In 2026, the choices we’ve made will mean more people will begin to feel positive change. The promise of renewal will become a reality, and Britain will turn the corner. From my family to yours: Happy New Year.

I want to be honest about how we’ve got to a place where British billpayers are paying some of the highest energy costs in Europe. Over the past 40 years, we’ve given up control of our necessities, outsourced our essentials and privatised the basics. Water, transport, housing. And of course, energy. Now the public are paying the price. We haven’t invested in the infrastructure we need. Conflict overseas has pushed up energy costs and it’s hurting our businesses and families. That’s why we need to take back greater control of our energy system. This week, I announced Great British Grid, which will speed up connections and push down bills. We’re also giving mayors, local leaders and communities a stronger role. With funding for People’s Power projects, communities will be able to build solar panels on libraries and town halls, hydro schemes in rivers or publicly owned windfarms on local land. But it’s not just energy we need stronger public control over. It’s also water, housing, transport and care. So we’re repealing the ban on public ownership of water companies. We’re building more council homes than this country has seen since the end of World War Two. We’re reforming the leasehold system so families aren’t squeezed for every penny. And we’re opening up home ownership for first time buyers who can’t rely on the bank of mum and dad. This week I also announced my determination to introduce a National Care Service, to put people above profit and to give pensioners peace of mind. Together, we’ll rewire the country from top to bottom so that it works for all people in all places. That is the only way to put Britain back on the right path. It’s the only way to put power back in people’s hands. And it’s the only way we will bring hope again.

🚨NEWS: A migrant rapist who attacked women and girls to 'Teach them a lesson not to be out at night' has won the right to be moved to a comfortable open air prison Sunny Islam, of course he's a Muslim, has been granted the right to be moved to an open prison where he will be free to come and go and be trusted to return to the prison at night Our stupid insane legal system has allowed a monster who dragged women and girls off in the night to rape them, access to the general public again. I have no words other than if we lived in a just society, he would have been hung and the people who granted him access to an open prison would be in jail. The parole board said they made the decision based upon his anxiety I honestly am sick to death of this country Absolutely sickening

Fires break out at French schools as students protest nationwide bbc.in/4rDNEip

This man is a hero. Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian captain of flydubai Flight 1073, fought back after being stabbed in the cockpit. Despite being severely injured, he managed to unlock the cockpit door - allowing Israeli passengers and the Emirati crew to intervene and save all the passengers. Together, their extraordinary courage saved 174 lives. Indian. Israeli. Emirati. Different nationalities. One extraordinary act of courage. 🇮🇳🇮🇱🇦🇪 We wish Captain Machchhar a full and speedy recovery.

Enough is enough. For years, people have been expected to put up with Avanti’s cancellations, delays, overcrowding, and a service that has failed them time and time again. So my Labour government is bringing Avanti West Coast into public ownership at the earliest opportunity in March next year. That means passengers, not shareholders, will come first. More investment, fewer delays, and a renewed focus on getting the basics right. We're putting essential services back in public hands and building a railway that actually works for the people who use it.

Hilarious that Danny Tommo pled not guilty. We literally watched you brandish a knife and stab a boat with a rescue worker on it. You recorded it yourself. He'd be funny if he wasn't so dangerous.

Let's be equally blunt Paul. A significant number of racists have been hiding behind legitimate concerns about immigration. And they're finally breaking cover.

Saudi is now on the verge of a devastating collapse. And this will most likely trigger a global famine. The Houthis have conquered Mocha, Dhubab and Hisn Murad. All the nearby islands are gone too. The entire Yemeni coastline is under their control. Now the East-West pipeline has been completely destroyed. This means Saudi can no longer export 90% of their oil. They can't export their phosphate or urea either. Amonia. Sulfur. Methanol. Petrochemicals. There's absolutely no way of exporting any of them. This is going to cut global food production in half. India, Brazil, Europe, America, Pakistan and several countries will most likely end up facing severe food shortages. The Strait of Hormuz is shut down as well. Saudi's leaders made multiple requests to Trump to bomb Yemen. Trump rejected all of them. Saudi is now in talks with Pakistan to join forces and bomb several key infrastructure sites in Yemen. Because, Saudi's economy is in total shambles. They are desperately trying to secure a $72 billion loan from the World Bank now. Thousands of Saudi forces have started surrendering to Yemen too. Multiple energy sites in Abha, Najran, Jazan and Khamis Mushait have been completely destroyed. Saudi Aramco is selling stakes in pipelines, sulfur facilities and terminals to pay dividends. That's why Saudi is becoming increasingly desperate for a large scale attack on Yemen to stop the Houthis. If Saudi collapses, millions of families around the world will starve. This is turning into a humanitarian apocalypse.

'Everywoman' statue unveiled in Trafalgar Square ➡️ bbc.in/3V2lQrO

There's a lot of misinformation flying around about the Tourism levy, so here's the actual facts: It's about investing more money in our communities. Visitors come to our towns and cities every year. This gives local leaders the option to levy a small charge on the cost of their accommodation and reinvest that money into local needs. It's local choice, not a national tax. The government is providing the framework, but it's for mayors and local communities to decide whether a levy is right for their area and what it should look like. Budget trips are protected. Because the levy is linked to the cost of accommodation, lower-cost stays will pay less, meaning cheaper holidays and short breaks remain affordable. This is part of the wider devolution agenda. This is about trusting mayors and local leaders with more powers and more control over decisions that affect their local economy.

Tommy Robinson claims he’s going bankrupt, has no assets, and can’t get a bank account in the UK. But does his evidence back up his claim?

Popped down to an RNLI base this morning and chatted to crew and a fundraiser. Was utterly horrified to hear that she had been suffering verbal abuse all morning and was visibly upset by it all. What have we become as a nation?

“No family should have to endure what ours did”: grieving husband urges MPs to back assisted dying bill as new report exposes hidden toll of terminal illness suicides.

Hundreds of Iraqi Kurds have claimed asylum on the basis that they've had a relationship with the daughter of their Prime Minister.

Fabric. St Paul’s Cathedral. Name a more iconic duo. Bringing together these two institutions will create a one-of-a-kind experience, pairing world-class music with one of our most special landmarks. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8z…

“Tokyo, Berlin, Washington. They're not having problems with their borrowing costs because of Andy Burnham.” Why is Burnham getting blamed for the global rise in debt, whilst Liz Truss is treated as a guru? @maitlis | @jonsopel | @lewis_goodall

Another U-turn after Starmer's spokesman previously said he was “going to remain” a Labour MP and serve out his term.

What if we treated Notting Hill Carnival not simply as an event to be funded, but as infrastructure to be invested in? Its communities produce skills, knowledge, networks and innovation that endure long after the last sound system switches off. That requires a very different conversation about public investment—and about who gets to shape Carnival’s future. Seeing it that way changes the question from what Carnival costs to how public institutions can better support and govern the ecosystems that produce it. Our @IIPP_UCL project with @AlvaroBarringto links Carnival in London, Rio and Salvador to develop that framework. Carnival Economics project ➡️ ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-pu… Our @NewStatesman piece ➡️ newstatesman.com/politics/so…