Northern Ireland fire chief appeals for strike cover to avoid army call-up

Union dismisses ‘desperate tactics’ as chief calls for recognition of region’s ‘unique circumstances’A fire service chief has been accused of “desperate tactics” after pleading for firefighters in Northern Ireland to respond to high-risk calls during any strikes so that the army are not asked to cover emergencies in the region.The Fire Brigades Union...

3h

The Thornborough Henges: drone footage shows enormous ancient burial site in North Yorkshire – video

Two enormous ancient monuments, part of a complex regarded as the Stonehenge of the north, have been given to the nation and will come off England’s heritage at-risk register.The Thornborough Henges, near Ripon in North Yorkshire, are three huge, human-made, enclosed earth circles. Each is more than 200 metres in diameter and they date from 3500BC to...

3h

‘Biological sex matters’: Rishi Sunak speaks on TalkTV to mark his 100th day in office – video

Rishi Sunak said being prime minister was ‘tough’ in an interview on TalkTV to mark his 100th day in office. Speaking with Piers Morgan, Sunak also added that ‘sex matters’ when it came to women’s safetySunak tells Piers Morgan ‘biological sex matters’ Continue reading...

4h

Ofgem warns suppliers over forcible installation of prepayment meters

Directive comes as energy minister expresses ‘horror’ at claims British Gas contractor allegedly broke into vulnerable customers’ homesThe energy minister has expressed “horror” at revelations about a British Gas contractor allegedly breaking into vulnerable customers’ homes as the market watchdog Ofgem warned all suppliers against forcibly installing...

4h

James Cleverly rebuffs Australian minister over UK colonialism remarks

Foreign secretary rejects suggestion by Penny Wong that Britain needs to do more to confront its colonial pastJames Cleverly has rejected suggestions Britain needs to do more to confront its colonial past, pointing out that he is “the black foreign secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain”.He was responding to questions after a speech by the...

7h

James Cleverly rebuffs Australian foreign minister over UK’s colonial past jibe

Foreign secretary rejects Penny Wong’s reference to ‘British colonists’ in speech at King’s College about her descendants The UK foreign secretary, James Cleverly, has rejected suggestions Britain needed to do more to confront its colonial past, pointing out that he was a black foreign secretary in the UK.He was responding to questions after a speech...

8h

John Otway’s cutlery switch could save Welsh rugby’s Delilah | Brief letters

Spoon song | Brexit benefits | Inequality | Zahawi bets are off | Inconvenient conveniencesRe your report (Bye, bye, bye Delilah: Wales rugby choirs banned from singing Tom Jones hit, 1 February), may I suggest that the Welsh rugby choirs adopt the version of Delilah as often performed (with suitable prop) by the excellent John Otway: “I felt the spoon...

8h

The government must step up to give early years pupils the best start in life | Letter

If the government does not step up, nursery closures will affect children for decades to come, writes Steve Brine MPI read with interest your report on recent research from the Department for Education and Durham University on the importance of the early years to the future earnings of children in England (Good early years teaching may boost earnings...

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Rishi Sunak says people arriving in UK illegally will be deported ‘within days’

PM says he wants new law barring people arriving without valid documents from claiming asylum Rishi Sunak has said new laws will mean people arriving in the UK without valid documents will be deported “within days”, with asylum claims rejected and migrants returned.The prime minister also said he was committed to the Rwanda deportation policy, despite...

8h

Jared O’Mara ‘thoroughly rotten’, prosecutor in fraud trial says

Former Labour MP came up with ‘a series of scams’ to fund ‘galloping’ cocaine habit, court toldA former Labour MP accused of expenses fraud has been described as “thoroughly inadequate”, “thoroughly rotten” and “stuffing the parliamentary payroll with mates and cronies” who did no relevant work.Jared O’Mara came up with “a series of scams” to help fund...

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