Police are reviewing their initial decision not to investigate a Christmas quiz in Number 10, held at a time of strict COVID rules, after a picture of Boris Johnson and a bottle of alcohol emerged. Scotland Yard said they would rethink their assessment of the event following the publication of an image of the prime
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A mother-of-three who helped convict her abusive boyfriend has urged women in similarly dangerous relationships to contact the police to bring their partners to justice. Hannah Martin, 32, was repeatedly assaulted by then-boyfriend Hayden Wykes during their 18-month relationship. He also claimed she was an unfit mother, made derogatory comments about her appearance, and went
Boris Johnson will not apologise for using the discredited claim that Sir Keir Starmer personally failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile, Downing Street has said. The prime minister’s official spokesperson acknowledged that Mr Johnson’s words in Commons last week were “capable of being misconstrued”, but said the PM had subsequently issued a “clarification”. “The prime minister
A former Met Police detective involved in the operation to catch Levi Bellfield says he believes the “evil” serial killer may have committed other murders for which he has never faced justice. Bellfield, who is serving whole life sentences for three murders including that of the schoolgirl Milly Dowler, has confessed to also killing Lin
A teenager has admitted killing his younger sister at a holiday park last summer. Matthew Selby, 19, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 15-year-old Amanda Selby. She died after police were called to reports of a “domestic disturbance” at the Ty Mawr Holiday Park in Towyn, near Abergele, North Wales, on 31 July. Selby, of
Boris Johnson is starting a new week hoping that a fresh shake-up of his top Downing Street team will ease the concerns of Tory MPs – some of whom have publicly called for the prime minister to resign over his handling of the partygate scandal. The prime minister made key changes to his staffing over
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
Prince Andrew will give evidence under oath next month as part of the civil sex assault case being brought against him, it has been confirmed. “We agreed to voluntarily produce the duke for a deposition on 10 March,” a source close to him said. Andrew, 61, has strenuously denied all allegations against him. Please use
Around 40 beheaded skeletons are among 425 bodies exhumed by HS2 archaeologists after being found in a large Roman cemetery. In several instances, after the head had been removed, it had been placed between the legs or next to the feet. The 50-strong team working alongside construction of the high-speed railway, uncovered the remains at
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
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
RAF Typhoon fighters have been launched against aircraft “approaching the UK area of interest” for the second day in a row. They were again dispatched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, with support from a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. An RAF spokesperson said: “Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighters from
Analysis by Jon Craig, political correspondent It’s being called D-day for the cost-of-living crisis. And Rishi Sunak is determined to be centre stage and show the public and Tory MPs that he has the right measures to tackle it. On a day of good news and bad news, on which the bad threatens to outweigh
RAF jets have been scrambled to track “unidentified aircraft” north of Scotland. The Typhoon jets were launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and joined by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. An RAF spokesman declined to provide more information on the operation until it is over. An image taken from
A driver who knocked down a knifeman with his car in west London has been released without charge, police say. Leon McCaskre died after being hit by the vehicle in Maida Vale. The collision happened moments after McCaskre stabbed his ex-partner, Yasmin Chkaifi, to death in the street. ‘Should you see an evil it is
The government says its 12 “levelling up missions” to spread opportunity more equally across the country will see “a complete system change of how government works”. Michael Gove will unveil the government’s Levelling Up White Paper later which officials say will set out a blueprint to bring prosperity “to all parts” of the UK. In
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 government is expected to step back from requiring NHS and social care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Health workers in England were meant to be fully-vaccinated by April but Health Secretary Sajid Javid has been under growing pressure to scrap the rule. There have been concerns that the sector could be left with
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