Author: James Carter

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has faced accusations of inciting violence after briefly sharing an Instagram collaboration post featuring an image calling for Nigel Farage’s decapitation, prompting calls from Reform UK figures for a police investigation. Zack Polanski has been accused of “inciting violence” after an image calling for the decapitation of Nigel Farage briefly appeared on his Instagram account. The Green Party leader deleted the post shortly after it was flagged to him, according to a Green Party spokesman, who said Polanski had accepted a collaboration request featuring several images without noticing the offending content. The image, reportedly showing…

A new YouGov survey for Sky News and The Times shows Labour and Reform UK tied at 22% each, marking the first time Labour has matched or surpassed Reform in the polls since April 2025, shortly after Andy Burnham took over as Prime Minister. Labour has drawn level with Reform UK in the polls for the first time in over a year, following Andy Burnham’s takeover as party leader and Prime Minister. A YouGov survey carried out for Sky News and The Times shows the two parties tied on 22% each, ending a period in which Reform had consistently led…

Andy Burnham has confirmed he will not call an early general election after becoming Prime Minister, insisting his government retains a democratic mandate to deliver on Labour’s 2024 manifesto commitments without seeking fresh public endorsement before 2029. Andy Burnham has ruled out holding an early general election, telling supporters his government intends to focus on delivering the promises made to voters at the last election rather than seeking a new mandate. Burnham took office as Prime Minister on 20 July 2026, succeeding Keir Starmer. He first made the pledge before entering Downing Street, during a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session…

First Minister John Swinney has asked the UK Government for military aerial support to help tackle a major wildfire near Nethy Bridge in the Cairngorms, as residents voice frustration over the response to a blaze that has now burned an estimated 1,000 hectares of land. The military has been called in to help fight a wildfire in the Cairngorms, ten days after it first broke out, amid growing frustration among residents over how the response has been handled. First Minister John Swinney confirmed on Saturday that a formal request had been made to the Ministry of Defence for aerial support,…

The Metropolitan Police are investigating four donations totalling £1 million made to Reform UK ahead of the 2024 general election, including £500,000 channelled through a company controlled by deputy leader Richard Tice, BBC News has learned. Police are investigating payments made to Reform UK by a company controlled by the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, BBC News has learned. Britain Means Business, which is solely owned and controlled by Tice, donated £500,000 to the party in the run-up to the 2024 general election, when Tice served as party chairman. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the payments form part of a wider…

US intelligence agencies believe Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, holds fewer reservations about pursuing a nuclear weapon than his late father, a shift officials say could strengthen the case for further American military action against Tehran. Iran’s new Supreme Leader is considerably more willing to pursue a nuclear weapon than his predecessor, according to US intelligence assessments, a shift that raises the stakes as President Trump considers further military action against Tehran. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei took power after his father, longtime leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed earlier in the conflict in an Israeli strike reportedly supported by…

Growing numbers of Scottish workers are choosing to live south of the border and commute into Scotland for work, as tax experts and estate agents point to a widening gap between income tax rates in Scotland and the rest of the UK under the SNP government. Scottish workers are increasingly opting to live in England while commuting across the border for work, as a widening gap between Scottish and UK-wide income tax rates makes basing a household south of the border financially attractive. Under the Scotland Act, a person’s tax status is determined by where they live rather than where…

Scotch whisky producers have credited King Charles with helping to secure the removal of US tariffs on Scotch, after President Donald Trump ended the levy following the King’s state visit to America in April. Scotch whisky distillers have thanked King Charles after Donald Trump agreed to scrap tariffs on Scotch exports to the United States, with the change coming into effect yesterday. Industry figures said the King’s efforts during a state visit to the US in April played a key role in securing the deal, which is expected to strengthen exports already worth close to £1 billion a year. First…

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed he will maintain the state pension triple lock, guaranteeing younger pensioners at least an extra £313 a year from April 2027, though the final figure could rise significantly depending on inflation and wage data. Younger state pensioners are set to receive at least £313 in additional annual income from next April, after new Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed he will honour the state pension triple lock. Before taking office, Burnham pledged to keep the triple lock mechanism in place, a commitment already contained in Labour’s 2024 election manifesto. He confirmed the pledge in…

The Justice Department has withdrawn subpoenas seeking to force three New York Times journalists to reveal their sources over reporting on President Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet, after a federal judge sharply criticised the government’s handling of the case. The US government has withdrawn subpoenas that would have compelled three New York Times reporters, Maggie Haberman, Eric Schmitt and David Sanger, to testify about their sources for articles concerning President Donald Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet. The withdrawal came in US District Court on Thursday, following a heated exchange between Judge Arun Subramanian and government attorneys, during which…