The BBC’s chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman describes how Westminster gossip caused mass confusion among staff. After a day where speculation reached fever pitch before the announcement of a general election in July, our correspondent says he was turned to for clarity over what on earth was going on. Watch to see how the mood...
Just now Katy Scott,BBC Scotland News PA Media John Swinney raised concerns around the holiday date for the election Scotland’s first minister John Swinney says the decision to hold a general election as Scottish schools begin their summer break is the “latest act of disrespect” from the UK government. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the...
SNP leader John Swinney says “not a moment’s thought” was given by the Conservatives to hold the general election during Scotland’s school holidays. While Mr Swinney said he welcomed the General Election, he added it was an act of disrespect and showed “contempt” the government had for Scotland to hold it on 4 July. Follow...
“In the last five years, our country has fought through the most challenging times since the Second World War. “As I stand here as your prime minister, I can’t help but reflect that my first proper introduction to you was just over four years ago. “I stood behind one of the podiums upstairs in the...
The Green Party of England and Wales co-leader Carla Denyer said its key priorities for the election were the NHS, housing, and sorting out the sewage in rivers and tackling the cost of living crisis. She claimed people were not inspired by the Labour Party and were “distraught” by the direction of the Conservatives. Follow...
Families of children killed and injured in the 2022 Uvalde, Texas mass shooting have announced a $2m (£1.57m) settlement with the city, days before the anniversary of the massacre. Nineteen children and two teachers were shot when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School, with police taking more than an hour to stop...
A man who was renovating his wine cellar in Austria has made an extraordinary discovery. It wasn’t a vintage red or white – but the remains of prehistoric mammoths. The find has been called an “archaeological sensation” by researchers from the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the OeAW. The winemaker, Andreas...
Sir Keir said the poll would give voters the chance to “turn the page” on Tory “chaos”. Adding it was “time for change,” he said: “Give the Tories five more years and things will only get worse. Britain deserves better than that.” SNP leader John Swinney, who took over as Scotland’s first minister earlier this...
The murder of a paedophile at HMP Full Sutton could have been avoided if reports on his killers’ cannibalistic fantasies had been acted upon, a report has found. Richard Huckle, 33, died after a 78-minute attack by Paul Fitzgerald, 30, in his cell in October 2019. Huckle, from Ashford, Kent, had been serving 22 life...
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said the Conservatives have taken people “for granted for so long” and the party was out of touch. He said election was a chance to “transform our politics” and that it would be an opportunity to sort out the economy and the health system. Follow the latest on this story...