Publication
Britain’s royals face Russian cyber threat in ‘grey war’
Growing threat to monarchy’s ‘ageing legacy’ computer systems has left the Royal Family vulnerable to cyber attacks from hostile states, Buckingham Palace warns Increased risk of hackers targeting the institution has forced a major taxpayer-funded...
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Burnham pushes welfare cuts into 2027 – as he plans bolder devolution
» Major welfare reforms are set to be pushed back another year – raising the prospect of tax rises or further spending cuts ahead of October’s Budget » New PM confirms that landmark review into young people and work will not be published until later...
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Killer kitchen dust: victims’ loved ones to receive higher compensation
» Relatives of workers who died from silicosis caused by inhaling dust while cutting kitchen worktop stone are to receive fairer compensation payouts as new legislation goes to Parliament » Ministers praise The i Paper’s Killer Kitchens campaign for...
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Harry should pay for security costs in UK, say two-thirds of public in poll
» Overwhelming majority opposes taxpayer-funded security for Sussexes, who returned to Britain from California last week » Poll for The i Paper reveals that 63% of Britons think Harry and Meghan should pay for the measures privately » Royal and VIP...
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Caught on camera in the UK: China Embassy guards using their electroshock weapons to threaten protesters
Video shows embassy security team pointing stun batons at activists Britain and China embroiled in diplomatic row after Government issues a stern rebuke that ‘any attempts by a foreign state to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm individuals on UK soil...
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Social media addiction: tech giant pays $17bn over child harm
» Facebook and Instagram chief Mark Zuckerberg saved from testifying in trial, after firm’s whistle-blower gives evidence that the tech chief knew of harm caused to children » His firm Meta is accused of deliberately targeting teenagers with product...
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Future of UK state pension triple lock in doubt – with older population growing faster than workers
» Extra 2.9 million people are projected to reach pension age in Britain between 2024 and 2049, outpacing the rise in working-age population of just 2.2 million forecast over the same period » Public finance time-bomb calls into question long term...
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Council house boost: Rayner reveals plan for 70,000 homes to tackle crisis
» Housing Secretary says Government will create a boom in social and council housing to cut number of families in temporary accommodation » £10bn handed to councils and housing associations to build 70,000 new homes across England – 60% of them must be...
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Burnham open to cutting uni fees for EU students as bargaining chip for better Brexit deal
PM is prepared to reduce hefty university tuition fees for young Europeans to study in Britain so long as the UK gets substantial concessions on trade in return, The i Paper has learnt Brussels has long demanded lower rates as part of a youth mobility...
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Sussexes fly back to UK without a deal for taxpayer funded security
» Prince Harry’s surprise return to Britain opens door to reintegration into Royal Family – but hurdles lie ahead » The King, blindsided when told on Sunday, can now rebuild relationship with Duke and Duchess without allowing them to undertake...
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New skin cancer vaccine can stop disease and offers hope for era of personalised jabs
Patients with high-risk melanoma remained free of cancer for longer after surgery Treatment uses same mRNA technology that was used to make Covid vaccines Landmark trial still needs peer review, although independent experts praise ‘important moment’...
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No rough sleeper still on streets by the end of 2026, pledges Rayner
Every homeless person across England will be offered a bed by Christmas, the Housing Secretary announces » Questions remain over how the £442m pandemic-inspired pledge will be delivered, with 5,000 people on the streets » ‘We see the challenges that...
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Neighbours told: don’t phone 999 to report next door’s barbecue
» Fire chiefs warn public not to use 999 to report neighbours holding barbecues or bonfires in wake of Government’s use of national alert system to millions of mobile phones on Friday » Alert blamed for surge of emergency calls over the weekend –...
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Thousands of new homes set to be built as Rayner tears up rules on green belt
» New housing developments near train stations are set to be fast-tracked in a major expansion of commuter villages and towns Communities with at least four services per hour into a major urban area are being targeted for urgent development, The i...
