UK

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will dismiss economic “gloom” in a major speech today as he promises to use “Brexit freedoms” to increase growth and productivity in the UK. Speaking at Bloomberg’s European headquarters in London, he will attack “declinism”, instead saying the country is “poised to play a leading role in Europe and across the world

Sir Rod Stewart has called in to a live Sky News phone-in offering to donate money for medical scans after hearing stories from people about treatment ordeals on the NHS. The singer said it was “ridiculous” that people were having to wait long periods to get essential scans and treatment. The 78-year-old told Sky News:

The NHS winter crisis has been a struggle for patients and staff alike – but it has also prompted a long overdue and necessary debate about its sustainability and future. There are those – like former health secretary Sajid Javid – who think the way forward for the free cradle-to-grave service is to start charging

Two to three criminal cases against officers are expected to go to court every week in the coming months, the Met Police commissioner has revealed. The criminal cases are a “mix of dishonesty, violence and violence against women and girls”, Sir Mark Rowley said. He also apologised to the victims of former officer David Carrick

Nadhim Zahawi has been sacked as Tory party chairman after paying a penalty to resolve a multimillion-pound tax dispute while he was chancellor. In a letter to Mr Zahawi published on Sunday morning, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it is “clear that there has been a serious breach of the Ministerial Code”. Mr Zahawi had

A serving Metropolitan Police officer has pleaded guilty to child sexual offences. PC Hussain Chehab, 22, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 – as well as three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, and one of engaging in sexual communication with a child. He

Two British nationals were killed while attempting a “humanitarian evacuation” from the Ukrainian town of Soledar, a family statement has said. Chris Parry, 28, and Andrew Bagshaw, 47, were reported missing on 7 January amid heavy fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces. A statement issued by Mr Bagshaw’s family said the pair’s car was hit

Failings by probation officers left a sexual predator able to stalk and kill law graduate Zara Aleena – just days after he was released from jail, according to a watchdog. A damning report found a catalogue of errors in the Probation Service’s handling of Jordan McSweeney, which meant he was not treated as a high-risk

An investigation will be launched into the appointment of the BBC chairman following reports he helped Boris Johnson secure a loan. William Shawcross, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, said he would review the competition which led to Richard Sharp’s appointment while Mr Johnson was prime minister. He made the announcement in response to a request

Some households with smart meters could be eligible for discounts if they cut their use of electricity between 5 and 6pm today. The National Grid ESO (electricity system operator) is, for the first time, activating the “demand flexibility service (DFS)” – which allows it to access additional flexibility when national demand is at its highest

The foreign secretary has evaded answering questions on the latest ‘sleaze’ allegations surrounding Boris Johnson to hit the Conservative Party. James Cleverly was asked about a claim that the BBC chairman Richard Sharp helped the former prime minister arrange a guarantee on a loan of up to £800,000, weeks before he was then recommended for

The Labour Party has reported Boris Johnson to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. It comes after allegations BBC chairman Richard Sharp helped the former prime minister to arrange a guarantee on a loan of up to £800,000 just weeks before he was selected for his current job. Anneliese Dodds, the Labour chair, has written again

Nadhim Zahawi says his tax error was found to be “careless and not deliberate” after Labour called for him to be sacked over his finances. The Tory chairman and cabinet member released a statement saying he wanted to “address some of the confusion” about his finances. He said his father took founder shares in YouGov

Rishi Sunak has been branded a “total liability” and “hapless” as he faced a backlash for being fined for a second time, with police handing him a fixed penalty notice over not wearing a seatbelt. Lancashire Police issued the notice after the prime minister appeared without a belt in a clip on Instagram as he

Rishi Sunak has been given a fixed penalty notice after being caught not wearing a seatbelt. Lancashire Police issued the notice after the prime minister appeared without a belt in a clip on Instagram as he promoted his levelling-up funding in Lancashire. The PM has accepted the fine. A Number 10 spokesperson said: “The prime

A series of fresh strikes by ambulance workers has been announced by Unite in an escalation of the bitter dispute over pay and staffing. The union said its members across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will stage 10 further strikes over the coming weeks, warning that additional dates could be announced soon. Unite’s ambulance workers

Two retired Metropolitan Police officers have been charged with offences related to the possession of images showing child sex abuse as part of an investigation into a serving chief inspector who was found dead before he was charged. Jack Addis, 63, of no fixed address and Jeremy Laxton, 62, from Lincolnshire, will appear at Westminster

NHS leaders are making contingency plans as the biggest walkout in the health service’s history looms. Ambulance staff and nurses are both set to go on strike on 6 February – taking industrial action on the same day for the first time ever. Saffron Cordery, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, has said the

The abuse of power shown by rapist PC David Carrick is “absolutely despicable” and urgent action is needed, the prime minister has told the head of the Met Police. Rishi Sunak said he’d had “constructive” talks with Sir Mark Rowley and “made clear to him – and he agrees – that the abuse of power

Thousands of nurses will go on strike today as a bitter pay dispute with the government continues. Nursing staff from more than 55 NHS trusts will take part in industrial action on Wednesday and Thursday following two days of action in December. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced that two further, bigger strikes