King Charles honoured veterans harmed by the former ban on LGBT personnel in the armed forces, acknowledging injustice and sacrifice. The gesture supports ongoing measures to return medals, correct records and restore honour to those unfairly dismissed.
Bereaved COVID families criticise a £10m Florida flat bought by a firm linked to Baroness Michelle Mone’s husband. The disclosure comes as the government seeks £122m from PPE Medpro, also linked to him, over unusable PPE supplied to the NHS, which relatives call insensitive.
Ministers will shift small-boat arrivals from hotels to adapted military barracks, with two sites opening next month in Scotland and southern England. The plan aims to end hotel use within a year, reduce costs and speed decisions, with essential services provided on site.
Ministers are weighing a mansion tax for the Budget, with the Housing Secretary refusing to rule it out. Plans reportedly involve a 1% annual levy on the portion of high‑value homes above a set threshold, prompting warnings from agents and economists about market disruption.
Only one Premier League fixture is scheduled for 26 December, sharply reducing the traditional Boxing Day programme. The move has prompted frustration among supporters who expected a fuller slate over the festive period, raising questions about fixture planning and the balance between rest, travel and broadcasting.
NHS to introduce same-day assessment for suspected prostate cancer, using AI to read MRI scans in seconds. The move aims to cut waits, reduce unnecessary biopsies and speed up treatment decisions, with clinics providing results and next steps on the day.
Ministers are urged not to scapegoat prison staff after the mistaken release of an offender. The chief inspector and union cite systemic failings, calling a manager’s suspension unjust. The justice secretary has ordered an inquiry and promised reforms to release procedures.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves signalled the Budget will rebuild fiscal headroom, meaning higher taxes and deeper spending cuts. She wants larger reserves to keep within borrowing rules and steady the economy, after last year’s £9.9bn buffer is thought to have been wiped out.
An NHS team used 3D printing to rebuild a cyclist’s face after a crash caused by a drink‑driver. Bespoke implants restored symmetry, function and confidence following multiple procedures. The case showcases growing use of personalised 3D technology in reconstructive surgery across the health service.
An OBR productivity downgrade has blown a £20bn hole in Reeves’ Budget plans, raising the risk of tax rises and tighter spending. The weaker outlook lifts borrowing and cuts headroom. No 10 is unhappy at the timing, while Labour highlights the legacy it says it inherited.
Rachel Reeves is warned that a mooted mansion tax, an annual 1% levy on property value above £2m, would not plug the £50bn fiscal gap. Economists and Labour MPs call for wider property‑tax reform, including changes to stamp duty, ahead of the autumn Budget.