Author: britishbulletin.com

The government’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell made no decisions about the content of any evidence provided in the collapsed case against two men accused of spying for China, a minister has said.Prosecutors unexpectedly dropped charges against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry – who deny the allegations – in September.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch claimed the case collapsed because the government had refused to give the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) “vital information” as it wanted to “curry favour” with China.Security Minister Jarvis dismissed claims the government deliberately collapsed the case as “baseless”.Mr Powell, who is one of the prime minister’s most…

Wales’ players were crestfallen at the final whistle, glazed looks in their eyes as it dawned on them that a huge opportunity had slipped through their grasp.Belgium’s goalless draw with North Macedonia on Friday had opened the door for Wales, who needed to win their remaining three games to finish top of Group J and qualify automatically for the World Cup.But they fell at the first hurdle, outgunned by Belgium in another chaotic shootout after losing 4-3 in Brussels in June.Again, Wales’ bold approach – to press and to pour forward at every opportunity – left them exposed defensively, and…

Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman has praised a charity fun-run that banned females aged over 12 as “truly inspiring” after presenting awards at the event.The mayor posted on Facebook following Sunday’s Muslim Charity Run in Victoria Park, writing: “It was a pleasure to attend the prize-giving ceremony at the 12th Muslim Charity Run in Victoria Park, London, organised by the East London Mosque.”He added: “Over 1,600 runners of all ages and abilities participated, raising funds for 40 different charities – a truly inspiring community effort!”The East London Mosque had prohibited women and teenage girls from participating in the 5km race.The…

Reform UK is set to abandon its tax cuts of a £90billion manifesto pledge as Nigel Farage promises to reduce spending cuts instead.Richard Tice and Mr Farage still believe that major cuts in public spending are still achievable, and that the money created from there could be used to fund big tax cuts.The party abandoned its pledge from the 2024 Reform manifesto, which proposed tax cuts worth £90billion, as well as spending commitments worth £50billion.The key tax cut would have lifted the tax-free personal allowance of £20,000.Mr Tice told Times Radio: “A manifesto is based on a point in time.…

King Charles is set to oversee a “new era” as his coat of arms will now feature on all new passports issued from December 2025, the Home Office has revealed.The announcement marks the most substantial overhaul to documentation for British travellers since the launch of the dark blue passports issued in 2020 following the UK’s exit from the European Union. The new design will replace the coat of arms from Queen Elizabeth II, featured on passports for decades, as is it is gradually phased out of use on stamps, coins, banknotes and other documentation. The transition to the Carolingian era…

A beloved performer who charmed Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent has passed away aged 82. Singer Dave Betton died last month from sepsis following a short illness, surrounded by family at his sheltered accommodation in Lytham.The Blackpool entertainer captured hearts in 2020 when he appeared on the ITV talent show alongside his son Dean, delivering a memorable rendition of Frank Sinatra’s That’s Life that earned them a standing ovation.”There are certain days I think what I need is a mug of hot chocolate,” Mr Cowell told the duo after their performance. Father and son duo Dean and Dave Betton…

Chris MasonPolitical editor in AberdeenPA MediaJohn Swinney was the third SNP leader in a little over a yearA year or so ago, the Scottish National Party looked to be in deep trouble.They had been comprehensively thrashed in the general election, falling from 48 MPs to just nine.They had managed to have three leaders in a little over a year: Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf and then John Swinney.It was a rate of attrition that would make even the Conservative Party of recent years blush.There had also been a high-profile and long-running police investigation into the SNP’s finances, involving Sturgeon, who was…

Manchester United and Crystal Palace monitoring Jobe Bellingham, Arsenal and Manchester City among clubs interested in Nathaniel Brown, Chelsea’s pursuit of Adam Wharton intensifies. Manchester United and Crystal Palace are monitoring Borussia Dortmund’s 20-year-old English midfielder Jobe Bellingham. (Bild – in German, subscription required), externalArsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid are among the clubs interested in signing 22-year-old Germany defender Nathaniel Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt, but the Bundesliga club will not listen to offers until next summer. (Bild – in German), externalIf Eintracht Frankfurt do allow Brown – who does not have a release clause in his contract – to…

A council row has erupted over street markings intended to slow traffic, instead looking like “giant Wotsits”.The dispute broke out in Birkenhead after the local authority installed the bright orange and yellow road decorations, which locals say bear an uncanny resemblance to oversized cheese-flavoured snacks.The vivid markings were applied to Grange Road West in conjunction with a provisional single-direction traffic scheme and additional speed reduction initiatives implemented by Wirral Council.The striking pattern extends across much of the footpath and flows onto the carriageway in a curved formation, complemented by orange containers of different dimensions positioned above the painted surface.Local resident…

Martin Daubney has launched a scathing attack on a Labour MP after he claimed that Britons feel “uneasy” about the patriotic display of the country’s flag.Hitting out at Jeevun Sandher’s remarks, the GB News host declared that “this is the United Kingdom”, and those in the Labour Party criticising the flag are “ashamed and embarrassed” of British flags.Sharing a video on social media, Mr Sandher claimed: “I see flags painted on roundabouts, and that is just a bit weird. And, you know, you’ve seen it online and I see it in my inbox, that this does make people feel uneasy.…