David Hughes
UK
Universal theme park set to open an hour from London in 2031
Some 8.5 million visitors are expected to visit the resort, on the site of a former brickworks near Bedford, in its first year
By David Hughes
9 Apr 2025
Tech
Starmer promises action to end ‘shockingly easy’ access to knives online
The Prime Minister said he will introduce stricter measures in the wake of the Southport atrocity.
By David Hughes
22 Jan 2025
Tech
Starmer hints at tougher laws to block ‘tidal wave of violence’ online
Sir Keir Starmer said Southport killer Axel Rudakubana trawled the internet for extreme violent content before the atrocity.
By David Hughes
21 Jan 2025
Politics
Trump heralds new American ‘golden age’ as Starmer eyes early White House visit
Sir Keir Starmer will visit Washington within weeks, Foreign Secretary David Lammy indicated.
By David Hughes
20 Jan 2025
Politics
Starmer set for talks with Trump as UK seeks to shore up relationship
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he expected Sir Keir Starmer to make an early trip to Washington.
By David Hughes
20 Jan 2025
Politics
Starmer says UK prepared to play a role in guaranteeing Ukrainian security
But Sir Keir said the current focus was on ensuring Ukraine was in a position of strength rather than any future peacekeeping mission.
By David Hughes
16 Jan 2025
Politics
Starmer: UK will ‘never let up’ on support for Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Ukraine comes ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration and a potential push for a peace deal to end the war with Russia.
By David Hughes
16 Jan 2025
Business News
Reeves looking at regulatory reforms in search for economic growth
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she wanted to ‘tackle the barriers to investment’ ahead of the latest monthly GDP figures and a meeting with regulators.
By David Hughes
16 Jan 2025
Politics
Malaysian firm commits £4bn to UK as leaders Starmer and Anwar meet
Conglomerate YTL is developing homes and an arena on the outskirts of Bristol.
By David Hughes
15 Jan 2025
Politics
Trump administration will be allowed to consider Chagos Islands deal, says No 10
Allies of the US president-elect have been critical of the deal because of implications for the strategically important Diego Garcia military base.
By David Hughes
15 Jan 2025
Politics
Mauritius to continue negotiations with UK over Chagos Islands handover
The Mauritian government said its commitment to resolve the dispute over sovereignty was ‘unshaken’.
By David Hughes
15 Jan 2025
Business News
Reeves says market uncertainty shows need to kickstart economic growth
Chancellor Rachel Reeves faced MPs after turbulence in the markets sent government borrowing costs up and the value of the pound down.
By David Hughes
14 Jan 2025
Politics
RAF’s Tempest jet must ‘break the mould’ to keep costs under control, MPs say
The jet is being developed by the UK, Italy and Japan but international collaborations can cause problems, the Commons Defence Committee said.
By David Hughes
14 Jan 2025
Business News
Pressure mounts on Reeves as Starmer refuses to guarantee future of her job
Sir Keir Starmer declined to say the Chancellor would remain in post until the election.
By David Hughes
13 Jan 2025
Politics
UK and Mauritius say ‘good progress’ made in Chagos Islands talks
A Mauritian delegation visited London for talks on the controversial deal.
By David Hughes
13 Jan 2025
Politics
Former Gordon Brown spokesman to drive UK’s efforts to reset EU relations
Michael Ellam returns to the Civil Service after more than a decade at HSBC.
By David Hughes
13 Jan 2025
Politics
McFadden insists he has full confidence in under-pressure minister Siddiq
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said Tulip Siddiq had ‘done the right thing’ by asking the ethics tsar to investigate her.
By David Hughes
13 Jan 2025
Politics
UK must use ‘sharpest diplomatic weapons’ for control of borders, says Lammy
Plans for sanctions on the finances of people-smuggling networks will ‘prevent, combat, deter and disrupt irregular migration’, Mr Lammy said.
By David Hughes
9 Jan 2025
Politics
Trump’s rhetoric and unpredictability can be ‘destabilsing’ says Lammy
Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested Donald Trump’s unpredictability was ‘one of his signatures’.
By David Hughes
9 Jan 2025
Politics
Shamima Begum ‘not coming back to UK’, says Lammy
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: ‘We will not be bringing her back to the UK. We’re really clear about that.’
By David Hughes
9 Jan 2025
Politics
UK plans world’s first sanctions regime tackling people smuggling gangs
Sir Keir Starmer said the move would cripple the ‘illicit finance rings’ powering people smuggling operations.
By David Hughes
8 Jan 2025