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Nicola Sturgeon ‘still living together’ with her husband despite shock split

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Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell are “still living together” in their family home, sources have revealed, despite the pair’s recent announcement that they have separated.

The ex-Scottish First Minister revealed with a “heavy heart” at the beginning of this week that her marriage to the former SNP chief executive was over after almost 15 years.


The pair first met at an SNP youth event in 1988 and had been together since 2003 — tying the knot in 2010.

Writing on Instagram, Sturgeon said: “With a heavy heart I am confirming that Peter and I have decided to end our marriage.

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Sturgeon and Murrell

The pair first met at an SNP youth event in 1988 and had been together since 2003 — tying the knot in 2010

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“To all intents and purposes we have been separated for some time now and feel it is time to bring others up to speed with where we are.

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“It goes without saying that we still care deeply for each other, and always will”, she said, adding that they will be making no further comments on the breakup.

It is understood that Sturgeon and Murrell have “no immediate plans” to leave their home in Uddingston, near Glasgow, and will continue to live together.

A source told The Sunday Times: “This isn’t an acrimonious divorce. It is two people who care for one another but no longer want to be in a marriage together so there is no rush to move.”

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Nicola Sturgeon

The ex-Scottish First Minister revealed with a ‘heavy heart’ at the beginning of this week that her marriage to the former SNP chief executive was over after almost 15 years

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The pair have not been seen in public together for almost two years and Sturgeon has recently been photographed without her wedding ring.

After her shock resignation in 2023 following eight years in the role, Sturgeon insisted that her marriage “was not something anyone should worry about”.

Last year, Murrell was charged in connection with the embezzlement of SNP funds. Sturgeon and former treasurer Colin Beatie were also arrested – but the pair were released without charge.

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The now-separated duo remain under investigation as part of Police Scotland’s Operation Branchform into allegedly missing party finances – approximately £600,000 raised by the party for independence campaigning.

The couple’s home in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, was searched by police and forensics officers as part of the probe.

Peter Murrell

Last year, Murrell was charged in connection with the embezzlement of SNP funds

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u200bMcDermid

McDermid is ‘increasingly frustrated’ about the suggestions that her relationship with Sturgeon is more than platonic

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Speaking after being released by police in June 2023, she insisted “beyond doubt” she was “innocent of any wrongdoing”.

Since the announcement, speculation about Sturgeon’s living arrangements have been rife.

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She was recently pictured leaving the alleged Edinburgh flat of Val McDermid, a crime novelist and good friend of Sturgeon for over 10 years.

McDermid has featured prominently on the ex-Scottish First Minister’s Instagram page over the past year.

However, sources close to McDermid have said that the writer is “increasingly frustrated” about the suggestions that her relationship with Sturgeon is more than platonic.

“The implication here is that Val is having an extra-marital affair, which is both laughable and offensive,” a source said.

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It is also understood that McDermid does not live in the flat in the capital, instead living with her wife Jo Sharp at a different address.

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Keir Starmer ‘bending knee’ to Brussels as EU looks to undo Brexit with ‘disgraceful’ Customs Union deal

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Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of “bending the knee” to Brussels as the European Union looks to strike a customs agreement with the UK.

The Prime Minister is under pressure to return Britain to the EU’s orbit after the EU’s new trade chief Maros Sefcovic stresseed such an agreement would represent membership of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM).


PEM operates under common rules which enable parts, ingredients and materials for manufacturing supply chains to be sourced from across dozens of countries in Europe and North Africa tariff-free.

The suggestion, rejected by the previous Tory Governments, was touted during Sefcovic’s appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

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Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer

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The Prime Minister is unequioval about his determination to “reset” cross-Channel relations but continues to insist that this will not infringe on the UK’s decision to leave the Single Market or Customs Union.

Responding to Sefcovic’s comments, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “Labour’s programme of bending the knee to the EU is disgraceful.

“These latest reports that the Government might shackle us to the European Union are deeply concerning, and once again make clear that Keir Starmer and his chums are all too happy to put their ideology ahead of our national interest, no matter the cost.

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“The Conservatives will always fight for the democratic freedoms the British public voted for, and will not stand idly by in the face of Labour’s great betrayal of our country.”

Starmer’s Government is reportedly holding consultations with business leaders over the benefits of PEM but no final decision has yet been made.

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Priti Patel

Priti Patel

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Brexiteers have long warned that being part of a Customs Union would block the UK from signing independent Free Trade Agreements, including with the United States.

