UK

Boris Johnson has said he was “very, very surprised” to receive a fine for attending a lockdown-breaking gathering in Downing Street. The prime minister, talking to Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts, was questioned on issues from partygate and Northern Ireland to nappies and his favourite book to read to his children. Asked by a teacher why

The Queen has arrived back at Windsor Castle ahead of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations this week. The 96-year-old monarch was photographed at Aberdeen airport, after staying at Balmoral, her Scottish estate, for a few days before festivities begin to mark 70 years of her reign. She was then captured again being driven into Windsor Castle.

Another Conservative MP has submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson, making him the 28th Tory to publicly call for him to go over the partygate scandal. John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle, said he has been “deeply disappointed” in the rule-breaking parties at Number 10 and Mr Johnson’s response to parliament. He said

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

The race is on to prevent a massive oil spill off the coast of Devon after a superyacht caught fire and sank. The 85ft vessel had been carrying around 8,000 litres of fuel when it was engulfed by flames while moored at Torquay on Saturday. Witnesses said that the fire burnt through the rope mooring

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

Senior Tory MP Sir Bob Neill has submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson’s leadership as the number of Conservatives calling for the prime minister to go ramps up after the Sue Gray report. Sir Bob, who chairs the Justice Select Committee, said Ms Gray’s report into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street has

Rishi Sunak has said cost of living support delivering hundreds of pounds to every household will have a “minimal impact” on inflation – and suggested those who do not need it could give the money to charity. The chancellor told Sky News that the announcement of new measures worth £15bn to ease the burden on

The family of a personal trainer who was shot dead years after he helped convict a gang of rapists fear his killer will never be caught. Abraham Badru, 26, was murdered outside his home in Hackney, east London, in March 2018 after he had received threatening messages telling him he was “dead meat”. He was

The Queen has allowed the world to see “the fun behind the formality” of her royal life in home movies that have been released for the first time. The clips, which span her life from being a baby pushed in a pram by her mother to her coronation in 1953 at the age of 27,

Two more Tory MPs have withdrawn their support for Boris Johnson in the wake of Sue Gray’s report into Downing Street lockdown parties. The announcements by John Baron and David Simmonds follow a similar call by their backbench colleague Julian Sturdy on Wednesday. Mr Baron said the findings by senior civil servant Ms Gray as

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

London mayor Sadiq Khan has asked police for an explanation after “smoking gun” pictures emerged of Boris Johnson drinking at an event during lockdown – for which he was not fined. Mr Khan, who oversees policing in the capital, told Sky News’ Kay Burley that the pictures from a Downing Street leaving do in November

Photos have emerged of the prime minister drinking at a gathering allegedly during the second lockdown. The photos, obtained by ITV News, show Boris Johnson holding a glass with at least six other people around a table with several empty wine bottles, biscuits and crisps. In the series of photos, the group appear to be

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

Close contacts of monkeypox cases with the highest risk of exposure should self-isolate for 21 days, latest government guidance says. New guidance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recommends people who have had “unprotected direct contact or high risk environmental contact” with the disease should isolate – and avoid contact with immunosuppressed people, pregnant