With the rapid withdrawal of 12 B-1 bombers back to the United States, the story of the security threat to RAF Fairford gets deeper and murkier.
Donald Trump has been explicit – and also uncharacteristically restrained – when talking about why the bombers were relocated at short notice over the weekend. The President said the US had known of a “threat” that led to the removal of the bombers. US briefers told reporters that what they saw as an Iranian-backed plot had been followed for more than a fortnight, and that the threat of a drone attack by foreign agents or their proxies was serious and still active.
Meanwhile, US military aircrew connected to the Fairford base gave background briefings to that American authorities feared that a plot against the base could involve sending in small hit squads to kill military personnel stationed there.
The types of cancer with ‘concerning’ rise among under 50s
The number of people getting cancer before the age of 50 has risen, according to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).
While most cancers are still diagnosed in older adults, the charity said that the trajectory is “concerning”.
Increase in cancer rates
There have been increases in rates of , , , , , and cancers among adults under 50, the WCRF said.
It comes as figures from Cancer Research UK show that between the , in 25 to 49-year-olds in the UK .
Cancer trends
The WCRF analysis of NHS data in England compared the rates of diagnoses among people in 2001 and 2023, finding:
- Rise in number of prostate cancer diagnoses in men under 50, from 158 to 640 between 2001 and 2023.
- Bowel cancer cases among younger adults increased from 1,289 in 2001 to 2,989 in 2023.
- In 2023, 1,065 adults under 50 were diagnosed with kidney cancer, compared to 510 adults in 2001.
- Women aged under 50 diagnosed with womb cancer rose from 1.8 per 100,000 in 2001 to 3.9 per 100,000 in 2023.
- Meanwhile, women diagnosed with breast cancer in this age bracket rose from 6,886 in 2001 to 8,507 in 2023.
Expert opinion
“While is much more common in older people, it can strike at any age.”
NHS England national medical director Professor Frankie Swords urged people to see a GP for possible symptoms like a lump, unusual bleeding or unexplained weight loss. “Don’t put off a simple check-up because you think you’re too young, it could save your life,” she said.
Five theories about staggering rise of cancer in under-50s
By and large, the rising trend of young-onset cancers is a mystery, one which oncologists around the world are scrambling to try and understand. But when it comes to bowel cancer, at least, a handful of clues are starting to emerge.
Labour polling at 21-month high as Tories gain on Reform
Labour is polling at their highest rate since January 2025, according to a YouGov poll.
5 min read
New voting intention poll
The latest YouGov voting intention poll for and found Labour is taking a strong lead with voters, followed by Reform UK and the Conservatives.
What does the poll show
- 1Labour is experiencing a 21-month high at 27 per cent (+3)
- 2 is still second, but saw some losses at 22 per cent (-3)
- 3 gained on Reform, with 20 per cent (+1)
- 4 have seen small losses at 11 per cent (-1)
- 5 remain fifth, sitting at 11 per cent (no change)
Changes from the last poll
Another YouGov poll surveying 17,000 voters between 23 August and 18 September indicated a similar trend to this latest one.
4 min read
3 min read
Asos hack fears after ‘compromised’ alert – what we know
Thousands of Asos customers have been sent a phone alert saying the retailer has been hacked.
Here’s everything we know so far…
What happened?
Phone alert
Thousands of customers received a mobile app notification on Tuesday.
The notification, titled “Asos hacked”, directed users to a Telegram account.
Shares drop
Asos shares plummeted by more than 10 per cent on Tuesday as a result.
What did the message say?
The message read: “Dear Asos DPO and IT, we have fully compromised the Snowflake instance. Engage with us, or we will leak it.”
DPO refers to the data protection officer, the role in a company responsible for customer information safeguarding.
Snowflake is an online data platform used by a wide array of companies, but it is not yet known whether Asos – which is yet to comment on the incident – is one of those.
3 min read
The notification
Latest hacking incident
Asos, which owns brands including Topshop and Miss Selfridge, has 17 million customers globally. The UK is its largest market, making up 49 per cent of revenues in the first half of the latest financial year.
Snowflake has been the reported subject of a number of data breaches in recent years, including an attack on Ticketmaster which saw customer details stolen. It comes after a raft of UK retailers were targeted by cyber attackers over the past two years, including Marks & Spencer and Harrods.
Brits pick greatest ‘driving anthems’ of all time
British motorists have voted to decide on the best driving anthem of all time.
Here are the results…
New research
Drivers vote
A new poll of 2,000 UK drivers, commissioned by Isuzu UK, has unveiled British motorists’ favourite driving anthem.
The tunes
Bruce Springsteen, Miley Cyrus and Bon Jovi were among the artists attributed with providing the best highway tracks. But did they come out on top?