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However, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is already publicly calling for an official return to the Customs Union.

Davey, who is expected to call for the UK to rejoin the EU later down the line, argued it was needed to boost Britain’s economy and its ability to deal with the incoming Donald Trump presidency from a position of strength.

Sefcovic’s suggestion, rejected by the previous Tory Governments, was touted during his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The Brussels bureaucrat said the idea has not been “precisely formulated” by London yet and the “ball is in the UK’s court”.

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Sefcovic also hinted at a full-scale veterinary agreement to reduce frictions on farming and food trade, an updating fisheries deal and mobility plan for under 30s.

u200bEuropean Commission vice-president Maros SefcovicEuropean Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic PA

Sefcovic said it was hoped the scheme would “build bridges for the future for the European Union and the UK”.

“That was the idea,” he said. “[But] we’ve been a little bit surprised what kind of spin it got in the UK.

“It is not freedom of movement,” Sefcovic added. “We have been very clear what we’ve been proposing.”

Despite rejecting previous calls for a return of Freedom of Movement, Starmer could face pressure next month while attending a defence and security focused EU summit.

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The Prime Minister is determined to “reset” cross-Channel relations but continues to insist that this will not infringe on the UK’s decision to leave the Single Market or Customs Union.

Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer

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And No10 has since left the door open to accepting Sefcovic’s PEM offer.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The arrangement that’s been discussed is not a customs union.

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“Our red line has always been that we will never join a single market, freedom of movement, but we’re just not going to get ahead of those discussions.”

However, MPs have already been exerting pressure on Starmer over under 30s being engaged in a free movement arrangement.

A 10-minute rule bill, introduced by Liberal Democrat MP James McCleary, will receive a second reading on July 25.

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Keir Starmer issues direct message to Southport community after Axel Rudakubana sentencing and vows action as he addresses ‘harrowing moment’

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Sir Keir Starmer has branded Axel Rudakubana’s crimes “one of the most harrowing moments in our country’s history” in a direct message to the Southport community this evening.

Speaking after Rudakubana was sentenced to a minimum term of 51 years in prison, the Prime Minister said: “The thoughts of the entire nation are with the families and everyone affected by the unimaginable horrors that unfolded in Southport.


“No words will ever be able to capture the depth of their pain.

“I want to say directly to the survivors, families and community of Southport – you are not alone. We stand with you in your grief.

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Sir Keir Starmer

‘You are not alone. We stand with you in your grief,’ the Prime Minister said

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“What happened in Southport was an atrocity and as the judge has stated, this vile offender will likely never be released.

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“After one of the most harrowing moments in our country’s history we owe it to these innocent young girls and all those affected to deliver the change that they deserve.”

Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor at the CPS’s Mersey-Cheshire branch, also paid tribute “to the victims and their families in this harrowing case” in a further statement on Thursday.

Calling Rudakubana’s crimes “dreadful”, Hammond said that the case “is one of the most harrowing that I, as the Chief Crown Prosecutor for this area, have ever come across”.

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Axel Rudakubana

Rudakubana was sentenced to a minimum term of 51 years in prison today

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“Axel Rudakubana is a murderer; utter devastation followed as he acted out a meticulously planned rampage of murder and violence,” she said.

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“His purpose was to kill and he targeted the youngest, most vulnerable – no doubt in order to spread the greatest level of fear and outrage, which he did.

“Three days ago, he pleaded guilty to all 16 counts against him, saving the families of the victims the trauma of reliving the events of that day in a trial.

“But he has never expressed any remorse, only cowardice, in his refusal to face the families whose lives he has forever changed.

Rudakubana court sketch

Axel Rudakubana, as seen in a court sketch from his sentencing hearing on January 23

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“This has been an extremely difficult case for the whole prosecution team and police officers at Merseyside Police. They have had to work through some harrowing footage and evidence.

“I would like to thank them for their perseverance, compassion and determination to achieve justice for the victims and their families.

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“This sentencing brings to an end this case, but the events of that day will leave a tragic legacy that will unfortunately endure for many years.”

The victims and their families “have shown tremendous dignity and composure in the face of unbelievable horror”, she added.

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DWP under scrutiny as MPs launch inquiry into Labour's Jobcentre reforms

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A new parliamentary inquiry into Jobcentre reform has been launched by the Work and Pensions Committee, examining proposals from the Government’s Get Britain Working white paper published in November 2024.

The inquiry will be the first in a series scrutinising plans to help achieve the Government’s target of an 80 per cent employment rate. Key proposals include merging the National Career Service with Jobcentre Plus and reforming how Jobcentres operate across the country.

