1 week ago ‘I gave birth three months early – then police investigated me over an illegal abortion’

As MPs call on parliament to vote over decriminalising abortion, one woman tells Bel Trew how the traumatic premature birth of her baby was exacerbated by a year-long police investigation

Events

1 week ago Cooper says law on rape being tightened so adults cannot use consent as defence against charge of raping child under 16 – UK politics live

Yvette Cooper tells parliament that Louise Casey audit found some cases were downgraded from rape to lesser charges ‘because 13- to 15-year-old is perceived to have consented’Starmer launches new grooming gangs investigationIn his interview on the Sky News this morning Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said that Keir Starmer should apologise for saying in January that those calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs were jumping on a far-right bandwagon. Kemi Badenoch, his party leader, is also quoted today in an Daily Express splash story saying Starmer should apologise, but she is saying he should apologise for not agreeing to hold a national inquiry earlier.At the Downing Street lobby briefing this morning the No 10 spokesperson was asked if Starmer still thought that people who backed a national inquiry in January were joining a far-right bandwagon. In response, the spokesperson defended the phrase, and insisted that it only applied to Tories who were now demanding...

Society

1 week ago Audit found ‘clear evidence of representation’ of Asian and Pakistani men in grooming gang cases in local data, MPs told – UK politics live

Yvette Cooper tells parliament that Louise Casey audit found ‘organisations avoided topic for fear of appearing racist or raising community tensions’Starmer launches new grooming gangs investigationIn his interview on the Sky News this morning Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said that Keir Starmer should apologise for saying in January that those calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs were jumping on a far-right bandwagon. Kemi Badenoch, his party leader, is also quoted today in an Daily Express splash story saying Starmer should apologise, but she is saying he should apologise for not agreeing to hold a national inquiry earlier.At the Downing Street lobby briefing this morning the No 10 spokesperson was asked if Starmer still thought that people who backed a national inquiry in January were joining a far-right bandwagon. In response, the spokesperson defended the phrase, and insisted that it only applied to Tories who were now demanding an inquiry they never set...

Politics

2 w. ago Muckle Flugga by Michael Pedersen review – anything can happen on this remote Scottish island

Life is turned upside-down by a new arrival, in this weird and charming tale of nature and family – with a guest appearance from the ghost of Robert Louis StevensonOften thought of as the northernmost point of the British Isles, the Scottish island Muckle Flugga lies on the outer reaches of the Shetland archipelago. Norse legend has it that this craggy and almost uninhabitable place was created by two warring giants, obsessed with the same mermaid. While throwing boulders at each other, one of the rivalrous giants’ missiles accidentally plopped into the sea: and so the island was born.A version of this mythic tussle is central to Michael Pedersen’s debut novel. When the narrative opens, delivered in a lively present tense sprinkled with Scots, The Father and his 19-year-old son Ouse are the only residents on the island. The Father mans Muckle’s lighthouse, and is as volatile as the waves he illuminates. A gossip from a neighbouring island describes him as irascible, with “a&nbs...

Politics

3 w. ago 'Contemptible' Thames Water accused of 'telling lies to the British public' in dividends row

The scathing criticism came as peers discussed a collapsed rescue deal for the debt-laden firm

Politics

3 w. ago 'Contemptible' Thames Water accused in Parliament of 'telling lies to the British public' in dividends row

The scathing criticism came as peers discussed a collapsed rescue deal for the debt-laden firm

Politics

3 w. ago Tories accuse Labour of backing 'tax on bath time' as water firms push for summer surcharges

The Tories insist Labour has been caught ‘red-handed’ with a policy that is ‘class war in action’

Economics

4 w. ago Liverpool parade crash suspect Paul Doyle to appear in court

Father-of-three Paul Doyle is accused of seven offences following the incident on Water Street in the city centre on Monday.

Events

4 w. ago French Open: Draper beats Monfils in thriller, Djokovic and Sinner win – as it happened

Draper battled against the crowd and an inspired opponent to win in four sets, Gauff advanced but Boulter went out, while Norrie and Fearnley set up an all-British meetingI can’t lie, I’d like further detail on the Roland-Garros tattoo parlour. How busy is it? Who’s been? What kind of thing are people getting? Any spider webs on faces or tears beneath eyes?Krueger is playing nicely. Andreeva forces her through deuce in order to endorse, but she get there in the end; they’re both smacking it, but it’s the American whose radar is working better so far and she leads 2-0. Continue reading...

Events

last month Alleged Liverpool driver Paul Doyle faces charges against six victims after 79 injured in FC parade crash

Paul Doyle, 53, is accused of seven offences following the incident on Water Street

Events