London news

• UK to show ‘strong commitment’ to defence amid Nato chief’s challenge

  17-06-2026 18:10 via standard.co.uk
  
  Mark Rutte has called on Nato allies to ‘present clear, concrete and credible plans’ for how they are raising defence spending to 3.5% of GDP.
  
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• Green leader Zack Polanski cleared in GLA probe over London houseboat council tax

  18-06-2026 12:53 via standard.co.uk
  
  The Greater London Authority (GLA) launched a probe after receiving two complaints about Mr Polanski’s alleged misconduct
  
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• Vacancies tumble to lowest in five years – ONS

  18-06-2026 12:52 via standard.co.uk
  
  The Office for National Statistics said vacancies tumbled by 19,000 to 707,000 in the three months to May.
  
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• South London football club handed 11pm curfew during World Cup matches

  18-06-2026 12:19 via standard.co.uk
  
  Greenwich Council rules the Gresham Sports Ground clubhouse must close at 11pm whether games are finished or not
  
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• Graham Norton wins US court case against Meta over deepfake Facebook posts

  18-06-2026 12:09 via standard.co.uk
  
  The California court ordered Meta to reveal the source of the ‘deeply upsetting posts’ including ones falsely reporting his mother’s death
  
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• London Museum unveils its 2026 opening date as it relocates to historic Smithfield site

  18-06-2026 12:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  The London Museum releases new images of its new site as it announces venue will re-open in November in time for its 50th anniversary
  
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• Church of England sorry for forced adoptions telling survivors ‘shame is ours’

  18-06-2026 12:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  The Church believes it is likely tens of thousands of mothers and babies were in Church of England-linked homes between 1949 and 1976.
  
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• Historic London church faces new threat: Sunday parking charges

  18-06-2026 11:59 via standard.co.uk
  
  St Bride’s Church, the so-called ‘Phoenix of Fleet Street’, has already survived the plague, the Great Fire of London, and bombing during the war
  
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• Makerfield by-election LIVE: Polls open as Andy Burnham seeks Westminster return to challenge Keir Starmer

  18-06-2026 11:58 via standard.co.uk
  
  Voting underway in Greater Manchester constituency in what could be one of the most consequential by-elections in British political history
  
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• Lisa Nandy ‘not satisfied’ with Channel 4’s response after MAFS rape allegations

  18-06-2026 11:40 via standard.co.uk
  
  The Culture Secretary said she will be ‘discussing this further’ with the broadcaster.
  
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• Judge begins summary of evidence in Jeffrey Donaldson sex offences trial

  18-06-2026 11:30 via standard.co.uk
  
  The jury will retire to consider its verdict after Judge Paul Ramsey finishes delivering his charge.
  
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• Nandy ‘not satisfied’ with Channel 4’s response after MAFS rape allegations

  18-06-2026 11:25 via standard.co.uk
  
  The Culture Secretary said she will be ‘discussing this further’ with the broadcaster.
  
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• Green leader Zack Polanski cleared in GLA investigation over London houseboat council tax

  18-06-2026 11:24 via standard.co.uk
  
  The Greater London Authority (GLA) launched a probe after receiving two complaints about Mr Polanski’s alleged misconduct
  
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• London Labour council leader challenged over historic social media posts

  18-06-2026 11:02 via standard.co.uk
  
  The posts which appear to have been made on Councillor Peter Mason’s Facebook account have since been deleted
  
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• How long will the London heatwave last? Health alert as temperatures to reach 31C

  18-06-2026 11:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  Sweltering temperatures are set to hit the capital for longer than a week
  
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• Plans to open new 209-bed hostel on vacant site in the heart of Vauxhall

  18-06-2026 09:59 via standard.co.uk
  
  The four-storey building has been vacant for around seven years
  
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• Major Oak dies: Robin Hood’s 1,200-year-old tree in Sherwood Forest ‘killed by too many visitors’

  18-06-2026 09:55 via standard.co.uk
  
  Death of ancient oak said to have housed legendary outlaw partly blamed on overtourism
  
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• East London council overspends by £10m on ambitious regeneration plan

  18-06-2026 09:47 via standard.co.uk
  
  Barking and Dagenham Council had hoped to generate almost £3 million in income from its housing and regeneration projects
  
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• Just 104 serial shoplifters behind 5,300 crimes in London over two years

  18-06-2026 09:18 via standard.co.uk
  
  The Met Police and two retail groups have written to the Home Secretary to say ‘too many offenders still face little meaningful consequence’
  
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• Makerfield by-election: Londoners face £1,000 property tax rise under land levy backed by Andy Burnham

  18-06-2026 09:09 via standard.co.uk
  
  The Greater Manchester Mayor has previously spoken favourably about replacing council tax and stamp duty with a land value tax
  
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• Polls open in Makerfield by-election which could determine Starmer’s future

  18-06-2026 08:23 via standard.co.uk
  
  Andy Burnham is standing as Labour’s candidate in Makerfield with the hope of returning to Parliament to oust Sir Keir Starmer.
  
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• Robin Hood’s 1,200-year-old oak tree in Sherwood Forest ‘killed by too many visitors’

  18-06-2026 08:21 via standard.co.uk
  
  Death of ancient oak said to have housed legendary outlaw partly blamed on overtourism
  
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• Makerfield by-election LIVE: Voting begins as Andy Burnham seeks Westminster return to challenge Keir Starmer

  18-06-2026 08:06 via standard.co.uk
  
  Polls open in Greater Manchester constituency in what could be one of the most consequential by-elections in British political history
  
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• Voters go to the polls to choose new MPs in two Scottish by-elections

  18-06-2026 08:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  It came after Stephen Flynn and Stephen Gethins left the Commons following their election to Holyrood last month.
  
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• Makerfield by-election: Could Andy Burnham be Labour's lucky general as he marches on No10?

  18-06-2026 07:20 via standard.co.uk
  
  The economy may pick up, NHS waiting lists fall further and immigration be partly defused as a political issue
  
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• 'Putney Pusher': Will the man who shoved a woman into the path of bus in London go to jail?

  18-06-2026 07:16 via standard.co.uk
  
  Lawyers say the sentence imposed on the ‘Putney Pusher’, if convicted, will partly depend on whether he intended to harm the woman he allegedly pushed
  
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• Call for fast-track court as serial shoplifters commit 5,300 crimes in two years

  18-06-2026 07:00 via standard.co.uk
  The Met Police and two retail groups have written to the Home Secretary to ask for tougher measures to stop repeat offenders.
  
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• Inquiry into abuse at Muckamore to publish its findings

  18-06-2026 03:45 via standard.co.uk
  
  The inquiry examined allegations of abuse of patients with severe learning disabilities and mental health needs at the facility.
  
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• England fans delighted by win over Croatia in opening World Cup match

  18-06-2026 02:32 via standard.co.uk
  
  A brace from Harry Kane and goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford sealed the 4-2 victory on Wednesday.
  
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• Warning over ‘Hi Dad’ impersonation scams ahead of Father’s Day

  18-06-2026 01:01 via standard.co.uk
  
  Busy parents juggling various priorities are being urged by Santander UK to stay safe.
  
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