Downing Street has insisted that the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is “not in question” following reports the US could review Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands as revenge for a lack of support in the Iran war.
An internal Pentagon email set out options for Mr Trump’s administration to punish Nato allies for refusing to join the US-Israeli strikes against Iran.
The memo, first reported by Reuters, suggests reassessing US diplomatic support for “imperial possessions” such as the Falklands.
But on Friday morning, No 10 insisted that “sovereignty rests with the UK”, adding that Britain will not be “pressured on the Iran war”.
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It came as Admiral Lord West of Spithead – the commanding officer of HMS Ardent, a frigate that was sunk in the Falklands War – told The Independent the reports were an “insult to the autonomous, self-reliant and free people of the Falkland Islands”, adding: “How dare they!”
But he also dismissed the threats, saying that, militarily, losing US support for British sovereignty would have “no impact”.
“The recognition or otherwise by the US does not make the islands less secure,” the former Royal Navy commander-in-chief added.
Admiral Lord West was aboard the HMS Ardent when it was sunk during the Falklands conflict (PA)
Asked about the reports, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The Falkland Islands have hugely voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we’ve always stood behind the islanders’ right to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty rests with the UK.”
The spokesman was also asked if Britain was ready to defend the islands from any threats, and replied: “The question of the Falkland Islands and the UK’s sovereignty and the islanders’ right to self-determination is not in question, and we’ve expressed that position clearly and consistently.”
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Pressed further if the UK could defend the Falklands, he described the question as a “hypothetical”, adding: “That is not the situation we are in.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said a potential US policy review was “absolute nonsense”, and compared it to Donald Trump’s previous threat to annex Greenland.
“The Falkland Islands are British, they have been for a very long time. The sovereignty is British sovereignty,” she told broadcasters.
A leaked internal Pentagon email suggested a review of Washington’s position on Britain’s claim to the islands, (PA Wire)
“I don’t know what Donald Trump is talking about. This sounds like the sort of thing he was saying when it came to Greenland.
“I don’t think we need to take it that seriously just yet, we need to make sure that we are very determined in protecting British sovereign territory, and that includes the Falkland Islands as well as Chagos.”
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Now a British Overseas Territory, the Falkland Islands’ defence is provided by the United Kingdom at a permanent military base, RAF Mount Pleasant, which was built on the Falklands and opened in 1985 by the Duke of York.
The base, which is solely operated by British forces and is not shared with the US, is a key military asset, as it forms the centre of the British military’s presence in the South Atlantic, with between 1,300 and 1,700 military and civilian personnel based there at any one time.
The leaked memo, which includes an option to reassess US diplomatic support for longstanding European “imperial possessions”, such as the Falkland Islands, lays bare the tense relations between Britain and the Trump administration, which have broken down in the wake of the Iran war.
The islands are administered by the UK but are still claimed by Argentina, whose libertarian president, Javier Milei, is a Trump ally.
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Britain and Argentina fought a brief war in 1982 over the islands after Argentina made a failed bid to take them. Some 650 Argentine soldiers and 255 British troops died before Argentina surrendered.
The US president has hit out repeatedly at Nato allies since he launched his offensive in Iran (AP)
The US president has hit out repeatedly at Nato allies since he launched his offensive in Iran, branding the alliance a “paper tiger” and threatening to withdraw from the alliance altogether.
He has also repeatedly attacked Britain and Sir Keir Starmer, saying he was “no Winston Churchill” after he initially refused to grant a request from the US to attack Iran from British bases.
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said the US War Department will ensure Mr Trump “has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and instead do their part”.
“As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our Nato allies, they were not there for us,” she said.
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Mr Trump has also openly considered withdrawing from Nato, asking, “Wouldn’t you if you were me?” when questioned about the possibility of a US pullout earlier this month.
One of the easiest ways to look stylish on a run is to add a statement piece or accent to an otherwise simple, neutral outfit. “This season especially, we are seeing runners express themselves through considered, styled outfits — co-ords, bold colour palettes, animal print designs, statement sunglasses and accessories like bandannas that bring personality,” says Culling.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has ended its probe into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, clearing a major roadblock to the confirmation of his successor, Kevin Warsh.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannine Pirro said on X on Friday that her office was ending its probe into the Fed’s extensive building renovations because the Fed’s inspector general would scrutinize them instead.
The decision ends an investigation, one of several undertaken by the Justice Department into President Donald Trump’s perceived adversaries, that for months had failed to gain traction as prosecutors struggled to articulate a basis to suspect criminal conduct.
