1 hour ago It's clear Britain can't survive without immigration. Now Labour must convince voters | Simon Jenkins

Yet more evidence shows that we will only rely on it more as time goes on. It’s time to debate it without toxic rhetoricBritain needs immigrants. According to the Office for National Statistics this week, Britain’s “indigenous” population in the 2030s will be static and ageing. Growth in population will be buoyed only by immigrants, their number predicted to rise by 5 million over the next seven years. Thank goodness, surely, for them.As this debate lurches back into public discourse, it is cursed by the ease with which xenophobia delivers political gain. The fact is that Britons have turned massively in favour of immigration over the past half century. In the 1950s and 1960s, roughly 80%-90% wanted it to stop. Then the inflow was under 250,000 a year and Enoch Powell could forecast “rivers of blood”. Net migration was below zero.Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

16 hours ago ‘Perfect rat storm’: urban rodent numbers soar as the climate heats, study finds

Sharp rise in population in 11 of 16 cities expected to continue as rising temperatures make it easier for the animals to breed, say researchersRat numbers are soaring in cities as global temperatures warm, research shows.Washington DC, San Francisco, Toronto, New York City and Amsterdam had the greatest increase in these rodents, according to the study, which looked at data from 16 cities globally. Eleven of the cities showed “significant increasing trends in rat numbers”, said the paper published in the journal Science Advances, and these trends were likely to continue. Continue reading...

Society

23 minutes ago Alcohol prices go up TODAY as swingeing new tax rises come into effect

Consumers are being warned to expect the substantial price increase as a new system to tax wines and spirits based on strength is to be introduced.

Economics

3 hours ago ‘I don’t like corporate boxes’: Jeremy and Ben Corbyn on Arsenal, coaching and Starmer

The former Labour leader and his son reveal how football changed their family, and discuss the pleasure and pain that comes from loving such a voraciously capitalist sportLast Saturday morning, with the biting cold and bright sunshine providing a perfect day for football, Jeremy Corbyn climbed off his bicycle at Tufnell Park playing fields. I joked about a red bike being appropriate for his politics and his beloved Arsenal but Corbyn just smiled and gazed at the teeming pitches.His eldest son, Ben, is a scout for the Arsenal academy and runs the London Football School which coaches around a thousand young footballers. They range in age from three to 18 and there are 42 LFS teams. Continue reading...

Sport

22 minutes ago Philadelphia plane crash: What we know so far as Learjet air ambulance comes down in huge explosion near mall

Aircraft carrying six Mexican nationals came down just after 6pm near Roosevelt Mall, damaging at least half a dozen homes as well as vehicles as it erupted in a fireball

Events

1 hour ago ‘The image is a call to honour our roots’: Reginald Kofi Boateng’s best phone photo

Exploring themes of identity, heritage and individuality, the Ghanaian photographer used surreal colours to add a dreamlike qualityReginald Kofi Boateng had spent his morning scouting the perfect location and gathering props. “The day was steeped with intention,” says Boateng, who comes from Koforidua, in eastern Ghana and now lives in Dansoman, in the capital, Accra.“Dansoman is a sprawling estate and a place of contrasts,” he says. “Stories are waiting to be uncovered in its bustling streets and quiet corners. This setting became the perfect backdrop to explore themes of identity, heritage and individuality.” Continue reading...

Culture

19 hours ago Hospice fears town's parking charges will affect patients and families undergoing 'difficult times'

Vale of Glamorgan Council plans to bring in new on street parking charges to increased the turnaround of traffic in two seaside towns

Science

4 hours ago Bus driver who weighed 32 STONE and spent thousands on takeaways looks unrecognisable now

Salford bus driver Gary spent more than £100 on takeaways a week

Transport

2 hours ago Mark Steel: ‘At 16, I thought I’d help transform the world into a socialist arena of peace and justice. I’m not sure we’ve managed it’

