Reform UK chair says 46,000 members joined in last half of December January 4, 2025 More than 46,000 people joined Reform UK in the last two weeks of December, the party chairman told supporters amid a spat with the Tories over membership numbers. Zia Yusuf asked party members at a Reform UK conference in Chelmsford, Essex – part of Kemi Badenoch’s North West Essex constituency – to give a “big [...]
Emergency declared in Crimea as oil spill reaches Sevastopol January 4, 2025 Officials in Moscow-occupied Crimea have announced a regional emergency after oil was detected on the shores of Sevastopol, the peninsula’s largest city. Fuel oil spilled out of two storm-stricken tankers nearly three weeks ago in the Kerch Strait, close to eastern Crimea – some 155 miles from Sevastopol, which lies on the south-west of the [...]
New car market in UK up 2.6 per cent in 2024, figures reveal January 4, 2025 The UK’s new car market recorded its second successive year of growth with a 2.6 per cent rise in registrations in 2024, new figures show. Industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said around 1,953,000 new cars were registered last year, compared with 1,903,000 in 2023. Growth was delivered entirely by purchases [...]
Reform UK supporters to gather in Kemi Badenoch’s constituency as ‘gloves off’ January 4, 2025 Reform supporters will gather in Kemi Badenoch’s constituency on Saturday, after their leader promised “the gloves are off” in the next election bout against her. Nigel Farage will host a Reform UK rally at Chelmsford City Racecourse, his second this year after a similar event in Leicester. The MPs – who both represent areas of [...]
UK braced for heavy snow and freezing rain amid amber weather warnings January 4, 2025 Large parts of the UK will be hit by heavy snow and freezing rain which could lead to disruption this weekend amid two amber weather warnings. Stranded vehicles on the roads, delayed or cancelled rail and air travel and power cuts are likely as the country grapples with a week-long spell of wintry conditions, the [...]
Littler seven sets from PDC World Championship victory January 3, 2025 Luke Littler says it will be the “stuff dreams are made of” if he can create history by becoming the youngest-ever world champion. The 17-year-old booked his place in a second successive World Championship final at Alexandra Palace by beating Stephen Bunting in the last four to set up a blockbusting clash with Michael van [...]
Retailers get festive boost as more people head to shops January 2, 2025 There was an increase in the number of people who headed to the shops in December amid fears retailers face uncertain times after the festive season, analysts say. The 7.1 per cent increase in footfall in December from November is the greatest month-on-month rise since an 8.7 per cent jump was recorded in the same [...]
All eyes on Littler at Ally Pally as last eight looms December 31, 2024 Luke Littler says “all eyes would still be on me” even if title rival Luke Humphries had not been knocked out of the World Championship. Littler became an even heavier favourite to win the tournament after he did what the world number one could not do by reaching the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace. The 17-year-old [...]
Crispin Odey suing Financial Times for £79m in libel damages, documents show December 30, 2024 Hedge fund manager Crispin Odey is seeking at least £79m in damages from the Financial Times (FT) after suing the publication for libel, documents filed at the High Court show. Odey began legal action against the FT in May over four articles published in 2023, which contained allegations that he had sexually assaulted multiple women. [...]
Retail insolvencies set to surge as Budget bites, experts warn December 30, 2024 A wave of insolvencies could be coming to the retail and hospitality sectors next year as businesses crumble under the tax bill brought on by Labour’s Budget, bosses have warned. Insolvencies and restructuring could rise further over the start of 2025 as firms face increased cost pressures, industry experts have said, with the retail, hospitality [...]
