Revealed: Tory MP allegedly demanded campaign cash to pay ‘bad people’
exclusiveA Tory MP is under investigation over allegations that he misused campaign funds and abused his position after making a late-night phone call saying he’d been locked up by “bad people” who were demanding thousands of pounds, The Times can reveal. Mark Menzies, the Conservative MP for Fylde and a government trade envoy, rang an elderly local party volunteer at 3.15am in...A Tory MP is under investigation over allegations that he misused campaign funds and abused his...A Tory MP is under investigation over allegations that he misused campaign funds and abused his...
UK NEWS
Stubborn inflation a looming election headache for Sunak
Rishi Sunak’s hopes of significant interest rate cuts ahead of the election suffered a blow yesterday after new...Rishi Sunak’s hopes of significant interest rate cuts ahead of the election suffered a blow yesterday after new figures showed inflation falling more slowly than expected. Ministers had been banking on up to three interest rate cuts in the run-up to a potential November election, helping more than 1.5 million people...Rishi Sunak’s hopes of significant interest rate cuts ahead of the election suffered a blow yesterday after new figures showed...
Royal family
Prince Harry: US is my primary residence now
Editor's picks
champions league | paul joyce
City lose nerve from spot as Real extinguish Treble tilt
FIRST PERSON
Why I decided to stop smacking my children
Doctors called on the government this week to make it illegal for parents to smack their children. It is banned in...Doctors called on the government this week to make it illegal for parents to smack their children.Doctors called on the government this week to make it illegal for parents to smack their children.
SOCIETY
Generation Z have goals. They’re just not what you think
Pretty much everyone I know has put on a brightly coloured pair of Hoka trainers and signed up for a half-marathon.Pretty much everyone I know has put on a brightly coloured pair of Hoka trainers and signed up...Pretty much everyone I know has put on a brightly coloured pair of Hoka trainers and signed up...
UK NEWS
Wild swimmers versus children’s home in war over brownfield site
By all appearances, a drab 14-acre former Thames Water depot in Waltham Forest is an unlikely location for a planning battle that could determine the future of the up-and-coming area. On one side are the Department for Education and an umbrella...By all appearances, a drab 14-acre former Thames Water depot in Waltham Forest is an unlikely...By all appearances, a drab 14-acre former Thames Water depot in Waltham Forest is an unlikely...
uk news
Grandmother’s ‘blood-spattered’ coffin at Hull funeral home
A grandmother’s coffin was spattered with blood and covered in thick black mould at the Hull funeral home being investigated by police, her grandson has alleged. The family of Jessie Stockdale, who was 89 when she died in...A grandmother’s coffin was spattered with blood and covered in thick black mould at the Hull funeral home being investigated by police, her grandson has alleged. The family of Jessie Stockdale, who was 89 when she died in...A grandmother’s coffin was spattered with blood and covered in thick black mould at the Hull funeral home being...
UK NEWS
Man and woman arrested over ‘burnt body’ found at house
Police have started a murder investigation after a man’s “burnt body” was found in the garden of a home where a “highly reclusive” family live in a quiet cul-de-sac. Officers from West Yorkshire police were called to a property...Police have started a murder investigation after a man’s “burnt body” was found in the garden of a home where a “highly reclusive” family live in a quiet cul-de-sac. Officers from West Yorkshire police were called to a property...Police have started a murder investigation after a man’s “burnt body” was found in the garden of a home where a...
the times diary
Lord Byron’s island rescue
uk news
Prince Harry may have to drop The Sun claim after Hugh Grant settlement
The Duke of Sussex may be forced to drop his privacy claim against The Sun, it was suggested on Wednesday after the actor Hugh Grant agreed a settlement, claiming he would have faced a £10 million legal bill even if he had won. Harry claims he was...The Duke of Sussex may be forced to drop his privacy claim against The Sun, it was suggested on...The Duke of Sussex may be forced to drop his privacy claim against The Sun, it was suggested on...
video
Georgian protester numbers swell amid ‘pro-Kremlin’ law crisis
Thousands of protesters in Georgia had a stand-off with riot police amid a political crisis that could wreck their country’s hopes of joining the European Union and bring it back under the Kremlin’s control.
Waving Georgian and EU flags, an estimated 20,000 people — up from 5,000 the night...Thousands of protesters in Georgia had a stand-off with riot police amid a political crisis that could wreck their country’s hopes of joining the European Union and bring it back under the Kremlin’s control.