The comedian on liberating a budgie, stealing carrier bags, and his recent brush with deathBorn in Kent, Mark Steel, 64, began his radio career in 1992 with the satirical show The Mark Steel Solution. From 1999 to 2002, he presented The Mark Steel Lectures on Radio 4, which was nominated for a Bafta when it transferred to television. He has made 13 series of Mark Steel’s in Town for Radio 4, and his podcast is What the F*** Is Going On?. On 12 February, he begins a tour of The Leopard in My House and publishes an accompanying book. He lives in London and has two children. His partner is the comedian Shaparak Khorsandi.What is your earliest memory? When I was three years old, my mum and dad took the budgie cage out into the garden to clean it and I thought: “I’m going to open the door to see what happens.” Obviously what happened was the budgie flew out of the cage. I remember thinking: “Blimey, I’ve gone and done it now”, which sort of set the tone for the rest of my life. Continue ...

Politics

23 hours ago Oddbox supports farmers and champions 'wonky' produce to help tackle food and plastic waste

Oddbox is here to save the day when it comes to fruit and veg waste - especially produce that is misshapen or 'wonky'

Society

73 minutes ago Wealthy families face crackdown on inheritance tax payments this year amid claims they may have underpaid by millions

HMRC believes families could owe as much as £325m, which it is currently investigating, according to accountancy group UHY Hacker Young.

Economics

4 hours ago Manchester United release clear Alejandro Garnacho message after late transfer drama

Manchester United transfer news as Alejandro Garnacho future comes under the microscope once more following impressive European display

Sport

41 minutes ago Drag queen is killed when car crashes into lorry as family pay tribute to 'infectiously sunny' 35

Gareth Stephenson, 35, was killed after his white Hyundai i10 collided with a lorry on a busy A-road on the A470 near Llanidloes, mid Wales.

Events

3 hours ago Actor and comedian Miles Jupp: 'At school I used to eat two puddings a day'

The actor and comedian, 45, tells Tom Parker Bowles about school Nutella feasts, the glamour of frozen orange juice and why he won't taste his own cooking

Culture

20 hours ago Strictly Come Dancing star Russell Grant suffers 'depressing' health condition with 'no cure'

The TV personality also recently had surgery for a brain tumour

Science

9 hours ago ‘Genius’ parking tip from drivers in one of world’s busiest cities baffles people

People are in disbelief over this driving hack.

Transport

5 hours ago Campaigners hail ‘important victory’ in protection of England’s national parks

Minister says there was error when Manningtree station car park extension was approved under last governmentCampaigners have celebrated an “important victory” in a closely watched case that will determine whether the government will enforce new legislation aimed at protecting national parks and landscapes in England.Dedham Vale is a designated “national landscape” on the border of Essex and Suffolk, home to increasingly rare species including hazel dormice and hedgehogs. Within it is Manningtree station, where the train operator Greater Anglia built an extension to the car park to cope with increased traffic. Continue reading...

Politics

26 hours ago BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Janette Manrara fans 'need to know' after 'I do not' admission on live tour

The presenter and dancer is currently touring the country as the host of the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour 2025

Society

81 minutes ago Barclays IT glitch locks customers out of accounts for almost 24 hours

Outage comes on HMRC’s deadline day for settling self-assessment tax returns and a pay day for many workersA serious IT glitch has left some Barclays customers locked out of their accounts throughout the night and almost 24 hours on from the bank’s initial outage.Barclays has apologised to customers and said it was “currently facing intermittent errors” with its payment system. “We’re working to fix this as quickly as possible,” it said. Continue reading...

Economics

20 hours ago NHS comes under fire for 'cringe' cervical screening advert telling women they can 'listen to Harry Styles' during procedure

A poster featuring Bake Off star Laura Adlington referencing the former One Direction superstar was spotted by baffled onlookers in a gym in London .

Sport

97 minutes ago Dubai faces a new problem after becoming a victim of its own popularity

An increasingly popular Dubai is having to contend with massive traffic jams and skyrocketing house prices

Events

22 hours ago BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Jamie Borthwick jokes it 'annoys me' as stars celebrate tour 'replacement' after exits

They were drafted in amid changes to the hit dance show's live tour

Culture

22 hours ago Strictly Come Dancing star rushed to hospital over worrying symptom as he is told there is 'no cure' for the condition

Strictly legend Russell Grant has revealed how he was rushed to hospital over a worrying symptom in his eye and was told there is 'no cure'.

