UK

In the last week, thousands of people have been arrested by police in England and Wales on suspicion of drug trafficking. In addition to the 1,468 arrests, weapons including zombie knives and samurai swords were seized, and £1.3m in cash was found by police between 11 October and 17 October Police in England and Wales

The UK has recorded another 49,139 new COVID cases and 179 virus-related deaths, the latest figures show. The cases figure is the highest since 17 July, when there were 54,674 cases. A total of 320,594 cases have been recorded in the last week – an increase of 17.2%. The figures show there were another 42,902

The UK has recorded 223 COVID-19 deaths within 28 days of a positive test in the biggest daily jump since early March. A further 43,738 coronavirus cases were also recorded. It is the biggest jump in daily deaths from COVID-19 since 9 March, when 231 people died within 28 days of a positive test. Please

As UK coronavirus cases continue to rise and leading figures warn about NHS capacity, the government may soon come under pressure to start rolling out its Plan B to tackle the virus this winter. Health Secretary Sajid Javid set out the government’s options for the next few months back in September. Plan A is largely

Gracie Spinks, a 23-year-old Derbyshire woman who is thought to have been killed by a man she had reported for stalking, was let down by the police, according to her family. Speaking exclusively to Sky News ahead of what would have been Gracie’s 24th birthday, her parents said officers failed to recognise the danger their

A former teacher of terror suspect Ali Harbi Ali, held over the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, says as a young boy he happily took part in morning assembly and sang hymns at his Christian junior school. Ali, now 25, and his younger siblings were among the first Muslim pupils at the Parish

The family of Sir David Amess has said they are “absolutely broken, but we will survive” following the murder of the MP on Friday. They have also urged people to support the causes Sir David championed, as well as ask everyone to set their differences aside and show “kindness and love” to one another following

Saturday in Southend is quiet, and lacking in the usual buzz of a seaside town on a weekend. Local MP, Sir David Amess, has been murdered and everyone is talking about it. People here seem to be seeking solace, or someone to share their grief, or better still someone to tell them this nightmare isn’t

Leading politicians and local figures are among those who have left moving tributes to Sir David Amess, following the death of the 69-year-old. Those paying their respects to the Southend West MP at the scene of his killing include Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle,

Sir David Amess has been described as “a true gent” and “a common sense politician”. The 69-year-old, who has been an MP since 1983, died on Friday after being stabbed multiple times at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea. A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Please use Chrome browser for a more

Former US vice president Al Gore has said the Queen is right to feel “irritated” at climate change inaction and those who “talk but don’t do”. It comes after the 95-year-old monarch was overheard making the remarks after opening the Senedd in Cardiff, in a conversation with the Duchess of Cornwall and Elin Jones, the

COVID testing has been suspended at a private laboratory in Wolverhampton after an estimated 43,000 people were given incorrect results. An investigation was launched into reports of people receiving negative PCR test results after they had previously tested positive on a lateral flow device. NHS Test and Trace estimates that 400,000 coronavirus test samples were

Shetal Ksavi Joshi experienced infant loss six years ago when her seven-month-old son Shivai died of pneumonia. Ms Joshi was only 29 weeks pregnant when Shivai was born, and his premature birth meant he spent the early months of his life in hospital. But losing him was still completely “unexpected” and “sudden”. Ms Joshi told

Insulate Britain has announced it will “suspend its campaign of civil resistance” until 25 October, in an open letter written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The campaign group has been causing chaos by blocking major roads around London. Police have made multiple arrests during the demonstrations, with angry motorists often clashing with protesters. Several injunctions

One in five public sector key workers are “actively considering” quitting and changing jobs, according to the Trade Union Congress. A study conducted by the TUC revealed “serious disillusionment” among employees, with complaints about low pay, excessive workload and feeling undervalued. It found one in five people are thinking of leaving the public sector and

The EU has offered to cut 80% of checks on some goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland in an effort to avoid a post-Brexit trade clash. It has drawn up plans designed to ease the flow of items across the Irish Sea, including chilled meats, to put an end to the so-called “sausage

Families of COVID-19 victims have attacked an MPs’ report into government failings during the pandemic as “laughable” and a “slap in the face” – and say a judicial inquiry is needed to get to the truth. The report said decisions on lockdowns and social distancing early in the pandemic were “one of the most important

Doctors believe the NHS is inadequately prepared for the winter months, a poll from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has found. The RCP is warning that one in three doctors believes the NHS is not ready for the challenges that lie ahead and medics also felt personally unprepared to deal with the upcoming pressures.

The family of a care worker who could have been saved following the Manchester Arena bombing has refused to accept an apology from the senior paramedic on the night of the attack. The family of John Atkinson, 28, from Bury, Greater Manchester, said “mistake after mistake was made, and precious time was allowed to ebb

The education secretary and health secretary have written to parents of secondary school and college students, urging them to ensure their children are testing regularly and also encouraging them to get vaccinated against coronavirus. The letter from Nadhim Zahawi and Sajid Javid comes after official estimates showed that around 270,000 secondary pupils had COVID-19 in