A former Conservative ex‑justice minister told a court he used drugs and attended drug‑fuelled parties, saying first‑hand experience informed his policy work. Police reportedly found related items at his home. He denies wrongdoing and the hearing continues.

A patient has been awarded the George Medal after preventing an attack at St James’s Hospital, Leeds. He calmly spoke to and embraced a man who was threatening the maternity unit, persuading him to give up, and enabling officers to secure the area without casualties.

A fire destroyed ambulances at a Jewish medical charity in London, which police are treating as a suspected hate crime. A family whose baby previously received lifesaving care praised the volunteers’ compassion and support for all communities. Police appeals and inquiries continue.

Unions urge the government to launch a Covid‑style emergency plan to shield jobs from an energy shock linked to Middle East instability. The TUC calls for guaranteed power supplies, support for energy‑intensive firms, and a rapid push on renewables to prevent factory shutdowns.