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As part of the committee investigation, MPs will examine the current role of Jobcentres and customer experiences with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), while exploring how they can better collaborate with external organisations and careers advisers to support people into employment.

The Government is expected to publish additional details about the white paper proposals later this year. There are over 600 Jobcentres operating across the UK, with significant concentrations in specific regions.

Currently, the highest density of centres can be found in the central Scotland belt, South Wales, and the North East of England. Major urban areas including Birmingham and London also host substantial numbers of Jobcentre locations.

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Westminster and Jobcentre sign

These geographical concentrations mean reforms could have a particularly strong impact on Universal Credit, PIP and other benefit claimants in these regions, where higher numbers of people access Jobcentre services.

According to the white paper, Jobcentres have become “too focused on box ticking” around benefit claims, with services that are overly centralised, standardised and impersonal. The Government aims to shift focus away from benefit administration towards providing more personalised employment support.

A key objective is to transform Jobcentres into centres that prioritise skills development and career advancement. This represents a significant change from the current approach, which the white paper suggests has become too bureaucratic.

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The reforms seek to create a more dynamic service that better serves jobseekers’ individual needs.

DWP benefits payments Christmas

Committee Chair Debbie Abrahams shared: “We know that good work has many benefits to individuals and their families, but also to the local economy and for wider economic growth.”

Abrahams warned of the consequences of worklessness, noting that “for someone of working age not in work, whether that’s through unemployment or economic inactivity, there are long-term negative impacts on health and wellbeing.”

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Current statistics show significant challenges, with the employment rate at 74.8 per cent and economic inactivity at 21.6 per cent.

The Committee Chair emphasised the urgent need to address skills development, saying: “There is no hiding from the challenge of ensuring people have the skills they need to access and progress in work, including the jobs of the future.”

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Addressing the proposed reforms, Abrahams questioned: “The Government plans reforms to refocus the Jobcentre by folding in the work of the careers service.

“But due to the way the Jobcentre touches people’s lives, being both an access point for benefits and employment opportunities, getting this formula for reform right, if it needs it, is essential.”

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“But what should these reforms look like? And what would be the fairest and most effective changes that would help deliver a boost in employment, and people’s prospects?”

The Committee is now seeking wide-ranging input to help shape the reforms. “We want to hear broadly about the Jobcentre experience from customers, and from experts and careers advisors to help inform the debate on what precisely these reforms should look like,” Abrahams said.

The inquiry forms part of a broader workstream examining employment reforms and policy. A key aim is to advise the Government on best practices for Jobcentre reform.

The Committee is specifically seeking solutions that can achieve cross-party political consensus. This approach is designed to ensure any reforms implemented will have long-term stability.

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The focus on building political agreement reflects the Committee’s commitment to creating lasting change in how Jobcentres operate.

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‘Bickering’ councillors accused of acting like ‘nasty children on school playgrounds’ in heated meeting

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A Gloucester City Council meeting descended into chaos as councillors were accused of acting like “nasty children” in a playground during what should have been a straightforward budget discussion.

The four-hour meeting at North Warehouse on January 20 was marked by “bickering, nastiness and finger-pointing from councillors,” according to scrutiny committee vice-chairman Tree Chambers-Dubus.


The Labour councillor for Moreland condemned the behaviour during the single-item budget meeting, which she said had become “ridiculous” and resembled a playground rather than a civic forum.

The meeting was intended to discuss spending proposals for the 2025/26 financial year, but quickly veered off course into unrelated topics.

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u200bTree Chambers-Dubus

Tree Chambers-Dubus was speaking at the meeting

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Instead of focusing on budget matters, councillors spent time debating whether the UK Government should ban the controversial herbicide, glyphosate. The meeting also became mired in accusations about councillors allegedly concealing information regarding indoor market rent issues.

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Additional time was spent discussing how rough sleepers are counted in the city and methods for tackling graffiti.

“I thought it was a budget meeting,” Chambers-Dubus told chairman Andrew Gravells three hours into the proceedings.

“Why are we getting into nitpicking at people, pointing the finger at people, making accusations at people,” Chambers-Dubus demanded during the meeting.

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Chairman Andrew Gravellsu200b

Chairman Andrew Gravells

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She insisted the focus should have been on “how the finances translate to what our priorities should be”.

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“We probably could have got this meeting done in a fraction of the time,” she said.

