UK

A potential witness who was sought by Lancashire Police following the disappearance of Nicola Bulley has now been traced. Earlier today, police released a CCTV image of a dog walker wearing a red coat who they wanted to speak to and said they thought “the woman was in the area at the time” Ms Bulley

Ofgem, the energy regulator, is launching an urgent investigation into British Gas following allegations the company sent debt collectors who broke into customers’ homes to install prepayment meters. It follows an investigation by The Times that alleged a company used by British Gas to pursue debts, Arvato Financial Solutions, had forced their way into homes

The head of the Royal Air Force admitted to mistakes and failings after it was claimed that the former head of recruitment had identified “around 160 cases” of discrimination against white men. Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, appearing before a committee of MPs on Wednesday for the first time since the scandal broke last

A union leader has warned if the dispute over workers’ pay is not resolved, further industrial action “will be even bigger” and strikes will continue “right through the summer”. Mark Serwotka, general secretary of The Public and Commercial Services Union – one of the largest unions in the UK – told Sky News ministers should

A four-year-old girl has died after a dog attack in Milton Keynes. Officers were called by the ambulance service shortly after 5pm on Tuesday after a report that a dog had attacked a child in the back garden of a property in Broadlands, Netherfield. Officers remain at the scene, where the dog has since been

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has told Sky News that the British Army has “fallen behind its peer group” and “needs investment”. It comes after Sky News yesterday revealed a US general privately told Mr Wallace that the UK’s armed forces are no longer regarded as a top-level fighting force. Defence sources revealed the US general

Britain’s economic reputation has been dealt a further blow after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast that this year the UK economy will fare worse than any other country in the developed world – including Russia. In the latest update of its economic forecasts, the IMF said that it expected the UK’s gross domestic product

Scotland has paused the movement of any transgender prisoner while it carries out an “urgent” review of the rules. It comes after prison chiefs in Scotland in recent weeks approved moving Tiffany Scott, who stalked a 13-year-old girl while known as Andrew Burns, to an all-female prison. Last week, Nicola Sturgeon said that Isla Bryson,

A senior US general has privately told Defence Secretary Ben Wallace the British Army is no longer regarded as a top-level fighting force, defence sources have revealed.  They said this decline in war-fighting capability – following decades of cuts to save money – needed to be reversed faster than planned in the wake of Russia’s

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 15-year-old girl died in a stabbing in Northumberland. Police said they were called to the Priestpopple area of Hexham shortly after 5.10pm on Friday to reports that the two teenagers had what appeared to be knife injuries. They were both taken to hospital,

Passengers due to travel with Flybe have been told not to go to the airport after the regional carrier ceased trading and all flights were cancelled. The airline has gone into administration less than a year after returning to the skies following a previous collapse. Ticket-holders were advised to check the Civil Aviation Authority website

A maintenance worker in central London has died after being crushed by a hydraulic telescopic urinal – one that’s kept underground during the day and kept out overnight. Emergency services were called to Cambridge Circus in the West End just after 1pm on Friday to reports of a “seriously injured” man. The incident took place

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will dismiss economic “gloom” in a major speech today as he promises to use “Brexit freedoms” to increase growth and productivity in the UK. Speaking at Bloomberg’s European headquarters in London, he will attack “declinism”, instead saying the country is “poised to play a leading role in Europe and across the world

Sir Rod Stewart has called in to a live Sky News phone-in offering to donate money for medical scans after hearing stories from people about treatment ordeals on the NHS. The singer said it was “ridiculous” that people were having to wait long periods to get essential scans and treatment. The 78-year-old told Sky News:

The NHS winter crisis has been a struggle for patients and staff alike – but it has also prompted a long overdue and necessary debate about its sustainability and future. There are those – like former health secretary Sajid Javid – who think the way forward for the free cradle-to-grave service is to start charging

Two to three criminal cases against officers are expected to go to court every week in the coming months, the Met Police commissioner has revealed. The criminal cases are a “mix of dishonesty, violence and violence against women and girls”, Sir Mark Rowley said. He also apologised to the victims of former officer David Carrick

