30 h. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Castration! The Secretary of State was desperate to depict herself as a toughie, so she aimed below the belt

QUENTIN LETTS: Shabana Mahmood was eager to discuss castration. The Justice Secretary had just announced an unprecedented dilution of criminal sentences.

Politics

35 h. ago Emmerdale couple drop shock announcement as they secretly marry and move to Australia

One Emmerdale couple has secretly tied the knot in a wedding just weeks ago, it's been revealed, with said couple making a big move to Australia too leaving loved ones stunned

Events

38 h. ago France drop Renard, Le Sommer and Dali in shock cull before Women’s Euros

Laurent Bonadei drops trio from Nations League squadIt is not a spur of the moment decision, says France coachFrance have dropped their captain Wendie Renard, their vice-captain Eugénie Le Sommer and the experienced midfielder Kenza Dali for their upcoming Nations League games with little prospect of either making a return for this summer’s Euros.Laurent Bonadei’s side face Switzerland and Iceland in the international window. There had been reports of the trio being left out but the announcement still came as a shock. France are one of the favourites for the European Championship in Switzerland but have been drawn in a tough group with England, the Netherlands and Wales. Continue reading...

Events

42 h. ago Chemical castration for paedophiles and other sex offenders will be piloted in 20 prisons and could be made mandatory, Justice Secretary announces

Shabana Mahmood announced the move in the Commons after a sentencing review found the measure was 'worthwhile' as a way to reduce reoffending.

Events

69 h. ago Starmer poised to sanction top Israel ministers over Gaza crisis as pressure mounts for tougher UK action

MPs from five different political parties made it clear that the measures announced by foreign secretary David Lammy on Tuesday were not enough

Politics

69 h. ago Rise of UK robot soldiers as British Military to be the 'cutting edge' in battlefield AI

Defence Secretary John Healey has announced plans to take Britain's military to the 'cutting edge' of Artificial Intelligence as he suggested it will have a 'massive impact' on battlefields

Events

3 d. ago AI to play increasing role in UK armed forces, defence secretary says

Exclusive: John Healey says strategic defence review aims to put military on ‘leading edge of innovation in Nato’Britain’s military will be increasingly powered by artificial intelligence, the defence secretary has said, as he prepares to announce a review with advanced technology at its core.John Healey said he and his officials had put AI at the centre of the strategic defence review, as the government seeks to avoid the kinds of costly procurement mistakes that have plagued defence spending in the past. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Thames Water: big bonuses due from emergency £3bn loan ‘withdrawn’

Environment secretary makes announcement after company’s chair said he ‘may have misspoken’ to MPsLarge bonuses due to be paid to Thames Water executives from an emergency £3bn loan have been “withdrawn”, the environment secretary, Steve Reed, said, after the Guardian revealed the chair of the company wrongly told parliament creditors had “insisted” on the payments.Reed told the environment, food and rural affairs (Efra) committee on Tuesday that the retention payment plan had been withdrawn by Thames Water. He said: “I am very happy indeed that Thames have now dropped those proposals. It was the wrong thing to do. They have now withdrawn their proposal to make those payments.” Continue reading...

Economics

8 d. ago South Ayrshire care chiefs play down impact of UK Government's overseas care ban announcement

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the plan to end visas for overseas care workers.

Politics

8 d. ago UK asking other countries to host ‘return hubs’ for refused asylum seekers, Starmer confirms – UK politics live

PM on trip to announce increased cooperation against people smugglers alongside Albania’s prime minister, Edi RamaAll Commons Speakers, at least for the past 30 years, have complained about the government making major announcements to the media first, and not to parliament first. But rarely have any of them sounded quite as furious about this as Lindsay Hoyle, who this morning delivered an extended reprimand to the government about this at the start of an urgent question.The UQ was about plans to limit the use of prison recall – something announced by the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, at a press conference yesterday, while the Commons was still sitting. After pointing this out, and reminding MPs that details of the immigration white paper were given to the media extensively, long before the ministerial statement about it was delivered in the Commons on Monday, Hoyle went on to imply that, as well as regularly breaking the ministerial code, ministers were also guilty of hypocri...

Politics

8 d. ago Some prisoners to be released after 28 days in bid to cut overcrowding

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced new priosn rules as the country approaches 'zero capacity'

Events

9 d. ago ‘Lives at risk’, warns domestic abuse tsar over Government’s prison recall plans

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced emergency reforms.

Events

9 d. ago Jail time for recalled offenders to be limited to free up prison places

UK justice secretary also announces plans for three new jails amid overcrowding crisis in England and WalesShabana Mahmood will limit how long hundreds of repeat offenders can be returned to prison for amid Whitehall predictions that jails will be full again in November.The justice secretary also announced a £4.7bn plan to build three new prisons starting this year, part of a “record expansion” as the government attempts to get to grips with the criminal justice system. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Three new prisons to be built starting this year, UK justice secretary announces

Shabana Mahmood says jails will be part of a ‘record prison expansion’ amid overcrowding crisis in England and Wales Three new prisons will be built, starting this year, as part of a “record prison expansion”, the justice secretary has announced, as the government grapples with near-full jails.Shabana Mahmood also announced a shake-up of prison recall measures, which will mean prisoners serving between one and four years’ jail time can be returned to prison only for “a fixed 28-day period”. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Justice Secretary announces ‘record prison expansion’ to tackle overcrowding

Ms Mahmood also announced a shake-up of prison recall measures.

Events

9 d. ago Popular EastEnders star announces secret cancer battle and says 'I’m forever changed'

An EastEnders star has revealed they have secretly been battling cancer

Events

1 week ago New 'engine for growth' package announced as Defence Secretary closes London Stock Exchange

New 'engine for growth' package announced as Defence Secretary closes London Stock Exchange  GOV.UK

Politics

1 week ago Care homes will close thanks to Starmer’s immigration crackdown, providers warn

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced the closure of the care worker visa for overseas recruitment as part of the government's immigration reforms

Events

1 week ago White House claims China trade deal reached while Beijing hails ‘important first steps’

US announcement comes after treasury secretary touted progress in two days of talks with Chinese vice-premier in GenevaThe White House has announced that a trade deal with China has been struck after two days of talks in Geneva, while Beijing has hailed “important first steps.”The announcement on Sunday came after the US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, told reporters that there had been “substantial progress” in talks between his team and that of the Chinese vice-premier, He Lifeng, in Geneva on defusing the trade war between the world’s two largest economies sparked by Donald Trump’s 145% tariffs. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Choosing the next pope: How does the Vatican make white smoke?

The outcome of the secretive papal election is announced through smoke, but how do they change its colour?

Events