Author: britishbulletin.com

AFP/Getty ImagesChristopher Cash (left) and Christopher Berry (right) were both accused of being Chinese spiesThe UK government is facing questions after a case against two men accused of spying for China collapsed just weeks before the trial was due to go ahead.In September, prosecutors unexpectedly dropped the charges, sparking a political row over who was to blame.The background to the case is complicated – so here we try to walk you through how we got here and the political impact.What was the case about?Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, an academic – who have both consistently maintained…

Regarded by many as snooker’s greatest ever player, Englishman O’Sullivan now lives in Dubai with his family and is selective about the events he plays in.He had beaten 27-year-old Zhou in each of their previous seven meetings, but this result continued a great competition for China, with seven players from the country reaching the last 16.Immediately after the match, O’Sullivan was asked if he would be playing in next month’s Masters in London. That event starts on 11 January, with the draw taking place this Sunday.O’Sullivan, who continues to play a number of events in Asia and the Middle East,…

David Lammy’s plans to reform Britain’s justice system have been branded a “grotesque infringement of our fundamental rights”.Speaking to GB News, ex-Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis took aim at the proposal put forward by Justice Secretary, declaring any solution to the backlog has “nothing to do” with the jury.Defending his proposal, Mr Lammy vowed to lay out a “fast and fair justice plan that gives victims and survivors the swift justice they deserve”.He wrote in The Telegraph: “Today I am calling time on the courts emergency that has left victims of the most serious crimes waiting years for justice and…

Six people have been arrested after a cannabis farm with an estimated street value of more than £2m was picked up by a drone camera.Thousands of illegal plants were uncovered at a property in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, after the site showed up on thermal imaging footage taken by police drones.Officers raided the property at about 07:00 GMT on Monday and six people, aged between 21 and 44, were arrested.Police said the electricity supply had been bypassed as part of a “sophisticated setup” at the property. Tameside Ch Insp Tim Rudd said: “The scale and sophistication of this cannabis farm highlights…

Digital bank Monzo will begin randomly selecting ten customers each month to receive their salaries twice over in a scheme it describes as a first for UK banking. The initiative, called Double Payday, starts on December 8, 2025.Winners will see their take-home pay matched by the bank without any tax implications. For instance, someone earning £2,500 monthly would receive an additional £2,500 from Monzo.The timing coincides with the festive period when many workers face extended waits until their January wages arrive. The monthly prize draws will continue throughout the year.To qualify for the monthly draw, customers must be UK residents…

Sam FrancisPolitical reporterPA MediaChristopher Berry (left) and Christopher Cash (right) deny the charges against themSystemic failures that led to the collapse of a China spy trial could be repeated without major reforms, a committee of MPs has warned.A report by the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy said “shambolic” mismanagement led to prosecutors dropping charges against Chris Cash and Chris Berry, who were accused of passing sensitive material to a Chinese intelligence agent.Both men maintain their innocence.Critics accused the government of deliberately letting the case fail to avoid damaging trade relations with China, but the report found no “co-ordinated…

Newcastle, though, will rue the manner of that second Tottenham equaliser.On a night when Spurs had not exactly peppered the Newcastle goal, the hosts kindly gifted their visitors their second shot on target in the dying minutes.Aaron Ramsdale, who is filling in for injured goalkeeper Nick Pope, elected to punch substitute Mathys Tel’s corner but it did not clear the box and the ball looped up invitingly inside the area.What happened next felt like it was occurring in slow motion.Romero, who had earlier sounded a warning in front of goal, was given the time and space to line up his…

A Cambridgeshire school once attended by Samuel Pepys is now considering dropping his name from one of its houses after research exposed the famous diarist’s treatment of women.Hinchingbrooke School in Huntingdon has launched a consultation on whether to rename Pepys House, one of five houses at the secondary school named after notable local figures, including Oliver Cromwell.The school told parents that recent findings about the famous writer revealed “actions that were harmful, abusive and exploitative, especially in his relations with women.”Mr Pepys attended the institution back in the 1640s when it was known as Huntingdon Grammar School.He later became an…

David Lammy’s plans to reform Britain’s justice system have been branded a “grotesque infringement of our fundamental rights”.Speaking to GB News, ex-Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis took aim at the proposal put forward by Justice Secretary, declaring any solution to the backlog has “nothing to do” with the jury.FULL STORY HERE.

Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland will close 71 branches next year as the shift toward online banking continues.All three brands are part of Lloyds Banking Group, which first announced the closures earlier this year. The list includes 40 Lloyds branches, 14 Halifax sites and 17 Bank of Scotland locations.Customers affected have a few alternatives. Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland account holders can use any branch across the three banks for everyday services.It’s also worth checking whether a local banking hub is available – these shared high street sites allow customers to carry out basic banking in areas…