Nadhim Zahawi has been sacked as Tory party chairman after paying a penalty to resolve a multimillion-pound tax dispute while he was chancellor. In a letter to Mr Zahawi published on Sunday morning, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it is “clear that there has been a serious breach of the Ministerial Code”. Mr Zahawi had

A serving Metropolitan Police officer has pleaded guilty to child sexual offences. PC Hussain Chehab, 22, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 – as well as three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, and one of engaging in sexual communication with a child. He

Two British nationals were killed while attempting a “humanitarian evacuation” from the Ukrainian town of Soledar, a family statement has said. Chris Parry, 28, and Andrew Bagshaw, 48, were reported missing on 7 January amid heavy fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces. A statement issued by Mr Bagshaw’s family said the pair’s car had been

Failings by probation officers left a sexual predator able to stalk and kill law graduate Zara Aleena – just days after he was released from jail, according to a watchdog. A damning report found a catalogue of errors in the Probation Service’s handling of Jordan McSweeney, which meant he was not treated as a high-risk

An investigation will be launched into the appointment of the BBC chairman following reports he helped Boris Johnson secure a loan. William Shawcross, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, said he would review the competition which led to Richard Sharp’s appointment while Mr Johnson was prime minister. He made the announcement in response to a request

Some households with smart meters could be eligible for discounts if they cut their use of electricity between 5 and 6pm today. The National Grid ESO (electricity system operator) is, for the first time, activating the “demand flexibility service (DFS)” – which allows it to access additional flexibility when national demand is at its highest

The foreign secretary has evaded answering questions on the latest ‘sleaze’ allegations surrounding Boris Johnson to hit the Conservative Party. James Cleverly was asked about a claim that the BBC chairman Richard Sharp helped the former prime minister arrange a guarantee on a loan of up to £800,000, weeks before he was then recommended for

The Labour Party has reported Boris Johnson to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. It comes after allegations BBC chairman Richard Sharp helped the former prime minister to arrange a guarantee on a loan of up to £800,000 just weeks before he was selected for his current job. Anneliese Dodds, the Labour chair, has written again

Nadhim Zahawi says his tax error was found to be “careless and not deliberate” after Labour called for him to be sacked over his finances. The Tory chairman and cabinet member released a statement saying he wanted to “address some of the confusion” about his finances. He said his father took founder shares in YouGov

Rishi Sunak has been branded a “total liability” and “hapless” as he faced a backlash for being fined for a second time, with police handing him a fixed penalty notice over not wearing a seatbelt. Lancashire Police issued the notice after the prime minister appeared without a belt in a clip on Instagram as he

Rishi Sunak has been given a fixed penalty notice after being caught not wearing a seatbelt. Lancashire Police issued the notice after the prime minister appeared without a belt in a clip on Instagram as he promoted his levelling-up funding in Lancashire. The PM has accepted the fine. A Number 10 spokesperson said: “The prime

The father of Elle Edwards, who was shot dead at a pub last month, has said “Christmas will never be the same” for him and his family.  In his first interview since her death, Tim Edwards spoke of how his “beautiful and caring” daughter “with a heart of gold” will never leave him – as

Two retired Metropolitan Police officers have been charged with offences related to the possession of images showing child sex abuse as part of an investigation into a serving chief inspector who was found dead before he was charged. Jack Addis, 63, of no fixed address and Jeremy Laxton, 62, from Lincolnshire, will appear at Westminster

NHS leaders are making contingency plans as the biggest walkout in the health service’s history looms. Ambulance staff and nurses are both set to go on strike on 6 February – taking industrial action on the same day for the first time ever. Saffron Cordery, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, has said the

The abuse of power perpetrated by the rapist officer David Carrick is “absolutely despicable” and urgent action is needed, the prime minister has told the head of the Met Police. Rishi Sunak said he had had “constructive” talks with Sir Mark Rowley and “made clear to him – and he agrees – that the abuse

Thousands of nurses will go on strike today as a bitter pay dispute with the government continues. Nursing staff from more than 55 NHS trusts will take part in industrial action on Wednesday and Thursday following two days of action in December. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced that two further, bigger strikes

A victim of serial rapist police officer David Carrick has told Sky News how he used his job as a firearms officer to gain her trust before subjecting her to months of physical and mental abuse, telling her: “The safest place you can be is with me.” This article contains details of abuse that some