UK

Sir Keir Starmer has told the families of those killed in the Nottingham attacks that a judge-led public inquiry will start in “a matter of weeks”. The families of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates were told at an emotionally charged meeting at Number 10 that a “number of different agencies” would be scrutinised

The UK economy grew fractionally during the final three months of 2024, according to early official figures, which ease the immediate risk of a recession. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a 0.1% rise in gross domestic product (GDP) during the fourth quarter, with only a recovery for growth in Christmas spending and manufacturing

Migrants arriving illegally in the UK in small boats or stowed away in lorries will be refused British citizenship, new Home Office guidance states. The “Good Character” guidance for immigration staff has been changed to say people who have arrived in the UK illegally “having made a dangerous journey… will normally be refused citizenship” from

Roads remain shut in Sheffield city centre as police continue to negotiate with a man who allegedly has weapons. The incident at a block of flats in Broad Street has been going on for over 24 hours, with residents evacuated and spending Monday night at a nearby sports centre. Police said they gained access to

The MP who proposed the assisted dying bill has defended wanting to remove the need for a High Court judge to sign off cases. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is set to bring forward amendments to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, backed by MPs in November, so a multidisciplinary panel of experts will

Parliament’s most famous bar, Strangers, is to re-open after being closed last month following a drink-spiking allegation. The bar, used by MPs and their guests, peers, parliamentary staff and political journalists, was closed on Monday 20 January. Sky News understands it is now likely to re-open after Parliament’s half-term recess, on Monday 24 February, meaning

A father has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 15 years for murdering his 14-year-old daughter. Simon Vickers was found guilty last month of killing his daughter Scarlett Vickers after stabbing her in the heart at their home in Darlington, County Durham, in July 2024. The 50-year-old, who denied charges

A Labour MP has said he “deeply regrets” comments he made on a WhatsApp group – a day after health minister Andrew Gwynne was sacked for alleged racist and sexist remarks posted on the same chat. Burnley MP Oliver Ryan is being investigated by the Labour Party over comments which a government source said were

Labour will punish any other MP or minister caught up in the Andrew Gwynne WhatsApp group scandal, a senior official has told Sky News. The health minister was sacked over leaked comments he had posted on a group chat. He reportedly made antisemitic comments and “joked” about a pensioner constituent, saying he hoped she died

The parents of two of the girls murdered at a dance class in Southport have spoken of the moment they were told “something awful has happened” to their children. In an interview with The Sunday Times, the parents of Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe paid tribute to their daughters, while recalling what happened on

Two years ago, Dayni suffered the sudden and unexpected loss of her mother, Janice. The shock of her passing was traumatic enough – but what followed made the grieving process even more unbearable. Warning: this story contains details some readers may find upsetting Dayni was in hospital when her mother died, so it was a

Ian Percival was walking his dog, Snowy, along the coast near his home in South Wales, when he met Anita George, a cancer nurse at a local Swansea hospital. It was the same route he took every night, but this time he stopped.  “She happened to be on the promenade and crying about her relationship,

A survivor of the Grenfell Tower fire has called on Angela Rayner to reconsider her decision to demolish the west London tower block. Bereaved family members and survivors of the 2017 blaze, which killed 72 people, have been critical of the deputy prime minister’s decision, which she delivered to them in a meeting on Wednesday

Grenfell Tower will be demolished, Angela Rayner has confirmed. The demolition is expected to take “around two years” and be carried out “sensitively”, the government said. The official announcement comes after the deputy prime minister met with campaigners to tell them of the decision on Wednesday evening – sparking an angry reaction. Grenfell United has

The government has been accused of “ignoring” the voices of people who lost family in the Grenfell Tower tragedy in its decision to demolish the building. Grenfell United, which represents some bereaved and survivors, criticised the government’s conduct as “disgraceful and unforgiveable”. The news was announced in a meeting attended by deputy prime minister Angela

Grenfell campaigners say they have been told by the deputy prime minister that the tower block will be demolished, accusing her of “ignoring the voices of bereaved”. In a statement, Grenfell United claimed Angela Rayner had not given a reason behind her decision and refused to say how many of the victims’ families and survivors