UK

Getty Images By Noor Nanji Business reporter, BBC News McDonald’s has launched a new investigation handling unit after the BBC reported on dozens of abuse allegations at the fast-food chain. Alistair Macrow, chief executive of McDonald’s UK and Ireland, said the claims he had heard this week are “personally and professionally shocking”. He apologised to

Getty Images Banking boss Dame Alison Rose has apologised to Nigel Farage for “deeply inappropriate” comments made about him in a report on his suitability as a Coutts customer. In a letter to Mr Farage, NatWest’s CEO said the comments did not reflect the bank’s view. UKIP’s ex-leader said his account was closed for political

By Nick Triggle Health correspondent A 48-hour strike by senior hospital doctors in England will get under way early on Thursday, with NHS bosses warning of severe disruption. Thousands of consultants will walkout from 07:00 BST in a dispute over pay. It will be the first time consultants have taken part in strike action since

Emma Riley By Megan Fisher, Lauren Moss and Josh Parry BBC News Rishi Sunak has apologised for the historical treatment of LGBT veterans who were sacked or forced out of the military for being gay. The PM called the ban an “appalling failure” of the British state. It was illegal to be gay in the

Getty Images By Simon Jack & Lucy Hooker BBC News Jaguar Land Rover-owner Tata will announce plans to build its flagship electric car battery factory in the UK. People familiar with the matter said the new plant in Somerset would be officially announced on Wednesday. The government is providing subsidies worth hundreds of millions of

By Noor Nanji, Zoe Conway & Ellie Layhe BBC News A toxic culture of sexual assault, harassment, racism and bullying has been alleged by more than 100 current and recent UK staff at outlets of the fast-food chain McDonald’s. The BBC was told that workers, some as young as 17, are being groped and harassed

Getty Images By Fergus Walsh and Michelle Roberts BBC News A new drug donanemab is being hailed as a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer’s, after a global trial confirms it slows cognitive decline. The antibody medicine helps in the early stages of the disease by clearing a protein that builds up in the

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. By Chi Chi Izundu, Rob Brown, Jo Adnitt & Sarah Bell BBC News Former X Factor contestant Lucy Spraggan has told BBC News that taking part in the show in 2012 felt like being in “an abusive

Jeff Overs/BBC By Becky Morton & Laura Kuenssberg BBC News Sir Keir Starmer has refused to say whether a Labour government would spend more money on public services. The Labour leader told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg his party would always invest in public services but to do this it needed to grow the

Reuters By Ione Wells, political correspondent, and Sean Seddon BBC News Ben Wallace says he will step down as defence secretary at the next Cabinet reshuffle after four years in the job. He told the Sunday Times he would not stand at the next general election, but ruled out leaving “prematurely” and triggering a by-election.

By Thomas Mackintosh BBC News Former X Factor contestant Lucy Spraggan has revealed she was raped by a hotel porter during the production of the ITV show in 2012. She withdrew from the show, citing an illness at the time, but told the Guardian the real reason was because she was attacked. Spraggan said she

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. By Christian Fuller & Nikki Mitchell BBC News The wife and carer of a disabled man who they enslaved and left in squalid conditions have been jailed. Sarah Somerset-How and her lover George Webb left Tom Somerset-How

Getty Images By Michelle Roberts Digital health editor The pain and distress of not being able to see an NHS dentist are “totally unacceptable”, an inquiry has told the government. A review was launched after a BBC investigation found nine in 10 NHS dental practices across the UK were not accepting new adult patients. Some

PA Media More than one million public sector workers, including teachers, police and doctors, have been offered pay rises of between 5%-7%, the government says. Under the proposals, police and prison officers in England and Wales would receive a 7% pay rise, while teachers and junior doctors in England would get 6.5% and 6% respectively.

PA Media By Michelle Roberts Digital health editor Junior doctors in England will begin their longest walkout yet today, in protest over pay. They say the government’s refusal to talk ahead of the five-day strike is “baffling” and “frustrating”. Health Secretary Steve Barclay said doctors’ 35% pay demand was “unreasonable” and the strike puts patient

EPA By Tom Espiner Business reporter, BBC News Mortgage payments will rise by at least £500 a month for nearly one million households by the end of 2026, the Bank of England has said. Households and firms have been under pressure as interest rates have risen in a bid to lower high inflation. In a