Local News

👉 Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈In the week farmers descended on Westminster, Beth, Ruth and Harriet ask just how difficult these protests are for the government. They question whether the chancellor could roll back on her budget commitment to scrap the inheritance tax relief for agricultural property worth over £1m and whether Labour can afford to lose the rural vote. Image: Anas Sarwar. […]

Official accounts have revealed for the first time how much the King's 2023 coronation cost UK taxpayers.According to the accounts, the government spent £72m on the coronation - the first in Britain since Queen Elizabeth II's in 1953. The figure includes £50.3m of costs attributed to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which coordinated the coronation, and £21.7m in costs for the Home Office for the policing of […]

A memorial has been held for the 21 people killed 50 years ago today in the IRA pub bombings in Birmingham.Twin blasts went off minutes apart in the Mulberry Bush, at the bottom of the Rotunda building, and the Tavern in the Town in New Street. Another 182 people were injured but no one has ever been brought to justice, with families today renewing calls for an urgent public inquiry.There […]

The second named storm of the season will bring snow, rain and strong winds to parts of the UK this weekend, according to the Met Office.Forecasters at the agency have named the weather front Storm Bert. Wind gusts of up to 70mph are expected in some areas.Heavy snowfall could bring further disruption to parts of the country while heavy rain is also likely, especially in western parts, the Met Office […]

The family of pandemic fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore gained "significant" financial benefit from links to a charity set up in his name, a report has found.Hannah Ingram-Moore, the veteran's daughter, and her husband Colin carried out repeated instances of misconduct, according to the Charity Commission. The pair have already been banned from being charity trustees.And a 30-page report published on Thursday, after a two-year inquiry, set out their failings […]

Police have carried out a controlled explosion at a city centre bus station in Glasgow following the discovery of a "potentially suspicious item".Three men were also arrested following the incident at Buchanan Bus Station on Wednesday. Police Scotland said in a statement: "Around 1.10pm this afternoon, police received a report of a potential suspicious item at the bus station."Officers contacted the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and a controlled explosion was […]

The remains of a baby has been found in a field in Greater Manchester, police have said.The discovery was made by a member of the public on Wednesday. Greater Manchester Police said officers were called to Ravenscraig Road, near Ashtons Field in Little Hulton, a suburb of Salford, at about 1pm.Police remain at the scene, and the force is set to hold a press conference at 5.30pm tonight.This breaking news […]

Instagram is releasing a feature that will let users easily reset their algorithms, as the government strengthens its regulation of online safety.With the new reset feature, users can clear their recommended content from Explore, Reels and their feed, potentially reducing the amount of harmful content they are exposed to. It's all part of Meta's push to make the app safer for young people, after announcing more private Teen accounts in […]

A new warning system has been launched to monitor donated blood as fears grow of newly emerging viruses potentially reaching the UK.Health experts fear some diseases that are not currently present in the UK could pose a threat in the future due to climate change. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) researchers will examine samples taken from blood donors for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), West Nile virus and Usutu virus.No human […]