Two million eligible people will be invited to receive a COVID-19 booster jab from the NHS this week, as the government seeks to see off a sharp rise in cases without introducing Plan B measures. Calls for the reintroduction of masks, social distancing and working from home continued over the weekend, but ministers have so
UK
A “record number” of coronavirus booster jabs were administered on Saturday, with more than 800,000 inoculations given in the past 72 hours, the NHS has said. A total of 5.1 million third jabs have been given, with around half of people aged 50 and over – and those who are currently eligible – being given
The chancellor has announced a series of spending pledges ahead of the autumn budget this week, which include £5bn for health research and innovation and £3bn for education. Rishi Sunak has promised to do “whatever it takes” to support families with the cost of living, as he pre-empts Wednesday’s address in the House of Commons.
A 14-year-old boy is among four people arrested on suspicion of murder following a triple stabbing sparked by a “verbal dispute”. Police were called to reports of an assault outside the Royal British Legion on High Street, Lymington, on Friday at 11.55pm, where they found two men and a woman with stab wounds, a Hampshire
The former head of England’s coronavirus vaccine delivery drive is returning to the NHS to lead the booster jabs rollout amid growing concerns about COVID-19’s impact this winter. Dr Emily Lawson had played a key role in the success of the initial rollout of coronavirus vaccines but in April she moved to Downing Street’s “delivery
Five police officers from four different forces are facing disciplinary action over messages about Wayne Couzens. Couzens received a whole-life prison sentence last month after admitting to the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard. Now, two officers from the Metropolitan Police, and one from each force in Sussex, Dorset and Avon and Somerset are
The Queen spent a night in hospital after cancelling a visit to Northern Ireland, Buckingham Palace has said. A spokesman added: “Following medical advice to rest for a few days, the Queen attended hospital on Wednesday afternoon for some preliminary investigations, returning to Windsor Castle at lunchtime today (Thursday), and remains in good spirits.” It
Boris Johnson has admitted the level of COVID cases is “high” and he is “watching the numbers very carefully every day” – but insisted he is “sticking with our plan”. The government has so far resisted calls to move to Plan B of its autumn and winter COVID response for easing pressures on the NHS.
The government is being “wilfully negligent” by refusing to enforce its Plan B strategy for tackling rising COVID infections, doctors have claimed. Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed yesterday that additional coronavirus restrictions – which could include face coverings becoming mandatory in some public places – are not going to be introduced in England. But the
The Queen has “reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days” and will not be travelling to Northern Ireland today, Buckingham Palace has said. “Her Majesty is in good spirits and is disappointed that she will no longer be able to visit Northern Ireland, where she had been due to undertake a
The UK has recorded 223 COVID-19 deaths within 28 days of a positive test in the biggest daily jump since early March. A further 43,738 coronavirus cases were also recorded. It is the biggest jump in daily deaths from COVID-19 since 9 March, when 231 people died within 28 days of a positive test. Please
Gracie Spinks, a 23-year-old Derbyshire woman who is thought to have been killed by a man she had reported for stalking, was let down by the police, according to her family. Speaking exclusively to Sky News ahead of what would have been Gracie’s 24th birthday, her parents said officers failed to recognise the danger their
Sky News has obtained CCTV footage showing a man understood to be Ali Harbi Ali walking along a north London street just hours before the killing of Conservative MP Sir David Amess. The 25-year-old man, who has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Sir David Amess, is seen walking slowly along the pavement
The deputy prime minister has said online hate is “out of control” but a wedge should not be put in between MPs and their constituents after the murder of Sir David Amess. Dominic Raab called for the vilification of MPs to stop as he paid tribute to the “big-hearted” Sir David, who was stabbed to
The family of Sir David Amess has said they are “absolutely broken, but we will survive” following the murder of the MP on Friday. They have also urged people to support the causes Sir David championed, as well as ask everyone to set their differences aside and show “kindness and love” to one another following
The name the police have of the terror suspect arrested on suspicion of murder following the stabbing of a senior Conservative MP is Ali Harbi Ali, Sky News understands. The 25-year-old, who is a British citizen, with Somali heritage, is not thought to have been previously known to the security services. However, the investigation into
Leading politicians and local figures are among those who have left moving tributes to Sir David Amess, following the death of the 69-year-old. Those paying their respects to the Southend West MP at the scene of his killing include Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle,
The fatal stabbing of Conservative MP Sir David Amess in Essex has been declared as a terrorist incident, police say. Sir David, who represented Southend West in Essex, was stabbed on Friday afternoon during a surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea. A 25-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder, and
Fully vaccinated passengers and children arriving in England from non-red list countries can take a cheaper lateral flow test from 24 October instead of a PCR test. The government last week said it would switch from arrivals having to take a pricey PCR test on the second day after arriving from a non-red list country
Coronavirus infections among children increased in England last month after schools reopened, a study has found. The surge kept overall cases high even as COVID-19‘s prevalence among adults fell, the research showed. The epidemic was estimated to be growing among those under 17, with an R number estimated at 1.18, according to the REACT-1 study