UK

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth has said it is a “national priority” to get children back into the classroom, as scientists have warned there may have to be trade-offs for schools to reopen. On Saturday afternoon the government said a total of 46,193 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community in

Millions of over 50s could be told to stay at home under a “nuclear” option to prevent a new nationwide lockdown if there is a second wave of coronavirus. Boris Johnson is reportedly considering asking a greater number of people in England to take part in the shielding programme should there be a big spike

Chernobyl has won two top prizes at this year’s virtual BAFTA TV ceremony following huge success at the organisation’s craft awards earlier this month. Telling the story of the nuclear disaster at the Ukraine plant on 26 April 1986, the five-part Sky original series took home the gongs for best mini-series and leading actor, for

The planned easing of lockdown restrictions in England has been postponed for at least a fortnight – with face masks to become mandatory by law in most public indoor settings on 8 August. Boris Johnson told a Downing Street briefing that the decision to “squeeze that brake pedal” on changes had been taken due to

Separate households are banned from meeting indoors from today in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire after a rise in coronavirus cases. The news comes after the UK saw its highest daily total of COVID-19 cases for more than a month. Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the virus was “bubbling up” in

England suffered the highest levels of excess deaths of any country in Europe over the first half of 2020, the Office for National Statistics has said. But while England endured the largest overall increase in deaths, the report says Spain had the highest peak. Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacted to the news by saying there

A Minister for Food Security is urgently needed to deal with the threat posed by COVID-19, Brexit and climate change, according to a cross-party group of MPs. Millions of people have struggled to access food as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with the number of food bank users doubling during lockdown. The Environment, Food

The UK government is poised to put more countries on its quarantine list “straight away” if coronavirus runs “out of control” in them. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told Sky News more announcements could follow the decision to advise against all non-essential trips to Spain over the weekend due to fears over rising levels of COVID-19.

Marcus Rashford’s call to extend free schools meals to more of Britain’s poorest children has been backed by the government’s own review into feeding the nation . Another 1.5 million pupils between the ages of seven and 16 should be entitled to free school meals, according to the National Food Strategy. The review, led by

German police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are searching an allotment near Hanover. Footage from the scene shows forensic officers and heavy machinery being used in the search. The site is around 40 miles from the city of Braunschweig, where main suspect Christian B was last registered as living. Sky’s crime correspondent Martin Brunt

Cycling fanatic Boris Johnson is promising £50 repair vouchers as part of his coronavirus crusade to persuade people to get on their bike. The first vouchers will be available online late on Tuesday in England and the prime minister is also pledging more spending on cycle lanes, training and bikes on prescription from GPs. The

A pet cat has become the first animal to test positive for coronavirus in the UK. The only details known about the feline are that it lives in England and was tested at a laboratory in Weybridge, Surrey, last week, on 22 July. Evidence suggests it contracted the virus from its owners, who had previously

The government has warned it “won’t hesitate” to add more countries to its quarantine list at short notice – despite anger among Britons who went to Spain unaware they would have to isolate for two weeks upon returning. Ministers faced questions after Spain was added to the list from midnight on Saturday with just a

More than 900 sex offenders have disappeared off the police radar with many thought to have disguised their identities by changing their names and not telling officers, Sky News has discovered. The simple deed poll process takes 15 minutes online and over 1,300 sex offenders have already done it since committing their offences and have

The UK’s biggest tour operator, Tui, has suspended all flights from Spain and the Canary Islands scheduled to leave today. Andrew Flintham, managing director of Tui UK and Ireland, made the announcement on Saturday evening hours before new rules came into force for UK travellers. It comes after the government added Spain and the islands

Police officers are facing heightened hostility and anger as they carry out stop and search operations in London’s black communities. Frontline officers have told Sky News tensions are running extremely high in many of the capital’s boroughs, following recent high-profile stop and search incidents. Senior officers said the tactic remained a “vital component” in tackling