Waving Georgian and EU flags, an estimated 20,000 people — up from 5,000 the night...Thousands of protesters in Georgia had a stand-off with riot police amid a political crisis that could wreck their country’s...
Don’t vote for a billionaire, Biden urges workers in his home state
President Biden and Donald Trump are in a bidding war to win over blue-collar workers in Pennsylvania, a state that has for decades held the keys to the White House. Having already visited his home state eight times this year, on Wednesday Biden doubled down on efforts to court the working class there. “I’m president because of you guys,”...President Biden and Donald Trump are in a bidding war to win over blue-collar workers in Pennsylvania, a state that has for decades held the keys to the White House. Having already visited his home state eight times this year, on Wednesday Biden doubled down on efforts to court the working class there. “I’m president because of you guys,”...President Biden and Donald Trump are in a bidding war to win over blue-collar workers in Pennsylvania, a state that has for...
Macron TV drama tells love story of pupil and his première dame
Brigitte Macron’s romance with the teenage pupil who became the youngest president of France will be turned into a television series. The affair that began in 1992 when the 15-year-old Emmanuel Macron fell for Brigitte Auzière, the married drama teacher 24 years his senior, is to be the focus of Brigitte, une femme...Brigitte Macron’s romance with the teenage pupil who became the youngest president of France will...Brigitte Macron’s romance with the teenage pupil who became the youngest president of France will...
Police close in on ‘gang behind biggest gold heist in Canadian history’
Nine suspects have been identified a year after one of the biggest gold heists in history at a Canadian airport. About C$22.5 million (£13.1 million, or US$16.3 million) of gold bars and cash was taken from Toronto Pearson international on April...Nine suspects have been identified a year after one of the biggest gold heists in history at a...Nine suspects have been identified a year after one of the biggest gold heists in history at a...
I am appalled by antisemitism, Columbia University head tells hearing
The president of Columbia University has said she was “appalled” by a professor’s alleged antisemitic comments as she...The president of Columbia University has said she was “appalled” by a professor’s alleged...The president of Columbia University has said she was “appalled” by a professor’s alleged...
‘I’m scared’: Boeing whistleblower tells Congress of death threats
A Boeing whistleblower has described facing threats and retaliation for raising concerns about the company’s...A Boeing whistleblower has described facing threats and retaliation for raising concerns about...A Boeing whistleblower has described facing threats and retaliation for raising concerns about...
MIDDLE EAST CRISIS
Can allies rein in protagonists in Israel-Iran crisis?
As foreign ministers from the world’s leading democracies gather on the Italian island of Capri for a long-scheduled G7 meeting, they face a knotty challenge to their position in the world order. Who among them has influence or leverage over either of the protagonists in the most dangerous conflict in the world today? Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton’s admission in...As foreign ministers from the world’s leading democracies gather on the Italian island of Capri...As foreign ministers from the world’s leading democracies gather on the Italian island of Capri...
MIDDLE EAST CRISIS
Iranian leader says ‘tiniest invasion’ by Israel would bring huge response
Iran’s president has warned Israel of a “massive and harsh response” if it attacks the country in retaliation for...Iran’s president has warned Israel of a “massive and harsh response” if it attacks the country in retaliation for Tehran’s weekend drone and missile attack on the Jewish state. Israel has said it would respond to the unprecedented attack, although the United States, Britain and other western countries have urged...Iran’s president has warned Israel of a “massive and harsh response” if it attacks the country in retaliation for Tehran’s...
‘I met Madeleine McCann suspect on site used by paedophiles’
A former girlfriend of the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case told a German court on Wednesday that she had...A former girlfriend of the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case told a German court on...A former girlfriend of the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case told a German court on...
The Richard Beeston Bursary 2024
Applications are invited for the Richard Beeston Bursary 2024, offered in association with The Times. Richard was a...Applications are invited for the Richard Beeston Bursary 2024, offered in association with The...Applications are invited for the Richard Beeston Bursary 2024, offered in association with The...
Czech billionaire considers bid for Royal Mail
Biggest shareholder in Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services considers options after initial approach is rebuffed
The Labour Party is open to the prospect of a takeover of the owner of Royal Mail by the struggling postal group’s Czech billionaire investor, which is considering a renewed approach. EP Group, a conglomerate controlled by Daniel Kretinsky, revealed on Tuesday that it had made a “non-binding indicative proposal” to the board of International Distributions Services (IDS)...The Labour Party is open to the prospect of a takeover of the owner of Royal Mail by the...The Labour Party is open to the prospect of a takeover of the owner of Royal Mail by the...
