insert_link National News Sunak and Keegan under growing pressure over crumbling concrete in schools Rishi Sunak and Gillian Keegan are under growing pressure over the crumbling concrete closing schools, as the Education Secretary claimed others had failed to tackle the crisis in a sweary outburst. In criticism caught on camera after an interview on Monday, a frustrated Ms Keegan hit out. Ms Keegan went on to admit to being on holiday in Spain in the run up to ordering more than 100 schools and […] todaySeptember 4, 2023 94
insert_link National News More than two fifths of trains delayed during first half of year More than two out of five train services in Britain during the first half of the year were delayed, new figures show. Some 41% of services in that period were at least one minute late, according to BBC analysis of industry data collated by website On Time Trains. A further 3% were cancelled, while 56% were on time. Stations in Wales had the highest cancellations rate between January and July, […] todaySeptember 4, 2023 7
insert_link National News Building societys new mortgage aims to get renters back on property ladder Former homeowners turned renters can now get a helping hand back onto the property ladder, according to a building society. Skipton Building Society is expanding the pool of aspiring homeowners who can apply for its track record mortgage, to support more “trapped renters”. The move could potentially help people who have previously moved out of homeownership back into the rental sector due to a divorce or needing to relocate, for […] todaySeptember 4, 2023 89
insert_link National News This Mornings Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond show united front before NTAs Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond have shown a united front in their return to This Morning following their summer break. Their return to the small screen comes ahead of the National Television Awards (NTAs) on Tuesday, which will see This Morning stars Hammond and Martin Lewis up for the best TV presenter prize. Willoughby had been longlisted for the award but was snubbed of the final shortlist alongside her former […] todaySeptember 4, 2023 90
insert_link National News Man convicted of murdering six year old boy in 1994 loses appeal A 42-year-old man given a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering a six-year-old boy nearly 30 years ago has lost an appeal. Following a trial at the Old Bailey, James Watson was handed a minimum jail term of 15 years in June 2022 after being convicted of killing Rikki Neave. Trial judge Mrs Justice McGowan said the law meant Watson, who was 13 when Rikki was found strangled […] todaySeptember 4, 2023 89
insert_link National News Gavin Williamson told to apologise to MPs for bullying former chief whip Sir Gavin Williamson should apologise to MPs for bullying a former chief whip after he was not allocated tickets to the late Queen’s funeral, Westminster’s Independent Expert Panel (IEP) has said. He was forced to quit as a Cabinet Office minister just days into Rishi Sunak’s premiership last year over a series of expletive-laden messages to Wendy Morton. The texts amounted to “offensive and intimidating behaviour”, the IEP said on […] todaySeptember 4, 2023 6
insert_link National News Man jailed for life for murdering sister in depraved attack A man convicted of the murder and sexual assault of his teenage sister in a “depraved” attack has been ordered to spend at least 22 years behind bars. Connor Gibson, 21, was found guilty of attacking his sister, Amber Gibson, in woodland, removing her clothes, sexually assaulting with the intention of raping her, inflicting blunt force trauma to her head and body, and strangling her following a trial at the […] todaySeptember 4, 2023 13
insert_link National News Sunak blamed by former official over school rebuilding cuts Rishi Sunak refused to fully fund a programme to rebuild England’s crumbling schools, a former senior official at the Department for Education has claimed. Thousands of pupils face disruption at the start of term this week following an order to fully or partially close 104 schools because of concerns about collapse-prone reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac). But Jonathan Slater, who was permanent secretary at the Department for Education from May […] todaySeptember 4, 2023 4
insert_link National News Ryanair reveals 63000 passengers affected by ATC failure Ryanair has revealed around 63,000 of its passengers saw their flights cancelled during last week’s air traffic control failure which caused widespread disruption across the industry and left thousands of passengers stranded overseas. In its August traffic update, the Irish carrier said more than 350 of its flights were cancelled on August 28 and 29 due to the air traffic control (ATC) issue. More than a quarter of all flights to […] todaySeptember 4, 2023 4