A prosecutor handling the case conceded at a closed-door court hearing in March that the government hadn’t yet found any evidence of a crime, and a judge subsequently quashed subpoenas issued to the Federal Reserve. The judge, James Boasberg, said prosecutors had produced “essentially zero evidence” to suspect Powell of a crime. Boasberg prosecutors’ justification for the subpoenas as “thin and unsubstantiated.”
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More recently, prosecutors made an unannounced visit to a construction site at the Fed’s headquarters but were turned away, drawing a rebuke from a defense attorney in the case who called the maneuver “not appropriate.”
The move could lead to a swift confirmation vote by the Senate for Warsh, a former top Fed official whom Trump, a Republican, nominated in January to replace Powell, whose term as chair ends May 15. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, has said he would oppose Warsh until the investigation was resolved, effectively blocking his confirmation.
Warsh said Tuesday that he never promised the White House that he would cut interest rates, even as the president renewed his calls for the central bank to do so.
“The president never once asked me to commit to any particular interest rate decision, period,” Kevin Warsh, a former top Fed official, said under questioning by the Senate Banking Committee. “Nor would I ever agree to do so if he had. … I will be an independent actor if confirmed as chair of the Federal Reserve.”
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Warsh’s comments came just hours after Trump, in an interview on CNBC, was asked if he would be disappointed if Warsh didn’t immediately cut rates and responded, “I would.”
When a court bans someone from driving the senior magistrate or judge reads out a standard warning about what the defendant must not do.
This is the warning. “You cannot drive any motor vehicle on a road or public place from this moment until the end of the disqualification.
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“If you drive whilst disqualified you commit a serious offence and may be sent to prison and disqualified again.
“Your licence will not be returned to you.
“You must apply to the DVLA if you wish to drive once the disqualification is ended. You should not drive until you have received your new driving licence.”
The DVLA may require medical or other evidence that a driver is a fit and proper person to be given a driving licence before issuing a new licence after a driving disqualification ends.
This week’s Tube strikes by RMT members have been the union’s least effective walkouts on the London Underground for years, data has revealed.
Official figures show that a normal service continued on more than half of scheduled trains across all London Underground lines on Tuesday.
Sources within the transport authority said they could not remember any previous RMT strikes in which over half of the planned services continued to operate.
Members of the RMT on the picket line on Tuesday
PA
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While only around 60% of Tube drivers reported for work, passengers have been able to get around the city much easier than during the strikes in September last year.
It was thought that the strike action could result in most trains being cancelled – but some of these busiest underground lines, such as the Bakerloo, Victoria and Northern lines, have managed to operate at around two-thirds of their normal service, resulting in only minor delays.
In comparison, every single line across the network was suspended during the strike between September 8 and 11, with only the Northern line able to open fully on September 9 and parts of four others running for brief periods.
As a result, Londoners were forced to either work from home or pack into Elizabeth line or London Overground trains, while Lime and Forest experienced a huge surge in people travelling on their rental e-bikes.
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Passengers faced four days of disruption on the Tube across the week
PA
This walkout’s failure to bring the capital to a standstill suggests that the RMT union may be losing its power, with Thomas Turrell, the Conservatives’ City Hall transport spokesman, describing the data as a “bitter disappointment to the union barons who sought to paralyse London”.
Mr Turrell said: “The Conservatives created legislation to ensure this level of service as a legal minimum during strikes, which Labour promptly dropped – and as such, any strike which is more damaging to London than the one we have seen this week will be a blatant political choice by authorities.”
“Whilst it is a relief that the full damage of this strike did not come to pass, we must not ignore the fact that these strikes come only because the unions think that our weak Labour Mayor will capitulate to them.”
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An RMT spokesman told The Standard: “Our strike is solid and reflects our growing presence in the driver grade in London Underground. TfL need to focus on revising the offer our members have overwhelmingly rejected to avert further disruption in the coming months.”
But why have the latest series of Tube strikes failed to make so much of an impact? Here are five reasons why.
RMT members are striking – but Aslef aren’t
Only around half of London’s 3,300 Tube drivers are members of the RMT.
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This figure has declined significantly in recent years, with many either giving up union membership or joining rival union Aslef.
Aslef has already agreed to a 35-hour week, which is being offered to all drivers on a voluntary basis, while the RMT wants drivers’ working hours cut to 32 per week with no reduction in pay.
Only train drivers have walked out
In September, all 10,000 of the RMT’s members walked out – but this week, it is only the drivers who aren’t working.