Daniel Kretinsky puts stamp on Royal Mail takeover
Since the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky first revealed a stake in the London-listed parent company of Royal Mail...Since the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky first revealed a stake in the London-listed parent company of Royal Mail, speculation over the intentions of the “Czech Sphinx” and the future of the 508-year-old former state-owned postal service have swirled. Four years after Kretinsky’s Vesa investment vehicle emerged...Since the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky first revealed a stake in the London-listed parent company of Royal Mail...
National insurance cut risks worsening debt burden, IMF tells Britain
The government’s £20 billion national insurance tax cut risks worsening the country’s public finances, the International Monetary Fund has said, as it projected an increase in the UK’s debt burden over the next five years. In...The government’s £20 billion national insurance tax cut risks worsening the country’s public finances, the International Monetary Fund has said, as it projected an increase in the UK’s debt burden over the next five years. In...The government’s £20 billion national insurance tax cut risks worsening the country’s public finances, the...
Britain set for an inflation ‘soft landing’, claims Hunt
The UK economy is heading for a “soft landing”, according to Jeremy Hunt, raising the prospect of falling inflation, lower interest rates and rising growth in an election year. The chancellor, who is attending the International...The UK economy is heading for a “soft landing”, according to Jeremy Hunt, raising the prospect of falling inflation, lower interest rates and rising growth in an election year. The chancellor, who is attending the International...The UK economy is heading for a “soft landing”, according to Jeremy Hunt, raising the prospect of falling inflation...
business commentary
Royal Mail investor will struggle to deliver a deal
Lifeline for Alstom train factory with new order
The government has launched a last-ditch effort to keep a historic train factory in Derby open in an effort to ensure it can assemble the rolling stock it has been contracted to deliver for HS2. After more than a year during which Alstom, the...The government has launched a last-ditch effort to keep a historic train factory in Derby open in...The government has launched a last-ditch effort to keep a historic train factory in Derby open in...
comment
Debt is the can that keeps on getting kicked down the road
You might have missed it, but two weeks ago the government enjoyed a potentially significant budget boost. In fact...You might have missed it, but two weeks ago the government enjoyed a potentially significant...You might have missed it, but two weeks ago the government enjoyed a potentially significant...
comment
Time for more Bank transparency over forecasts, not obscurity
One night in 1996, I was unable to sleep. My wife Emma asked me what the matter was. I needed to find a way of...One night in 1996, I was unable to sleep. My wife Emma asked me what the matter was. I needed to...One night in 1996, I was unable to sleep. My wife Emma asked me what the matter was. I needed to...
Artificial Intelligence
AI ready for promotion from everyday tasks to chief of staff
recruitment
Student scholarships give an extra lift on to the career ladder
Gaining a degree is a key marker of success and social mobility, yet the cost of living crisis means that access to university is far from universal. According to statistics from the Student Loans Company, the number of students dropping out of their courses is at the highest level since its figures were first recorded. A record 41,914 undergraduate students quit in the...Gaining a degree is a key marker of success and social mobility, yet the cost of living crisis...Gaining a degree is a key marker of success and social mobility, yet the cost of living crisis...
recruitment: SIX FROM THE BEST
Here are the keys to opening up a world of possibilities
As Diageo’s chief marketing officer, Cristina Diezhandino oversees marketing for some of the world’s best-known...As Diageo’s chief marketing officer, Cristina Diezhandino oversees marketing for some of the world’s best-known brands, including Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff. An 18-year veteran of the global drinks business and recently named Inspirational Marketing Leader of the Year, here are her tips for leading with a...As Diageo’s chief marketing officer, Cristina Diezhandino oversees marketing for some of the world’s best-known brands...
champions league | paul joyce
City lose nerve from spot as Real extinguish Treble tilt
Man City 1 Real Madrid 1 (4-4 on agg, Real win 4-3 on pens)
The road to Wembley remains in sight for Manchester City. Alas, for Pep Guardiola’s side, it will no longer lead them to the Champions League final. When Antonio Rüdiger stepped forward to take the tenth penalty of a nerve-shredding shoot-out, one that had reduced some of football’s most decorated players to quivering wrecks, the final act after two enthralling matches...The road to Wembley remains in sight for Manchester City. Alas, for Pep Guardiola’s side, it will...The road to Wembley remains in sight for Manchester City. Alas, for Pep Guardiola’s side, it will...
