Author: James Carter

Oil prices surged around seven per cent after President Donald Trump pledged to strike back at Iran, as escalating tensions in the Middle East and threats to key shipping routes push global energy costs higher ahead of interest rate decisions from both the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England. Oil prices have jumped by around seven per cent as tensions between the US and Iran continue to escalate, following a pledge from President Donald Trump to “hit Iran hard” after an attack on an American military base in Jordan. Iran’s threats to shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait…

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has declined to apologise to Nigel Farage after sharing an Instagram image showing a man in a T-shirt reading “We’re only making plans for Nigel” above a guillotine, insisting the post was an honest mistake rather than a deliberate act. Zack Polanski has refused to apologise to Nigel Farage over a social media image he described as an “inadvertent mistake,” despite Reform UK calling for his arrest. The Green Party leader shared a post on Instagram featuring a man wearing a T-shirt with the slogan “We’re only making plans for Nigel” above an image of…

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…