UK

Jeremy Hunt is to extend a key government lending programme for another two years following pleas from Britain’s army of small businesses. Sky News has learnt that the chancellor will announce in his budget on Wednesday that the recovery loan scheme, which was reintroduced in the summer of 2022, is to be extended until 2026.

Jeremy Hunt is considering a last minute further cut to public spending to boost the tax giveaway in Wednesday’s budget. The Politics At Jack And Sam’s podcast, out now, set out how Number 10 and 11 have spent recent days finding as many different ways of raising future revenue as possible to increase the size

Some Jewish people are “absolutely terrified” to leave their homes during pro-Palestinian marches, according to the chancellor. While most people wanted to demonstrate peacefully, Jeremy Hunt told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips show there had been instances of “very intimidatory protests” and this was “not the British way”. Please use Chrome browser for

Dozens of police officers across the UK have been convicted of crimes including rape, sexual assault and sex offences against children in the three years since the murder of Sarah Everard, new data shows. Officers have also been convicted of assault, possession of indecent images, harassment and controlling and coercive behaviour since 3 March 2021

George Galloway told Sky News he “despises” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when asked about the prime minister’s speech condemning extremism. The Workers Party of Britain leader won the Rochdale by-election with 12,335 votes – more than 5,000 votes over second placed independent David Tully – and focused much of his campaign on the plight of

A man who stabbed to death his ex-partner and a man she was dating in a “ferocious” attack has been sentenced to a whole life order. Marcus Osborne murdered Katie Higton, 27, and Steven Harnett, 25, in May last year. He forced his way into the home he used to share with Ms Higton in

Controversial left-wing firebrand George Galloway has won the Rochdale by-election. The former Labour MP and Celebrity Big Brother contestant, who was standing for the Workers Party of Britain, won 12,335 votes. Labour had been expected to win the seat until its campaign was thrown into disarray by leaked recordings of their candidate Azhar Ali making

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has said his Red Bull boss Christian Horner is “probably a little bit distracted” as he faces more questions over its investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour. Team principal Horner, who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, said he “won’t comment on anonymous speculation” after material reported to have

Hundreds of residents are to be moved out of their council homes in Aberdeen after they were found to contain potentially dangerous concrete panels. Around 500 homes in the city’s Balnagask area were identified as having reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) panels following an inspection last year, including 364 council properties of which 299 are

A man has been convicted of murdering sex worker Emma Caldwell in 2005 after he was finally brought to justice despite major police failings. Former sign fitter Iain Packer, 51, was found guilty of what the jury heard was the “execution” of the 27-year-old. Emma, who spiralled into a life of heroin addiction after the

Sky News looks at the assisted dying debate from unique perspectives: Mick, who watched two friends die at Dignitas; Sue, who wishes her husband could have died faster; Michael, who has MND and opposes assisted dying; and Brendan, whose close friend Dave Courtney, took his own life. Ann was a talented canoeist. She enjoyed climbing

A brain-damaged man jailed for life as a teenager will tell the appeal court today he was pressed by police into making a false murder confession. Troubled Oliver Campbell, now 53, was interviewed without a lawyer after his arrest for a fatal shooting during an off-licence robbery in 1990. He was convicted of murder and

The ousted Post Office chairman has insisted it was the company’s chief executive who was the subject of an internal investigation, not him. Former chair Henry Staunton was dismissed last month by business secretary Kemi Badenoch who said bullying accusations had been made against him. But on Tuesday, Mr Staunton told MPs on the Business

A major retailer has moved to cut the cost of baby formula after a Sky News investigation revealed the impact of high prices on families. Iceland has confirmed it will sell 800g of SMA’s Little Steps formula milk for £7.95 across its stores and online from Tuesday morning, which is £1.80 cheaper than its rivals.

