Author Archives: OP King

Neil McEvoy said the reaction of the presiding officer was “ridiculous” An assembly member has defended his decision to secretly record hearings with the man who oversees complaints against politicians in Wales. Neil McEvoy, an independent AM, accused standards commissioner Sir Roderick Evans of sexism, bias, corruption and presiding over a “locker room culture”. SirContinue reading “Welsh Assembly standards chief accused of sexism by Neil McEvoy”

Train services between the Highlands and Glasgow and Edinburgh have been disrupted by “heavy flooding” on the line, ScotRail has warned. The flooding affected the railway between Inverness and Carrbridge. The line was closed until 10:25 when engineers managed to reopen the line, but there is a 5mph speed restriction and services continue to beContinue reading “Flooding affects railway in Highlands and A75 in South”

Northern Ireland’s economic inactivity rate is also continuing to show improvement The unemployment rate in Northern Ireland hit a record low of just 2.5% in the three months between July and September. The employment rate, the percentage of working age adults in employment, hit a record high of 72.3%. However, this is still the secondContinue reading “Northern Ireland unemployment rate hits record low”

More than 100 barriers remain between communities across Northern Ireland The number of people living beside Northern Ireland’s peace walls who want them removed within the next generation has risen, according to a survey. More than 100 barriers remain between communities across Northern Ireland. The first barrier was erected in 1969. The International Fund forContinue reading “Peace walls Belfast: Residents want barriers removed”

The collapse of Lewes Castle’s boundary wall has been described as “catastrophic” by a Historic England inspector. Rebecca Lambert said she was “deeply saddened” by the news and the group would be “offering advice and support” to those responsible for the wall. About 600 tonnes of rubble fell from the 11th Century structure into a neighbouring gardenContinue reading “Lewes Castle wall collapse ‘catastrophic’”

Zia Uddin knew where the “blind spots” were on the Kington branch’s CCTV A Primark security guard has been found guilty of rape after he sexually exploited teenage girls he accused of shoplifting. Zia Uddin, 27, assaulted four 15-year-old girls while working in the Kingston store in 2017. He threatened the teenagers with calling theContinue reading “Primark guard guilty of raping teenage girl accused of shoplifting”

Joseph McCann is accused of 37 offences against 11 alleged victims A man embarked on a series of “depraved” sex attacks on women and children, one as young as 11, a court has heard. Joseph McCann is accused of 37 offences against 11 alleged victims, including rapes, kidnap and false imprisonment, over two weeks inContinue reading “Joseph McCann: Man embarked on ‘series of depraved sex attacks’”

Top Republicans serving on panels involved in the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry into President Trump penned a memo to GOP members on those committees outlining “key points of evidence” from the closed-door inquiry ahead of public hearings slated to begin Wednesday. The memo to the GOP members of the House Intelligence Committee, House Oversight Committee and House Foreign Affairs CommitteeContinue reading “GOP memo outlines party’s plan to defend Trump ahead of public hearings”

Mr Dobson was a popular and avuncular figure in Labour politics for five decades The veteran Labour politician Frank Dobson has died at the age of 79. Mr Dobson served as health secretary in the government of Tony Blair following Labour’s 1997 landslide victory. A popular figure in the party, he left government to contestContinue reading “Frank Dobson: Ex-Labour minister dies aged 79”

The Financial Times has named its first female editor since it was founded in 1888. Roula Khalaf will take over from Lionel Barber, who announced on Tuesday that he would leave in January after 34 years at the pink-coloured financial newspaper. Ms Khalaf, his deputy, said she was “thrilled” to be running “the greatest newsContinue reading “FT sees first woman editor in its 131-year history”