Huge crash involving at least three police cars closes A1 in both directions

Polling by TUC indicates that Labour’s employment rights bill could help regain support from former Conservative and Reform voters, despite low public awareness of the proposed changes. One highly favored policy focuses on preventing harassment in the workplace, which has received significant backlash from figures like Nigel Farage and the Conservatives, who criticize it as a “banter ban.” Overall, the data suggests that these measures could potentially boost Labour’s declining popularity among certain voter groups....

The UK Treasury has warned that pay rises for NHS staff and teachers must come from existing budgets, raising the possibility of strike action. Independent pay review bodies for both sectors are expected to recommend higher pay increases than what the ministers had proposed. This situation has created tension as the government grapples with funding constraints amidst demands for better compensation for education and healthcare workers. Full Article

Exclusive: Countries Struggling with DebtDiplomats from eight southern and east African nations have urged the UK government to support a private member’s bill aimed at expediting debt restructurings, as economic crises have hindered their ability to repay loans. These countries have faced economic setbacks due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine causing inflation, and rising US interest rates increasing the cost of international loans to unsustainable levels. The letter highlights the urgent...

Katie Amess, the daughter of the murdered Conservative MP David Amess, has called for the Irish-language rap group Kneecap to apologize for allegedly promoting violence against politicians. This follows the release of a video from a November 2023 concert where a band member reportedly stated, “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” Counter-terrorism police are currently reviewing the video for its threatening content. Full Article

Unions have expressed serious concerns regarding the job security of approximately 2,000 workers at a historic aerospace factory in Belfast, as they were excluded from Airbus's recent takeover of parts of Spirit AeroSystems. Airbus, the leading planemaker, announced its acquisition of wing and fuselage production for the A220 passenger jet, which currently employs 1,500 workers, but noted that the fuselage production could still be sold to another company if Spirit finds a buyer before the...

A violin featured in James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic has been auctioned for £54,000 in Wiltshire, alongside other memorabilia from the 1912 shipwreck. The instrument was played by Jonathan Evans-Jones, who portrayed band leader Wallace Hartley, and is prominently shown during the scene where the band plays the hymn "Nearer My God to Thee" as the ship sinks. This sale highlights the enduring interest in artifacts related to the Titanic disaster and its cultural representation...