Top five driving anthems
- 1Hotel California – The Eagles. The 70s hit saw 27 per cent of those surveyed name the 1977 classic rock song as the ultimate driving anthem.
- 2Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen. The 1984 hit just missed top spot, with 24 per cent.
- 3. The 2023 hit from the American pop star came in third with 22 per cent.
- 4Boys of Summer – Don Henley. Another from 1984, the song placed fourth with 21 per cent.
- 5Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi. The 1986 power ballad took 18 per cent of the votes.
What else are drivers saying?
Meanwhile, 40 per cent of drivers polled admitted to singing along to tunes in the car around seven times a week, despite a third (33 per cent) admitting they have startled passengers with their “enthusiastic” vocals.
Three in 10 (31 per cent) agreed that certain songs bring back fond childhood memories of family holidays and day trips.
5 min read
4 min read
Who was ex-MP and ‘master storyteller’ Jeffrey Archer?
The bestselling author and former politician has died at the age of 86.
But who was Jeffrey Archer?
Archer passes away ‘suddenly’
Jeffrey Archer, renowned novelist and former Conservative MP, died “suddenly and peacefully at home between writing sessions” on Monday, his publisher HarperCollins said in a statement.
Alongside his political career, Archer was a wildly successful novelist, during his five-decade career and being made a in 1992.
Early life
Archer was born an only child in Weston-super-Mare on 15 April, 1940. After completing his education at Wellington School in Somerset, Archer attended the University of Oxford in October 1963.
He went for a one-year course, a diploma in education, but ended up staying for three years, just as though he were a typical undergraduate.
3 min read
3 min read
Political career
- Archer was first elected MP for the Lincolnshire constituency of Louth in 1969.
- In 1985, Margaret Thatcher appointed him deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.
- The same year, Archer also set up his own PR firm, Archer Enterprises, and in 1992 was created a life peer.
- At the turn of the century, he was the Tory candidate to be mayor of London; then scandal struck.
4 min read
Time in jail
- Archer’s political career was paused in 2001 when he was jailed for four years for perjury and perverting the course of justice.
- A jury found he lied in a libel action he had brought against newspaper, in which he was awarded £500,000 in damages.
- Archer was released early in 2003 and returned to the House of Lords until he retired in 2024.
Archer the novelist
- Archer wrote his first novel, Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less, in 1974, after almost going bankrupt.
- An instant bestseller, it sparked a prolific career as an author which ultimately made him a millionaire.
3 min read
It has been one of the great privileges of my publishing life to have been Jeffrey Archer’s editor. He was the master storyteller and an editor’s dream – phenomenally hard-working, utterly committed to completing draft after draft to get every word as perfect as possible, and a true champion of the ‘team’ nature of great publishing
kate elton, harpercollins uk chief executive
Final act
Everybody would like to run their last 100 metres at the Olympics and win the gold medal, but there’s always a time. I think the clever thing in life is when to get out
Archer declared in an interview just last week that he “shall not be retiring”. His final novel, a Second World War-era historical fiction was published Tuesday, hours after his death was announced.
‘Irrepressible life force’ – Camilla
The Queen has joined those paying tribute to Lord Archer, from her position as founder of the Queen’s Reading Room charity which was supported by the author. “While he was not without flaw, his friends will recall him as an irrepressible life force through all the many differing chapters of his life,” Camilla said. “My sympathies go to [Archer’s wife] Mary and the family at this time of sorrow.”
3 min read
Badenoch pays tribute
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said she was “incredibly saddened” to hear of Archer’s passing. “He had sent me a lovely message just this morning and was always a great source of encouragement to me personally,” she added on Monday.
3 min read
UK POLITICS
Tories pledge ‘Britannia Shield’ – how would it work?
The Conservatives have pledged to invest £10bn in a British missile defence system which has drawn comparisons to Israel’s elaborate “Iron Dome”.
Here’s how it could work, and how much the experts think it might really cost.
What is the ‘Britannia Shield’?
Air defence system
The Tories have promised to build a new UK air defence system if voted into power.
How will it work?
The “Britannia Shield” would provide systems to detect and stop incoming threats using interceptor missiles.
British ‘Iron Dome’?
But Kemi Badenoch has pushed back on comparisons to Israel’s Iron Dome system.
We are not building the Iron Dome. We are doing what other European countries are doing: Greece, Benelux countries, Belgium, and the Netherlands and Germany. We are designing something specific for the kind of threat that we face here
conservative party leader kemi badenoch
How much will it cost?
The Conservatives have estimated the system will cost £10bn to set up, but previous estimates place the cost at £80bn.
The programme, the Tories say, would be funded through the party’s plans to increase defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030 by slashing Britain’s welfare bill.
4 min read
Current levels of protection
- The UK has some existing protection in the form of RAF Typhoons which could shoot down hostile drones, but the jets cannot track or intercept ballistic missiles.