champions league | James Gheerbrant
Arsenal up for fight but fail to take chance to put doubters on mute
In the end, it was the team making a last stand who overcame the one trying to take the first, hardest step. Bayern...In the end, it was the team making a last stand who overcame the one trying to take the first, hardest step. Bayern Munich, smarting from the loss of their Bundesliga crown, raging against the weakening of their grandeur and their grip, enduring a season so bad that their manager Thomas Tuchel is already done for...In the end, it was the team making a last stand who overcame the one trying to take the first, hardest step. Bayern Munich...
rugby union | Ken Owens Interview
‘I’m struggling to pick up my one-year-old’ – Wales hooker Owens retires
exclusivechampions league | martin samuel
Southgate should mimic City to get best from Foden and Bellingham
Gareth Southgate isn’t Pep Guardiola. And England are not Manchester City. But here’s a thought: might they try to be?Gareth Southgate isn’t Pep Guardiola. And England are not Manchester City. But here’s a thought...Gareth Southgate isn’t Pep Guardiola. And England are not Manchester City. But here’s a thought...
Matthew syed
Why won’t sports minister explain insulting U-turn over Russians?
A year ago this week, Lucy Frazer set out the government’s policy towards Russian participation at the Olympic Games.A year ago this week, Lucy Frazer set out the government’s policy towards Russian participation...A year ago this week, Lucy Frazer set out the government’s policy towards Russian participation...
THE TREND | HAMZAH KHALIQUE-LOONAT
The mathematician using data to pick the manager and set style of play
In the southern suburbs of Stockholm, an experiment is taking place. In February, Hammarby — a football club in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s top division — announced they were embracing data, statistics and mathematics to a degree never seen before.In the southern suburbs of Stockholm, an experiment is taking place. In February, Hammarby — a...In the southern suburbs of Stockholm, an experiment is taking place. In February, Hammarby — a...
cricket | mike atherton
Gloucestershire’s £1.2m losses are tip of iceberg as county game drowns in debt
It was a pleasant enough day at Bristol last Friday, with some warmth on the bones and decent cricket to enjoy at a...It was a pleasant enough day at Bristol last Friday, with some warmth on the bones and decent...It was a pleasant enough day at Bristol last Friday, with some warmth on the bones and decent...
formula 1 | molly hudson
‘Car was built using Excel’ – how Wolff protégé is fixing shambolic Williams
The biggest surprise for Williams is that driver error, rather than their own miserable winter, has shone the...The biggest surprise for Williams is that driver error, rather than their own miserable winter...The biggest surprise for Williams is that driver error, rather than their own miserable winter...
Gallagher Premiership | Matt Cotton
Bath in a panic, Saracens eye redemption – and can Falcons end 526-day rut?
Saracens v Gloucester
3pm
After a two-week European holiday, the Gallagher Premiership is back and it means business. Only five points separate third from eighth with four rounds left to play, but eight must go into four as far as the play-offs...Saracens v Gloucester
3pm
After a two-week European holiday, the Gallagher Premiership is back...Saracens v Gloucester
3pm
After a two-week European holiday, the Gallagher Premiership is back...
cycling | La Flèche Wallonne
Williams beats snow, hail and odds to become first Briton to win La Flèche
Women’s super league
Chelsea thrash Villa to go top – but James a doubt for Barcelona clash
county championship | the scorer
Nine games, nine draws – and mammoth total of 10,666 runs
A peculiar feeling comes over me as I read the results of the County Championship. No longer in control of my fingers, they take me to an online bookshop and hover over “add to cart”. I have never heard of the author, Lee J Ames, as close as this American artist’s name is to a great Kent wicketkeeper, but absent of agency I buy his book: Draw Draw Draw: An Introduction...A peculiar feeling comes over me as I read the results of the County Championship. No longer in...A peculiar feeling comes over me as I read the results of the County Championship. No longer in...
cricket
No women’s team at Lord’s – and Yorkshire miss out too
Yorkshire and Lord’s have missed out on hosting one of the new “Tier One” professional women’s teams that will come...Yorkshire and Lord’s have missed out on hosting one of the new “Tier One” professional women’s teams that will come into operation next year. Sixteen of the 18 first-class counties submitted applications to run the eight fully professional teams, which are being introduced in a shake-up of the women’s game and which...Yorkshire and Lord’s have missed out on hosting one of the new “Tier One” professional women’s teams that will come into...