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24 million people face paying even higher water bills ... to firms losing 1.2 billion litres a day from leaks
The water regulator is set to give five suppliers the green light to increase bills by an additional £3.4bn between them in the coming years » Ofwat had already given firms permission to charge customers 36% more for their services between 2025 and...
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Once in a generation: eclipse fever grips Britain
From Aberdeen to Penzance, from Aberystwyth to Hull, skywatchers were out in force yesterday to see the UK’s best solar eclipse in a generation. The event sparked huge interest as people across the country scrambled to get the few remaining solar...
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Summer 2026 will be UK’s hottest since records began
» Britain on course for hottest summer on record, the Met Office says, with sixth heatwave on way and only average conditions needed for rest of August to beat existing heat record » This year’s extreme hot weather and drought could hit next year’s...
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45 million people in the UK now living in drought
» Heat warnings issued and 12 reservoirs at risk of running out of water as 71% of England in ‘flash drought’ – with no sustained rain on horizon 27 million living under water use restrictions » 120 firefighters try to stop New Forest wildfire the...
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Car washes and swimming pools could face water bans in UK’s next heatwave
» Sixteen million people could see their areas move into drought status this week as Britain faces new 350C heatwave, with further hosepipe bans likely to be announced » Water firm preparing ‘non-essential’ restrictions for businesses such as private...
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Every river and lake in England polluted with toxic chemicals
» All rivers, lakes, reservoirs and canals in England polluted with forever chemicals, microplastics, ammonia and phosphates, according to a landmark report » First evaluation in six years reveals only 14% are in ‘good’ ecological health, with many...
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Schools get new pupil attendance targets to crack down on ‘stay at home’ Fridays
Schools will be given tailored improvement targets to combat a drop in classroom attendance over the past academic year, alongside plans to ‘supercharge’ childhood flu vaccination Writing exclusively for The i Paper, education minister Paul Waugh warns...
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Private firms may face ban on profiteering to make care homes cheaper
Ministers could impose profit caps on private social care providers in a bid to keep costs down as Andy Burnham prepares to tackle decades-long crisis » Officials tell The i Paper limits on private providers behind childrens’ homes and fostering...
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Driest July in 190 years
» England and Wales record driest July since records began in 1836 » Britain has second hottest July on record leading to drought and lower crop yields – but boost for solar power, with record electricity generation » Firefighters battle wildfire the...
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Two-thirds back wealth tax on assets worth more than £10m
Voters overwhelmingly back a wealth tax with just 10 per cent opposed, and support coming from across the political spectrum Exclusive polling for The i Paper also shows 73 per cent want to see a rise in the basic tax rate threshold, frozen for five...
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Game changer: Europe tackles Infantino by boycotting the World Cup
» European football associations take stand against Fifa chief’s hugely controversial plan to sell shares in the tournament to investors, led by US venture capital firm with links to Trump » All 55 members of Uefa – Europe’s football governing body –...
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Take a shorter shower to save water in drought, public urged
» Drought declared in half of England as ‘exceptionally serious’ dry spell continues » Households using water ‘faster than nature can replenish it’, warns Environment Agency » Public urged to reduce water use with shorter showers, ‘low flow’ shower...
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Fury over Fifa plan to sell off World Cup
» Fifa boss Gianni Infantino plans to sell stakes to private investors, potentially earning him millions » Thrive Capital – whose CEO is Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law – linked to deal » Uefa says move ‘crosses a line’ as European...
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Race against time
» Next 24 hours critical ahead of 400C heatwave as fires approach Bordeaux » Tourists urged to leave the city as official warns ‘we don’t know where the fire will go’ » Macron holds crisis meeting and Spanish PM warns of ‘consequence of climate...
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Council tax and stamp duty to be scrapped under Burnham plans
The Government is actively considering options to replace council tax and stamp duty as pressure grows on the Prime Minister to reform system he previously condemned as unfair More than 100 Labour MPs now back an overhaul with two alternatives – a...
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State pensioners with no other income will be exempt from tax
The new Chancellor, John Healey, gives commitment that pensioners whose only earnings are the state pension will not pay income tax, in good news for 820,000 retirees From next year, state pension will be dragged into UK taxation for the first time,...