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On that occasion, all staff were locked into a dispute over pay and working conditions. This included drivers, station staff and service controllers.
Service controllers play a similar role to that of an air traffic controller – regulating train movements, communicating with staff and customers during disruptions, as well as running signalling systems.
Station staff continued to work while drivers went on strike
TfL
Their absence in September was the most important factor in determining whether lines could operate or not.
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Shortly after those strikes, the pay dispute was resolved when the RMT accepted a 3.4% pay offer in November.
However, the specific issues surrounding Tube driver working hours and conditions were not addressed – hence the strikes this week.
Only Tube lines have been affected by the action this week.
During the strike action in September, DLR workers also walked out over concerns surrounding pay and conditions, putting an even larger strain on the Elizabeth line in East and South East London.
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On this occasion, the Elizabeth line, the DLR, London Overground services and National Rail trains have all been operating a good service, providing a viable alternative for many passengers.
The Elizabeth line has been running as normal
PA
Around 33% more people than normal have used the Elizabeth Line this week, taking on many additional commuters as it passes through the middle of the capital – easing the issues caused by the part-suspension of the Central Line across its middle stretch between White City and Liverpool Street.
Overground use has also risen significantly, up 18%.
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Passenger numbers in general have been lower since the pandemic, with flexible working allowing people to stay home when necessary, especially on Fridays.
Throughout the strike action, Londoners have heeded TfL’s warnings about significant disruption. Across the whole week, TfL said that customer journeys were 12% down on normal across the whole network.
Officials confirmed a 13% drop in the number of contactless cards tapping in on Tuesday compared with the same day last year.
This equates to around half a million fewer travellers, a decrease from 3.9 million tap-ins last year to 3.4 million earlier this week.
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The timing of the strikes has also helped – in the era of flexible working, people have been able to leave the office early to beat the worst of the rush or avoid the strikes altogether.
During the strike action in September, which ran all day as opposed to midday to midday, both the morning and evening rush hours were severely impacted, which has not been the case this time around.
TfL Director Nick Dent said that, despite the disruption, it is estimated that 88% of journeys in London still took place on Thursday compared to a normal day using all different modes of public transport.
Many commuters into London have switched to cycling, with TfL’s bike hire scheme up 28%.
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E-bike firms saw an increase in users
Getty
Operators like Lime, Forest and Voi have also seen a huge surge in riders, and helped by the beautiful weather, many with a shorter commute have been walking into the city.
It follows a similar pattern seen during last September’s strikes, where one in five Londoners cycled during the strike, according to a YouGov survey.
There has also been a 6% increase in journeys taken by bus.
Ahmed Alid, 47, is accused of attempting to murder Roderic Vassie at HMP Full Sutton, on August 8 2025 after Friday prayers, the Old Bailey heard on Friday.
He is accused of causing serious injury, Philip McGhee, prosecuting, said.
Mr McGhee said Alid “shouted words which suggest ideological alignment with Isis”.
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Alid is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a piece of metal, inside HMP Full Sutton, near York.
He was transferred to HMP Wakefield where he is accused of attacking prison officer Sarah Mitchell on October 21 last year, causing a broken nose and bruising among other injuries, the court heard.
Alid has been charged with assaulting Ms Mitchell occasioning her actual bodily harm.
The defendant appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday via video link from HMP Wakefield.
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Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said his trial will take place at Sheffield Crown Court on November 30 this year.
A plea hearing will take place on August 28 at the Old Bailey.
Through his lawyer, Alid indicated he will be entering not guilty pleas.
Gerry Butler collapsed while taking part in a tournament in Portugal, with heartbroken friends and teammates praising his kindness, generosity and dedication to walking football.
Tributes have poured in for a much-loved Edinburgh dad described as “one of life’s good guys” following his sudden death in Portugal.
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Gerry Butler, 62, became unwell and collapsed while taking part in the EuroCopa Football Tournament in the Algarve on Monday, April 20.
A hugely respected figure in the Edinburgh sport scene, he served as South East Regional Manager for the over-65s and over-70s with Walking Football Scotland. He also played a major role at Oriam, Scotland’s national performance centre for sport, and contributed to the development of Currie Youth Football.
Paying tribute, Matt Ramsay, trustee of Walking Football Scotland, said: “Gerry was a tremendous supporter of the walking football community and a constant source of encouragement to so many.
“He always took a genuine interest in the development of others and, importantly, in how he could offer his support.
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“He embodied the true spirit of walking football — respect, inclusion, encouragement, and looking out for others whilst never losing sight of the enjoyment the game brings.