Science

22 hours ago Beginning of work to improve section of A85 delayed as drivers face overnight road closures

Improvement workjs along a section of nthe A85, east of Lochawe will now start four days later than scheduled as drivers face overnight road closures.

Transport

5 hours ago Tim Dowling: our dog is running rings round the other dogs in the park – and my wife

The new dog may be excitable but she is quite well behaved when I take her out. For my wife, not so muchUnless two people come on the excursion, it is impossible to walk both dogs at the same time, because the new dog wants to go everywhere and meet everyone, and the old dog wants to go nowhere and meet no one. My sympathies, if I’m honest, are with the old dog.For similar reasons, it requires two of us to take both dogs to the vet – the new one because it’s due for a second course of worming pills, and the old one because it’s blind, deaf, confused and pees everywhere. Continue reading...

Politics

30 hours ago South Africa and Malaysia to launch campaign to protect international justice

Formation of Hague Group comes amid challenges to ICJ and ICC rulingsSouth Africa and Malaysia will launch a campaign to protect and uphold the rulings of the international court of justice (ICJ) and the international criminal court (ICC) in the face of what they describe as defiance of ICJ orders and attempts by US Congress to hit the ICC through the use of sanctions.The aim of the nine-nation Hague Group – which includes Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, Senegal and Namibia - is to defend the institutions and rulings of the international legal order. Continue reading...

Society

97 minutes ago Barclays customers are STILL having problems a day after bank's online services crashed on self

On Friday, the bank apologised to its customers, acknowledging 'intermittent errors' with their payment system and assuring that they were 'working to fix this as quickly as possible.'

Economics

26 hours ago National Lottery winner given deadline to claim £1m prize after walking around unaware for 150 days as urgent call is made for players to check their tickets

The winning UK Millionaire Maker slip was purchased in the London Borough of Lambeth on September 3, last year - and its owner has until March 2 to claim their seven-figure jackpot.

Sport

4 hours ago ITV Emmerdale spoiler with April's heartbreaking story and the 'terrifying' truth behind her disappearance

Fans of Emmerdale will finally find out what happened to April Windsor

Events

33 hours ago AP PHOTOS: The moment to restore broken baby Jesus figurines has come in Mexico

It might cost more to repair them than to buy new ones. But baby Jesus figurines have such sentimental value in families that every January an area in downtown Mexico City is full of people with the broken religious sculptures looking for a workshop for hands, legs, nose, eyes, eyelashes or fingers.

Culture

25 hours ago Strictly Come Dancing star rushed to hospital amid health scare as they reveal there's 'no cure'

Russell Grant, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2011, was rushed to hospital after suffering a worrying issue with his eyes and was told by doctors there was 'no cure'

Science

25 hours ago Fears grow in Japan for truck driver trapped in sinkhole for third day

Residents near Tokyo question slow pace of effort to rescue 74-year-old as workers race to build 30-metre rampFears are growing for a truck driver who has spent three days trapped inside a sinkhole in Japan, as rescue workers started building a ramp in a desperate attempt to reach him.The 74-year-old, who has not been named, became trapped when the sinkhole opened up in a road near Tokyo on Tuesday, swallowing him and his two-tonne truck. Continue reading...

Transport

6 hours ago Arsenal hysteria gives Man City clear blueprint with Emirates anger providing bitter backdrop

Manchester City resume their rivalry with Arsenal on Sunday - and without a Premier League title on the line the gloves could truly come off.

Politics

2 hours ago Alcohol prices go up TODAY with 54p on a bottle of wine and 32p on gin as swingeing new tax rises come into effect

Consumers are being warned to expect the substantial price increase as a new system to tax wines and spirits based on strength is to be introduced.

