National News

A Conservative MP is to stand trial charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008. Imran Ahmad Khan, MP for Wakefield in West Yorkshire, denies sexually touching the teenager in Staffordshire. The 47-year-old appeared before Westminster magistrates via video-link on Thursday. Reporting restrictions on the case were lifted on Friday. His solicitor said the …

Imran Ahmad Khan: Wakefield MP charged with sex assault on boy Read More »

The discovery of a man’s body in the sea off the Aberdeenshire coast is being investigated by police. The body was recovered from the North Sea off the coast of Peterhead late on Thursday night. Formal identification is yet to take place. Police Scotland said in a statement: “Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full …

Scotland: Discovery of man’s body in sea off Peterhead investigated Read More »

A seriously injured mountain biker has been air-lifted to hospital following a crash in a remote part of Snowdonia. Emergency services were called at about 13:30 BST on Friday to a steep rocky slope near Dinas Mawddwy in Gwynedd. Medics were able to stabilise his condition before a coastguard helicopter winched him off the mountain …

Snowdonia mountain biker air-lifted to hospital Read More »

The Democratic Unionist Party is to begin the process of finding a new leader following Edwin Poots’ resignation after 21 days as leader. He resigned on Thursday night after an internal party revolt over his decision to agree a deal with Sinn Féin and nominate Paul Givan as first minister. A majority of DUP members in the assembly …

DUP looking for new leader as Edwin Poots quits in Northern Ireland Read More »

The Liberal Democrats have won a parliamentary seat from the Conservatives by overturning a majority of more than 16,000 in a constituency that had always been Tory. Sarah Green won Chesham and Amersham in Thursday’s by-election, called after the death of Conservative MP Dame Cheryl Gillan. Tory candidate Peter Fleet came second in the Buckinghamshire …

Chesham and Amersham by-election won by Lib Dems Read More »

A recreated Iron Age house on the shores of Loch Tay has been gutted by fire. The Scottish Crannog Centre, which is also a museum of life in ancient Scotland, was hit by a devastating blaze on Friday evening. The Iron Age roundhouse stood on stilts on the loch shore at Kenmore in Perthshire. Video …

Scotland: Fire destroys recreated Iron Age house in Perthshire Read More »

Planning applications are said to be “at a standstill” in Wales due to new targets for phosphate pollution in rivers. In January, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) set new targets for phosphate pollution in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) across the country. Frustrated builders and developers say the targets have created a “complete impasse” on developments in some …

New builds in Wales ‘at standstill’ due to pollution targets Read More »

Edwin Poots has resigned as leader of DUP after just 21 days in the job. It came after he agreed a deal with Sinn Fein and the Westminster government to ensure Paul Givan became Northern Ireland’s first minister. A majority of DUP members in the assembly wanted to delay the process and he faced an …

Northern Ireland: DUP leader Edwin Poots resigns amid internal party revolt Read More »

The body of a windsurfer who went missing in November has been discovered in Sweden. Chris Bamfield, 65, was last seen at Hunstanton, Norfolk on 14 November. His sail and board were found off the Norfolk coast, but it is understood his body was carried across the North Sea. A funeral was held for Mr Bamfield, from …

Body of Norfolk windsurfer Chris Bamfield found in Sweden Read More »

More than 20,000 people logged on to watch live streaming of the opening of the Royal Highland Show which is being held behind closed doors this year. The Royal Highland Showcase – as it is being called this year – got under way at Ingliston earlier. Farmers are showing their livestock, but with the event …

Thousands log on to Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Show behind closed doors Read More »