UK

Pontins discriminated against Travellers by drawing up a list of “undesirable” Irish surnames, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has found. The holiday camp operator committed “flagrant breaches of the Equality Act” according to the EHRC, which investigated after a whistleblower revealed the practice in 2020. Pontins, owned by Britannia Jinky Jersey Ltd, was

Labour has taken Kingswood from the Conservatives, in another by-election victory for Sir Keir Starmer’s party. Damian Egan won 11,176 votes, while Tory candidate Sam Bromiley polled 8,675 votes, giving Labour a majority of 2,501. The seat in Gloucestershire had been held by Tory MP Chris Skidmore since 2010, but he quit in January in

A mechanic who helped run one of the dark web’s biggest child sexual abuse sites has been jailed for 16 years after he was convicted under organised crime laws in the first case of its kind. Nathan Bake, a 28-year-old tyre fitter from Runcorn, Cheshire, was the head moderator and second in command of The

DJ Steve Wright, a presenter on BBC radio stations, has died. Wright, who was 69, presented for BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 for more than four decades. He was last on air on Sunday. His family confirmed his death “with deep sorrow and profound regret” in a statement on Tuesday. This breaking news story

Sir Keir Starmer has claimed he took “decisive action” in withdrawing support from Labour’s candidate for the Rochdale by-election, after it was alleged Azhar Ali had made antisemitic remarks at a party meeting. Shadow ministers initially stood by the councillor after his comments were published by the Daily Mail – saying Israel had deliberately allowed

The Labour Party has withdrawn support for its candidate in the Rochdale by-election after receiving an official complaint over his “antisemitic” remarks. It is understood that Azhar Ali has also been suspended from the party pending an investigation. A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to

The manhunt for the Clapham chemical attack suspect continues after police found two “unexpected” bodies in the River Thames while searching for him. Marine police teams have been looking for Abdul Ezedi – accused of throwing a strong alkali on his ex-partner and injuring her daughters, aged three and eight – in an area around

Four boys aged between 12 and 14 have been arrested on suspicion of rape in Rochdale. Police were called to reports of a rape in Newbold at around 6pm on Saturday, Greater Manchester Police said. Four suspects, aged 12, 13, 14, and 14, were arrested and remain in police custody. The victim is being supported

A smiling King Charles has attended church in Sandringham for the first time since his cancer diagnosis was announced. The 75-year-old monarch was seen arriving for the service in Norfolk on Sunday morning – a day after thanking supporters for their wishes following his cancer diagnosis. The King briefly waved as he walked up to

The King has made his first statement since being diagnosed with cancer, using it to give his “heartfelt thanks” to the public for their “comfort and encouragement”. In a message, written from Sandringham in Norfolk, King Charles said: “I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good

Police have started searching the River Thames for the body of chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi. The Metropolitan Police said boats were out searching by 9am and would shortly be approaching from the east of Chelsea Bridge. Detectives said on Friday they believed Azedi was dead after CCTV showed him leaning over the railings of

The Clapham chemical attack suspect is most likely dead, police say, as they plan to search the River Thames for his body. Abdul Ezedi, who went on the run more than a week ago, was believed to have “gone in the water” a few hours after the violent incident in south London on Wednesday 31

Prince Harry and the publisher of the Daily Mirror newspaper have settled the remainder of his hacking claim against them. It follows a High Court judge’s ruling in December that phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers was carried out from 1996 to 2011, and was “widespread and habitual” from 1998. Judge Timothy Fancourt also said

Up to 25cm of snow is forecast in parts of England and Wales for Thursday, according to the Met Office. There are two amber weather warnings in place for snow and ice, and five yellow weather warnings for rain, snow and ice across the UK on Thursday, some of which carry over to Friday. The

The father of murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey has demanded an apology from Rishi Sunak, saying he was “disgusted” with the prime minister’s comments in the Commons today. Speaking to Sky News, Peter Spooner said Mr Sunak’s remarks during PMQs, which the schoolgirl’s mother Esther attended, were “degrading” and “absolutely dehumanising”. He said: “As the

A plot to kidnap a child was being hatched in a Portuguese holiday resort a week before Madeleine McCann vanished there, Sky News has been told. Expat Ken Ralphs said that Christian B, the German drifter suspected of abducting Madeleine, tried to recruit a mutual friend to help find a youngster to sell to a

Rishi Sunak has been criticised for aiming a political jibe about transgender people at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer – while Brianna Ghey’s mother Esther attended PMQs. In Prime Minister’s Questions, his weekly showdown with MPs and the leader of the opposition, Mr Sunak said the Labour leader had broken promises on “defining a woman”.