Bill edgar’s premier league quiz
Who are the only team to beat Pep before semi-finals in FA Cup?
champions league | Ian Hawkey
Barcelona’s ‘worst signing’ returns to expose their mismanagement
TIMES SPORT UNSEEN
Capturing thrills and spills of Grand National in black and white
Marc writes Bradley and I have covered perhaps more than three decades of Grand National meetings at Aintree racecourse and we both thoroughly enjoyed our three days together at the most famous steeplechase in the world last week. I have converted...Marc writes Bradley and I have covered perhaps more than three decades of Grand National meetings...Marc writes Bradley and I have covered perhaps more than three decades of Grand National meetings...
HEALTH
The daily habits that can help to prevent dementia
Lifestyle does affect your brain as you age, according to the latest research. Here’s what neuroscientists say you can do to help avoid the onset of memory loss
FIRST PERSON
Why I decided to stop smacking my children
As doctors call for the punishment to be banned in England and Northern Ireland, Esther Walker looks back on the day she changed her parenting style
SOCIETY
Generation Z have goals. They’re just not what you think
The ONS has described ‘life milestones’ as marriage, a baby and a house. Ceci Browning, 23, has a different list
Food
The restaurateur who inspired The Bear — with a hot dog
It all started when a diner said the $2 snack was all he wanted at the Michelin-starred eaterie
Television
How to win The Apprentice final — by someone who’s done it
Twelve weeks of boasts, rivalries and forced laughs at Lord Sugar’s jokes come to an end tonight with the final of series 18 of The Apprentice, the business reality show that launched a thousand gaffes and various entrepreneurial ventures. In...Twelve weeks of boasts, rivalries and forced laughs at Lord Sugar’s jokes come to an end tonight...Twelve weeks of boasts, rivalries and forced laughs at Lord Sugar’s jokes come to an end tonight...
WINE | WILL LYONS
Six bordeaux wine bargains
PROPERTY | INTERVIEW
Philippa Forrester: ‘I lived in a log cabin in Yellowstone National Park’
BOOKS | HISTORICAL FICTION
The latest historical fiction: a thrilling escape to postwar Paris and more
ALBUM REVIEW
Classical album of the week: Yunchan Lim plays Chopin Études with panache
The first thing you notice is that the artist’s booklet photos appear to have been taken during last week’s total...The first thing you notice is that the artist’s booklet photos appear to have been taken during...The first thing you notice is that the artist’s booklet photos appear to have been taken during...
ALBUM REVIEW
Jazz album of the week: a five-star recording of the inimitable Art Tatum
Art Tatum was one of the most influential jazz musicians, but you rarely see an overt recreation of his work as you...Art Tatum was one of the most influential jazz musicians, but you rarely see an overt recreation...Art Tatum was one of the most influential jazz musicians, but you rarely see an overt recreation...
First night reviews
video
First night | theatre
This Dickens adaptation is so undernourished and flat
FIRST NIGHT | comedy
Jonathan Pie has glints of genius, but this show doesn’t stack up
What to watch: your TV and streaming guide
video
TV review
Tom Hollander is mesmeric in Feud: Capote vs the Swans
Feud: Capote vs the Swans
Disney+ High-society feuding and gossip can be entertaining of course, but, whoa, over nearly eight hours? This tale of the toxic fallout between Truman Capote and his bevy of “swans” — coutured New York socialite women...Feud: Capote vs the Swans
Disney+ High-society feuding and gossip can be entertaining of course...Feud: Capote vs the Swans
Disney+ High-society feuding and gossip can be entertaining of course...
Viewing GUide
What’s on TV and radio tonight
MINDGAMES
The Times Daily Quiz
Natasha Radmehr
Moan, moan, moan — because griping is good for you
They eff you up, your mum and dad. They may not mean to, but they do. My parents are far lovelier than Philip...They eff you up, your mum and dad. They may not mean to, but they do. My parents are far lovelier...They eff you up, your mum and dad. They may not mean to, but they do. My parents are far lovelier...