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Water execs face criminal charges, accused of major conspiracy to fake sewage tests
» Southern Water’s former chief exec Matthew Wright and three others are charged with conspiring to defraud regulators, for allegedly faking sewage data » Judge says ‘very serious allegations’ state there was ‘extensive fraud at a high level in the...
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Cost of living, cost of living, cost of living
» Typical electricity bill will fall by £45 a year from October, as Andy Burnham removes VAT from them on his second day » Burnham will need to raise taxes, claim senior economists, or risk failing to deliver on a raft of his bolder policy pledges »...
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Burnham era begins with radical pledge to transform UK
» Andy Burnham becomes UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade – and vows to end the churn » ‘It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game. We have not been good enough’ » Mass sackings for Starmer’s Cabinet – with Rachel Reeves and...
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Burnham pledges ‘breathing room’ to help UK on cost of living as he moves into No 10
» Andy Burnham to promise fresh package to ease cost of living crisis when he makes his first speech as prime minister in Downing Street today » New PM expected to focus on domestic agenda, arguing that political stability will be needed to deliver...
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Andy Burnham prime minister in 72 hours
» Keir Starmer will address the nation in a final speech from outside 10 Downing Street on Monday morning and then see the King to resign » Shortly after, Andy Burnham will arrive with his new team to start work as the UK’s next prime minister – the...
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Last roar – England fall just short
Argentina comeback ends Three Lions’ dreams of glory in agonising semi-final defeat Gordon’s goal sends England into ecstasy – but they cannot hold out to win biggest match in 60 years, losing 2-1 Argentina will play Spain – Sunday 8pm, BBC and ITV
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Widdecombe killed in targeted attack, UK counter-terror police chief reveals
» Detectives are still trying to understand the attacker’s motive » The police inquiry into Ann Widdecombe’s murder will also look into whether the suspect may have been targeting any other Reform UK politicians, Britain’s leading counter-terror...
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Farage declined taxpayer-funded security – calling offer ‘inadequate’
» Reform UK leader turned down state-funded security including a bodyguard, car and trained driver as he considered the level of protection to be ‘downgraded and inadequate’ » The offer would have given Nigel Farage a similar level of security to that...
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New Widdecombe murder arrest but no sign of political motive, say police
» Officers arrest 28-year-old man in Rotherham and say they are ‘not looking for anyone else’ in connection with politician’s death » Detectives say there is nothing to suggest killing of former Tory minister was politically motivated but are keeping...
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UK’s 1.6 million weight loss jab users told to start strength training
» First major update to health guidelines, since explosion in popularity » Britain’s chief medical officers tell people taking the jabs to begin weight training and undertake other physical exercise to keep their muscles strong, even if they feel like...
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Police launch investigation into £37,500 donation to Robert Jenrick campaign
Scotland Yard is now investigating a political donation made to Jenrick’s campaign to become Conservative leader, The i Paper learns Investigation centres on claim that £37,500 came from foreign donor UK electoral law forbids political donations from...
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Global outcry as Trump forces Fifa to change football World Cup rules to help the USA
» Trump admits he intervened with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino over USA’s ‘best player’ receiving one-match ban: ‘I was a good athlete and I understand sports really well... that wasn’t a foul’ » Select committee chair urges Fifa to explain the decision...
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Weight-loss pills from chemists – but ‘not on the NHS until 2028’
» Revolutionary treatment priced £79 goes on sale at pharmacies today – but it is unlikely to be available for free on the NHS for at least another 18 months to two years, experts tell The i Paper » Pharmacies say there is already ‘huge demand’ for the...
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Labour failed to prepare for power before winning landslide, admits McSweeney
» Keir Starmer’s closest adviser explains that the party did not properly prepare to govern the UK – offering frank insights from inside No 10 about why the new administration ran aground » PM’s ex-chief of staff Morgan McSweeney says Labour ‘didn’t...