“Walking Football Scotland is sincerely grateful for the contribution Gerry made to the organisation and to the wider game. His impact will not be forgotten, and his kindness and generosity of spirit have touched many lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lorna, his family, teammates, and friends at this very difficult time.”
The organisation added he “embodied everything that walking football stands for” and described him as a “true gentleman”.
A heartfelt social media post read: “Gerry was one of life’s good guys. The walking football family is certainly poorer for his loss, and those of us who knew him are better for it.”
Friends and teammates also shared their grief, with one writing: “Sending heartfelt love and condolences to Lorna and family – this is a huge loss.” Another added: “Such a shock. Thoughts are with his family and the guys out in Portugal – they must be devastated.”
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A second strike by London Underground drivers this week is going on until midday on Friday, bringing further travel disruption for commuters and visitors to the capital.
Four days of disruption on the Tube began on Tuesday when members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) walked out at 12pm over a dispute with Transport for London (TfL) on a new four-day working week.
However, that was just the first of six planned strikes over the coming weeks.
We will keep you updated throughout the day on the status of all affected lines.
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Here are all the Tube lines currently disrupted:
Waterloo & City line – No service on the entire line
Bakerloo line – No service between Harrow & Wealdstone and Queens Park, and severe delays on the rest of the line
Central line – No service between Liverpool Street and White City, and good service on the rest of the line
Hammersmith & City line – No service between Barking and Liverpool Street, and severe delays on the entire line
Metropolitan line – No service between Baker Street and Aldgate, and minor delays on the rest of the line
Piccadilly line – No service between Acton Town and Heathrow Terminals, and between Arnos Grove and Uxbridge, and severe delays on the rest of the line
City of York Council has announced plans to bar motor vehicles and pedal cycles from 17 city centre streets on Sunday, April 26.
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Scout and Girlguiding groups are attending services in York Minster and a city centre church and parading through the city centre streets.
Drummers during the St George’s Day parade in York in 2025 (Image: Dylan Connell)
The closure runs from 12pm to 4pm on Spurriergate, Coney Street, Market Street, Feasegate, New Street, Lendal, St Helen’s Square, Davygate, St Sampson’s Square, Church Street, Parliament Street, High Ousegate, Blake Street, Duncombe Place, Stonegate, Precentor’s Court, and The Purey Cust.
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Traffic management controls at each closure point will be in place to reduce disruption.
A council spokesperson said: “Traffic signs or barriers will indicate the extent of the parking place suspensions.
“No requirement will be made for an alternative route for prohibited traffic.”
Expect plenty of road closures during the 2026 London Marathon (Photo by Sam Mellish/Getty Images)
Thousands of people will be making their way into the capital on Sunday for this year’s London Marathon.
Crowds of people will be supporting the runners as they take on the 26.2mile course through the city.
The course will set off from Greenwich Park and Blackheath Park and will take the runners across Tower Bridge and past such sites as the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, Canary Wharf, The Shard, Big Ben and the Tower of London, before finishing up on The Mall at St James’s Park.
There will of course be travel disruptions and road closures on Sunday, so read on to find out where you can expect them and from what time.
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London Marathon 2026 route map
The full route of the 2026 London Marathon will take runners on a tour through central London.
The race runs along both the north and south banks of the River Thames at various points throughout its 26.2mile route.
But running such a large event will require road closures at different points throughout the day as runners make their way through the capital.
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Which roads will be closed for London Marathon 2026 and at what times?
There will be closures right across the route of the London Marathon occurring at separate times throughout the day. Here are details of the roads that will be shut and their closure times.
