Parliament and Council disagree on air passenger rights but continue talks
EU institutions failed to agree on air-passenger rights reform overnight, but agreed to resume negotiations today.
Trump administration proposes 10 percent tariff on Canada, Mexico and the EU over forced labor
The president's trade adviser also recommended a 12.5 percent duty for dozens of other countries. The tariff rates are not yet final.
GPs in England too ‘overloaded’ to help older people at risk of falling, say MPs
Falls are the most common cause of death from injury among over-65s, costing the NHS billions each year. Photograph: Islandstock/Alamy View image in fullscreen Falls are the most common cause of death from injury among over-65s, costing the NHS billions each year. Photograph: Islandstock/Alamy GPs in England too ‘overloaded’ to help older people at risk of falling, say MPs NHS bosses giving evidence to public accounts committee admit current position is unacceptable GPs in England are so “overloaded” that they cannot help older people who are at risk of falling in what NHS bosses accept is an unacceptable failure of care, the House of Commons’ public accounts committee has said. Pressure on GPs’ time has intensified as a result of the government’s decision to give patients online access to their services, according to a report -party group of MPs. The committee found that GPs are doing too little to tackle falls even though they are the most common cause of death from injury among over-65s, cause tens of thousands of hip fractures, add to hospitals’ workloads and cost the UK an estimated £4.4bn a year. Family doctors in England are obliged under the terms of their contract to identify, assess and support people over 65 with moderate or severe frailty. However, “many GPs are not currently able to deliver on these requirements”. During 2024/25 just 17% of those patients were assessed. Only 18% of the 226,000 people who were diagnosed with severe frailty that year were assessed for their risk of falling and only 16% underwent a review of the medication they were taking. The situation has arisen because “NHS England has overloaded GPs, who have limited capacity, with new and expanding priorities”, the committee said. “NHS [England] has prioritised improving patients’ access and digital access to general practice. It recognises that pushing to improve one aspect of care inevitably causes consequences to appear elsewhere, in this case support for people with frailty”, the committee added. NHS bosses who gave evidence to the committee inquiry admitted the position they were in was “not acceptable”. Almost one in three local NHS areas are assessing fewer than 10% of over-65s for their risk of frailty and falling although nine other areas assessed at least 90% of such patients, “suggesting that good performance is possible within existing resources”, the MPs said. For example, it may ask pharmacists to conduct reviews of the medications taken , as both “polypharmacy” – taking several drugs at the same time – and certain medications can increase the risk of a fall.
British couple jailed in Iran have lost appeal against convictions, family say
Craig and Lindsay Foreman were jailed after their arrest in January 2025 while travelling through Iran during a round-the-world trip by motorcycle. Photograph: Family Handout/AP View image in fullscreen Craig and Lindsay Foreman were jailed after their arrest in January 2025 while travelling through Iran during a round-the-world trip by motorcycle. Photograph: Family Handout/AP British couple jailed in Iran have lost appeal against convictions, family say Craig and Lindsay Foreman given 10-year sentences in February for alleged espionage, which they deny A British couple jailed on spying charges in Iran have lost an appeal against their convictions, their family has said. Craig and Lindsay Foreman, both aged 53, were handed 10-year prison sentences in February after being convicted of espionage, which they deny. The couple’s family, from East Sussex, have claimed they were not permitted to attend their appeal hearing. They were jailed after their arrest in January 2025 while travelling through Iran during a round-the-world trip by motorcycle. Lindsay Foreman’s son, Joe Bennett, said “the dial needs to shift” as he explained the pair “don’t understand the process”. Bennett said he met officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Monday but left without “clarity on what pressure is being applied to Tehran”. Explore more on these topicsIran Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office news Share Reuse this content More on this story More on this story UK sends more troops to Gulf amid Trump jibes over British military role UK offers to host international summit on reopening strait of Hormuz Is Iran really able to strike London, and is the UK prepared for an attack? UK may send ships and mine-hunting drones to help open strait of Hormuz, says Miliband double quotation markSo Badenoch, Farage and Blair think the Iran war is a great idea? Hmm … Trump rebukes Starmer again for not letting US attack Iran from UK bases UK ‘took far too long’ to let US use its airbases to attack Iran, Trump says Few will mourn leader of ‘evil’ regime Ali Khamenei, says UK defence secretary Starmer signals support for Trump’s aggressive approach towards Iran Family of British couple detained in Iran express alarm over ongoing trial Most viewed Most viewed
Kyle included ‘more positive language’ in AI speech after Mandelson advice
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Starmer uses disappearing messages on his phone, No 10 confirms
