UK

Boris Johnson will hold talks with world leaders this week in an attempt to bring Russia “back from the brink” of war, as the Ukraine crisis enters a “critical juncture”. Number 10 warned on Sunday evening that its intelligence “suggests Russia could be a planning an invasion of Ukraine at any moment”, warning of “disastrous

Members of NATO will not tolerate the “bullying” of Ukraine by Russia but still seek a diplomatic solution amid rising tensions at the border, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has said. Speaking on Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday, Mr Lewis said the “threats” Russia is directing at Ukraine are “inappropriate”, adding that the UK

The US and its allies will “respond decisively” if Russia invades Ukraine, President Joe Biden has told Vladimir Putin in a phone call. Mr Biden told his counterpart the US remains prepared to engage in diplomacy despite the build up of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine, but was “equally prepared for other scenarios”.

A black ex-Met Police officer whose colleagues painted his face white so he would “fit in” has urged Cressida Dick’s successor to fix the force’s “canteen culture”. Gamal Turawa, who was the Met Police’s first openly gay black officer, told Sky News that racist remarks were dismissed as “banter” when he worked for the force

Boris Johnson has been contacted by the Metropolitan Police as part of the probe into lockdown-busting parties held in Downing Street and across Whitehall. A questionnaire on the partygate scandal has been sent to the prime minister from Scotland Yard. It is understood to have been received late on Friday evening. A Number 10 spokesperson

The Home Secretary and Mayor of London have clashed over the sudden departure of Dame Cressida Dick as Metropolitan Police Commissioner last night. Dame Cressida dramatically quit her position on Thursday evening after losing the support of the mayor over her plan to reform the Met following numerous scandals. Mr Khan put the Met Police

Dame Cressida Dick is leaving her role as head of the Met Police, the Mayor of London has confirmed. Sadiq Khan had put the Metropolitan Commissioner “on notice” last week after the police watchdog published messages sent by officers that used sexist, racist and homophobic language. He said his entire trust in the Met hinged

Boris Johnson has warned “the stakes are very high” amid ongoing fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, and warned that the next few days are probably the “most dangerous moment”. Holding a news briefing with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the prime minister said it was “time to de-escalate” adding: “We must resist, we

Boris Johnson has issued a warning to Russia that NATO member states will “draw lines in the snow” over the Ukraine crisis. The prime minister will fly to Belgium and Poland on Thursday as part of diplomatic efforts in the face of Russia’s build-up of thousands of troops on the border with its neighbour. In

Health minister Gillian Keegan has apologised for continuing with an in-person meeting despite being told a lateral flow COVID test had come back positive. Posting a thread on Twitter, Ms Keegan said she took a precautionary lateral flow test ahead of a planned visit and was told she had recorded a positive result while she

A mother accused of murdering her three-year-old son has claimed she initially believed he died of an illness. Appearing at Birmingham Crown Court, Alicia Watson said she never harmed Kemarni Watson Darby and told jurors she took him to see a nurse just hours before his death. The 30-year-old defendant said she “genuinely thought he

Boris Johnson’s discredited claim that Sir Keir Starmer personally failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile is “certainly not to blame” for the mob intimidation of the Labour leader, a minister has told Sky News. Technology minister Chris Philp told Kay Burley Mr Johnson’s words in Parliament last week “did not prompt the terrible harassment and intimidation”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been bundled into the back of a police car after being confronted by protesters shouting “traitor” and “Jimmy Savile” at him. In video footage posted on social media, the Labour leader was seen walking near to parliament surrounded by police officers while being mobbed by a group. At one

Sajid Javid has called for people to “draw a line under” Boris Johnson’s use of a Jimmy Savile slur last week. Speaking to Kay Burley, the health secretary said it was time to “move on” from Mr Johnson’s remark attacking Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer over the failure to prosecute Savile when he was director

It was “perfectly reasonable” for Boris Johnson to attack Sir Keir Starmer over the failure to prosecute Jimmy Savile when he was director of public prosecutions, a minister has told Sky News. Asked on Trevor Phillips on Sunday about the prime minister‘s use of the discredited claim that the Labour leader was responsible for the

Serial killer Levi Bellfield has confessed to the notorious hammer murders of mother and daughter Lin and Megan Russell 26 years ago, a lawyer has told Sky News. Bellfield, who is serving life for killing schoolgirl Millie Dowler and two others, has revealed chilling details of the Russell murders it’s thought only the killer would