A woman who filmed herself killing a cat before putting the animal in a blender has been jailed for life for murdering a man four months later. Scarlet Blake, 25, appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Monday after being found guilty of murder last week. Warning: This story contains descriptions that readers may find distressing

Spending on Facebook and Instagram advertising by the two main political parties is more than 10 times higher this year compared to the start of 2023, Sky News can reveal. Spending on social media by Labour and the Conservatives is due to dramatically escalate through the course of the year due to spending and data

The deputy prime minister has refused to say on Sky News whether Lee Anderson is “racist” as he backed the decision to suspend him from the Conservative Party following his attack on Sadiq Khan. Mr Anderson claimed “Islamists” had “got control” of the London mayor whom he claimed had “given our capital city away to

Sir Keir Starmer has accused the prime minister of harbouring extremists in his party after a senior Tory MP was suspended for “Islamophobic” comments. The Labour leader said Rishi Sunak’s “weakness” allowed Lee Anderson “to act with impunity” and that he “needs to get a grip and take on the extremists in his party”. Sir

Lee Anderson has been suspended from the Conservative party after “Islamophobic” comments. A spokesperson for Chief Whip Simon Hart said: “Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the Chief Whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP.” Speaking on GB News this week, Mr Anderson, MP for Ashfield, said: “I don’t

An unexploded bomb from the Second World War which forced thousands to evacuate their homes in Plymouth has been detonated at sea. Around 30 of the Armed Forces’ most experienced bomb disposal experts led the “highly complex disposal operation” on Friday after the 500kg bomb was discovered on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

More than 3,000 people have left their homes after an unexploded Second World War bomb was found in the back garden of a home in Plymouth. Devon and Cornwall Police declared a major incident on Tuesday and evacuated properties within 200 metres of the bomb, extending it to 309 metres on Thursday. Plymouth Council has

The boss of the Post Office wrote a letter to ministers saying he would stand by the prosecution of more than 350 of the sub-postmasters convicted in the Horizon scandal. Chief executive Nick Read sent the letter to Justice Secretary Alex Chalk last month, informing him that the Post Office would be “bound to oppose”

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is being urged to “come clean” about whether Labour tried to influence his handling of a debate on Gaza which descended into chaos. Sir Lindsay, who is facing calls to resign, is meeting with Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt and party chief whips later today in a bid to

Police chiefs are calling for new powers to allow officers to instantly disqualify drink or drug-drivers at the side of the road. They say the new powers would allow police to take drivers who pose a risk to others off the road “immediately”. Currently, drivers charged with drug or drink-driving offences are banned following a

The UK winners of a £61m EuroMillions jackpot have been revealed as Richard and Debbie Nuttall – who at first thought they had only won £2.60. The lucky couple, both 54, from Colne, Lancashire, won a £61,708,231 share of the £123m jackpot prize from the draw on 30 January – the other winning ticket having

Patients and their families can request a rapid second opinion from April if they are worried about a condition getting worse, as the NHS rolls out Martha’s Rule in England. The escalation process will instigate an urgent review by a different critical care team in the hospital and will be available 24/7. It can be

A body has been found in the search for the Clapham chemical attack suspect, Abdul Shokoor Ezedi. Marine police teams had been searching the Thames in London for Ezedi, accused of throwing a strong alkali on his ex-partner and injuring her daughters. Police said the crew of a passing boat reported they had seen a

A woman fleeced by conman Mark Acklom has lost a battle for compensation from the High Street bank he used to steal all her money. Carolyn Woods had argued that because a Barclays staff member and a former employee were arrested during the police investigation on suspicion of conspiracy, though they were not charged, the

Wealthy aristocrat Constance Marten told police she “debated” whether to cremate her baby girl with a “bottle of petroleum”, a court has heard. The 36-year-old and her partner Mark Gordon, 49, are on trial at the Old Bailey in London accused of the manslaughter of their daughter, Victoria. The court had previously been told the

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after three children were found dead at a property in Bristol. Police were called to Blaise Walk in the Sea Mills area of the city at 12.40am on Sunday after receiving a “concern for welfare call”. Three “young children” who were found inside the property were

Influencer boxing is taking the sport by storm – but it’s also creating serious safety concerns. It consists of popular YouTubers and internet personalities fighting each other in the boxing ring. But thanks to their cult following, some of them – like Jake Paul, Logan Paul and KSI – have become the most recognisable names

One person has been arrested in the lead-up to a pro-Palestinian march in central London. The arrest was made on suspicion of support for a proscribed organisation in relation to a placard ahead of the start of the march, the Met Police said. Between 200,000 and 250,000 people are expected to gather for the demonstration

Lord Cameron says he wants Ukraine’s allies to “do more” to help defeat Russia and that together they “outmatch” President Vladimir Putin’s regime. Speaking to Sky News at a security conference in Munich, the foreign secretary said Ukraine’s partners outmatched Russia “25 to one” and that they’ve “got to make that difference count”. Lord Cameron