National News

Thousands of Israelis led by at least seven Cabinet ministers marched to an evacuated West Bank settlement on Monday, in a defiant signal that Israel’s most right-wing government in history is determined to accelerate settlement building on occupied lands despite international opposition. The march took place as the Palestinian Health Ministry said a 15-year-old boy was killed by Israeli fire during an army raid in the occupied West Bank, while

The majority of voters believe political leaders do not display enough compassion, research has suggested as Labour comes under criticism for its attack advert on Rishi Sunak. Some 57% believe leading politicians should show more compassion, compared with 9% who say they are already too compassionate, according to a survey. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer defied calls to withdraw Labour’s campaign accusing the Prime Minister of not thinking child sex abusers

Sir Keir Starmer has defied critics of Labour’s attack advert accusing Rishi Sunak of not wanting child sex abusers to go to jail by saying he stands by “every word”. The Labour leader said he makes “absolutely zero apologies” for the campaign that has provoked anger within his own party regardless of how “squeamish” it makes people. Amid frontbench unease, senior figures including former home secretary Lord David Blunkett called

The King led a group of senior royals to the Easter Mattins at St George's Chapel The King, Queen Consort and other senior royals have attended St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for the first Easter Sunday service of Charles’s reign. The royal family were out in force in the grounds of the castle, enjoying the bright spring sunshine ahead of the morning service. Charles and Camilla arrived wearing matching

Professor Sir Stephen Powis says he's 'very concerned' about the potential impact on patients Four days of strikes by junior doctors next week will cause “unparalleled levels of disruption”, the NHS national medical director has warned. Professor Sir Stephen Powis said he was “very concerned” about the potential severity of the impact on patients, with hospitals facing nearly 100 hours without up to half of their medical workforce. Up to a quarter

The US President will take part in events to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement Rishi Sunak is focusing on fulfilling the promise of the Good Friday Agreement as he prepares to host Joe Biden in Northern Ireland to mark 25 years of the peace deal. The Prime Minister said “making good” on the pledge of a “better future” for the nation is first and foremost on his mind ahead of

The NASUWT teaching union polled almost 8,500 teachers last month More than one in 10 teachers have been physically assaulted by a pupil in the last year, a survey suggests. Nearly half (48%) of teachers surveyed said they do not feel that their school’s behaviour policy is effective and “fit for purpose”, according to a poll by the NASUWT teaching union. The survey, of 8,466 NASUWT members in the UK in March, suggests that

Labour has accused the Conservatives of handing nearly 4,000 rapists “shockingly short” jail terms, as the party continued to attack personally Rishi Sunak’s handling of sentencing. Sir Keir Starmer’s party was defying criticism over claims in its attack adverts that the Prime Minister does not think child sex abusers should go to prison. Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry defended the campaign as she said the many critics, including those who

The Archbishop of Canterbury will use his Easter sermons to warn that “those who oppress and subjugate others will face divine justice”. Justin Welby will tell Canterbury Cathedral that while “cruel and oppressive rulers” may look as though they are only becoming stronger, they will “vanish”. The sermons will take place at 8.10am and 11am. “Cruel and oppressive rulers might look as though they only get stronger,” he will say.