Jeremy Corbyn has rejected a reader’s claim that he advised leaving potatoes in the ground until February, saying he meant preparing and manuring soil in late winter ahead of spring planting. Fellow allotmenteers and Royal Horticultural Society guidance support his clarification, in a row that has reopened debate over council…

John McDonnell has warned the Labour Party risks undermining its climate credentials if it supports Heathrow’s formal plans for a privately funded third runway, which the airport describes as ‘shovel-ready’. Campaigners and MPs point to the social cost for west London communities, Heathrow’s £49–50bn price tag and its multi‑billion-pound debt…

Sidney Machin, a 101-year-old Chindit veteran who flew into Burma in gliders during Operation Thursday, was presented with the Freedom of the City of London at the Guildhall alongside his son Trevor in recognition of wartime service and decades of civic duty. Sidney Machin, a 101‑year‑old veteran and one of…

A typical London first-time buyer could pay about £240 less per month than a year ago as mortgage rates and some asking prices ease. Industry data caution the improvement is uneven, repayments remain higher than five years ago and the most attractive deals could vanish rapidly, so buyers are urged…

London’s newest and established five-star hotels are quietly cutting headline room rates that hit four figures during the post-pandemic boom — Raffles at The OWO, The Peninsula and The Emory have shown entry prices falling into the high-£700s–£900s on selected dates. Industry sources say a heavy pipeline of new high-end…

An Evening Standard investigation and local council checks found former police stations in the Isle of Dogs and Southgate being marketed and occupied as residential rooms without planning consent, with tenants living in cramped conditions and paying up to £1,300 a month. Enfield has served a planning enforcement notice and…

Plexal has launched a programme with Google Cloud offering selected Gloucestershire cyber founders credits, hands‑on labs, Gemini access, mentorship and go‑to‑market support to accelerate AI‑enabled products into operational use. The tie‑up — paired with Plexal’s majority stake in regional Hub8 workspaces — aims to link technical development to buyers, but…

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey rejected reports of a falling out with Chancellor Rachel Reeves after claims he blocked a three‑way meeting over Revolut’s bid for full UK banking authorisation. He said relations were very good, defended the PRA’s operational independence and said the regulator and Revolut are working…

Model charts from WXCHARTS and Met Office guidance point to a brief spell of very warm weather across southern and central England between 11-14 August, with isolated 30-33°C hotspots while northern Britain stays noticeably cooler. People should monitor local forecasts and heat-health alerts. Warmer weather is due to return to…

Beijing has urged ministers to judge the contested Royal Mint Court redevelopment ‘on the merits’ as an inspector‑led inquiry prepares a report ahead of a ministerial decision due by 9 September 2025. The David Chipperfield‑designed proposal — comprising a large embassy, up to 225 homes and a cultural centre —…

CCTV footage played at trial captured off-duty Territorial Support Group officers in a violent confrontation outside a South Bank restaurant after a Christmas river boat party. Three officers were convicted of affray, a fourth had an assault conviction upheld, and all face sentencing on 22 October as IOPC and internal…

A one‑off benefit concert on 17 September at OVO Arena Wembley will donate 100% of ticket revenue to UK charity Choose Love, organisers say. The event — executive produced by Brian Eno and collaborators — pairs mainstream UK acts with Palestinian musicians and promises transparency on how funds are routed…