- The Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyers, equipped with Sea Viper air defence systems, can intercept missiles, but must be in UK waters to be fully effective.
- Britain could rely on its Nato allies, to some extent, in the event of a strike by Russia, but military experts have long warned the country needs a full Iron Dome-style missile defence shield.
Expert opinion
“This is a well overdue commitment to fill the void in defending Britain as global security deteriorates”
Former Tory defence minister Tobias Ellwood said: “It’s only a matter of time before a military base or a corner of our critical national infrastructure is targeted and currently, we have no air defence.”
Both the and have given clear reports and analysis about the situation. The British press has been left behind. Official spokespersons at the UK Ministry of Defence have said this is largely an American matter and referred correspondents to the Pentagon.
The official line of the UK Government, repeated overnight, is that all military airbases are safe. But in downplaying Fairford and its significance, Andy Burnham’s Government is fast losing control of the narrative. UK homeland defence, especially for military sites and strategic communication and infrastructure hubs, is looking distinctly bereft.
Smelling the political opportunity, Kemi Badenoch announced that a Conservative government would invest in a “Britannia Shield” of anti-drone and integrated air defences. It would cost £1bn a year for a decade.
Many details have still not been made public about what happened that day at Fairford. Only today, Counter Terrorism Police said they had arrested a 22-year old British man in London on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts in connection to a suspected plot at Fairford. There has also been no background information about the six previous arrests made. The men are now out on bail, and it is not clear what charges are pending, if any at all.
Trump was dismayed that the men were released – though his comments were mild compared to his usual form.
Attacks on airfields and bases by drones have been on the increase across Europe, from the borderlands with Russia and Ukraine, especially in the Baltic states, to Denmark and the UK. In early August a helicopter drone was launched at a Ukrainian transport plane at Leipzig airfield. The explosives fell off before it could hit the target, but the package of 800g of pentaerythritol tetranitrate was potent enough to have caused a devastating fire.
Hours later, a freight plane hit a drone mid-air. Police said this was a drone supplied by Russian intelligence to photograph the effects of the first drone, had it exploded.
Experts pointed at how Iranian and Russian agents had been hiring local criminals to prepare – and carry out – subversive operations in the UK. One view is that the men near RAF Fairford were being used as a deception ploy, to distract the police and airfield security, while the main action would come from another direction.
The most daring recent drone attack that is ringing alarm bells – and the one that experts use for their playbooks for counter-drone defence – is the mass attack mounted by Ukraine in June 2025. Operation Spiderweb involved 117 attack drones launched from lorries smuggled close to five different Russian air bases. Around 40 aircraft were hit, including 10 strategic bombers that were destroyed. A hostile state could conceivably take Ukraine’s playbook and use drones disguised in container lorries against our own bases.
The leakiness of defences round RAF bases in the UK was shown up by the successful penetration of the base at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire by Palestine Action protesters last year. They spray-painted an aircraft, causing an estimated £1m in damages.
One joint RAF-US Air Force base that lays bare the security crisis is RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. The Americans keep air tankers and support aircraft for Special Operations Command here but as at Fairford, they sit in the open with no hardened shelters, making them easy drone targets. If President Trump is serious about the Iran-backed drone threat, they will have to be moved.
A viewing of Sky’s demonstrates first hand the UK’s lack of preparedness to deal with hybrid threats from drones, terrorist and subversives. The series, which features former ministers and military officers, shows how the UK could respond to an attack.
The outcomes aren’t good. Local air defences along the east coast of Britain are thin, relying on a handful of short-range Sky Sabre missile systems. Long-range air defences would have to be directed by a Type-45 Daring class destroyer. Currently only two are fully operational.
In the show, only one Type-45 destroyer is available, but this was despatched to cover the nuclear submarine base at Faslane. As for the seven or so major strategic ports round Britain and the major airfields and ports, they would just have to fend for themselves.
Interestingly, two of the main participants in the series are Lord Robertson and General Sir Richard Barrons, two of the three authors of last year’s Strategic Defence Review. That document was to plan for defence reform and an increase in the defence budget to 3 per cent of GDP. It now looks dead in the water.
Whitehall sources have told reporters that the Prie Minister is unlikely to increase defence spending at all this Parliament, despite previous pledges and promises to Trump and Nato. Instead, the budget will stick at around 2.4 per cent of GDP, with a huge amount of that going to expenditure on nuclear programmes.
Badenoch’s Britannia Shield is largely fantasy – it would take too long to develop and wouldn’t be comprehensive. It is a figment of politics rather than a practical option. But with the UK dependent on maritime and air security, and with 95 per cent of our trade in goods conveyed by sea, we need to do better.
Britain – meaning every one of us – is incredibly vulnerable and our government appears to be doing nothing to protect us from these very real and growing threats. This is the message from Fairford. And it is getting louder by the day.