National News

Here are the latest stories from the team at Radio News Hub. The links will open in a new page and take you to their website.

• Morgan McSweeney steps down as Keir Starmers chief of staff amid Mandelson row

  Morgan McSweeney has resigned as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff after coming under fire in the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal.

• Trumps racist post about Obamas deleted after backlash

  Donald Trump’s social media post featuring a video about election conspiracy theories and a racist depiction of former president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, as primates in a jungle has been deleted.

• Julia Donaldson on new book Gruffalo Granny Im a big fan of grandmotherhood

  Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson has said it is “quite a relief” sharing the news of the third book with the world, adding the upcoming Gruffalo Granny reflects the fact she is a “big fan of grandmotherhood”.

• Beavers to be released at two sites in South West

  Beavers are set to be released at two sites in south-west England as part of efforts to reintroduce the species into the wild.

• Serial killer Steve Wright jailed for 1999 teenagers murder

  Suffolk strangler Steve Wright has been told he will die in jail after being brought to justice for the abduction and murder of schoolgirl Victoria Hall more than 25 years ago.

• No end in sight after parts of UK see rain every day so far in 2026

  “There’s no end in sight”, forecasters have said after announcing rain has fallen every day of 2026 in south-west England and South Wales.

• UKHSA reports 36 notifications of baby formula cereulide poisoning

  There have been 36 clinical reports of children suffering symptoms consistent with toxin poisoning linked to recent baby formula recalls, the UK Health Security Agency has said.

• Autism rates could be comparable between men and women study shows

  Diagnosis rates of autism are “more or less equal for men and women”, a new study suggests.

• Criminals using AI to clone voices and set up direct debits

  Criminals are using AI to clone people’s voices and set up unauthorised direct debits over the phone, National Trading Standards (NTS) has warned.

• MPs back release of files on Mandelson appointment as US ambassador

  MPs have approved the release of documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as British ambassador to the United States.

• Testing period blood for cervical cancer could be new screening method

  Testing period blood for signs of cervical cancer could be a new, accurate way of screening for the disease, researchers say.

• Peter Mandelson betrayed our country Starmer tells MPs

  Peter Mandelson “betrayed our country” by leaking information to Jeffrey Epstein, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said.

• Starmer says he will still be Prime Minister this time next year

  Sir Keir Starmer has said he will still be Prime Minister this time next year, insisting frequent leadership changes are not in the “national interest” as he vowed to take the fight to Reform UK.

• Very serious incident at university campus closes roads in city

  A “very serious incident” has occurred at a Leicestershire university campus.

• Snooker great John Virgo dies aged 79

  Snooker great John Virgo has died at the age of 79.

• Kates needlework praised in woollen mill visit

  The Princess of Wales stitched a label into a pair of jeans gifted to her husband and declared: “He will love those,” as she celebrated Wales’ textiles industry.

• Justice shake up proposed by former senior judge to tackle courts crisis

  The Prime Minister should take charge of the courts crisis in a radical shake-up of the criminal justice system, a retired senior judge has recommended.

• Andrew Mountbatten Windsor moves out of Windsor home

  Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has moved from his Windsor mansion amid the release of new files relating to Jeffrey Epstein.

• Peter Mandelson to face criminal investigation amid Jeffrey Epstein scandal

  A criminal investigation has been launched into allegations Lord Peter Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

• Lord Dubs calls for Shamima Begum to return and face justice amid ECHR case

  Lord Alf Dubs, who fled Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia on the Kinderstransport scheme, has called for Shamima Begum to be returned to the UK and face trial.

• Doctors vote in favour of continuing industrial action

  Resident doctors in England have voted to continue industrial action for another six months as part of their row over pay and jobs.

• Children with cancer to have travel costs paid under new Government scheme

  Families with children who have cancer will have travel costs covered under a new £10 million Government scheme.

• Time has come for Mandelson to face criminal prosecutions say Labour MPs

  Senior Labour MPs have called for Lord Mandelson to face criminal prosecution after he was alleged to have leaked sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein.

• Too many red flags Parents of murdered boy say school could have saved him

  The parents of a schoolboy who was stabbed to death by a fellow pupil during his lunch break said they believe the school could have saved his life by acting on “too many red flags” shown by his killer.

• The Traitors Stephen Libby hopes he has painted good picture of Hebrides

  The Traitors star Stephen has said that he hopes he has been a “positive representation” of the Hebrides and that his time on the show has helped “paint a good picture” of the Western Isles.