Economics

29 hours ago Rangers total Europa League prize money after clinching last 16 place as the grateful eight lands UEFA bonus

European football comes with plenty of glamour - and plenty of prizemoney, with the Gers already pocketing a decent wedge

Sport

4 hours ago Strange, surreal and sexy: 31 images that changed the way we see our bodies

From dancers to divas, amputees to activists: what images of the human form throughout the decades tell us about who we areThere is no image more compelling to us than to see another human being naked. Thouusands of years of evolution and desire, of empathy and curiosity, hardwire us to stare. The sight is visceral, electrifying, irresistible. It is familiar and forbidden; innocence and sin. The naked body is there in the bathroom mirror every morning, but to see another always feels like stumbling on a secret. A salt-twist of narcissism heightens our emotions, so that looking at a nude feels very different from admiring a watercolour landscape. Ethics come into it. In the history of portraiture, it is the nudes that are the most honest, or the most exploitative – or sometimes both.Photographs are part of the fabric of everyday life for all of us, in a way charcoal sketches or oil paintings are not. So when a nude is not a sketch or a painting but a photograph, the intensity ratchet...

Events

7 hours ago People get stuck in this car park for hours and there's not much anyone can do about it

Shoppers have reported hours of gridlock trying to get out of St David's car park in Cardiff with people swearing and others saying they'll never park there again

Politics

4 hours ago The fabulous Stockport pizza spot tucked behind an industrial estate and car dealership

Wedged between a used car dealership, a Maserati garage and aquarium superstore, lies Crust MCR is a self-styled Italian kitchen serving up fresh Neapolitan pizzas

Economics

4 hours ago Small UK businesses complain of being caught unawares by EU ‘red tape’

New safety regulations have led SMEs to stop sales to bloc and Northern Ireland while they work out how to complySmall businesses are warning they have had to pause selling their products in the European Union and Northern Ireland since mid-December while they work out how to comply with new EU product safety regulations that caught many of them unawares.Skye Weavers, a small family business on the Isle of Skye, says it has missed out on sales of its scarves, shawls and blankets to customers in both markets after halting internet orders from those locations because of the rule change. Continue reading...

Events

10 hours ago The reclusive life of Peter Kay: Why, despite his many millions, the now super

On the first night of this mammoth comeback tour - which began in December 2022 and will run until February 2026 - Peter Kay broke down in tears.

Politics

9 hours ago Tennis Hall of Famer Pam Shriver's trophies are back after being taken in stolen car amid LA fires

International Tennis Hall of Fame member Pam Shriver has her trophies back

Events

10 hours ago Trump administration erases mention of climate change and LGBTQ+ health data from key government sites

The changes come amid an overhaul of most Biden-era policies

Politics

10 hours ago Wealthy families could face a crackdown on inheritance tax payments this year amid claims they may have underpaid by millions

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) believes families could owe as much as £325million, which it is currently investigating, according to accountancy group UHY Hacker Young.

Economics

10 hours ago How the police investigation into the Wimbledon Prep school crash became a distressing farce: As Land Rover driver Claire Freemantle is re

Nestling on the edge of south-west London, Wimbledon Common has long been a haven for those seeking respite from the stresses and strains of life in the city.

Events

10 hours ago Moment BMW driver smashes into man who flips and lands in backseat of convertible

The victim’s shoe was sent flying into the air

Politics

14 hours ago Snap! Labour is accused of wasteful spending and hypocrisy after spending £500,000 on vanity photographers

Sir Keir Starmer has two photographers in Number 10 while Rachel Reeves has one. It comes after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner hired a photographer on a salary of £68,000 last year.

Economics

10 hours ago Long daytime naps can increase risk of a stroke by nearly a quarter, study says

While dozing for 30 to 40 minutes can boost concentration, research showed anything over 60 minutes can also increase the danger of type 2 diabetes or even premature death.

Events

11 hours ago Trump admits tariffs may cause ‘disruption’ as Canada, Mexico, China come into effect: Live

Further tariffs being considered for European Union and for energy, metals, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductor sectors

Politics

18 hours ago The Lib Dem council pleading poverty as it tries to hike taxes by 25 per cent... while one of its senior executives is 'Working From Home' 3,500 miles away in Kyrgyzstan!

