UK

Antibiotics could be given to children at schools affected by Strep A to stop the spread of the infection, schools minister Nick Gibb has said. Mr Gibb told Sky News that the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) is “working closely with the schools involved and giving very specific advice to those schools which may

A young child has died after being diagnosed with Strep A – the eighth to have been killed by the bacterial infection in recent weeks. The latest victim was a pupil at Morelands Primary School in Waterlooville, Hampshire. An invasive form of the Strep A bacterial infection has spread across the UK in recent months,

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to abolish the House of Lords in his first term if he were to be elected as prime minister. Speaking to Sky News, the Labour leader confirmed his party “do want to abolish the House of Lords“, adding that he does not think anybody could “defend” the institution. Sir Keir’s

England cruised past Senegal 3-0 in their first World Cup knockout match, with a mouth-watering clash against holders France awaiting them in the last eight. Two quick-fire goals – the first from Jordan Henderson, the second from Harry Kane – put Gareth Southgate’s side in control going into the half-time break, after what had been

Harry Kane only has to think back to the past two tournaments to ease any doubts about not scoring so far at the World Cup, as England prepare to face Senegal in the last 16. The captain did collect the Golden Boot as the top scorer on the last world stage in Russia with six

A Year 8 pupil at a school in southeast London has died after contracting Strep A – as another bereaved family revealed the symptoms their son experienced in his final days. Colfe’s School wrote to parents on Thursday to inform them a student had died after developing the infection. Sky News understands that the pupil

Less mixing between children due to the pandemic could have caused a drop in immunity to infections such as Strep A, a leading expert has suggested. Six children have died in the UK after being found to have the bacterial infection and there have been more cases than normal this year. Most Strep A cases

There have been five recorded deaths within seven days of an invasive Strep A diagnosis in children under 10 in England this season, the UK Health Security Agency has said. A child under the age of 10 has also died in Wales after contracting the infection. Group A strep bacteria can cause many infections, ranging

A black domestic abuse campaigner who was repeatedly asked where she “really came from” by Prince William’s godmother said she felt abused, verbally attacked and “trapped”. Ngozi Fulani, founder of the charity Sistah Space, works as an advocate for survivors of domestic abuse and described the exchange as a “violation”. “I was not giving the

The Prince and Princess of Wales’ first overseas trip since the Queen’s death has been overshadowed by controversy at home. William and Kate arrived in Boston yesterday for a three-day visit before the Earthshot Prize, the prince’s environmental awards ceremony, on Friday. Hours earlier, the prince’s godmother resigned from her duties at Buckingham Palace after

Prince William’s godmother has resigned from her duties at Buckingham Palace after making “unacceptable” comments at a reception hosted by the Queen Consort. Lady Susan Hussey, 83, quit after asking Ngozi Fulani, chief executive of Sistah Space, where she “really came from” during a reception at the palace on Tuesday. A spokesperson for her godson

Labour has comfortably won the Chester by-election, the first public vote since Boris Johnson and Liz Truss were forced out of Number 10. Samantha Dixon retained the seat for her party with 17,309 votes, a 61% share and nearly 11,000 more than the Conservative candidate. Labour was expected to win, but the margin was bigger

Royal Mail workers, university lecturers and sixth-form college staff will walk out over pay disputes today as strikes continue across the country. Picket lines will be mounted outside universities, colleges and Royal Mail centres in one of the biggest walkouts on the same day. Royal Mail has warned that the postal strikes will “hold Christmas

Up to 100,000 nurses will go on strike next month in a dispute over pay. Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will stage their biggest-ever walkout on 15 and 20 December after voting in favour in a ballot. Nurses and other nursing staff will take action at half

Rishi Sunak has said the “golden era” between the UK and China is over as he called for a new approach to the Chinese government. The prime minister, speaking at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet at London’s Guildhall, criticised China’s human rights abuses but said the UK “cannot simply ignore China’s significance in world affairs”. Mr

Fifty migrants who have arrived in the UK this year have been diagnosed with diphtheria, the immigration minister has revealed, with the vast majority being reported in the last two months. Robert Jenrick told MPs that the number has increased significantly since he first gave an update on 1 November. The latest UK Health Security

Three people have been arrested after the bodies of two babies were found at a house in South Wales, police have said. Two men aged 37 and 47, and a 29-year-old woman, were arrested on suspicion of concealing the birth of a child and they remain in custody, South Wales Police said. An investigation was

