UK

“There were times when I didn’t want to be here,” says a former drug user after her dealer took over her flat. Sarah effectively became a prisoner in her own home, too afraid to cook or even shower. Sky News has changed her name to protect her identity. Sarah used crack cocaine and heroin from

The Indian tech firm in which Rishi Sunak’s wife owns shares believed to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds is closing its office in Russia, Sky News understands. The chancellor’s wife Akshata Murthy has a 0.91% stake in Infosys, a company founded by her father, which had continued to operate in Russia since the

The first fines have been issued to people in government for breaking COVID rules at the height of lockdown. Officials are understood to have received fines thought to be in connection with an event in the Cabinet Office on 18 June 2020. The fines, worth £50, have been sent to individuals by email. The names

A man on trial for allegedly murdering his neighbour said his childhood teddy bear “told him to kill”, but an expert has said he is “sceptical” of his claim. Can Arslan, 52, fatally stabbed father-of-three Matthew Boorman 27 times on his front lawn last October, before forcing his way into the home of a second

Energy customers around the country have been struggling to submit gas and electricity meter readings, a day before prices are set to soar when the price cap is raised. Millions of households will see their energy bills rise to a typical £1,971 a year when the cap is changed on 1 April. The 54% increase

Boris Johnson has refused to admit to criminality in Downing Street as he was grilled by MPs after fines were issued over the police’s partygate investigation. The prime minister came under pressure, during questions from the Commons liaison committee, to concede that this week’s announcement of 20 fixed penalty notices by the Met Police meant

The mother of 17-month old Peter Connelly, known as Baby P, can be freed from jail, the Parole Board has decided. Tracey Connelly, 40, was jailed in 2009 over the death of her son who died after suffering more than 50 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken back. The case sparked outrage as Baby

A major report will today reveal the true scale of failings at a hospital trust where hundreds of babies died or were left brain damaged. The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust has been under investigation for failings in maternity care. A culture at the Trust that favoured natural births as well as repeated failure to

Prince Andrew has arrived at Prince Philip’s memorial service with the Queen by his side. The decision to have the Duke of York accompany his mother to the Service of Thanksgiving will be seen as a clear signal of Her Majesty’s support for her son. The event marks Prince Andrew’s first public appearance since he

A second P&O ferry, the Pride of Kent, is being detained after it failed safety checks by authorities amid the backlash over the company’s decision to replace 800 seafarers with lower-paid crew. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) made the revelation as a new crewmember aboard a P&O vessel told Sky News there was an

A man has been charged with murder after a mother was stabbed to death while her two children were at school. The victim of the attack on Thursday in Bethnal Green, east London, was 40-year-old Yasmin Begum, who lived in the area. Quyum Miah, 40, has been charged with murder, burglary and two counts of

A whistleblower who worked at a hospital trust where hundreds of babies died or were left brain-damaged says there was “a climate of fear” among staff who tried to report concerns. Bernie Bentick was a consultant obstetrician at the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust for almost 30 years. This week, an independent inquiry will reveal

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a mother-of-two was stabbed to death while her children were at school. Police have released a picture of the victim of the attack in Bethnal Green, east London, who has been named as 40-year-old Yasmin Begum. Scotland Yard said a 40-year-old suspect was detained on

There must be no “appeasement” of Russia, the Ukrainian ambassador to London has said, adding that the UK’s help during the invasion will “never be forgotten”. Vadym Prystaiko was addressing people in Trafalgar Square following a march through central London. They chanted “we stand with Ukraine” and carried banners reading “stop Putin’s war” and “no

A P&O ferry has been detained in Larne, Northern Ireland, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The agency said the ship, the European Causeway, was held “due to failures on crew familiarisation, vessel documentation and crew training”. In a statement it said: “The vessel will remain under detention until all these issues are resolved

The UK government is to send £2m worth of vital supplies to Ukrainian cities surrounded by Russian troops as the conflict continues. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has confirmed the UK will send a donation of dried food, tinned goods and water to Ukraine following a request from the country’s government. Warehouses in Poland and Slovakia

Wayne Couzens, 49, has been charged by police after detectives investigated a series of alleged sexual offences. Police have charged the former police officer with four offences, which were alleged to have taken place in the Swanley area in Greater London. The alleged offences are: Indecent exposure between the 22 January 2021 and 1 February

Anoosheh Ashoori has revealed Boris Johnson did not respond to any appeals from his family while he was detained, but since his release the prime minister has asked to meet with him.   The 67-year-old British-Iranian was held for five years in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. He was brought back to the UK last week,

Rishi Sunak has defended his spring statement amid much criticism as he argued the UK is recovering from its biggest shock in 300 years. The chancellor said he knows families are struggling with the rising cost of living and that is “why I announced a tax plan which delivers the biggest net cut in personal

Rishi Sunak has raised the national insurance threshold by £3,000 and announced a cut in fuel duty tax by 5p a litre in an attempt to ease the burden of the cost of living crisis. The national insurance threshold has now been raised to £12,570. Unveiling his spring statement in the Commons, the chancellor said