Charlton Way (Red start) – closed 4am-2.30pm
Shooters Hill Road (Blue start) – closed 4am-2.30pm
St John’s Park (Pink start) – closed 7am-2.30pm
Charlton Park Road (Red route) – closed 7am-2.30pm
Shooters Hill Road (Blue route) – closed 7am-2.30pm
Old Dover Road (Pink route) – closed 7am-2.30pm
Little Heath (Red route) – closed 7am-2.30pm
Charlton Park Lane (Blue route) – closed 7am-2.30pm
Artillery Place (Red route) – closed 7am-2.30pm
John Wilson Street (Blue route) – closed 7am-2.30pm
Woolwich Church Street – closed 7am-3pm
Woolwich Road – closed 7am-3pm
Trafalgar Road – closed 7am-4pm
Creek Road – closed 7am-4pm
Evelyn Street – closed 8am-4pm
Surrey QuaysRoad – closed 8am-4pm
Salter Road – closed 8am-4pm
Brunel Road – closed 8am-4pm
Jamaica Road – closed 8am-4pm
Tower Bridge – closed 8am-8.30pm
The Highway (South side) – closed 8am-8.30pm
Narrow Street – closed 8am-8.30pm
Westferry Road – closed 8am-8.30pm
East Ferry Road – closed 8am-8.30pm
Marsh Wall – closed 8am-8.30pm
Bank Street – closed 8am-8.30pm
North Colonnade – closed 8am-8.30pm
Poplar High Street – closed 8am-8.30pm
Commercial Road – closed 8am-8.30pm
The Highway (North side) – closed 8am-8.30pm
Byward Street – closed 7.30am-9pm
Upper/Lower Thames Street – closed 7.30am-9pm
Victoria Embankment – closed 7.30am-10pm
Parliament Square – closed 7.30am-10pm
Birdcage Walk (Eastbound) – closed from 6am Friday, April 24 to 6am Monday, April 27
Birdcage Walk (westbound) – closed from 6am Saturday, April 25 to 6am Monday, April 27
To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro’sLondon news hub.
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London Underground on marathon day
Like past years, the London Underground, London Overground and Docklands Light Railway are expected to run extra services throughout marathon day and are recommended as the best way to get around to keep up with the race action.
Due to the nature of the day, expect services to be busy with crowds of spectators along the route.
An Elizabeth line train pulls into a busy platform with commuters (Credits: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Stops near the marathon route are likely to be very busy, especially the Jubilee, Circle and District lines, and the DLR.
On Sunday, the Waterloo & City line will be completely closed, and there are part closures on the Piccadilly line between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge, and Cockfosters and King’s Cross St. Pancras.
Transport for London is encouraging everyone to plan their journeys in advance and check the TfL website or TfL Go app for the latest travel information.
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And remember, marathon runners wearing their bibs can travel on the Tube and London buses for free.
Buses on marathon day
Bus routes along the route of the marathon will either be diverted or will not run the length of their usual journey until the roads are back open.
If travelling by bus on the day, visit tfl.gov.uk/bus/status to see if your bus route is affected.
What time does the London Marathon start?
Official timings haven’t been confirmed but following last year’s Marathon it’s expected that the race will kick off at around 8.50am when the Elite Wheelchairs class sets off.
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Elite Women will follow at around 9.05am, with Elite Men at 9.35am.
The mass event will then open for all other racers to set off between 9.35am and 11.30am.
Start times are allocated based on runners’ predicted finish time, which will have been given to organisers ahead of time.
Runners are given a total of eight hours to finish the marathon – anyone who takes longer than this will be moved to continue running on the pavement, and London Marathon staff will help them reach the finish line.
Paul Ward, 73, was drinking at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court which he had attended to answer a charge of drink driving yesterday, said Georgina Fishwick, prosecuting.
After he was disqualified from driving for 12 months and the case was finished, he drove away from the courthouse.
Police spotted him 25 miles away at the junction of the A684 and A1(M) at 4.45pm the same day and arrested him.
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They gave him a breath test, which he failed and kept him in custody overnight.
York magistrates told him he had shown “contempt” for their colleagues in Harrogate.
“This is so serious it attracts a prison sentence, but we are going to suspend it and there is going to be a significant ban,” they said.
They gave him an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and banned him from driving for four years.
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“We are going to ask a question we wouldn’t normally ask,” they said. “How are you getting home?”
They heard because he was brought to court in custody he would get a travel warrant that would enable him to catch a train.
Defence solicitor Craig Robertson said given his age “it is going to be difficult for him to justify getting his licence back” after he finishes the four-year ban.
Ward, of Stainburn, south-west of Harrogate, pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified, drink driving and driving without insurance, all committed on Thursday, April 23.
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On Thursday, at Harrogate Magistrates Court, he was fined and given a total court bill of £253. To that York magistrates added £85 prosecution costs and a £154 statutory surcharge.
Many drink drivers are given the chance to reduce their ban by taking a drink drivers’ rehabilitation test.
“Because of the contempt you showed for the decision made by the previous bench we do not believe that is justified,” York magistrates told him.
Ms Fishwick said the breath test gave a reading of 45 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
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Mr Robertson said Ward had not initially intended to drive home from the Harrogate court and had arranged for his daughter to collect his car.
But an emergency had prevented her from doing that so he had made the “foolish” decision to drive.
He hadn’t realised at the time the seriousness of what he was doing.
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