“A lot of what has been said, and the bickering, nastiness, quite frankly, is not actually going to have done anything or any good this evening other than keep people sitting here.”

“It’s ridiculous. It’s like a playground,” she concluded.

The conduct of council members has reportedly been a long-standing concern, with dozens of complaints recently submitted about councillor behaviour.

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Labour councillor Tree Chambers-Dubus

Labour councillor Tree Chambers-Dubus

GCC

A special panel has been established to address these complaints, according to council insiders.

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The issues came to light publicly last May when then-mayor Kathy Williams used her outgoing speech to highlight bullying within the council.

Williams pledged to campaign for changes in legislation that would require councillors to undergo Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

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Labour LOSING London to Tories and Reform as report shows 585,000 illegal migrants in capital

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Labour’s grip over London is breaking as voters desert Starmer’s party for the Tories and Reform, a shocking map has shown.

It comes after a report put the number of illegal migrants in the nation’s capital at 585,000, intensifying concerns migration is putting unsustainable strain on Britain’s public services and infrastructure.


The map, which has been generated by aggregating recent national polling weighted for recency and historic pollster accuracy, shows Labour’s heartland crumbling from the outside in.

It shows Starmer’s party losing eight seats around the edge of London to three different parties if an election was held tomorrow.

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Hendon, Chelsea and Fulham, Chipping Barnet and Uxbridge and South Ruislip would all go Conservative, Bethnal Green and Stepney and Ilford North would fall to independents while Bexleyheath and Crayford and Dagenham and Rainham would swing right to Reform.

The map also shows Reform gaining Hornchurch and Upminster from the Tories in what would be historic ‘firsts’ for the disruptor party.

EXPLORE: Current voting intention of London constituencies

Projected electoral map of London

Projected electoral map of London. Note Reform gains in the east, Tory gains in the north west and two independent gains in Wes Streeting and Rushanara Ali’s seats.

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Current Electoral Map of London

Current Electoral Map of London.

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Voter frustration with uncontrolled migration has been a major driver in Labour’s dwindling fortunes in the capital.

A recent report compiled on behalf of Thames Water estimated one in 12 of the population was living in London illegally.

The report combined migration estimates from the Pew Research Center in the US, the London School of Economics, Office for National Statistics with the number of National Insurance registrations for non-EU foreign nationals over a nine-year period.

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The analysis put the number of illegal migrants in London at a minimum of 390,355 and a maximum of 585,533, with a median figure of 487,944.

The Home Office does not have any comprehensive data on the number of people coming to the UK illegally, aside from Channel crossings.

In 2025, 1,019 have crossed the Channel is small boats so far this year, the joint fastest rate since records began in 2018.

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Farage blasts Labour as Channel crossings soar as death toll reaching 55

Farage blasts Labour as Channel crossings soar

NIGEL FARAGE

Reform UK London AM, Alex Wilson said: “The news that one in 12 Londoners are illegal migrants is a truly shocking revelation. The establishment’s mass immigration experiment has ruined the fabric of our once great capital city.

“Given these numbers, it’s no shock it’s impossible to get on London’s housing ladder. It’s no shock crime is hitting record highs, year after year. It’s no shock that a rape is reported every hour in London.

“These eye watering numbers should be a wake up call for the establishment. Enough is enough, London expects better. It’s time to take back control of our capital city. Only Reform UK will save London.”

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A Home Office spokesman said: “This Government is strengthening global partnerships and rooting out the criminal gangs who profit from small boat crossings which threaten lives.

“We have also removed 16,400 illegal migrants in just six months, the highest figure in half a decade, making it clear that those who arrive illegally will be returned.”

A Thames Water spokesman said: “Water companies have a regulatory obligation to undertake a ‘water balance’, which includes understanding how much water our customers use on a per-person basis, and how it is distributed across our supply area.

“Analysis to estimate ‘hidden and transient’ populations is carried out by an independent firm of consultants, who draw from publicly available sources including census, surveys, and published academic research. Thames Water played no part in the writing of the report and the conclusions drawn are those of the independent firm that carried out the research.”

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Drivers given matter of weeks until Rachel Reeves tax hikes start impacting millions of Britons

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Drivers have been warned they have just weeks to prepare for significant changes to motoring laws, with electric vehicle owners set to face the biggest impact from April.

The warning comes as a series of new regulations and tax changes will come into force impacting millions of drivers across the UK.


One of the biggest changes involves EVs losing their Vehicle Excise Duty exemption, while also facing the end of London Congestion Charge benefits later in the year. The changes mark a substantial shift in how vehicle ownership is regulated and taxed in the UK under a Labour Government.

