National News

Reform UK sets out proposals to slash benefits bill

A Reform UK government would cut £50 billion from the welfare bill, with almost three million people seeing disability and sickness payments withdrawn or modified, Robert Jenrick said.

Relay success takes Amy Hunt within one of four gold target

The Golden Girl of British Athletics has added the Women's 4x100m title to the individual sprint titles she won earlier in the week

Return to home plan put in place for wildfire victims in Stourbridge

The wildfire which spread across more than 500 acres and destroyed 19 homes on Thursday is now under control

Magnitude 77 earthquake strikes off Indonesias coast killing at least 38

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early on Saturday, killing at least 38 people.

Probe into two train derailments to look at all possible causes and factors

Investigations into two train derailments in two days “will look at all possible causes and factors”, a Network Rail boss said, adding the hot weather had “presented exceptional challenges to the railway”.

Jason Ardays family Campaign of misinformation was too much for him

The family of former University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday said they are “in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son”, adding “the campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason”.

Jeff Bezos and Amit Bhatia consortium buys minority stake in Liverpool

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group has announced the sale of a minority stake in the Premier League club to a consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Emergency alert sent to mobile phones with wildfire warning after UK blazes

Mobile phone users in England and Wales have received an emergency alert, warning them not to light anything that could spark a fire.

Huge wildfire in West Midlands destroys 19 homes on UKs hottest day of year

A huge wildfire in the West Midlands completely destroyed 19 homes after it rapidly spread to buildings during the UK’s hottest day of the year.

Second train derails day after two passengers badly hurt in East Sussex

A second train has derailed less than 24 hours after two passengers were seriously injured when a Southern Rail service came off the tracks in East Sussex.

West Midlands crews make progress tackling wildfires after extensive devastation

Fire crews are making progress tackling huge blazes in the West Midlands that led to thousands of 999 calls and caused “extensive” devastation, a fire chief said.

Farage wins in Clacton as police contest credible threat claim at count

Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election amid contested claims he was told by police not to attend the election count due to a “credible threat” against him.

Two people seriously injured after train with 150 on board derails

Two people have been seriously injured after a train with around 150 people on board derailed near Lewes in East Sussex.

UK has hottest day of year so far as temperatures hit 381C

The UK has recorded its hottest day of the year so far, as temperatures provisionally reached 38.1C at Kew Gardens in London, the Met Office said.

Huge fires threaten to tear through homes in West Midlands

Huge fires have threatened to tear through homes in the West Midlands after dramatic footage circulating online showed enormous flames coming from buildings and a golf course.

Do not treat customers like a blank cheque Burnham warns water companies

Andy Burnham has warned water companies against treating customers like “a blank cheque” after the regulator provisionally allowed them to unexpectedly further raise bills.

A level top grades rise for third year in a row likely driven by maths scores

The proportion of A-level entries awarded top grades has risen for the third year in a row, likely driven by the popularity of maths and students scoring highly in it.

World Cup and Junes heatwave help UK economy withstand Iran war pressures

Britain’s economic growth slowed in the second quarter but a boost from heatwaves and the World Cup helped offset impacts from the Iran war in a better-than-expected performance in June, official figures have shown.

UK could see hottest day of year as parts of England may hit 38C

The UK could see its hottest day of the year so far as parts of England may hit 38C during the peak of the fifth heatwave of the summer.

Burnham to consider disposable BBQ ban amid heatwave and wildfire risk

Andy Burnham has said he will consider imposing a ban on disposable barbecues amid the risk of further wildfires as extreme heat continues to grip parts of the UK.