The murders of two 16-year-old boys who were stabbed to death just a mile apart in London are linked, according to police. The two victims have been named as Kearne Solanke and Charlie Bartolo. Investigators are trying to trace a dark-coloured SUV type vehicle “with distinctive silver roof bars”, seen in the area in the

Health officials have raised concerns that some migrants have been moved from a processing centre in Kent to other parts of the country while suffering from suspected diphtheria. There have been dozens of suspected cases of diphtheria among those who have left the Manston processing centre in recent weeks, according to The Sunday Times. It

The head of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has vowed to sack firefighters who bullied colleagues or have been racist, misogynistic or homophobic as he vowed to take a zero tolerance approach. Commissioner Andy Roe’s comments come after a damning independent report revealed the “toxic culture” in the LFB, with accounts ranging from women being

The grieving family of a five-year-old boy who died after being sent home from hospital have told Sky News he would still be alive if they had been listened to. Zaheer Ahmed said he “begged and begged” for his nephew Yusuf Mahmud Nazir to be admitted to hospital but was told “there are no beds

Two dozen MPs since 2016 have been paid for second jobs through personal service companies they have set up, a Sky News investigation has found. It means these MPs can exploit the fact that tax rates on companies differ from those on employment, enabling them to reduce their tax bills on second jobs. This practice

The nurse Lucy Letby tried to kill a premature baby by giving him fluids contaminated with insulin, her murder trial has heard. The boy’s blood sugar levels fell dangerously low and his heart rate rose sharply after Letby intentionally added insulin to his intravenous feed during a night shift, Manchester Crown Court was told. Letby,

Ten times more people are in hospital with flu than this time last year, latest figures show. There were an average of 344 patients a day with flu in hospital last week, compared with the 31 seen at the beginning of December last year, according to data released by NHS England. It comes amid pressures

NHS nurses are to strike for two days in December in a dispute over pay and patient safety. Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) will take industrial action on 15 and 20 December across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, industrial action is being paused while pay negotiations continue. The strike ballot

Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to find another way “for Scottish people to express their will” after judges ruled that another independence referendum cannot be held without the backing of Westminster. After the judgment this morning, the Scottish first minister said she will continue to push for independence, declaring: “We must and we will find another

Royal Mail workers are beginning a 48-hour strike that the retail sector warns could cripple the Black Friday discount shopping season. The strike action is being taken nationwide by 115,000 staff represented by the Communication Workers Union (CWU). It is the latest stoppage in a long-running, and increasingly bitter, dispute over pay and the company’s

A woman who was nearly killed in a hit-and-run says her life was “ruined” and she wants the driver to get their “just deserts” – as police launch a national crackdown on dangerous uninsured motorists. Sharon Cochrane spent four months in hospital after suffering a broken leg and arm, eight broken ribs, two broken collarbones

Manchester United Football Club could finally be sold by its American owners after a 17-year reign dominated by fan protests and declining on-pitch performance. Sky News can exclusively reveal that the Glazer family is preparing to formally announce its intention to examine potential sources of outside investment that could include a full-blown auction of arguably

Energy suppliers need to do more to help vulnerable customers this winter, the industry’s regulator has said, with “severe weaknesses” found in the practice of five suppliers. Ofgem said failings included customers missing out on free gas safety checks, vulnerable customers not being offered the support they need, and ensuring those on prepayment meters are

England won their World Cup opener against Iran – following a build-up that was dominated by a decision not to wear the OneLove armband, the taking of the knee and the Iranian players’ own silence during the national anthem. The Three Lions disappointed many fans by reversing plans to wear a pro-inclusivity armband after FIFA

England and Wales open their World Cup campaigns today in Qatar amid ongoing uncertainty about potential FIFA punishments for their activism. Captain Harry Kane is due to wear a OneLove multicoloured armband when England face Iran at Khalifa International Stadium at 1pm UK time. Then at 7pm, at Al Rayyan Stadium, Gareth Bale is due

A murder investigation has been opened after a baby and a toddler died in a ‘deliberate’ flat fire in Nottingham. The emergency services were called to reports of a fire the Clifton area of the city at 3.17am today, where people had become trapped in a first-floor flat. An initial investigation concluded the fire was