11 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google PA Media Downing Street has confirmed that the prime minister uses an auto delete function on his phone meaning his WhatsApp messages with and about Lord Mandelson may have been lost. Earlier this year, MPs voted to force the government to publish all documents, including communications, related to the appointment of the peer as the UK's ambassador to the US. On Monday, a huge tranche of messages were disclosed - including WhatsApps from senior ministers and civil servants - but there were only a few texts from the prime minister himself. Speaking to broadcasters, Sir Keir Starmer said he had handed over all the "messages I hold" and had "complied" with the process. "Many people, not just in politics, use disappearing messages," he added. The disappearing message tool allows WhatsApp users to set a time limit of 24 hours, seven days or 90 days, after which their texts are deleted. Guidance for ministers says disappearing messages are permitted as long as they don't affect record keeping or transparency. However, a review is under way into the use of WhatsApp and the prime minister's official spokesman admitted there were "lessons to be learnt". The spokesperson noted that the papers did contain "multiple" documents from the prime minister's private office, which he said was "the standard and established route for communicating prime ministerial decisions and handling communications". Conservative shadow minister Alex Burghart said: "Government guidance is clear: significant information and decisions must be properly recorded and preserved. "But Keir Starmer's messages to Peter Mandelson have been disappeared or destroyed." On Monday, chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Lord Beamish called on senior officials and ministers to stop using WhatsApp to conduct government business. The Labour peer said there were concerns about security as well as the lack of an audit trail for decision-making. "These are all issues that the last committee raised with both the Johnson and Sunak Governments. That culture is continuing; it cannot be allowed to continue." Other cabinet ministers including the Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and the Chancellor Rachel Reeves also use disappearing messages. The Mandelson files contained six texts, which do not appear to have been sent via WhatsApp, between Lord Mandelson and Sir Keir including a discussion in which they discuss a possible meeting with former Prime Minister Sir John Major. On , shortly after the general election, Lord Mandelson wrote: "Keir, hope you are well, you have got off to a flying start. "I was at a dinner with John Major this evening and if you don't know him I think good idea to invite him for a chat. "As well as being a very nice person, he is interesting and thoughtful.
Reform Makerfield candidate admits making 'crass' comments in past
13 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google Chris Mason, Political editorand Joshua Nevett, Political reporter BBC Reform UK's candidate in the Makerfield by-election has admitted making "crass" comments online, after scrutiny of his past posts during the campaign. Robert Kenyon has faced criticism over previous online comments about various issues, including his position on Brexit, abortion and Ukraine. In an interview with the BBC, Robert Kenyon said the comments, which have been unearthed , were made before he entered politics. Reform UK has backed Kenyon and said the party said it had no plans to investigate him over his previous comments. Kenyon is one of fourteen candidates contesting the by-election in the Greater Manchester constituency on Thursday 18 June. The by-election was triggered , who stood down to pave the way for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to attempt to win the seat and return to Westminster. The vote is expected to be a race between Burnham and Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor. Speaking to the BBC at a pub in the constituency, Kenyon said he was not a "career politician" and people would "feel listened to" if he became the MP. He said if elected "people would feel like they had a voice now, whereas in the last 40 years they've not". He added that people wanted a "local lad" to represent them, who lives in and knows the area, and "knows the people and is well in tune with that". In the interview, he said he was "not a polished professional" when he was asked about concerns over his previous use of social media. In comments unearthed on a defunct rugby league forum online, Kenyon described Brexit as an economically damaging project promoted "peddled the nationalistic pish". When asked about those comments, Kenyon insisted he had voted for Brexit, and said he had "no recollection of saying that". 'Crass joke' He was also asked about comments he made in relation to TV presenter Carol Vorderman. Vorderman has said she wants an apology after Kenyon responded to a sexually graphic post about the TV presenter with a thumbs up and laughing emoji and a comment saying "He's only saying what we're all thinking". Kenyon said he had "not made sexual remarks about Carol Vorderman", but had responded to someone else's post with a "crass joke". "There might have been a few crass comments that I've said," he added. A full list of the parties who have put forward candidates for the Makerfield by-election can be found here.
Labour backbench MPs say McFadden’s messages have not derailed welfare reform
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Epstein survivor urges Starmer to meet victims after latest Mandelson files released
A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein has said the latest release of documents relating to Peter Mandelson raises fresh questions that should be examined through a UK public inquiry.
Life after Keir - will any Labour leadership race be a coronation or contest?
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