UK

Rishi Sunak says he flew back from a government trip last December to stop the country going into a new Covid lockdown. The former chancellor and Tory leadership candidate told LBC that the UK was “hours away from a press conference” announcing the measures due to the spread of the Omicron variant. But he said

The BBC has agreed to pay “substantial” damages to Princes William and Harry’s former nanny over “false and malicious” claims that she had an affair with Prince Charles and terminated a pregnancy – allegations made by the disgraced journalist Martin Bashir. Last year, a report found Mr Bashir “deceived and induced” Princess Diana’s brother, Earl

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss will go head-to-head to become the next leader of the Conservative Party – and prime minister of the UK – after Penny Mordaunt became the latest candidate to be knocked out of the contest. In the fifth and final round of voting by Tory MPs, the leadership contenders received the

Nearly 20 houses were destroyed by grass fires in Wennington on Tuesday as the UK sweltered in its hottest day on record – as the public is warned the “danger isn’t over” and the heat still “poses risks of new fires sparking off”. Local councillor Ray Morgon told Sky News he believes around 18 to

Firefighters tackling blazes which have ripped through homes and buildings in London have described the conditions as “absolute hell” on what is the UK’s hottest day on record. Residents were evacuated, people were taken to hospital and a major incident was declared by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) which was “under immense pressure” after a

The UK is braced for temperatures as high as 41C today with increased travel chaos – after night-time record temperatures of 26C were provisionally reported in parts of West Yorkshire and London. The Met Office has also provisionally reported last night was the warmest on record after temperatures didn’t fall below 25C (77F) in places.

Britons are bracing themselves for extreme disruption, as forecasters predict possible temperatures of more than 40C (104F) in parts of the country this week. Amid warnings that lives are at risk, a national emergency has been declared by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office has issued its first-ever red warning for extreme

Britons have been urged to stay inside as the UK braces for “ferocious” temperatures breaching 40C, and swathes of the country are now covered in the first ever red warning for extreme heat. A national emergency has been declared amid the threat of severe disruption as schools close, hospitals cancel appointments and events are scrapped.

As the UK braces for temperatures toppling over 40C, fears are growing for the elderly and vulnerable. A stark, public service announcement from the chief executive of the Met Office says the temperatures are “absolutely unprecedented” and warns Britons to stay inside. Scorching temperatures are predicted for Monday, with Peterborough expected to hit 37C (99F)

The new health secretary has said new measures including extra working hours for ambulance crews are being put in place as the UK faces its first national heatwave emergency. Steve Barclay said the additional support, which also includes more call handlers, is being put in place on Monday and Tuesday. Almost all of England is

Britons are being urged to do the “neighbourly thing” and check on people who may be more vulnerable as the UK braces for potentially record-breaking temperatures. The advice comes after the government’s COBRA meeting on Saturday and less than 48 hours away from forecast highs that could nudge 40C (104F). It’s the second emergency summit

There are growing concerns people’s lives could be at risk as the Met Office indicated it is likely a new UK record temperature could be set early next week. Meteorologists have said there is an 80% chance the mercury will top the UK’s record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F) set in Cambridge in 2019. The heatwave

A Formula 1 worker who was repeatedly called the n-word by colleagues at the Aston Martin F1 team has told Sky News the sport has to do more to confront racism in motorsport.    Aidan Louw, 25, who is mixed race and was born in South Africa, worked as a laminator building parts of the

The five remaining candidates in the Conservative leadership race are preparing to go head-to-head in live TV debates. It comes after Rishi Sunak came out on top in yesterday’s ballot of Tory MPs – with Penny Mordaunt second and Liz Truss third. Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat are also still in the running, but Suella

Suella Braverman has been knocked out of the Conservative leadership race in the second round of voting. Ms Braverman received 27 votes from Tory MPs, five fewer than she got yesterday. The five remaining hopefuls will progress to the third round on Monday, having received the following votes: There will be successive rounds of voting

Tory leadership favourite Penny Mordaunt suffered her first setback of the campaign when she was attacked by MPs over her stance on trans issues. She clashed with right-wing Conservative MPs at a major hustings event attended by the six candidates left in the contest after the first round of voting. The trade minister and former

Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Jeremy Hunt have been knocked out of the race to become the next leader of the Conservative Party – and next prime minister of the UK. A total of six candidates made it through the first round of voting, with chair of the backbench 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady revealing the

House building has not kept up with population growth in almost half of the local authorities in England, Sky News analysis has found. In the decade to 2021, the population grew faster or at the same pace as the number of homes in 150 out of 309 local authorities, according to our analysis of data

The candidates who have made it through to the next stage of the race to replace Boris Johnson as Tory leader and prime minister have been revealed. The eight MPs who have got through to the first round are: • Rishi Sunak• Penny Mordaunt• Tom Tugendhat• Liz Truss• Suella Braverman• Jeremy Hunt• Kemi Badenoch• Nadhim

The winner of the Conservative leadership contest will be unveiled on 5 September – and some candidates could be knocked out of the race today. Eleven Tory hopefuls have thrown their hat into the ring, but those who fail to get support from 20 MPs will not appear on the first ballot, which is due