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Rayner fights for Cabinet return with housing job pitch to Burnham
» Former deputy PM urges the next government to ‘rewire’ England by devolving power and money to town halls as she pitches herself for ministerial role » Angela Rayner echoes words used by Burnham in speech in Manchester on Monday – as likely next PM...
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Starmer’s gift to Burnham: £4.7bn hole in first Budget to fund war plan
» Outgoing PM risks political row with his likely successor after leaving a third of the £15bn Defence Investment Plan unfunded » Burnham did not know the full details, The i Paper understands, but accepts that the long-awaited strategy is now...
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Burnham pledges growth, housing and No 10 North in his vision for ‘rewired Britain’
» Likely next prime minister promises a new ‘nerve centre’ in Manchester, with more control flowing to mayors and councils in the ‘biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen’ » In Manchester speech laying out his political vision ahead of...
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Burnham vows to ‘lift Britain back up’ with biggest ever power transfer
» Labour front-runner to replace Starmer says there must be a change in how Britain is governed and wants power pushed out of Whitehall to regions and local communities » Burnham sets out vision of ‘good growth in every postcode’ driven by his...
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Heatwave UK: 50-year record broken again
» More than 1,200 schools shut and six hospitals declare ‘critical incidents’ on busiest ever day for London Ambulance Service emergency callouts » June heat record for England eclipsed again as temperature hits 36.7°C in Somerset » Extreme weather...
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Failing water firms face state control under Burnham plans for power
The man set to become prime minister within weeks will consider taking over England’s sewage-dumping companies using Paris model of public ownership Blueprint being drawn up aims to take over firms that fail or breach their licences Burnham wants to...
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Britain set to break 50-year heat record
» Met Office forecasts 39°C this week, smashing UK’s June record from 1976 » Hundreds of schools close to cope » High humidity adds to discomfort » 29,000 lightning strikes overnight » Do not travel warnings on railways » France records its hottest...
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Prime Minister in three weeks: Burnham arrives for coronation
» Hours after arriving in Westminster, newest MP is on course for a coronation as the UK’s next prime minister, with Labour Party opposition to his leadership challenge melting away » Ex-Manchester mayor will move into No 10 unelected, unless a rival...
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Burnham’s stark ultimatum to Starmer: resign or face mass Labour walkouts
» Keir Starmer could announce his resignation from office as soon as today, with reports he is ‘deliberating’ » Allies of leadership rival Andy Burnham will tell PM to go if he has not set out exit timetable by tomorrow night » Burnham will be sworn...
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Cost of living hope for UK – as oil flows again in the Gulf
Food and energy prices expected to keep rising into 2027, but at slower rate after US-Iran peace deal Bank of England says inflation may not climb so high
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D-Day for PM as Makerfield voters shape future of UK
» Starmer said to be ‘sulphurous’ towards challengers Burnham and Streeting, as Labour leadership battle turns personal ahead of crucial by-election » Starmer has pledged to offer Burnham a ‘big’ job in his Cabinet if he wins by-election – but allies...
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Retired UK couple reveal ‘scary’ clash in Channel with Russian warship
No. 4,857
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Plot to burn down Starmer’s home linked to Russian mastermind
No. 4,856 Two men found guilty of conspiring to carry out arson attacks on property connected to Prime Minister – with investigators exploring suspected links to Moscow Arsonist hired by Russian-speaking Telegram account ‘EL Money’, which promised...
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Burnham: I’ll keep triple lock and look at tax cut for pensioners if I become PM
Andy Burnham vows to keep the state pension triple lock despite growing calls to scrap it, if he becomes prime minister In an interview with The i Paper, Burnham also indicates he would ‘look at’ tax cuts for older people trapped by frozen...
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Prime Minister failing to defend nation, claims UK Defence Secretary
» Government loyalist resigns in despair » John Healey says Keir Starmer ‘unable’ and Rachel Reeves ‘unwilling’ to fund defence needs, leaving Britain ‘less safe’ » He suggests that the PM now lacks authority over his own Cabinet to force through...
