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John Prescott's Hull funeral draws Labour veterans as Reeves vows third Heathrow runway within a decade: Latest
Ministers begin to arrive at John Prescott's funeral
More than 300 family members, friends and colleagues have been invited to John Prescott's service at Hull Minster.
Lord Prescott, who served as deputy prime minister under Sir Tony Blair between 1997 and 2007, died on November 20 last year aged 86 in a nursing home where he had been living with Alzheimer's.
Hosted by the Rev Canon Dominic Black, the service will include singing from the Choral-Hull children's choir, made up from pupils across the city.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations for Alzheimer's Research UK.
Jabed Ahmed30 January 2025 11:16
Full report | Rachel Reeves warns Sadiq Khan she will defeat London mayor's bid to sabotage Heathrow expansion
Reeves warns Khan she will defeat London mayor's bid to sabotage Heathrow expansion
Chancellor and the mayor of London at odds over controversial plans to add third runway to Heathrow
Jabed Ahmed
Analysis | Streeting's NHS mandate lays bare the limits of government ambition for the health service
Wes Streeting's 2025 NHS mandate has revealed a stark truth about the government's ambition for the NHS.
While the health secretary has promised to deliver on the peoples' priorities, his admission that the health service will go "back to basics" suggests that this may be all they're delivering on.
Streeting's warning that the 'NHS must learn to live within its means' is hardly an inspiring message for one of Britain's national treasures – and campaign groups have already pointed out key omissions from today's mandate, such as a lack of national targets or deadlines for the NHS to implement sexual misconduct policy.
With an increasingly difficult fiscal situation – and an electoral landscape that makes improving satisfaction with the NHS absolutely pivotal to Labour's success – it seems Streeting is gambling on getting the basics right, rather than making truly ambitious reforms for the health service.
Millie Cooke 30 January 2025 11:01
Starmer sends condolences to those affected by plane crash in Washington DC
Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to emergency services responding to the plane crash in Washington DC.
More than 60 people are feared dead after an Army helicopter crashed into a commercial jet near Washington D.C on Wednesday night.
Footage of the crash shows the two aircraft collide in midair before exploding a huge fireball.
In a post on X, the prime minister said: 'I am deeply shocked by the tragic scenes coming out of Washington D.C. My thoughts are with all those on board and their families desperately waiting for news.
'I pay tribute to the emergency services for their dedicated work in such challenging conditions and I send the UK's condolences to the United States at this time.'
Jabed Ahmed30 January 2025 10:58
Labour's border bill to 'block migrants from claiming slavery protections'
Labour's border bill to 'block migrants from claiming slavery protections'
Sir Keir Starmer accused the previous Conservative government of 'driving a coach and horses' through protections for victims of trafficking
Jabed Ahmed30 January 2025 10:49
Streeting takes NHS mandate 'back to basics' in new war on overspend
'The culture of routine overspending without consequences is over', Wes Streeting has warned, as he unveiled a new, trimmed-down mandate for the NHS.
The health secretary, who said he will bring the health service 'back to basics', warned that the 'NHS must learn to live within its means'.
His new targets include cutting waiting list times, improving access to GPs and dentists and improving urgent and emergency care.
In a foreword to the 2025 mandate, Mr Streeting said the approach will put 'the NHS on the road to recovery'.
'The last Labour government delivered the shortest waiting times and the highest patient satisfaction on record. It won't be easy, but together we'll do it again', he said.
'We recognise that this will mean tough decisions need to be made and local systems should feel empowered to make them', Mr Streeting warned. "The culture of routine overspending without consequences is over."
Millie Cooke30 January 2025 10:36
Labour Party pay tribute to John Prescott
The Labour Party have said 'Today we say goodbye to a giant of the Labour movement' ahead of Lord John Prescott's funeral later today.
Lord Prescott, who served under Sir Tony Blair between 1997 and 2007, died on 20 November last year, aged 86.
In a post on X, the Labour today paid tribute to him with a video of his most notable moments in the party.
Jabed Ahmed30 January 2025 10:29
Watch | Rachel Reeves grilled on past opposition to airport expansion over environmental concerns
Jabed Ahmed30 January 2025 10:19
Streeting says 'NHS must learn to live within its means'
Wes Streeting has delivered a trimmed-down mandate for the health service today, bringing the NHS 'back to basics'.
The health secretary said: "With so many pressures on people's pockets and the public purse, the NHS must learn to live within its means. We recognise that this will mean tough decisions need to be made and local systems should feel empowered to make them.'
Jabed Ahmed30 January 2025 10:10
Watch | Rachel Reeves warns UK 'losing market share' without Heathrow expansion
Jabed Ahmed30 January 2025 09:59
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