Angela Rayner has urged Labour MPs to champion the government’s first-year achievements and set out decisive plans on growth, infrastructure and living costs, arguing this is essential to consolidate power and counter both populist and trade-union pressures.
Fuel duty will remain frozen as the Chancellor opts to shield households from higher motoring costs rather than raise this key tax, despite economists’ calls for an increase to ease the fiscal shortfall, with Treasury officials arguing the continued freeze supports struggling families while ministers seek alternative revenue and growth-boosting measures.
Global cryptocurrency valuations have surged to a record $4tn, buoyed by fresh US legislation promising clearer rules, Bitcoin’s climb past $125,000 and Donald Trump’s vow to expose pension savings to digital assets, while critics caution that wider adoption could amplify systemic risks.
Security procedures are under scrutiny after an Afghan evacuee admitted through a resettlement route managed to bring 22 family members to the UK, sparking questions about data handling, vetting standards and the strain on local resources.
According to a royal biographer, Prince Harry is eager to heal the rift with his father while there is still time, concerned that once William ascends he may find himself permanently sidelined.
Sanctioning a network of hostile foreign operatives identified as responsible for the Salisbury nerve-agent attack, the PM signalled zero tolerance for covert aggression on British soil and strengthened cooperation with allies to defend national security.
After a Government data leak exposed the identities of thousands of Afghans who supported UK forces, the Taliban are reportedly escalating reprisals and a covert airlift is under way to extract those in danger.
Kemi Badenoch argues that the PM’s economic strategy has formed a damaging “doom loop”, potentially forcing further tax rises amid persistent cost-of-living pressures.
Former midfielder Joey Barton has provoked widespread criticism after claiming the Lionesses’ shoot-out display was the worst he has seen and suggesting they should not press for equal pay, with many observers pointing to his own mixed record on the pitch.
Buoyed by clearer US regulation, mounting institutional inflows and growing talk of pension-fund access, the value of global crypto assets has broken through $4tn for the first time, propelling Bitcoin to a fresh peak and sharpening the debate over how conventional finance should adapt.