Author: Darren Smith

Metropolitan Police have recorded a significant reduction in shootings involving converted blank firearms following the dismantling of a criminal network led by a 60-year-old man who manufactured weapons inside his South Ockendon caravan whilst stockpiling homemade explosives. Thomas McKenna was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment plus five years on licence at Kingston Crown Court on 12 February after pleading guilty to converting imitation firearms, conspiracy to sell prohibited weapons and making explosives. His arrest in November 2024 resulted in a measurable drop in gun crime linked to converted blank firearms across London. The gang’s reach extended to a convicted accomplice…

Manchester United has been compelled to issue a public statement emphasising its commitment to diversity and inclusion following controversial remarks by billionaire co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe claiming Britain is being “colonised by immigrants.” The club’s statement, released after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer demanded Ratcliffe apologise for his language, declared Manchester United “prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming club” whilst highlighting its diverse players, staff and global supporter base. Ratcliffe made the contentious comment during an interview with Sky News, sparking major backlash from politicians across the spectrum. The Prime Minister publicly called on the billionaire to issue…

A former Labour mayor who deliberately delayed opening her door to police investigating her son’s rape of a 15-year-old girl has been convicted of perverting the course of justice after she gave him over 90 seconds to conceal crucial evidence. Naheed Ejaz, 61, who served as Mayor of Bracknell Forest between 2023 and 2024, blocked officers at her home on 12 September 2024 whilst speaking to her son Diwan Khan, 41, in Urdu to discuss what to do with his phone. The device, which was never recovered, is believed to have contained video evidence of Khan sexually assaulting the teenager.…

Britain’s most senior civil servant has stepped down from Downing Street just days after the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff resigned, marking the latest in a series of high-profile exits from Number 10. Sir Chris Wormald’s departure as Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service took effect immediately following a mutual agreement with the Prime Minister. The Cabinet Office confirmed the decision on Wednesday. The resignation follows Morgan McSweeney’s exit as Chief of Staff on Sunday, with Sir Chris’s departure representing another significant loss of senior personnel from the Prime Minister’s inner circle within the span of days. Sir…

A 15-year-old boy who murdered schoolboy Leo Ross has been named as Kian Moulton after a court lifted an anonymity order, with the teenager sentenced to serve at least 13 years behind bars. Moulton was publicly identified after Birmingham Crown Court heard he stabbed Leo Ross in the stomach whilst the victim was heading home from school in Birmingham in January 2025. The defendant was 14 years old at the time of the attack. Judge Mr Justice Choudhury KC sentenced Moulton on Monday following his guilty plea to murder entered last month. The court order protecting the teenager’s anonymity was…

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has apologized for claiming Britain is “colonised” by immigrants after his remarks sparked widespread condemnation from politicians and football organizations. The billionaire businessman issued a statement saying: “I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe.” He added: “It is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth.” Sir Jim explained the controversial comments were made whilst answering questions about UK policy at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp. “My comments were made while answering questions about UK policy at…

Iranian demonstrators burned a large sculpture of the ancient deity Baal adorned with a Star of David whilst chanting “Death to Israel” and “Death to America” during state-organized rallies in Tehran on February 11, 2026. The effigy burning took place at Azadi Square and other central Tehran locations as part of mass demonstrations marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The sculpture depicted Baal with horns and was cast as a “satanic figure,” with protesters affixing both a Star of David and a photograph of US President Donald Trump to the effigy. Crowds torched the Baal sculpture alongside…

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has launched a scathing attack on Britain’s immigration levels, claiming the country has been “colonised” as the population surged by 12 million people since 2020. The 73-year-old businessman told Sky News that the UK population grew from 58 million in 2020 to 70 million, questioning the sustainability of such rapid demographic change alongside what he described as excessive welfare spending. “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in,” Ratcliffe stated. “I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money. The UK…

Canadian authorities discovered two additional victims at a residential property connected to a mass shooting at a British Columbia high school that claimed eight lives including the suspected gunman on Tuesday. Police responding to the active shooter incident at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School around 1:20 pm local time initially found six people deceased at the educational facility, with another victim dying during transport to hospital. Officers later located two more bodies at a residence believed linked to the events, bringing the total death toll to eight. The suspected shooter was found dead at the school with what police described as…

A Manchester United supporter who vowed not to cut his hair until the club won five consecutive matches will have to wait longer after a dramatic 1-1 draw with West Ham ended the Red Devils’ winning streak on 10 February. Frank Ilett, known on social media as The United Strand, has been growing his hair for a year and a half after promising to continue until United secured five wins in a row. Despite Benjamin Sesko’s 96th-minute equalizer at the London Stadium, the result still falls short of the victory required to complete Ilett’s challenge. United arrived at the match…