UK

J K Rowling has dared police to arrest her as the Harry Potter author lashed out against new hate crime laws that have come into force in Scotland The new measures aim to tackle the harm caused by hatred and prejudice, extending protections from abusive behaviour to people on grounds including age, disability, religion, sexual

The government’s extended childcare policy is beginning today – but it starts amid warnings of a lack of funding and not enough staff to fulfil the pledge. From today, eligible parents and carers of two-year-olds will be entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare per week. It is the first part of a £8bn package

The King waved to well-wishers as he attended the traditional Easter Sunday church service at Windsor Castle in a rare public appearance since he was diagnosed with cancer. The 75-year-old monarch, who has stepped back from major public engagements while receiving treatment, was joined by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. But

Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives are on course to win fewer than 100 seats in the general election, according to a major poll that suggests the party is facing the worst result in its history. A survey of 15,000 people, used to build a seat-by-seat breakdown, indicated the Tories would win in just 98 constituencies in England

Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly of the Democratic Unionist Party has said “victims must always have the best opportunity for justice”. It comes after Sir Jeffrey Donaldson stepped down as DUP leader on Friday as he faces charges over alleged historical sexual offences. Ms Little-Pengelly said she was “shocked and devastated by this

Nearly 100,000 cancer patients have now had fast-track access to newly approved NHS drugs – with one teen saying his treatment felt like being on a “slope going up”. Yuvan Thakkar, 16, was the first NHS patient to receive a therapy that uses the body’s own cells to fight cancer. He was diagnosed with a

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has stepped down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party with immediate effect after he was charged with historical sexual offences. In a statement, the DUP said: “The party chairman has received a letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP confirming that he has been charged with allegations of an historical nature and

The chief executive of Thames Water has refused to rule out bill increases of up to 40% for customers as the troubled company tries to secure its future. It comes as the business, which serves nearly a quarter of the UK’s population, struggles with more than £15bn of debt and the huge interest payments required

The Met Office has warned there is a “small chance” of injuries and “danger to life” as a result of strong winds and large waves hitting the south of England. Winds of up to 70mph battered the south coast, along with hail and thunder, as the Easter weekend kicks off. Yellow weather warnings for rain

There are fears innocent people could end up on police databases with controversial new hate crime laws in Scotland being weaponised to “settle scores”. Legislation is being introduced on 1 April criminalising threatening or abusive behaviour which is intended to stir up hatred based on certain characteristics including age, disability, sexual orientation, and transgender identity.

Public satisfaction with the NHS has dropped to the lowest level on record, according to findings from a long-running poll. Just 24% of people said they were satisfied with the health service in 2023, with poor access to GPs and long wait times for hospital treatment the main reasons for dissatisfaction. More than 3,000 people

Documents revealing why Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi – a convicted sex offender – was granted asylum have been made public for the first time, while Sky News has obtained pictures of him being baptised in church. Ezedi attacked a woman and two children with an alkali on a street in south London in January.

The King will attend the Easter Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on Easter Sunday, Buckingham Palace has announced. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family will also attend. In February, he was pictured attending church in Sandringham but it had not been confirmed until now that he would attend the

The mastermind of an armed robbery in which PC Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead nearly 20 years ago has been found guilty of her murder. Prosecutors said Piran Ditta Khan, 75, planned the raid at Universal Express travel agent in Morley Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire on 18 November 2005. PC Beshenivsky, 38, and her colleague

The Home Secretary has confirmed an investigation is underway over claims two men, said to be survivors of the 7 October Hamas terror attack, were singled out by Border Force staff at Manchester Airport because they were Israelis. The Jewish Representative Council (JRC) of Greater Manchester and Region says the pair were at the Nova

The King is “frustrated” about the speed of his cancer recovery and is “pushing” staff and doctors to be able to return to duties, according to his nephew, Peter Phillips. However, Mr Phillips – the son of Princess Anne, the Princess Royal – says the monarch is in “good spirits” and remains “pragmatic”. He made

Four people have died in a single-vehicle crash in Armagh, Northern Ireland, police have said. The crash, involving a grey Volkswagen Golf, occurred on Ballynahonemore Road at around 2.10am this morning. The driver and three passengers – who have not yet been identified – were declared dead at the scene. District Commander Superintendent Paul McGrattan

The Prince and Princess of Wales are “extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support” after Kate revealed she is receiving treatment for cancer. Kensington Palace said the future king and queen are “enormously touched” by the outpouring of “kind messages” from across the world following the release of Kate’s emotional video message on Friday.

As the Princess of Wales reveals cancer was found during her abdominal surgery in January, experts explain what preventative chemotherapy is, how it works and when it’s used.  What is preventative chemotherapy? The Princess of Wales says that at the time of her surgery, it was thought her condition was non-cancerous. But tests following the

Kate, Princess of Wales, has revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing preventative chemotherapy. In a personal message, the 42-year-old said planned abdominal surgery in January was successful and it was initially thought her condition was non-cancerous. But tests after the operation found cancer had been present, she said, adding: “This of