
Published: August 4, 2026 05:00
Exclusive: Environment Agency is considering whether to prosecute Huntsman Polyurethanes over emissions of carcinogenic benzeneA plastic manufacturer in the north of England is facing potential legal action over emissions of benzene, a carcinogenic…
The Wildlife Trusts’ fight to save a historic English landscape – podcast
Published: August 4, 2026 04:00
Madeleine Finlay travels to the Rothbury estate in Northumberland, in north-east England. It’s a piece of land that has been in the same family for 700 years, but now it has been put up for sale and the UK’s Wildlife Trusts are trying to raise £30m to…
Nigel Farage and the £5m question that won’t go away – podcast
Published: August 4, 2026 02:00
Reform UK’s finances have come under scrutiny like never before. What do we know about the party’s funding – and why do so many awkward questions remain for Nigel Farage? Anna Isaac explainsFor a while this year, it looked like nothing could stop Nigel…
NHS radiographers report rise in overt racist abuse by patients
Published: August 3, 2026 23:01
Survey reveals medics were called ‘monkeys’ and ‘dirty foreigners’, and patients refused to be seen by black or Asian staffNHS radiographers are experiencing racist abuse by patients, who have called them “monkeys” and refused to be seen by black and Asian…
Rapists, child abusers and groomers will not leave prison early, says PM
Published: August 3, 2026 21:30
Andy Burnham will also delay release of thousands of prisoners across England and Wales a month, until OctoberRapists, child sexual abusers and groomers will be excluded from early release plans to ease critical prison overcrowding in a major intervention…
Greek authorities investigate motive behind murder of Scottish woman found inside suitcase
Published: August 3, 2026 19:36
Inquiries have focused on Elisabeth-Jane Ross’s last few hours alive and police believe they hold the key to why 38-year-old was targetedGreek authorities are investigating what may have motivated a 26-year-old Afghan man to kill a Scottish charity worker…
Former neo-Nazi activist selected as Tory candidate for Somerset council election
Published: August 3, 2026 18:45
Joshua Bonehill-Paine, creator of satirical Crewkerne Gazette, has convictions including for harassing a Jewish MPA former neo-Nazi activist with convictions including for harassing a Jewish MP has been selected as a Conservative candidate for a local…
Rupert Lowe’s ‘olive branch’ to Farage piles more pressure on Reform leader
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/aug/03/rupert-lowe-restore-britain-olive-branch-reform-uk
Published: August 3, 2026 18:37
Restore leader has countered charges he’s splitting the right while showing his party is a very real obstacle for ReformEven by the standards of their rivalry, the speed at which Rupert Lowe’s olive branch to Nigel Farage morphed into fresh recriminations…
Judge orders return of alleged victim of trafficking sent to France under ‘one in one out’ scheme
Published: August 3, 2026 17:52
Ruling quashes Home Office policy to refuse asylum seekers’ right to have trafficking claims reconsidered after initial rejectionA high court judge has ordered the Home Office to bring an alleged victim of trafficking forcibly removed to France under the…
Apple launches legal challenge against UK government demand to access data
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/03/apple-legal-challenge-uk-government-data-access
Published: August 3, 2026 17:35
The Home Office has made a fresh request for ‘back door’ access to encrypted iCloud data belonging to British usersApple has launched a new legal challenge against a UK government demand to access its customers’ highly encrypted data, a year after the Home…
Scottish seabird hunt cancelled for first time in 400 years
Published: August 3, 2026 16:56
NatureScot refuses licence for hunt on Hebridean island of Sula Sgeir in which up to 2,000 gannet chicks are killedA controversial Scottish seabird hunt will not go ahead for the first time in 400 years, in what campaigners have called a “victory for…
Reform UK has proposed using the navy to stop small boat crossings. Is their plan feasible?
Published: August 3, 2026 16:32
Nigel Farage said his party would send the military to the Channel to intercept and return dinghies carrying migrants to FranceThe Reform leader, Nigel Farage, whose summer has been dominated by the Guardian’s disclosure of a £5m undeclared donation and…
Driver jailed for four years after faking brake failure on motorway
Published: August 3, 2026 16:20
Nathan Owen drove his electric Jaguar at up to 86mph and lied to police it was malfunctioning and out of his controlA man who drove his electric Jaguar at up to 86mph on motorways falsely telling police the car was malfunctioning and out of his control has…
French boy thrown from Tate balcony has ‘smile back’ after hospital release
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/03/french-boy-thrown-tate-balcony-hospital-release
Published: August 3, 2026 15:53
Family update on GoFundMe page says child, who was six when badly injured in 2019 incident, is now back at school A boy thrown from the viewing balcony in the Tate Modern art gallery has a “smile back on his face” after being discharged from hospital, his…
What chaos? Farage tries to distract with immigration plans – podcast
Published: August 3, 2026 15:46
Nigel Farage has promised that Reform UK would call in the navy to tackle small boat Channel crossings. Will this familiar-sounding immigration policy distract from the party’s internal problems? Plus – as we learn more about Andy Burnham’s plans for…
July was driest month in southern England since records began
Published: August 3, 2026 15:44
England and Wales provisionally record driest July in nearly 200 years, Met Office saysJuly 2026 was the driest month in southern England since records began nearly 200 years ago, the Met Office has said.England and Wales also provisionally recorded their…
Vampire-obsessed man detained after dumping animal corpses outside churches in New Forest
Published: August 3, 2026 15:32
Benjamin Lewis, who believed drinking blood would prolong life, will be kept in hospital for treatmentA man fascinated with vampires and graveyards who apparently believed he would live for ever if he drank blood has been detained in hospital after being…
Sunday Times and Sun columnist Rod Liddle dies aged 66
Published: August 3, 2026 14:53
Tributes paid across industry to provocative journalist who died after short illnessThe writer and broadcaster Rod Liddle, a prominent columnist for the Sunday Times and the Sun, has died after a short illness. He was 66.Liddle, whose provocative style…
‘Clacton voters need a serious person’: the independent candidates taking on Nigel Farage – and Count Binface
Published: August 3, 2026 14:05
Attieh Fard and Andy Erlam make their byelection pitch to voters, but Reform UK’s leader is conspicuously absentIn the town square in Clacton, in the blazing midday sunshine, some of the candidates for the upcoming byelection made their pitch to a…
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