Petrol and diesel drivers will also be affected by various updates, including changes to fuel pricing transparency and new safety requirements.

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Rachel Reeves and a car tax reminderElectric car tax changes will come in for the first time in AprilPA/DVLA

Under the rules announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the Budget last year, from April 1, electric vehicle owners will be required to pay Vehicle Excise Duty for the first time, marking the end of their tax-free status. Newly registered EVs will face a £10 charge in their first year of registration.

This will increase significantly to £195 annually from the second year onwards. For luxury electric vehicles priced over £40,000, owners will face an additional expensive car supplement of £410 per year, payable for five years.

The changes are part of the Government’s standard uprating of Vehicle Excise Duty rates, which aims to maintain tax receipts in real terms.

London’s electric vehicle drivers will face another significant change later in the year as their Congestion Charge exemption comes to an end on December 25.

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From this date, all vehicles including electric and hydrogen-powered models will need to pay the full £15 daily charge when driving through central London.

This replaces the current system introduced by Mayor Sadiq Khan where EV owners can pay £10 for an exemption from the Congestion Charge.

However, due to the seasonal closure of the charging zone, the new rules will effectively begin from January 2, 2026, as there is no Congestion Charge between December 25 and January 1.

Meanwhile company car drivers will see Benefit-in-Kind tax rates increase by one per cent from April with electric vehicle rates rising from two per cent to three per cent.

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But petrol and diesel vehicles will face even steeper increases in their company car tax rates. New regulations for EV charging providers will require them to meet strict Government standards for reliability and accessibility.

Providers who fail to comply with these standards could face fines of up to £10,000 per charger. The measures aim to enhance the charging experience for EV drivers while ensuring consistent access to reliable infrastructure across the UK.

John Wilmot, CEO of LeaseLoco.com, said: “These upcoming changes show a significant shift in how vehicle ownership is incentivised and regulated in the UK particularly for electric vehicles.

“The removal of key EV financial perks, such as the VED exemption and Congestion Charge discounts, will undoubtedly impact the cost effectiveness of owning or leasing an EV.”

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Electric car chargingEVs attract a two per cent BiK tax rate PA

He added: “For many drivers, these incentives were a major factor in the decision to transition to electric. So its possible that these changes could actually slow the momentum of EV adoption, particularly among drivers who were on the fence about making the switch.”

Additional changes coming in 2025 include the nationwide Fuel Finder scheme, requiring all petrol stations to share real-time fuel prices.

HGV operators in Greater London will need safety permits from May 4 under the Direct Vision Standard, assessing driver visibility of vulnerable road users. Elsewhere, Scotland is set to implement a nationwide 20mph speed limit in urban and residential areas during 2025.

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Kwasi Kwarteng launches scathing attack on Labour’s plans to reduce prison sentences for women

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Former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng launched a blistering attack on Labour’s plans to reduce prison sentences for women, branding the proposal as “insane”.

In a furious response, Kwarteng insisted “justice should be blind” regardless of gender or background.

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Senate panel advances Turner for HUD on party-line vote

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The Senate Banking Committee voted 13-11, along party lines, on Thursday to advance Scott Turner’s nomination to be secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with Democrats voting no over concerns about Turner’s unfinished FBI background check.

If confirmed by the full Senate, the NFL veteran and former developer would run a department with a $70 billion budget and roughly 8,000 employees at a time when housing has risen to the forefront politically after costs soared in the wake of the pandemic.

Turner told the committee during his confirmation hearing last week that “HUD is failing at its most basic mission,” pointing to the high cost of housing and a recent surge in homelessness. But he offered few specifics on how he would turn things around, saying he wanted first to take stock of which programs are working and which aren’t.

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Labour MP grilled over plans to streamline planning proces

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Labour MP Matthew Pennycook has defended the Government’s new planning reforms, insisting that local communities will retain their right to object to developments.

Speaking to GB News, Pennycook emphasised that “no one is saying that the views of local communities should be ignored”.

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Reform UK chairman blasts Tories as a group that ‘deal entirely in deception, falsehoods, and betrayal’

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Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has expressed disappointment at Suella Braverman’s suggestion for an electoral pact between the populist party and the Conservatives.

Speaking on GB News, Yusuf firmly rejected any possibility of a deal with the Tories, questioning how Reform could work with a group that “deal entirely in deception, in falsehoods, and betrayal”.

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