Author: James Whitmore

Sir Keir Starmer’s most senior adviser has dramatically resigned just hours after a cabinet minister insisted on live television there was no justification for his departure. Morgan McSweeney stepped down as the Prime Minister’s chief of staff on Sunday afternoon, catching even government ministers off guard with the shock announcement that followed weeks of mounting pressure over the Peter Mandelson scandal. The departure marks the most significant political casualty of the crisis engulfing Downing Street since revelations emerged about the new US ambassador’s past connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden had told BBC’s…

A 58-year-old man is set to appear before magistrates on Monday charged with dozens of sexual offences allegedly committed against five women and children over a 17-year period. Adebayo Adeyemi, from Dartford in Kent, faces 33 separate charges relating to incidents police say took place across South London between 2002 and 2019. The case will be heard at Bromley Magistrates Court in South London on 9 February, following charges brought against Adeyemi on Friday, 9 January. Among the allegations, the defendant faces six counts of rape and 21 counts of sexual assault. Additional charges include one count of attempted rape,…

Detectives are hunting for a driver who fled the scene after a fatal collision that killed a young moped rider in Kingston town centre. Investigators are urging anyone who witnessed the late-night incident on Wood Street, or motorists with dashcam footage from the area, to come forward as they work to trace the vehicle involved. The fatal collision occurred at the junction of Wood Street and Horse Fair shortly before midnight on Saturday, 7 February. Emergency services were called to the scene at 23:37hrs following reports of a crash between a car and a moped. Despite the response from paramedics…

Households across Ealing will see council tax bills rise by nearly 5% as the local authority rolls out a major package targeting fly-tipping, crime and antisocial behaviour. The west London borough is deploying a £3.8m investment plan that includes specialist waste enforcement officers, a network of surveillance cameras, and extended hours at local playgrounds. Annual bills will jump by amounts ranging from £51.58 for Band A properties to £154.75 for Band H homes under the 4.99% increase, which combines a standard 2.99% rise with a 2% social care levy. A Band D property – the most common council tax band…

Londoners need to earn at least £45,000 annually to afford living alone in the capital, with families requiring a combined household income of £75,000 or more just to cover basic expenses, according to new 2026 cost of living estimates.The salary thresholds reflect how housing costs now consume over 40 per cent of most residents’ income, with transport and rising food prices taking substantial additional portions of monthly budgets. Even those willing to share accommodation need salaries between £28,000 and £35,000 to live comfortably.Workers living alone require annual earnings between £45,000 and £60,000 depending on location within the capital. The upper…

British Transport Police are hunting at least two suspects who fled Egham railway station following a knife attack that left four people injured, with officers urging witnesses and residents with doorbell or dash camera footage to come forward urgently.A man believed to be in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of Grievous Bodily Harm and remains in police custody, but investigators say at least two other people made off from the scene before officers arrived. An increased police presence will remain in the area over coming days.Detective Superintendent David Udomhiaye is appealing for anyone with information to contact police,…

Four people who worked at a North Yorkshire smokehouse have been charged with fraud after allegedly selling Norwegian salmon to Aldi while claiming it was Scottish and RSPCA-assured. Charles Andrew, 59, Alexander Irvine, 62, Alex McMorran, 61, and Dana Timsa, 36, appeared at Teesside Crown Court facing conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. The alleged offences occurred in 2021 and 2022 while they worked for Bleiker’s Smokehouse. Food Standards Agency Investigation The charges follow an investigation by the Food Standards Agency’s crime unit into activities at the smokehouse, which was based at Leeming Bar industrial estate near Northallerton. Neil…

Transport for London is spending £11 million on cleaning trains as part of a major response to graffiti vandals who have caused criminal damage offences to double across the network, with British Transport Police working to identify and prosecute offenders. Thousands of graffiti tags are being removed each week under a detailed plan to address the vandalism and prevent future incidents. The comprehensive programme combines a robust security response with mass removal efforts targeting affected rolling stock. TfL revealed in December that Commissioner Andy Lord had authorized the multimillion-pound expenditure to tackle the problem. The transport body says it is…

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s specialist crime division are searching two properties linked to Lord Mandelson as part of an ongoing investigation into potential misconduct in public office relating to his ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Officers attended addresses in Wilcot, near Pewsey in Wiltshire, and in Camden on Friday morning to execute search warrants. The 72-year-old former cabinet minister has not been arrested, with the Met confirming enquiries remain ongoing.Central Specialist Crime Team Leading InvestigationThe Met’s Central Specialist Crime division is handling the investigation, which focuses on alleged misconduct in public office offences. This specialist unit typically deals…

Vulnerable people exploited by criminal networks were rescued during a major police operation that saw 300 officers storm 15 properties across Merton linked to organised crime groups, with two addresses immediately shut down to prevent further exploitation.The overnight raids on Thursday, 5 February targeted addresses where intelligence indicated people were being held and exploited through cuckooing—a practice where drug dealers take over vulnerable people’s homes to use as bases for criminal activity. Officers arrested 23 suspects including individuals facing modern-day slavery offences.Police served Closure Notices on two addresses to immediately deny criminals access to the premises and protect those at…