The First Sea Lord urged the Chancellor to raise defence spending, saying current budget limits leave the Forces underfunded while a rival state pours billions into North Atlantic dominance. He warned Britain could lose a strategic edge and called for investment to protect vital energy and data links.
A poll shows only a quarter of people are confident they’d receive good NHS care if diagnosed with dementia. Concerns include delayed diagnosis and a postcode lottery in support. A campaign with Alzheimer’s Society calls for earlier detection, better training, and consistent services across the country.
Dementia causes one in nine deaths, around 76,000 a year, with the NHS missing diagnosis targets in over half the country. Campaigners highlight a postcode lottery in care, no drugs available on the NHS, crippling care home fees and thin research funding, urging fair access and urgent reform.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused the BBC of double standards, pointing to 1970s shows that would fail today’s standards, after it questioned him over alleged schoolboy racism, which he denies. He said he may boycott the broadcaster unless it apologises.
The Duchess of Sussex’s father, 81, is in intensive care in the Philippines after emergency surgery. He became seriously ill at home and was rushed to hospital. Doctors plan a further procedure to address a blood clot, according to his son.
MPs have launched a probe into royal lease deals after the Royal Lodge row, examining whether rents on Crown Estate homes offer value for money. The Public Accounts Committee will review arrangements for the Waleses’ Forest Lodge, the Edinburghs’ Bagshot Park and Princess Alexandra’s home.
Richard Hughes has resigned as OBR chief after a leak row tied to last week’s Budget. Conservatives claim the Chancellor is using him as a scapegoat after he flagged a fiscal gap. The Treasury faces scrutiny over the leak and the credibility of its Budget assumptions.
Nigel Farage has asked the ethics watchdog to investigate the Chancellor, alleging she misled voters by warning of a £20bn hole before the Budget, despite OBR briefings suggesting headroom. He says the conduct merits a probe, drawing the PM into questions over standards.
The Chancellor faces calls to resign after the fiscal watchdog reportedly told ministers months ago there was no gap in the public finances. Critics say she misled voters to justify tax rises in the Budget. Allies argue the measures fund priorities and stability; she rejects claims.
ONS figures indicate a sharp rise in young Britons emigrating, with leavers now accounting for nearly half of net migration. Analysts warn of a potential brain drain hitting growth and the public finances, increasing pressure on Reeves’s Budget and the government’s economic strategy.