In case you missed it
drinks
How to make the perfect martini, according to the Connaught
It’s the simplest and most satisfying of cocktails, but the details do matter
fashion
A first look at the glamorous new Dolce & Gabbana exhibition in Milan
From corsets and crystal-encrusted silk coats, Peter Howarth is given the grand tour
Beauty
Spring’s most seductive new scents
It’s not just about florals this season. The latest fragrances are sexy too
fashion
The myth of the fairytale wardrobe
There is no such thing as the perfect white shirt or pair of jeans, or any item of clothing
australia
My eye-opening stay at South Australia’s coolest island hideaway
A tiny wilderness cabin on Kangaroo Island kicks off our writer’s tour of the region’s nature, empty beaches and a deeper understanding of Aboriginal history and culture
UK
The perfect weekend: a new National Trust cottage and an underrated county
A converted stables next to a medieval manor in rural Herefordshire delivers lamb-spotting walks, historic visits and cider tastings — and some unexpected pedestrians
video
UK
My exhilarating trip on the world’s fastest zip line — in north Wales
Our writer discovers why this corner near Conwy is fast becoming a centre for adrenaline-seekers of all ages
uk
Seven of the UK’s best secret beaches
These under-the-radar spots in Cornwall, Anglesey, the Highlands and more are big on head space and low on tourists
video
city breaks
The laid-back French city with a Spanish vibe and all-year sunshine
Toulouse is known as La Ville Rose, and you may indeed feel like you’re wearing rose-tinted spectacles here. Expect tip-top pastries, pretty squares and a space museum
Comment
Overtourism in the Canaries is our fault — we have no imagination
I was 36 years old when I went to Tenerife for the first time. I’d spent three decades avoiding it, having gobbled up...I was 36 years old when I went to Tenerife for the first time. I’d spent three decades avoiding...I was 36 years old when I went to Tenerife for the first time. I’d spent three decades avoiding...
WHERE WAS I? COMPETITION
Win a Tuscan break for two worth up to £3,000 at Hotel La Serena in Forte dei Marmi
So here we are at a famous landmark, wondering what it symbolises. “The nation’s indomitable spirit?” my friend...So here we are at a famous landmark, wondering what it symbolises. “The nation’s indomitable...So here we are at a famous landmark, wondering what it symbolises. “The nation’s indomitable...
video
UK
The secret to finding affordable hotels in London
If you want to find a budget beautiful hotel in London for under £200, then look beyond zone one. Travel writer Emma Cooke takes us to three of her favourites — find the full list here. Sign up for our Times Travel newsletter and follow us...If you want to find a budget beautiful hotel in London for under £200, then look beyond zone one.If you want to find a budget beautiful hotel in London for under £200, then look beyond zone one.
from the archive
Holiday attractions at London Zoo
announcements
Births, marriages and deaths
THINE, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is...THINE, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the...THINE, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the...
court circular
April 17, 2024
Balmoral Castle
17th April, 2024
The Princess Royal, on behalf of The King, held an Investiture at Windsor Castle...Balmoral Castle
17th April, 2024
The Princess Royal, on behalf of The King, held an Investiture...Balmoral Castle
17th April, 2024
The Princess Royal, on behalf of The King, held an Investiture...
Printable Puzzles
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
Swiss ruling could pave way for more climate activist cases
The decision that Switzerland had failed in its duty to mitigate climate change raises questions about the Strasbourg court overstepping the mark
Victory for a group of Swiss women who challenged their government’s inaction over climate change will encourage activists “to try their luck”, one City law firm partner warns. The European Court of Human Rights last week ruled for the first time that signatory states to the convention are obliged to protect their citizens from the effects of the evolving “climate crisis”.Victory for a group of Swiss women who challenged their government’s inaction over climate change...Victory for a group of Swiss women who challenged their government’s inaction over climate change...
Proposed litigation funding bill could violate human rights law
In a world where civil legal aid has been cut to the bone, third-party litigation funding — specialist companies...In a world where civil legal aid has been cut to the bone, third-party litigation funding — specialist companies financing claims in which they have no direct involvement — has become good business. High-profile claimants, such as the postmasters in the Horizon scandal, have used the funding model to bring...In a world where civil legal aid has been cut to the bone, third-party litigation funding — specialist companies financing...
lawyer of the week
Iain MacDonald on his career and fighting for a legal aid payout
Iain MacDonald, a solicitor and the managing director of IMS Law in Liverpool, successfully challenged a decision of...Iain MacDonald, a solicitor and the managing director of IMS Law in Liverpool, successfully...Iain MacDonald, a solicitor and the managing director of IMS Law in Liverpool, successfully...
out of court
Lord Grabiner KC calls for retired judges to hold their tongues
Some retired judges have become familiar voices on broadcasts or in newspapers, throwing their tuppence worth into...Some retired judges have become familiar voices on broadcasts or in newspapers, throwing their...Some retired judges have become familiar voices on broadcasts or in newspapers, throwing their...
in conversation | natasha khalique
The family law barrister turning her autism into a strength
If Natasha Khalique had been diagnosed with autism and ADHD at school it is likely that she would have succeeded in her dream of becoming a doctor. Instead, the family law specialist barrister only found out three years ago, at the age of 30. She...If Natasha Khalique had been diagnosed with autism and ADHD at school it is likely that she would...If Natasha Khalique had been diagnosed with autism and ADHD at school it is likely that she would...
