UK

Nearly a year on from a government pledge to overhaul the way rape cases are investigated, victims are still being asked to hand mobile phones over as part of “excessive” police scrutiny, according to the Independent Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Traumatised victims are being given “wide-reaching” consent forms for digital searches when they are unable to

Tory staffers have come under pressure not to sign a letter calling for more stringent checks on those wishing to become an MP in light of the ongoing “pestminster” scandal, Sky News can reveal. The letter, organised by Angus McVean and Henry Dixon-Clegg, is addressed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden

Ministers have been warned of potential power cuts to as many as six million households this winter, according to reports. Government modelling of a “reasonable” worst-case scenario predicts major gas shortages in winter if Russia cuts off more supplies to the European Union, the Times says. Limits could be imposed on industrial use of gas,

The culture secretary has called on UEFA to launch a formal investigation into violent scenes in Paris that delayed the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. The size of the crowd outside the Stade de France on Saturday evening appeared to overwhelm security, with many supporters waiting outside for hours, while others were

Boris Johnson is facing twin allegations of a partygate cover-up, with opposition leaders accusing him of “behaving like a tinpot despot”. The Liberal Democrats claim reports that Downing Street put pressure on Sue Gray to dilute her report reveal an attempt to cover up “lies and law-breaking”. And Labour is to force a Commons vote

EasyJet says it will cancel more than 200 flights over the next 10 days, putting half-term breaks at risk for thousands of travellers. The airline said about 24 flights from Gatwick would be affected each day between now and 6 June. A spokeswoman for the company said: “We are very sorry for the late notice

Ministers who are found to have breached the ministerial code will no longer have to resign or face the sack. Revisions to the ministerial code, which sets out standards of conduct for government ministers, were published on Friday. The changes come following recommendations by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, as well as discussions

Millions of people are expected to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on the extended Bank Holiday weekend, with events planned across the UK. An estimated 16,000 street parties will be thrown around the country after councils approved “a huge number” of applications from residents eager to celebrate the monarch’s 70-year milestone. Some of the events

The boss of one of Britain’s biggest airports says staffing levels may not fully recover until the autumn, and has predicted a busy summer ahead. Passengers have faced long delays at airports recently and are being warned to prepare for a busy week ahead with families jetting off for half term and the jubilee bank

Eight million of the poorest UK households will receive a one off “cost of living payment” of £650 – and there will be an effective windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies, the chancellor has announced. Rishi Sunak said the package of support for households is worth over £5bn and will come

Boris Johnson has insisted the UK needs to move on from partygate after the Sue Gray report revealed a slew of lockdown-breaching events at Downing Street. The prime minister said he took “full responsibility” for the scandal but defied renewed calls to resign as he sought to play down his personal involvement in the gatherings.

The senior leadership at Downing Street – both political and official – must “bear responsibility” for the culture of partying during COVID lockdowns, according to a report from senior civil servant Sue Gray. The report added that “while there is no excuse for some of the behaviour set out here it is important to acknowledge

Pressure is mounting on the prime minister over Downing Street lockdown parties ahead of the release of the Sue Gray report into partygate. Number 10 is expecting to receive the inquiry’s final report on Wednesday. It is anticipated to be more in-depth than the Met Police investigation that concluded last week – and will include

Tory MPs have criticised photos of Boris Johnson drinking with colleagues during lockdown ahead of the Sue Gray report into parties being published. New pictures emerged on Monday of the prime minister appearing to toast colleagues allegedly during the second national lockdown when people were not allowed to mix with other households inside. The photos,

Boris Johnson has conceded that the cost of living crisis “is going to go on” but said people asking what more the government will do to help will “just have to wait a little bit longer”. The prime minister faces a growing clamour – including from a number of Tories – to adopt Labour’s idea

A man who murdered his partner’s three-year-old son has been sentenced to at least 24 years in prison, while his mother has been jailed for 11 years. Kemarni Watson Darby died from abdominal injuries on 5 June 2018, after his rib cage was “crushed” at the home he shared with his mother and her partner

Amber, 19, has waved her anonymity to tell her story. From the age of 13 she bounced through the care system, on a journey to ever-greater isolation and abuse, which ended in her being placed in “prison-like” secure accommodation “for her own safety”. Like many children, she was removed from home, in part, due to

Monkeypox is spreading in the UK through community transmission and new cases are being detected on a daily basis, a senior doctor has warned. Officials are expecting a “significant rise” in infections this week after it was confirmed the total had increased to 20 on Friday. The cause of the outbreak is unknown and there

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has called for benefits to be immediately increased in line with inflation to help the poorest cope with the cost of living. The senior Tory MP also called for tax cuts for those in work to help “the squeezed middle”. “During the course of this spike, we should

The UK is facing a “significant rise” in monkeypox cases over the next week, an expert has warned, with some health clinics stopping people walking in as they try to slow the spread of infections. About 80 cases have now been confirmed across 12 countries – including 20 in the UK – with the majority