18 h. ago Former Tory MP among 15 charged over bets on timing of 2024 UK election

Charges follow investigation into alleged cheating related to bets placed on when general election would be heldThe former Conservative MP Craig Williams is among 15 people, including several other senior Tories, charged by the Gambling Commission for alleged cheating connected to bets based on the date of the 2024 UK general election.Williams was the MP for Montgomeryshire and Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary, but lost the support of the Conservative party after a Guardian story about alleged bets placed on a July election just days before the date was announced. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Rishi Sunak's former aide among 15 people charged with betting offences following 'cheat' probe into wagers placed on date of general election

Craig Williams, who was the ex-prime minister's parliamentary private secretary until last summer, has been charged with offences under the Gambling Act 2005.

Politics

19 h. ago Fifteen people charged for placing bets on date of last year's general election

The Gambling Commission said that the people had been charged with betting offences.

Politics

19 h. ago Gambling Commission charges 15 over bets on timing of 2024 UK general election

Charges follow investigation into alleged cheating related to bets over when last year’s election would be heldThe Gambling Commission has charged 15 people with offences under the Gambling Act 2005 after an investigation into alleged cheating related to bets placed on when last year’s general election would take place.Former Tory MP Craig Williams was among the 15 charged. He was Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary (PPS), one of the former prime minister’s closest aides. Continue reading...

Politics

52 h. ago Russian aggression has seen the number of people charged with spying for a foreign state hit its highest level in over a decade as experts warn 'proxy war' on Britain is intensifying

Experts warn Russia and other rogue states are launching a 'proxy war' on Britain which will only intensify

Events

54 h. ago One in three British teenagers is now overweight or obese, new study reveals

The figure has risen by 50 per cent over the past two decades, which experts have put down to sedentary lifestyles driven by excessive screen time.

Politics

61 h. ago Surge in 'puppy Prozac' prescriptions as vets blame lockdown for anxious pooches

The number of canines on antidepressants has increased tenfold in the last decade, with experts blaming the lockdown for a lack of socialisation and separation anxiety when owners go to work

Politics

62 h. ago 'Narco terrorist' drug wanted by the FBI is accused of flooding Britain with heroin and fuelling gang war that saw girl, nine, gunned down in drive

Naji Sharifi Zindashti is wanted by the US intelligence service for his alleged 'involvement in criminal activities'.

Events

3 d. ago Allies to pour £18billion more into defending Ukraine with warning peace remains 'out of reach' due to Russian aggression despite US efforts

Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK would spend a record £4.5 billion on defence aid this year that includes manufacturing drones and supplying anti-tank mines.

Events

6 d. ago Voices: Whisper it, but UK plc is nearly ready for Trump’s new world order

With the US president showing no sign of backing down on tariffs, a global trade war looks likely – but, thanks in part to happy accidents, Britain could be well-placed to ride it out, says Chris Blackhurst

Politics

6 d. ago EU sanctions policy ‘failed’ to make impact on Russia, says Hungarian minister – Europe live

Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, claims sanctions ‘hit European economy more than Russian economy’Péter Szijjártó, a frequent visitor to Moscow despite the continuing Russian aggression against Ukraine, also told Bloomberg that the EU’s sanctions policy “has failed” as he claimed it “hit European economy more than the Russian economy”.He said that Hungary’s view on rolling over the existing sanctions will “depend a lot on the geopolitical circumstances”, with Budapest closely following the progress of Trump-led talks with Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Allies at War by Tim Bouverie review – a revelatory study of second world war alliances

In focusing on the multilateral bonds that were forged to defeat Hitler, this entertaining account offers fresh disclosures about the course of the conflictCan anything new be said about the second world war? Unexpectedly the answer is yes. Here are just a few of the surprising facts that I learned from this revelatory book. The Belgian army in 1940 was twice the size of the British Expeditionary Force. (The US army in 1940 was smaller still, smaller than those of Portugal or Sweden.) Almost all the French troops evacuated at Dunkirk chose to be repatriated rather than join the Free French. In 1942 pro-Russian feeling in Britain was so strong that War and Peace became a bestseller. Even in January 1945 the Japanese still had 1 million troops in Manchuria. The Indian prophet of non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi, considered Hitler “not as bad as he is depicted”. And so on.Tim Bouverie has reverted to a traditional form to present the past afresh. His focus is not on the battlefield, nor on...

Events

7 d. ago King Charles to make huge appearance with William and Kate as VE Day celebrations revealed

King Charles will stand shoulder to shoulder with his family including the Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to honour Britain's war heroes and mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day

Politics

7 d. ago Chilling WW3 blueprint revealed by expert as Putin could 'turn off the lights'

A leading security expert has shared a worrying reality of what life in Britain could be like if we go to War - including food rationing and no petrol or diesel

Politics

7 d. ago People starting wildfires risk being charged with manslaughter – Muir

The Environment Minister visited the Mourne Mountains in Co Down on Monday evening to view the extent of damage caused by recent fires.

Events

7 d. ago Our world affairs editor answers your questions as former MI6 chief says Britain must get ready for war

The Conversation continues as world affairs editor Sam Kiley tackles some of your questions on Russia, Trump, war in Europe, and conscription in the UK

Events

7 d. ago Parking charges reintroduced at Welsh beach and people are not happy

Many have said the charges could cause parking pressures in other parts of the town

Politics

7 d. ago UK has Europe’s strongest EV market but there are ‘bumps along the road’

Pro-EV groups say the lack of purchase incentives, perception of public charging infrastructure and the taxation system are putting some people off.

Politics

7 d. ago British 'con mum', 84, who scammed her MasterChef star son to fund champagne lifestyle is charged with fraud after victims watched Netflix show

Dionne Marie Hanna, 84, faces five counts of fraud involving three people. She appeared in court via video link on Saturday after charges were filed in Singapore .

Events

9 d. ago ‘We can’t sit back and watch’: Former MI6 boss says Britain must get ready for war as Putin threatens Europe

Exclusive: As a Russia-Ukrainian ceasefire looks no closer, Sir Alex Younger tells The Independent how the UK is too detached from the threat posed by Putin – and that our ‘collective effort’ needs to change

Events