comment | abigail healey
Sorry seems to be the hardest word — but the law could make it easier
COMMENT | Emma Brooksbank
We need more skilled workers, not more barriers to securing their visas
comment | Zachary Sananes
The murky methodology behind Premier League sanctions
COMMENT | Jo Delahunty
Children must stay the focus when parental contact breaks down
Ministers to water down climate change goals
Scottish ministers are to backtrack on climate change targets after a damaging report warned that they are “no longer credible” and cannot be met. In a significant climbdown that is likely to create fresh tensions with the Scottish Greens, Màiri McAllan, the SNP’s net-zero secretary, is expected...Scottish ministers are to backtrack on climate change targets after a damaging report warned that they are “no longer credible” and cannot be met. In a significant climbdown that is likely to create fresh tensions with the Scottish Greens, Màiri McAllan, the SNP’s net-zero secretary, is expected...Scottish ministers are to backtrack on climate change targets after a damaging report warned that they are “no longer credible”...
NHS whistleblower raised gender service concerns two years ago
A senior NHS doctor raised concerns about controversial medical treatments for Scottish children distressed about their gender more than two years ago, it has emerged. The whistleblower said therapies for young patients at the Sandyford service in Glasgow were being influenced by a culture which “overly” supported transitioning between male...A senior NHS doctor raised concerns about controversial medical treatments for Scottish children distressed about their gender more than two years ago, it has emerged. The whistleblower said therapies for young patients at the Sandyford service in Glasgow were being influenced by a culture which “overly” supported transitioning between male...A senior NHS doctor raised concerns about controversial medical treatments for Scottish children distressed about their gender...
Alex Massie | comment
Why must Scotland always be different?
Imagine this scenario: for more than a decade children in Scotland have been subjected to medical treatment for which there is no good empirical evidence. Medical practitioners have operated as though they are crusaders for some fashionable idea of “social justice”. In doing so, they have put children on to a...Imagine this scenario: for more than a decade children in Scotland have been subjected to medical...Imagine this scenario: for more than a decade children in Scotland have been subjected to medical...
Warm reception in wedding marquees for lambs to stay dry
Wedding marquees are being loaned to Scottish farmers to house their sodden lambs as persistent wet weather takes its toll on livestock and crops. Alastair Gourlay, of Gourlay Events in Strathearn, is offering help after farmers have warned that...Wedding marquees are being loaned to Scottish farmers to house their sodden lambs as persistent...Wedding marquees are being loaned to Scottish farmers to house their sodden lambs as persistent...
Costs for major projects ‘out of date and inaccurate’
A senior SNP MSP has attacked ministers for repeatedly failing to provide accurate information about the cost of key...A senior SNP MSP has attacked ministers for repeatedly failing to provide accurate information...A senior SNP MSP has attacked ministers for repeatedly failing to provide accurate information...
football
Rangers fold again when the pressure is on
James Tavernier’s body language said it all. Head down, bent over, hands on his thighs, all too aware of yet another...James Tavernier’s body language said it all. Head down, bent over, hands on his thighs, all too...James Tavernier’s body language said it all. Head down, bent over, hands on his thighs, all too...
SCOTTISH BUSINESS DIGEST
Digital pharmacy raises £9m: 5 need-to-know business stories
Roger Crofts | comment
Time to think again on national parks
Communities around rural Scotland are busy preparing bids for their areas to be designated as a national park. That...Communities around rural Scotland are busy preparing bids for their areas to be designated as a...Communities around rural Scotland are busy preparing bids for their areas to be designated as a...
Leading Article
The Times view on minimum pricing of alcohol: Getting the measure
The evidence on whether minimum pricing for alcohol works is contradictory, sometimes misleading, and debated...The evidence on whether minimum pricing for alcohol works is contradictory, sometimes misleading...The evidence on whether minimum pricing for alcohol works is contradictory, sometimes misleading...
Comment
We need to stop infantilising young adults
James Marriott
Over-protectiveness may be well meant but it stifles the dynamism that this country needs
KATY BALLS
Sunak’s next target is teens and smartphones
IAIN MARTIN
Blair understood our enemies — why don’t we?