The King has appeared in public for the first time since his cancer diagnosis was announced. He was spotted with the Queen leaving Clarence House as they were taken by car to Buckingham Palace. Image: King Charles and Queen Camilla leave Clarence House. Pic: Reuters Image: A car carrying King Charles and Queen Camilla returns

Heavy snowfall could bring disruption to the UK later this week, with as much as 25cm possible in some areas. Temperatures will drop over the course of the week, with a yellow warning for snow issued covering Northern Ireland and much of Wales, as well as northern and central England, the Met Office said. Up

The King has been diagnosed with cancer and has started treatment today, Buckingham Palace has announced. The diagnosis comes following treatment for an enlarged prostate, although the palace says he does not have prostate cancer. The palace has not confirmed what type of cancer the 75-year-old monarch has. Follow live: King chose to share diagnosis

A man has been bailed after a grandmother was killed by two dogs at the weekend. Esther Martin, 68, was attacked inside a house in Jaywick, Essex, on Saturday afternoon. A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dog offences has been released on conditional bail until 5 March. He was known to the

A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi as police release new information about his movements. Police have also released new information about the alkaline substance that was used for the attack – saying laboratory analysis shows it was either liquid

A woman has died after being mauled by two dogs and a man has been arrested, police have said. Essex officers were called to Hillman Avenue, Jaywick, shortly after 4pm on Saturday where they found the victim seriously injured. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Image: A man has been detained on suspicion of

Northern Ireland’s new first minister has told Sky News she “absolutely contests” the UK government’s claim that a referendum on Irish unity is decades away. Sinn Fein‘s Michelle O’Neill, the first nationalist to occupy the office, described her elevation at Stormont as “a historic day, truly representing a new dawn”. In a document, outlining the

The man accused of a chemical attack on a mother and her two young children in south London was in a relationship with the woman, a relative of the suspect has told Sky News. The close relative also said they would hand the suspect in to the police themselves if they had to. Abdul Ezedi,

Dozens of police hunting the Clapham chemical attacker raided a flat in east London where it is believed the suspect’s brother lives – evacuating shocked neighbours and questioning them at 2am. An officer told residents: “We are looking for someone. It’s not safe to be in there, just in case there’s a hazard we need

The two teenagers found guilty of murdering 16-year-old Brianna Ghey can be named as Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe for the first time. They were just 15 when they lured Brianna to Linear Park in Culcheth, near Warrington, where she was stabbed 28 times in her head, neck and back with a hunting knife on

Police have released a new photograph of the suspect in the Clapham chemical attack. Superintendent Gabriel Cameron said the photo, taken at 8.48pm on Wednesday, was of the last-known sighting of Abdul Shokoor Ezedi in Caledonian Road, north London, and was less than two hours after the assault. “The image is taken from the Tesco

A police manhunt has been launched for a “dangerous individual” after a mother and her two children were hurt in a chemical attack in south London. The Metropolitan Police says officers “urgently” need to find the man and are appealing for the public’s help to track him down after the “targeted attack”. A corrosive substance

Nine people, including children, have been hurt after a “corrosive substance” was thrown in Clapham, south London. London Fire Brigade said they were “called to a chemical incident on Lessar Avenue” on Wednesday evening. It said crews provided immediate emergency care to a woman and two children. London Ambulance Service said it treated nine people,

Exactly four years ago today the UK’s first coronavirus cases were confirmed. On 31 January 2020, Public Health England said a University of York student from China had tested positive for COVID-19, along with his mother. Almost two months later, the UK locked down and it was another two years until the final legal restrictions

A man who was shot dead by officers in southeast London was carrying crossbows, a knife, a sword and a hatchet, it has emerged. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) says two shots were fired from a police firearm after officers unsuccessfully tried to speak to the suspect. The watchdog launched an investigation into

A man has died after being shot by officers in southeast London, the Metropolitan Police has said. It was reported that the man, believed to be in his 30s, was armed with weapons including a crossbow and was threatening to harm residents inside an address in Southwark in London, according to the police. The force