The Queen has used her Platinum Jubilee message to the nation to back the Duchess of Cornwall as Queen Camilla. In a message to the nation to mark Accession Day, and the start of her Jubilee year, Her Majesty has unexpectedly expressed her “sincere wish” that Camilla will be known as Queen Consort when the

Nadine Dorries has insisted that 97% of Tory MPs are behind Boris Johnson as the prime minister was hit with a further call to resign. The culture secretary also told Sky News her cabinet colleague Sajid Javid was 100% behind the prime minister, after the health secretary sought to distance himself from Mr Johnson’s claim

Another Conservative MP has submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson. Aaron Bell, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, said the partygate allegations and the prime minister‘s subsequent handling of the fallout has made his position “untenable”. Politics live: Resignation of Downing Street official ‘will be terminal’ for PM – as Tory MP says public has

Another aide has reportedly left Number 10, taking the total number of departures in less than 24 hours to five. Number Ten Policy Unit member Elena Narozanski is the latest aide to leave Boris Johnson’s Downing Street operation amid the continuing fallout from the partygate allegations, Conservative Home reports. Her departure comes after Number 10

Two more senior officials are leaving Number 10 in an apparent mass exodus from Downing Street amid the fallout from the partygate scandal. Number 10 revealed on Thursday night that both Dan Rosenfield, the prime minister’s chief of staff, and Martin Reynolds, Mr Johnson’s principal private secretary, are leaving their roles. It came just hours

A 23-year-old man has been charged with murder after a Canadian teenager died in a house in Essex. Police have provisionally named the victim as Ashley Wadsworth, 19, from Vernon in British Columbia. Jack Sepple, who lives in Tennyson Road, Chelmsford, has been charged with murder and is due to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court

Northern Ireland’s agriculture minister says he has issued an order to halt Brexit agri-food checks at the nation’s ports, citing legal advice. The checks are required under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Edwin Poots says he will seek an agreement from the power-sharing government on a way forward in the near future. Speaking

A two-year-old girl has been found dead in a back garden after being reported missing. The toddler was found unresponsive in Reede Road, Dagenham, east London, shortly before 5pm on Saturday. Paramedics tried to save her but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The Metropolitan Police said officers went to the home at around

Manchester United footballer Mason Greenwood has been further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and threats to kill. On Sunday he was detained on suspicion of rape and assault after a woman alleging incidents of violence posted pictures and videos on social media. The 20-year-old was suspended from playing or training with the club following

For weeks we’ve been told to “wait for Sue Gray” but as soon as her report landed it was clear that judgment day was delayed. The 12-page “update” noted failings in leadership and concluded “some events should not have happened”. But it has nowhere near settled this whole sorry saga. As Ms Gray put it

The current coronavirus situation “does open a space” to look again at mandatory vaccinations for NHS staff and social care workers, a minister has told Sky News. Health workers in England were meant to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by April, but Health Secretary Sajid Javid has been under growing pressure to scrap the rule.

Manchester United footballer Mason Greenwood has been arrested on suspicion of rape and assault after a woman alleging incidents of violence posted pictures and videos on social media. The 20-year-old remains in custody for questioning and enquiries are ongoing, Greater Manchester Police said. The force launched an investigation after being made aware of the images

A second storm is set to hit the UK in a matter of hours, a day after falling trees in the strong winds of Storm Malik killed two people. The Met Office has warned another deep low-pressure system, named Storm Corrie, will bring further unsettled weather – especially to Scotland – later on Sunday and

Boris Johnson has apologised after a version of the Sue Gray report criticised Downing Street for a “serious failure” over a number of gatherings during COVID restrictions, as he declared: “I get it and I will fix it.” A limited version of the Cabinet Office inquiry by Ms Gray has been made public, a document

A woman has been killed and 62,000 homes have suffered power cuts after extreme weather swept parts of UK – amid warnings another storm is set to batter the country with strong winds, snow and heavy rain within hours. Police said the woman died after being hit by a fallen tree blown over in Aberdeen

As an angry mob gathered outside a police station, Alison Lewis thought she was going to be killed. The former Welsh women’s rugby international, and ex-policewoman, had been arrested over the brutal killings of three generations of the same family – and a “baying, screaming” crowd was waiting for her. After four days of intense

Boris Johnson will receive a redacted version of the long-awaited report into lockdown-busting parties held in Downing Street and across Whitehall in “the coming hours or days”, Sky News understands – as the Metropolitan Police has denied it is seeking to delay its publication. It is understood the version of the findings – compiled by