UK

Number 10 has apologised to the Queen over two parties held in Downing Street on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral. The prime minister’s spokesperson said it was “deeply regrettable that this took place at a time of national mourning”. Earlier on Friday, the prime minister’s former director of communications apologised “unreservedly” for one of

Downing Street has failed to deny reports that two parties took place at No 10 the night before Prince Philip’s COVID-restricted funeral – at a time when indoor mixing was banned. In fresh claims that will further fuel the “partygate” crisis afflicting the prime minister, it is claimed that Downing Street staff drank alcohol into

The Sue Gray report into parties in Downing Street and Whitehall that may have broken COVID rules could be published as soon as tomorrow, according to a government source. Downing Street has said discussions are still ongoing between the officials involved with the investigation by the senior civil servant and the Metropolitan Police, which announced

The isolation period for fully vaccinated people in England who test positive for COVID will be reduced from seven days to five, the health secretary has announced. “Two-thirds of positive cases are no longer infectious by the end of day five,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid told the Commons, citing data from the UK Health Security

A US judge has set out his reasons for rejecting Prince Andrew’s bid to have the sexual assault civil lawsuit against him thrown out. The Duke of York is being sued by Virginia Giuffre who claims he “committed sexual assault and battery” upon her when she was a teenager. In a 46-page document, Judge Lewis

The rollout of “all-lane-running” smart motorways is being paused amid safety concerns, following a government inquiry. The Department for Transport (DfT) says it will pause the expansion of smart motorways, where the hard shoulder is permanently a live traffic lane until there’s five years’ worth of data on drivers’ safety. Where work is already underway,

Boris Johnson “is going nowhere” and “retains the confidence of the people of this country”, a minister has claimed, as pressure mounts over Downing Street holding a “bring your own booze” party during the first COVID lockdown. The prime minister and his wife Carrie are understood to have been among 40 people in attendance at

The prime minister and his wife Carrie attended a “bring your own booze” event in the Downing Street garden during the UK’s first national COVID lockdown. More than 100 employees in Number 10 were invited to the drinks on 20 May 2020. In what has been described as evidence of “more rule breaking at the heart

A judge has rejected Prince Andrew’s attempt to have the sexual assault lawsuit against him thrown out. US judge Lewis Kaplan refused to dismiss the case after hearing arguments from lawyers representing the royal and his accuser Virginia Giuffre. It means the royal will face a civil sex case trial later this year. The Duke

People with high levels of T cells from common colds are less likely to catch COVID, according to a new peer-reviewed study. Researchers said the findings could help provide the blueprint for the production of new vaccines which give longer-lasting immunity and would protect against current and future coronavirus variants such as Omicron and Delta.

The UK has recorded 141,472 new COVID-19 cases and a further 97 deaths in the latest 24-hour period. The latest government figures compare to 146,390 infections and 313 fatalities recorded on Saturday, which took the UK’s total COVID-related death toll to more than 150,000. This time last week, 151,663 cases were reported along with 73

The scale of loss to COVID-19 is so vast, barely a community in the country can have been spared. In north London, John and Ida Sullivan have been suffering the pain of that loss for nearly two years. Their daughter Susan was one of the first to die from the virus, which has now claimed

The UK has recorded more than 150,000 COVID-related deaths since the start of the pandemic after the latest daily figures showed 313 further fatalities. It brings the total number of deaths reported within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test to 150,057. A further 146,390 COVID cases have also been reported, according to the latest

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has been directly challenged by an unvaccinated hospital consultant over the government’s policy of compulsory COVID jabs for NHS staff. During a visit to King’s College Hospital in south London, Mr Javid asked staff members on the intensive care unit about their thoughts on new rules requiring vaccination for NHS workers.

Some 200 Armed Forces personnel are being deployed to support the NHS in London as hospitals grapple with staff shortages. Military medics will assist NHS doctors and nurses with patient care, while general duty personnel will help fill gaps caused by other absences. The Royal College of Nursing has said the deployment means the government

Two major incidents have been declared in England because of pressures caused by the spread of COVID-19 – after the Ministry of Defence said Armed Forces personnel would be deployed in London to help in hospitals. Some 200 Armed Forces personnel are being sent to support the NHS in London as hospitals grapple with staff

An estimated 1.3 million people living in the UK are suffering from self-reported long COVID, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows. The figures, valid from 9 November to 6 December, represents around 2% of the population. According to the ONS, prevalence of self-reported long COVID remained greatest in those who were: Aged

More than 20 NHS trusts have now declared a critical incident as the number of people in hospital with COVID hits the highest level since last February, amid rising pressure on health services from the surge in Omicron cases. It comes as Chris Hopson, the head of NHS Providers, which represents trusts, warned coronavirus hospitalisations

Weapons including firearms and hundreds of knives have been seized at crown courts during the pandemic, Sky News can reveal. More than 1,000 knives and other blades have been confiscated at the buildings – which deal with the most serious criminal cases – since April 2020, according to official data. A total of 73 “other

“Around a million people” are currently isolating as a result of coronavirus, a minister has said, as Sky News understands an announcement on the relaxation of testing rules will be announced today. “We don’t actually collect that data on a daily basis, but it’s obvious if you look at how many people tested positive yesterday,