A former Labour minister, Shahid Malik, is on trial with four others over RT Diagnostics, a Halifax-based Covid-19 testing firm described by prosecutors as inadequate and non-compliant. They allege the company generated about £6.67 million in three weeks but did not meet UK standards. Malik, 57, who represented Dewsbury from 2005 to 2010 as an MP and held roles as a justice minister and communities minister, faces charges including fraudulent […]

Nationwide Building Society reports October saw a slower pace in UK house-price growth, easing to 0.3% month on month from 0.5% in September. Annual growth stood at 2.4%, up from 2.2% the previous month, taking the average UK house price to £272,226 in October. The lender described the market as broadly stable, but buyers are adopting a cautious stance ahead of the Budget amid expectations of property tax changes and […]

A YouGov poll of 4,368 British adults conducted between 5 and 10 September found that 26% regard immigration and asylum as one of the three most important issues in their local area. Nationally, 52% named it among the top issues, with immigration placed seventh behind the cost of living, health, crime and housing. The survey was commissioned by the campaign group Best for Britain. Saeema Syeda of the Joint Council […]

Around £240 million of energy credit sits in closed account balances and could be claimed by consumers, the energy watchdog has said. Data shows 1.9 million closed accounts carry credit, and people who moved home in the last five years may have money left in their accounts because their contact details were not updated. More than 90% of closed balance credits are returned automatically, and suppliers will typically attempt to […]

A Holyrood committee has warned that a lack of transparency around data collection and analysis makes it hard to assess whether Scotland’s mental health spending is effective. The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee said it was disappointed by the absence of clear data on how the mental health budget is gathered and spent. Spending on mental health in Scotland has risen in recent years and is now around £1.5 […]

The King has begun a formal process to remove the titles from Prince Andrew, who will move from his Windsor home to Sandringham. Buckingham Palace said Andrew has agreed to leave Royal Lodge as his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein continue to generate controversy. In a statement, the Palace said: "Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided […]

A man aged 70 died after a helicopter crash in South Yorkshire. Emergency crews were alerted to Ings Road in Bentley, near Doncaster, at 10:15 on Thursday after the helicopter came down in a field. Police said the man suffered serious injuries and died at the scene. The helicopter's pilot, a 41-year-old man, and two other passengers, a 58-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy, were treated for minor injuries. A […]

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said long‑term funding will back research and development across several sectors, including clean energy and health. The allocations form part of an £86 billion package for science and technology R&D announced during the spending review in June, the department said. Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall visited IBM's London office on Wednesday to view facilities, including a robotic dog and a quantum computer, […]

Energy regulator Ofgem has unveiled a debt relief plan that could write off up to £500 million (€580.0 million) of historic household energy debt. It aims to reset and reform the growing burden on bills. At present, the price cap adds a debt allowance of £52 (€60.3) to annual bills to cover debts that go unpaid and are written off. Ofgem said the scheme could see as much as £1.1 […]