Nigel Farage has resigned as a Member of Parliament for Clacton, triggering a by-election. He faces probes into a £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire and donations from an entrepreneur with a fraud conviction. Farage stated he has done nothing wrong and will fight to win the upcoming election.
Culture Secretary Nandy launched a 12-week review into National Lottery funding, the first in over 20 years, citing concerns that billions raised are too heavily concentrated in London and the south-east, neglecting smaller communities.
New South Wales' upcoming budget will lower public transport fare caps on Opal and credit card payments to ease cost-of-living pressures. The Minns government aims for fiscal restraint while addressing inflation and housing affordability, balancing relief with economic discipline.
A Z2K study reveals hundreds of thousands of disabled people with lifelong conditions undergo unnecessary benefit reassessments, wasting public money and harming claimants' health, contrary to DWP guidance.
Two investment firms within the Heylo Housing group, backed by BlackRock, have collapsed into administration, putting over £52m in public funds at risk. The Regulator of Social Housing is working to prevent 3,500 homes from moving to the private sector.
This advocacy piece argues for earlier intervention in severe asthma treatment, citing that existing tools, clear evidence, and expert consensus already exist but political will is lacking. Earlier biologic therapy could reduce avoidable healthcare use, lower steroid-related harm, improve quality of life, support workforce participation, and align with sustainability goals.
Sadiq Khan may oppose the Metropolitan Police using Palantir's AI systems for criminal intelligence, citing concerns about using public money to support firms acting contrary to London's values. The US tech company, founded by Peter Thiel, has held talks with the Met over a contract potentially worth tens of millions of pounds. Over 330,000 people have signed petitions calling for Palantir to be blocked from UK contracts.
Four people have been arrested during a dawn raid by the Serious Fraud Office investigating a suspected £44m fraud in the government's ECO4 home insulation scheme. Around 100 investigators searched homes and offices across three counties, seizing computers and crypto assets. Three companies - JJ Crump, South Coast Insulation Services and Warmfront - are alleged to have claimed money for insulation work on 5,000 properties they never installed. The scheme, which cost £4bn and helped 300,000 homes, has been plagued by poor quality work causing damp and mould.
