UK News

Published: 04 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A UK watchdog has revealed a dramatic sevenfold rise in serious incidents at Gatwick immigration detention centre during 2024, raising significant concerns over detainee safety. According to a report by the independent monitoring board, there were 28 serious incidents recorded last year, compared to only four in 2023, marking a concerning escalation. These incidents included large-scale protests and...

Published: 04 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Refugee homelessness in the UK has grown sharply, with new reports showing significantly worsening conditions. A leading charity states that homelessness among refugees has more than doubled in two years nationwide. The situation reflects mounting pressure caused by rapid policy changes that continue affecting vulnerable communities. Many refugees now struggle to access essential services due to persistent system...

Published: 03 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Thames Water, the UK’s largest water and wastewater provider, is edging ever closer to a critical deadline as it struggles to secure a major rescue deal needed to stabilise its finances. The company, burdened by nearly £20bn of debt, has warned that it has already spent £1.43bn of the £1.5bn emergency funding package it received, with the remaining...

Published: 03 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal a significant shift in the way people in England are reaching out to their GP surgeries. For the first time, a higher proportion of patients are now contacting their GPs online rather than by phone. Between 16 September and 9 October, just over 43% of people used online...

Published: 03 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK government has delayed its long-awaited decision on China’s proposed super-embassy until January, extending a complex and politically sensitive process that has drawn significant attention in London. Officials believe the final approval will align with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s expected visit to Beijing, where he aims to rebuild a balanced and stable relationship with Chinese leaders. The...

Published: 02 December 2025 Tuesday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The Irish government is set to approve an additional €125m (£110m) in support for Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Dublin for his first official visit to the Republic of Ireland. Zelensky, accompanied by Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, landed at Dublin Airport on Tuesday morning, where they were welcomed on the runway by Taoiseach Micheál...

Published: 02 December 2025 Tuesday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Thousands of households in Kent and East Sussex remain without water for a fourth day following a problem at Pembury Water Treatment Works. South East Water (SEW) apologised after up to 24,000 customers in Tunbridge Wells, Pembury, Frant, and Eridge experienced either a complete loss of water or low pressure since Saturday. The disruption has forced some...

Published: 02 December 2025 Tuesday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Justice Secretary David Lammy has revealed that 12 prisoners have been accidentally released over the past three weeks, with two still at large. This follows a previous wave of 91 accidental releases between April and October. Speaking to the BBC, Lammy acknowledged that while prisons continue to operate on a paper-based system, “human error” is inevitable. He...

Published: 1 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Good news for anyone who feels their blood pressure spike while scrolling online: the Oxford English Dictionary’s publisher has announced the term that might perfectly capture this sensation. “Rage bait” has been named the Oxford University Press’ word of the year, reflecting a significant cultural shift in the way online content interacts with audiences. According to the Oxford...

Published: 01 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Virgin Media has been fined £23.8m after Ofcom concluded the company put thousands of vulnerable customers at risk during its transition from analogue to digital landline services. The regulator said the failures directly endangered people dependent on telecare alarms, which allow elderly and disabled individuals to call for help during emergencies. The penalty marks one of the most...