Politics

Getty Images By Kevin Peachey Cost of living correspondent Banks face fines if they fail to provide free access to cash withdrawals for consumers and businesses, the Treasury has confirmed. A new policy will state that free cash withdrawals and deposits must be available within one mile for people living in urban areas. In rural

Reuters By Ione Wells & Frank Gardner BBC News Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been invited to visit the UK, the Saudi Arabian embassy has told the BBC. No 10 said it would confirm the prime minister’s engagements in the usual way, with nothing in the diary yet. A spokesperson said the prime minister

By Becky Morton Political reporter Rishi Sunak has said it is difficult for people to understand the scale of government support with energy bills, as he defended his record on tackling the cost of living. The prime minister said halving inflation was a top priority and his plan to ease rising prices was working. It

Getty Images By Becky Morton Political reporter Councils are frequently failing to use their powers to tackle anti-social behaviour, a watchdog has found. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman cited cases including a victim being told a neighbour’s 13-hour long party did not warrant action. The watchdog said it upheld three-quarters of the cases

Getty Images By Becky Morton Political reporter Many Afghan refugees have been “let down” by the UK, with some living in hotels for up to two years and now facing eviction, a think tank has said. More in Common said lessons needed to be learned so future refugees were better supported. It comes on the

Getty Images By Michael Race Business reporter, BBC News Pubs in England and Wales will be able to continue selling takeaway drinks after the government decided to keep Covid licensing rules. They were allowed to serve customers through hatches when they were forced to close under pandemic laws in 2020. The rules were due to

Reuters By Andre Rhoden-Paul BBC News Ministers are facing renewed pressure to tackle boat crossings in the Channel after six migrants died when a vessel sank off the French coast on Saturday. Labour urged the government to end the “small boats nightmare”, while a Tory backbencher said the UK had a “moral duty to act”.

Alix Nicol Fuel duty should be increased to fund pothole repairs, the group representing councils in England and Wales has said. The Local Government Association (LGA) said cuts to spending on tackling potholes are among the most severe out of 13 major nations – with the UK’s spending halving in 13 years. It puts the

UK Parliament By George Wright BBC News MP Angus MacNeil has announced he has been expelled from the SNP after he was suspended from its Westminster group last month. The Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) MP had been suspended after reportedly clashing with party chief whip Brendan O’Hara. The SNP conduct committee met on

Reuters By Zoe Kleinman Technology editor The technology secretary has defended a controversial section of the Online Safety Bill which would force messaging apps to access the content of private messages if requested by the regulator Ofcom. She said it was a sensible approach in order to protect children from abuse. But some tech firms,

Getty Images By Nick Eardley BBC chief political correspondent Senior Conservatives – including a cabinet minister – say their party is likely to campaign to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) at the next election, if Rwanda flights continue to be blocked. There is frustration at the role of a European court in

PA Media By Paul Seddon Politics reporter Government departments should cut ties with Greenpeace in the wake of last week’s protest at Rishi Sunak’s house, No 10 has said. Activists from the group scaled the prime minister’s home in his North Yorkshire constituency last Thursday during an anti-oil demonstration. Five people were arrested by police

PA Media By Matt Murphy BBC News Fines for businesses and landlords who knowingly support illegal migrants are set to triple under new rules announced by the government. Firms who are found to have repeatedly employed illegal migrants could face fines of up to £60,000 per breach. The Home Office argues “illegal working and renting

Getty Images By Alex Forsyth, Brian Wheeler & Becky Morton BBC News Afghan families given refuge by the UK are facing homelessness after being told by the government to move out of hotels, councils have told the BBC. The families, many of whom worked for the British government, came to the UK after the Taliban

Getty Images By Paul Seddon Politics reporter Households should be given cash if they live in the path of new large electricity pylons, a government-commissioned report says. The recommendation is among several to speed up the building of new infrastructure in Great Britain to better connect with new renewable energy. Key is a fast-track planning

Getty Images By Joshua Nevett BBC Politics A new stock phrase is being deployed by Rishi Sunak when talking about his government’s efforts to curb planet-warming carbon emissions. Net zero will be met, the prime minister has said, in “a proportionate and pragmatic way”. This has become his mantra on the 2050 target since his