More than a month after the UK’s Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme was launched, thousands of sponsors are still waiting to welcome Ukrainian nationals, amid reports of red tape and bureaucracy in the process. Lynette Protheroe, from Derbyshire, was matched with sisters Yana and Inna and their three children on 20 March but weeks after submitting an
UK
Good Friday has officially become the hottest day of the year so far after 22C (71.6F) was recorded in central London. Today’s temperature in St James’s Park beats the previous record of 20.8C (69.4F) set in London on 23 March and Cornwall on 25 March. The temperature is likely to climb further, the Met Office
The government hopes it can start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda in a matter of “weeks”, according to Boris Johnson’s policy chief. The UK government is attempting to crack down on Channel crossings by small boats and as part of the plans, the Home Office has signed a “world first” deal with Rwanda to send
The Royal Navy will take over responsibility for tackling people crossing the English Channel from today, Boris Johnson has said as he announced plans plans to fly some migrants to Rwanda. Speaking at an airport in Kent, the prime minister said: “We must ensure that the only route to asylum in the UK is asafe
The government plans to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing in an attempt to tackle small boat crossings in the Channel. Boris Johnson is set to argue action is needed to combat the “vile people smugglers” turning the ocean into a “watery graveyard” in a speech on Thursday. After the prime minister’s speech, Home
The terrorist who murdered veteran MP Sir David Amess is to die behind bars after he was sentenced to a whole-life prison term. Islamic State fanatic Ali Harbi Ali appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday after he was convicted of murder and preparing terrorist acts. Sir David was stabbed more than 20 times during
Boris Johnson has apologised after being fined by the Met Police for breaking lockdown rules but said he would not resign. The prime minister said: “I have paid the fine and I once again offer a full apology.” Asked if he would quit over the fine, Mr Johnson said: “I want to be able to
The annual rate of inflation shot up to a fresh 30-year high of 7% in March reflecting, for the first time, the immediate effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The largest contributors to growing inflation were increased fuel prices and energy bills, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The consumer prices index (CPI)
More people are worried about their finances than about catching COVID-19, according to new research. Almost four in 10 people (38%) are worried about their finances – up from 32% in January and the highest since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Some 33% are concerned about getting COVID-19 – down from 40% in January.
A “bloodthirsty” and “fanatical” terrorist has been found guilty of the murder of MP Sir David Amess. The veteran Conservative politician was stabbed to death during a constituency surgery meeting in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in October last year. Sir David, who was the MP for Southend West, suffered more than 20 stab wounds in a “vicious
A cabinet minister has said that he would never seek a green card or non-dom status – as he was grilled over Rishi Sunak’s household financial affairs. George Eustice, the environment secretary, was speaking as the chancellor remained in the spotlight over revelations that he held US residency even after he moved into Number 11
The chancellor has written to the prime minister asking him to refer him to the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests to determine whether all his interests were “properly declared”. In a tweet, Rishi Sunak said he had “always followed the rules” and that he hoped the review would “provide further clarity”. In the letter Mr
A Whitehall inquiry has been launched into the leak of Rishi Sunak’s wife’s tax status after a week in which the chancellor’s approval ratings have taken a significant hit. Akshata Murty dramatically announced on Friday that she would pay UK taxes on her global income, adding in a statement that she didn’t want the issue
Noble Yeats has won this year’s Grand National – the first in front of a cheering crowd at Aintree for three years. The seven-year-old 50-1 horse won out over two laps and 30 fences at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, leaving 15/2 favourite Any Second Now in second. Delta Work (10-1) was third and Santini (33-1)
Extinction Rebellion activists have staged a sit-down protest in the heart of London to demand the government halts investment in fossil fuels. Hundreds of demonstrators descended on Oxford Street and Regent Street on Saturday, blocking traffic as they chanted “save our planet” and “whose streets, our streets”. Image: Protesters vow not to be bystanders over
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has travelled to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a “show of solidarity”. “Right now a visit of Boris Johnson in Kyiv started from one-on-one meeting with President Zelenskiy,” Andriy Sybiha,deputy head of Ukraine’s president office, said on Facebook. A Downing Street spokesperson said the PM was making the