UK

Rishi Sunak will be challenged at the COVID inquiry on claims that government scientists branded him “Dr Death” – and called his scheme to kickstart the economy “Eat Out to Help Out the Virus”. The inquiry has also been told that Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s chief adviser in Downing Street at the time, claimed Mr

The government is “not contemplating” an early general election because ministers are “confident” the Rwanda bill will be approved by MPs, Michael Gove has told Sky News. Speaking to the Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme, the cabinet minister said the emergency legislation was “a tough but also proportionate measure”. The levelling up secretary also

The Prince and Princess of Wales have chosen a black-and-white family photograph as their official Christmas card image. In the monochrome picture, a smiling William and Kate are stood with sons Prince George and Prince Louis around a chair where a beaming Princess Charlotte is sitting with her legs crossed. The five royals are dressed

Police are investigating a possible hate crime after a “terrified” Jewish woman was violently assaulted and robbed in north London. Footage of the attack has been circulated online after it was tweeted by the neighbourhood watch group Shomrim. The 20-year-old woman was walking along Rostrevor Avenue in Stamford Hill at about 4.30pm on Thursday when

The UK is braced for more winds and rain this weekend, with gusts of up to 70mph expected to hit the country. Weather warnings have been issued across the UK for the next few days, with downpours and strong gusts expected all weekend. Areas along the Irish Sea coast should prepare for the potential of

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman who was shot dead in east London. Lianne Gordon, 42, died at the scene after the shooting in Hackney earlier this week. The Metropolitan Police said the arrested teenager was detained in the early hours of Friday and remains in custody. An investigation

The UK and US governments have imposed sanctions on two Russian hackers after the private conversations of high-profile politicians and civil servants were compromised. The Foreign Office said the “Star Blizzard” group, a subordinate of an FSB cyber unit, had targeted MPs, Lords, civil servants, journalists and others in attempts to “meddle in British politics”

Rishi Sunak has dodged questions over whether he will call a general election if he loses a crunch vote on his Rwanda bill – which he insisted was not a vote of confidence in his leadership. The prime minister repeatedly defended the bill from its critics at a press conference on Thursday as questions mount

Homes have been evacuated as a bomb disposal squad investigates a “suspicious item” found in a house in north-west England. Cumbria Police declared a “major incident” after they discovered the item on Wednesday afternoon following concerns for the welfare of an individual in Steel Street, Ulverston. A 46-year-old man was arrested and is being held

Boris Johnson was interrupted as he apologised for the “suffering” caused by the COVID pandemic. Four people were subsequently removed from the hearing, where they had been in the public gallery holding up pictures. Mr Johnson had told the inquiry: “I am deeply sorry for the pain and loss and suffering.” One protester held up

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a heavily pregnant woman was stabbed in Aberfan, South Wales. The 29-year-old woman has been taken to hospital. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Local schools and childcare facilities were placed into lockdown as a precaution. Aberfan stabbing – follow live In

Prince Harry “has, unjustifiably, been treated less favourably than others” over his security arrangements when he is in the UK, a court has been told. The Duke of Sussex is taking legal action against the Home Office over a decision in February 2020 that meant he would no longer be given the “same degree” of

A new five-point plan to reduce immigration has been announced by the government, which includes banning care workers from bringing over their families and increasing the minimum salary for a skilled worker visa. Home Secretary James Cleverly has come under pressure since taking office three weeks ago to show he is taking a hardline on

Around 1,500 homes and businesses are still without power after heavy snow caused major power cuts in Cumbria. It came as much of the country was hit by cold and wet conditions over the weekend, including a low of -12.5C recorded in northern Scotland overnight. Freezing conditions are forecast to continue on Monday and the

A British soldier shot dead on a motorcycle trip in Kenya was killed just three days before he was due to finish his deployment. Major Kevin McCool, 32, was off-duty when he was attacked on 29 November. His father Joseph said he was on a bike trip away from base, preparing for the end of

A fresh amber snow warning is in place for parts of the North West region of England as the UK’s frosty start to December continues. The warning covers the coastal area of west Cumbria, and central and western parts of the Lake District and falls within a wider area already covered by a yellow warning

Weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across swathes of the UK as temperatures plummeted below freezing overnight. Forecasters have warned the wintry conditions could affect some road and rail journeys with icy surfaces posing the risk of injury from slips and falls. Glasgow Airport has suspended flights due to heavy snow, with

Charlotte, not her real name, wanders back and forth with her empty coffee cup held out towards the tide of commuters coming through the barriers. Rush hour at Whitechapel underground station is the best time of day for the small, frail, 23-year-old to earn enough change to pay for her next hit. She’s agitated, but

Sarah* was a “smug married” woman with a “middle-class, middle-everything life”, before a knock on the door brought her world crashing down. Early one morning, the day before her son’s birthday, she awoke to find police officers in her bedroom. Her husband was standing there with the police – their “really average” life would never

Parts of the UK could see up to 5cm of snow today, with temperatures set to fall as low as -10C (14F) in some areas. Three yellow weather warnings are currently in place, with Met Office forecasters warning that colder conditions will persist into the weekend. The whole eastern coast of the UK, stretching from