It's a long way from the cobbled streets of Windsor to the Central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Three-and-a-half thousand miles, in fact.

Economics

11 hours ago Heartbreaking Emmerdale first look as truth about April Windsor's disappearance revealed

Emmerdale will air a special episode dedicated to April Windsor and her plight since going missing at Christmas - but will she still be alive or will Marlon face the worst news?

Events

12 hours ago Emmerdale cast and crew left in tears over 'disturbing' episode which is 'important for everyone to see'

Mark Charnock, who plays April’s dad Marlon Dingle, said 16-year-old Amelia Amelia Flanagan's performance in the 30-minute special on Tuesday is 'very moving - and disturbing'

Politics

18 hours ago Marks & Spencer launch versatile £45 cotton skater dress perfect for any casual occasion

The denim dress comes in sizes petite, regular and tall - and comes in a flattering skater shape with a mid-length design

Economics

11 hours ago Italian investigative journalist targeted on WhatsApp by Israeli spyware

Francesco Cancellato, whose reporting exposes fascists within PM Meloni’s far-right party, condemns ‘violation’An Italian investigative journalist who is known for exposing young fascists within prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right party was targeted with spyware made by Israel-based Paragon Solutions, according to a WhatsApp notification received by the journalist.Francesco Cancellato, the editor-in-chief of the Italian investigative news outlet Fanpage, was the first person to come forward publicly after WhatsApp announced on Friday that 90 journalists and other members of civil society had been targeted by the spyware. Continue reading...

Events

12 hours ago Netflix’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman to end after its second series

It comes amid sexual assault allegations about author Gaiman.

Politics

19 hours ago State pensioners told exact date they will get extra payments in bank account

The new pension rates for 2024/25 have been confirmed and pensioners will see their payments increase from April. State pensioners will get a boost worth up to an extra £472 a year

Economics

12 hours ago Gwen Stefani, 55, looks much younger than her years as she reunites with No Doubt at FireAid in LA

Gwen Stefani reunited with No Doubt for the FireAid Relief concert benefiting victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, on Thursday evening. It the group's first performance since Coachella in April 2023.

Events

13 hours ago Trump says 25% tariffs start tomorrow on Mexico and Canada and threatens new tax on medication

Tariffs on Mexico and Canada will start Saturday, the White House confirmed

Politics

19 hours ago Salford’s social housing tenants to pay up to £20 a month more after rent hike

The city council pushed through the new rates this week

Economics

15 hours ago California officials investigate utilities company in search for cause of fires

Firefighters believe Palisades fire started from small blaze that may have reignited due to hurricane-force windsAs Los Angeles grapples with the aftermath of the devastating fires that killed dozens and laid waste to entire neighborhoods, the potential causes of the disasters are beginning to come into focus.The siege of wildfires, sparked amid powerful Santa Ana winds earlier this month, created chaos around the city for weeks. They scorched around 60 sq miles (155 sq km) of the city, destroying the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods, and killed at least 29 people. Preliminary estimates of the economic losses have exceeded $250bn. Firefighters have only recently managed to achieve near containment of the fires, and residents begin returning to what remains of their communities, looking for answers. Continue reading...

Events

13 hours ago Trump administration erases mention of climate change and LGBT+ health data from key government sites

The changes come amid an overhaul of most Biden-era policies

Politics

19 hours ago LBMA says it’s working with COMEX on U.S. gold price premium, insists London stocks and liquidity are strong

LBMA says it’s working with COMEX on U.S. gold price premium, insists London stocks and liquidity are strong  Kitco NEWS

Economics

16 hours ago Driver jailed for killing teenage girl in crash, telling police ‘I’m stupid’

Jack Cracknell was jailed for six years at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday.

Events

13 hours ago Scots pub hailed for shaming thief by framing CCTV catching them in the act

The Edinburgh boozer has a reputation for its witty comebacks.

