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 the Radio News Hub website. You can hear the latest national news every hour on the radio station.

• Inflation jumps to highest level for nearly 18 months as food prices rise again

  UK inflation rose to a near 18-month high in June as food prices surged for the third month running, according to official figures.

• Former defence secretary makes no apology for Afghan injunction

  The former Conservative defence secretary who applied for an injunction blocking reporting about the Afghan data leak has said he makes “no apology”.

• This is not a fulfilling life Scottie Scheffler questions why he chases majors

  Long-time world number one Scottie Scheffler is chasing his second major of the year and fourth of his career at Royal Portrush but admits every day he questions why.

• Britain cannot grow without fighting fit finance sector Rachel Reeves says

  Chancellor Rachel Reeves has told City bosses that Britain cannot meet its growth ambitions without a “fighting fit and thriving” finance sector, as she urged regulators to resist “excessive caution”.

• Two men who cut down Sycamore Gap tree jailed for more than four years

  The two men who cut down the famous tree at Sycamore Gap out of “sheer bravado” have each been jailed for four years and three months.

• Thousands being relocated to UK after personal data leak of Afghans

  Thousands of people are being relocated to the UK as part of a secret £850 million scheme set up after a personal data leak of Afghans who supported British forces, it can now be reported.

• Thames Water sinks to 16bn loss as debt mountain balloons

  Troubled Thames Water has revealed it slumped to a £1.65 billion annual loss and saw its mammoth debt mountain balloon higher.

• Reeves hails instant impact for aspiring homeowners as red tape is cut

  First-time buyers are set to see an “instant impact” from the drive to kickstart economic growth, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to say.

• Grants for new electric cars to be reintroduced

  Grants for new electric cars are being reintroduced after being scrapped in June 2022, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.

• Council overspend on social care highest in decade amid warning over NHS plan

  Recent overspend by councils in England on their adult social care budgets was the highest in a decade, according to a major survey.