JANICE TURNER | NOTEBOOK
Getting help from the NHS is like going to war
Jawad Iqbal
Stop giving visas to trouble-making clerics from Tehran
Leading Articles
Delayed Gratification
The falling inflation rate is due, at least in part, to the economic competence of Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt. But for the government the reward may come too late
Spare the Rod
The time has come to stop smacking children
Pig Out
Lab-cultivated pork sausages may finally be cutting the mustard
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Sunak’s smoking ban and individual liberty
Sir, In their classic 1950 study of patients in London hospitals, Sir Richard Doll and Sir Austin Bradford Hill reported the first evidence that smoking causes lung cancer. Their subsequent long-term study of 40,000 UK doctors firmly established...Sir, In their classic 1950 study of patients in London hospitals, Sir Richard Doll and Sir Austin...Sir, In their classic 1950 study of patients in London hospitals, Sir Richard Doll and Sir Austin...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: Ofcom publishes a report on the media use and attitudes of children and parents; the Princess Royal attends the lord mayor of London’s Big Curry Lunch at Guildhall; Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister, delivers speech to the Chatham House think tank on Britain’s economic security; the Crown Prosecution Service publishes quarterly performance statistics, including overall prosecution figures and police referrals as well as charging rates for offences including rape, hate crime, child sexual abuse and domestic abuse.
International: Members of the UN Security Council meet in New York for a quarterly debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of granting full UN membership to the Palestinian Authority; International Day for Monuments and Sites, informally known as World Heritage Day, celebrates cultural and architectural history.
On this day
In 1593 William Shakespeare’s poem Venus and Adonis was his first work to be entered in a Stationers’ Company register; in 1899 the St Andrew’s Ambulance Association, now St Andrew’s First Aid, was granted a royal charter by Queen Victoria. Founded in 1882, it provided the first ambulance service in Scotland; in 1949 Eire became the Republic of Ireland and left the Commonwealth; in 2017 the prime minister Theresa May called a general election for June 8, 2017, to deal with divisions at Westminster over Brexit. The Conservative Party ended up losing its majority in the snap general election that resulted in a hung parliament.
Nature notes
Walking under a pussy willow is a special springtide treat. On sunny days, the throng of pollinators feeding on the catkins purr musically. Even during the many cold, damp days, there will be something to hear, as lone bumblebee queens forage. Water-resistant and wearing fluffy fur, the bumblebee queens are adapted to sullen springs. Tree bumblebees are likely to be one of these chilly day willow visitors. With a ginger thorax, black abdomen and pure white tail, they are a striking sight. A recent arrival from continental Europe, they were only added to the British list in 2001. The queens nest in aerial sites: trees, eaves, bird boxes. Smaller versions of the queen, the workers and males will emerge in May. Jonathan Tulloch
Jonathan Tulloch
Birthdays today
Michael Beloff KC, president, Trinity College, Oxford (1996-2006), 82; Élisabeth Borne, prime minister of France (2022-Jan 2024), 63; Dave Calhoun, president and chief executive, the Boeing Company, 67; Lady (Samantha) Cameron of Chipping Norton, business executive and fashion designer, 53; Baroness (Frances) D’Souza, lord speaker, House of Lords (2011-16), 80; Nick Farr-Jones, rugby union player, Australia (1984-93), 62; Prof Niall Ferguson, historian and economist, author, Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe (2021), 60; America Ferrera, actress, Ugly Betty (2006-10), Barbie (2023), 40; Jane Hartley, American ambassador to the UK, 74; Michael D Higgins, president of Ireland, 83; The Right Rev Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, 66; Philip Jackson, sculptor, the Bomber Command Memorial (2012), 80; Vanessa Kirby, actress, The Crown (2016-22), Pieces of a Woman (2020), 36; Prof Sir Peter Mathieson, nephrologist, principal and vice-chancellor, University of Edinburgh, 65; Hayley Mills, actress, Pollyanna (1960), The Parent Trap (1961), 78; Rick Moranis, actor, Ghostbusters (1984), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), 71; Lord (Frank) Mulholland KC, senator of the College of Justice in Scotland, lord advocate for Scotland (2011-16), 65; Mark Porter, consultant anaesthetist, chairman, British Medical Association council (2012-17), 62; Graham Rowntree, rugby union player, England (1995-2006), 53; David Tennant, actor, Doctor Who (2005-23), Good Omens (2019-23), 53; Alex Thomson, round-the-world yachtsman, 50; Mike Vickers, musician, Manfred Mann, 84; James von Moltke, chief financial officer and president, Deutsche Bank (investment bank), 55; James Woods, actor, Once Upon a Time in America (1984), 77; Edgar Wright, film director, Shaun of the Dead (2004), Baby Driver (2017).