Former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael will not face any party disciplinary proceedings after admitting being behind the leak of a memo before the general election. A Lib Dem spokesman said no more action would be taken after the suggestion that Nicola Sturgeon wanted David Cameron to remain as prime minister. Orkney and Shetland MP Mr […]
Councils across England and Wales have called on the government to introduce a ban on the sale of legal highs. The Local Government Association (LGA) said current legislation was “not fit” for tackling the growing numbers of deaths linked to the substances. It wants the policy to be included in next week’s Queen’s Speech at […]
Labour’s Kezia Dugdale has confirmed she will stand for the leadership of her party in Scotland when Jim Murphy steps down next month. Ms Dugdale, 33, who became an MSP four years ago, has been the Scottish party’s deputy leader since December. The Lothian region MSP is expected to face a challenge from another MSP […]
An unexploded World War Two bomb uncovered by builders near Wembley Stadium poses “a genuine risk to life”, the Army has said. Homes and businesses have been evacuated and the Army has built a blast wall around the bomb in case it goes off. The 50kg (110lb) device, thought to date from the early 1940s […]
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is facing a “significant potential funding gap”, according to Audit Scotland. The public finance watchdog said a long-term financial strategy was urgently needed. Audit Scotland warned that potential future reductions in funding could mean a budget gap of £42.7m by 2019/20. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said […]
A family had a narrow escape when a car ploughed through a garden wall into their house in Weymouth. Homeowner Josh Simmonds’ said: “There’s a whole wall on top of the settee, we’re all so lucky to be alive.” The silver Ford Ka hit the house in Corporation Road just after 17:15 BST on Wednesday. […]
The Scottish government has announced measures to help convicted offenders find work. It comes as figures show three-quarters of employers admit they discriminate against job applicants with a criminal record. Ministers are to consult on proposals to modernise the law which means people must disclose their convictions from the past four years. It would bring […]
The chief executive of Thomas Cook has said he is “deeply sorry” about the deaths of two British children on holiday in Corfu in 2006. Christi and Bobby Shepherd, from West Yorkshire, died from carbon monoxide poisoning at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel. Peter Fankhauser said: “From the deepest of my heart I am sorry.” […]
A police officer who knocked out part of a student’s front tooth with his riot shield during a demonstration against tuition fees faces jail after being convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Judge Jeffrey Pegden QC warned PC Andrew Ott, 36, that a custodial sentence “would be at the forefront of the court’s mind” […]
A Northern Ireland bakery has been found guilty in a landmark ruling of discrimination for refusing to bake a cake with a pro-gay marriage theme. Ashers Baking Company received worldwide support from evangelical and born-again Christians over its refusal to make the cake for a local gay rights activist in the region. What is Belfast’s […]