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Pictured: Russian drone tech boss at Disneyland
» Tech chiefs whose work benefits Putin’s war in Ukraine are able to travel with impunity » Oligarchs and Russian defence firms have been hit by sanctions from Western governments » Aleksei Kolotilov, creator of key attack drone simulator, travels...
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UK spying fears after secret camera found in Whitehall ceiling panel
» The hidden device was discovered in a sensitive Government building two months ago » UK Security Services were alerted by officials, who were alarmed because the building houses the Home Office and Department for Housing, Communities and Local...
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Burnham set to challenge Starmer within two weeks if he becomes an MP
» The Greater Manchester Mayor is expected to launch a leadership bid as soon as possible after returning to Parliament if he wins the Makerfield by-election, Cabinet sources tell The i Paper » ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he moved extremely quickly,...
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Revealed: King’s private concerns over Trump state visit to UK
King raised serious concerns about Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK last year, The i Paper has learned – after President’s bust-up with Volodymyr Zelensky Charles’s private reservations left British officials scrambling to salvage the trip,...
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Banned from Russia for exposing Putin’s crimes
» The i Paper’s correspondent among five British nationals barred from entering Russia » Kremlin frustration with Western media is growing over coverage of Ukraine war » The i Paper’s reporters have revealed Russian espionage and sabotage inside the...
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Family’s plea for calm ignored
» Far-right activists including Tommy Robinson called for demonstration amid outcry at killing » Henry’s father, Mark, had said: ‘We do not want his death used to create further division, hatred or tension. This is not a case about Sikhism [or] racism,...
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Leadership rivals back revolution in UK voting system
» Wes Streeting is expected to throw his weight behind electoral reform after Andy Burnham backs commitment to introduce proportional representation into future Labour election manifesto » The i Paper understands that the former health secretary...
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Burnham hits back at Blair and Starmer as he outlines plan to run Britain
» Andy Burnham has accused Tony Blair of failing to understand the cost of living crisis and being stuck in a ‘retro’ mindset, following the former PM’s highly critical essay this week » Manchester Mayor argues for strong public direction over key...
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Call for welfare reforms to save young people from becoming ‘lost generation’
No. 4,840 How to ‘rightsize’ your home at any stage of life by Phil Spencer » Britain faces a ‘generational fault line’ in which more than 1.25 million young people could be out of work unless Labour takes action, worklessness tsar warns » Alan...
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‘Britain at risk of becoming irrelevant’ – Blair turns on Labour rivals
No. 4,839 » Former Labour PM launches blistering broadside at Starmer and leadership contenders, saying Britain risks being ‘marooned on an island of irrelevance’ » Tony Blair accuses PM of coming to power without a ‘coherent plan’ for the UK » In a...
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Andrew received expenses boost as trade envoy... after review he ordered
» The former prince was able to secure an increase in his taxpayer-funded expenses after commissioning report into role as trade envoy that found he was a ‘highly valuable UK asset’ » Buckingham Palace documents, contained in the Epstein files, say...
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‘Embarrassing’ texts to expose ministers’ cosy relationships with Mandelson
» Tranche of messages will reveal how ministers ‘sucked up’ to disgraced peer Lord Mandelson, exchanging ‘cosy’ texts that are likely to humiliate Government » Second wave of ‘Mandelson files’ into peer’s controversial appointment as US ambassador are...
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Police widen inquiry into Andrew to include sexual misconduct claims
» Detectives investigating the former prince are now looking into allegations of sexual misconduct » Their inquiry into potential misconduct in public office is wider than the public had initially believed » Allegation is that Jeffrey Epstein sent...
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Food price cap retreat after backlash from supermarkets
» Ministers in talks with UK supermarkets to help cut food costs for shoppers » However, they will not proceed with plan for voluntary caps on price of groceries like milk, bread and eggs, following furious response and claims of ‘state control’ »...
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Cabinet ministers woo Burnham in race for top jobs
» Senior ministers scramble to secure positions in a future Andy Burnham-led government » Greater Manchester Mayor selected as Labour by-election candidate, opening up route back to Westminster for possible challenge to Starmer » Cabinet members are...
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