Unitary district of Somerset, governing itself
A severe drought across southern and eastern England has driven reservoir levels to multi‑year lows. Government guidance prompts daily monitoring, water‑saving measures, and new investments in reservoirs as climate pressures persist.
Labour has ended local power-sharing with Green councils where the Greens back a motion denouncing Zionism as racism and calling for a single Palestinian state. The move follows rising tensions after Green members voted that Zionism is racism and Labour's ultimatum to Green groups to disown the policy.
Heritage sites across the UK are at risk as repair costs rise and funding remains tight. Ashton Court Mansion in Bristol is in very bad condition, with a restoration bill around £20m. The Assize Court in Devizes faces near £15m in costs, while the Lansdowne Monument is undergoing a multi-million-pound restoration led by the National Trust. Groundworks for Devizes begin soon, with an opening planned for 2030; Ashton Court has raised £200,000 so far.