Politics

23 hours ago Property in Spain: what the proposed taxes on foreign investment means for British buyers

Last week, Spain’s Prime Minister announced plans to introduce a tax of up to 100 per cent on property purchases by non-EU residents. Experts give their advice on what this means for British buyers

Economics

16 hours ago London businessman's migrant smuggling gang who treated people as 'cargo' jailed

The gang crammed two Albanian nationals into the boot of a car and attempted to traffic them into Britain

Events

13 hours ago Trump rocks FBI by telling senior officials to resign or be fired as fears grow over retribution under Kash Patel

‘I was given no rationale for this decision, which, as you might imagine, has come as a shock,’ FBI agent writes in email to colleagues

Politics

24 hours ago Inside bargain Scottish fixer upper cottage with 'great potential' for sale

A "great opportunity" to buy a family home in Scotland with "great potential" has come up, with a three-bedroom property in Argyll and Bute set to go under the hammer.

Economics

17 hours ago Air ambulance lands as person is trapped inside car in Port Eynon after crashing into wall

A large-scale emergency services rescue operation was launched in the Gower community and the road remained closed this evening with diversions in place

Events

13 hours ago BBC 'received Wynne Evans behaviour complaints on Strictly Come Dancing'

It's been claimed complaints were made about Wynne Evans' behaviour on Strictly Come Dancing before he was axed from the live tour.

Politics

24 hours ago What are Scotland's council tax rules and are there months you don't have to pay?

Water bills in Scotland will rise by 9.9 percent, adding an extra £3.68 per month for water and wastewater services from April 1

Economics

17 hours ago Moment 'show off' driver asks police 'Am I going to prison for this?' as he admits to doing 120mph when he crashed into pub and killed his 18

Reckless Jack Cracknell clocked a speed of 117mph before he lost control of his high-powered Ford Fiesta ST as he raced through a 40mph zone.

Events

14 hours ago Sam Thompson 'pulled a KNIFE on comedian Michael McIntyre' after mistaking BBC prank for burglars

The reality star, 32, was reportedly so shocked by the late night drop in, he mistook it for a burglary and grabbed a knife in panic.

Politics

25 hours ago Martin Lewis explains how to save money on ‘forgotten’ bill ahead of huge price hike

It was confirmed this week that households in England and Wales will see an average £123 or 26% increase to their yearly water bill from April

Economics

17 hours ago Mother, 39, appears in court accused of killing son, nine, after 'smashing car into van and cattle truck'

A 39-year-old mother, Barbara Roe, of Andover Road, Wiltshire, who has been accused of the death of her nine-year-old son, Zac, by dangerous driving appeared at court . 

Events

14 hours ago Channel 4 bosses are blasted for 'sanitising' extremist views of reality show star accused of anti

Bushra Shaikh appears in reality show Go Back To Where You Come From which starts on Monday, but Channel 4 has been accused of not showing her extreme side seen on her social media channels.

Politics

30 hours ago Endless work, little money, occasional UFOs: my father’s five decades driving Brazil’s roads – podcast

As a sociologist, my career couldn’t be further from that of my father, who spent his life on the road as a truck driver. It’s only in recent years, as illness has struck, that I’ve started to truly understand him. By José Henrique Bortoluci. Read by Felipe Pacheco Continue reading...

Economics

17 hours ago Driver who crashed into boy at bus stop sentenced to two years in detention

James Doherty, 18, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Events

15 hours ago Strictly's Janette Manrara is supported by husband Aljaž Škorjanec after breaking her social media silence following Wynne Evans' inappropriate jibe

The It Takes Two host, 41, stepped out holding hands with the professonial dancer, 34, ahead of another Strictly Come Dancing live tour show.

Politics

32 hours ago Brits set to pay more for their booze as alcohol tax kicks in – but one drink is getting cheaper

2023 saw the largest tax increase on alcohol in more than half a century, but consumers could see even more price increases as alcohol duty is set to rise yet again

Economics

18 hours ago TikToker kills mum and daughter in horror crash moments after posting haunting video inside car

Agustín López Gagliasso's car spun out of control, killing Tania Gandolfi, 41, and her daughter Agustina García, 16. The TikToker is under pre-trial detention as he awaits his fate

Events