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Labour should ‘stick to their guns’ on Ulez, urges TV presenter Chris Packham
L abour should “stick to their guns” on expanding a charge on the most polluting vehicles in London, according to TV presenter Chris Packham. The environmental campaigner said a Labour government could consider taxing the profits of oil and gas giants to help pay for motorists to switch to cleanerContinue Reading
Primary school children take action after murals at refugee centre painted over
A group of primary school children left feeling “ashamed of their country” after murals were painted over at an asylum centre in Kent have sent hand-drawn pictures to the young refugees housed there. Two classes of pupils, aged between eight and nine, at St Gerard’s Catholic Primary School in Birmingham,Continue Reading
Johnny Mercer will ‘soon be history’, says Keir Starmer after Inbetweeners jibe
S ir Keir Starmer has labelled a Government minister a “silly sod” who will “soon be history”, after Johnny Mercer compared the party’s new 25-year-old MP to a character from cult Channel 4 comedy The Inbetweeners. The minister for Veterans’ Affairs said Keir Mather had been “dropped into” the SelbyContinue Reading
Ulez expansion to Outer London cast into doubt as Starmer tells Khan to ‘reflect’ on it after Uxbridge defeat
S ir Keir Starmer told Sadiq Khan on Friday to “reflect” on the expansion of Ulez to Outer London after it was blamed for handing the Tories a by-election victory in Uxbridge and South Ruislip. The Labour leader’s blunt intervention threw the extension of the scheme to the capital’s suburbsContinue Reading
Mental illness in fathers may increase the risk of preterm birth – new research
MiniStocker/Shutterstock Mothers with a mental illness are more likely to give birth too early, according to research. But the risk of preterm birth can also be affected by a father’s mental health. In our new study published in the journal PLOS Medicine, we found that fathers’ mental illness increases theContinue Reading
How having five friends boosts the adolescent brain – and educational performance
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock As most parents of teenagers are acutely aware, there comes a time when children start prioritising their friends over their parents. While young children rely on their parents for social interactions and influences, there’s a notable switch during adolescence, where the influence from peers and friends becomesContinue Reading
A World In Common at Tate Modern reviewed
During the colonial period, when Africa was almost entirely divided up by European powers, “the camera became something of an imperial device”, said Sarah Cascone on Artnet. Western photographers’ images told stories “about the history, culture and identity of the African continent” – often portraying it and its inhabitants as exoticContinue Reading
Best books to read this summer
It does what it says on the tin, but this novel about a romance between Sally, a comedy writer, and Noah, a pop star, “feels not only deliciously bingeable, but fresh”, said The Observer. Curtis Sittenfeld “explores the worlds of celebrity, modern dating, lockdown and Covid-19 with wit, humour and often profundity”, said The Independent. “A light-heartedContinue Reading
Retail sector outperforms expectations as furniture sellers report summer boost
T he UK’s retail sector did better than expected in June, new official data shows. Department stores and furniture sellers recorded a good month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Retail sales rose 0.7% last month, the official statistics body said. Experts had forecast a rise of 0.2%, accordingContinue Reading
Polls close in by-election tests for Rishi Sunak’s leadership
R ishi Sunak is braced for a possible triple by-election blow after polls closed in contests which will be viewed as a test of his leadership. The Prime Minister has acknowledged that holding the seats, including Boris Johnson’s former constituency, will be a “tough battle” and Tory allies have saidContinue Reading