UK

Vulnerable people are being put at risk by the Home Office under its plans to clear the asylum backlog, MPs have warned. The department’s policy of “maximising the use of hotels” by making more people who are awaiting a decision share rooms “has not been thought through” and could have “serious consequences”, parliament’s Public Accounts

A man has died following a mass disturbance in a South Lanarkshire street. Officers were called to Farmeloan Road in Rutherglen at around 7pm on Tuesday. A 38-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police Scotland said the death is being treated as “suspicious” and enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances. The force

UK carmakers have recorded their best September since 2020 – but warned growth is “under threat” from new Brexit export rules due to come into force within months. More than 88,200 vehicles rolled off factory lines in September, an increase of over 25,100 – almost 40% – compared to the same time last year, figures

Former police officer Lewis Edwards, who admitted more than 100 sexual offences against children, has been handed a life sentence. He will serve a minimum of 12 years behind bars. He was granted a reduction of one third to his sentence due to his entering a guilty plea. Sentences for other counts for which he

A body has been found in the search for a missing hillwalker who vanished in the Scottish Highlands almost seven weeks ago. The remains are yet to be formally identified, but the family of Charles Kelly have been informed. Mr Kelly, also known as Charlie, disappeared during a trek in Glen Etive. The 56-year-old set

A police force was told an officer had “repeatedly asked a 15-year-old girl to send naked pictures of herself” before he went on to commit a child sexual offence, a new inspection has found. The incident was flagged as one of at least five opportunities lost by Thames Valley Police to take stricter action against

A speeding driver who was under the influence of cocaine when he caused the death of a 10-year-old girl in Dartford has been jailed for 12 years. Gavin Prodger, 50, had taken the class A drug before getting behind the wheel of his Audi in July 2021. Prodger has defective eyesight and was taking a

The body of a man has been recovered by officers after reports a vehicle was seen getting into difficulty in floodwater on Friday. Searches were carried out by police after the incident near Marykirk, Aberdeenshire, following disruption caused by Storm Babet. “Formal identification is still to take place, however next of kin have been informed,”

A young corn snake has been reunited with his owner after going missing a year ago. Adventurous Emett managed to survive in the great outdoors after escaping from his home in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. The reptile was eventually found in a residential area nearby and handed into the Scottish SPCA’s animal rescue and rehoming centre

British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton lost his second-place finish at the United States Grand Prix after being disqualified. His Mercedes failed a physical floor and plank wear inspection following Sunday’s race at the Circuit of the Americas racetrack in Texas. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was found guilty of the same offence and also disqualified from his

England flanker Tom Curry has said he was racially abused by a South Africa player during their Rugby World Cup semi-final in Paris on Saturday night. While the alleged slur is not audible on the referee’s audio link, a subsequent conversation Curry had with referee Ben O’Keeffe is. The incident is said to have involved

The British Transport Police said it is investigating a video that appears to show a London Underground driver leading passengers in a chant of “free, free Palestine”. The video, posted on X – formerly known as Twitter, appears to show the driver chanting over the announcement system on the Central line. The driver says “free,

England footballer Trent Alexander-Arnold was involved in a crash with another car after a pylon was blown over during Storm Badet’s strong winds. The Liverpool defender’s Range Rover was involved in the collision on a country lane near Knutsford, Cheshire on Friday morning. Cheshire Police said no one was hurt in the collision which came

A students’ union has banned blue shirts and chinos after “behaviour concerns”. Cardiff University Students’ Union said it would always support students to “have fun in a safe manner” at its venue. The union said the clothing restrictions would be temporary and were not aimed at a specific group. It said the policy was introduced

A police watchdog says it will investigate the Metropolitan Police after a 13-year-old black child with a water pistol was rammed off his bike and arrested. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had originally allowed the London force to launch its own probe, but has now reversed that decision after a statement by the

One of Britain’s biggest chains of car repair shops is gearing up for a sale that could value it at about £400m. Sky News has learnt that Steer Automotive Group has appointed City advisers to sound out prospective buyers. Sources said on Friday that a formal process was not yet underway although initial discussions were

Services for blessing same-sex couples in the Church of England are unlikely to happen for well over a year, a bishop has said. Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally said it was a “time of uncertainty” for the church and that while individuals were sure of their opinions on the matter, the church itself remains

They’re the big underdogs heading into the game in Paris, but England’s rugby players have become used to being written off lately. Their form heading into the tournament in France was woeful, and yet they’re the only unbeaten side left in the semi-finals. Now they face a South Africa team that’s proved to be their

A major search is under way after reports of a man trapped in a vehicle in floodwater as Storm Babet batters large parts of the UK. Police Scotland said the alarm was raised at 3am on Friday near the village of Marykirk in Aberdeenshire. “Multi-agency searches are ongoing and the public are asked to avoid

Polls have closed in two by-elections as the Conservatives attempt to hold on to their seats of Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire. Voters began casting their ballots at 7am, with polling stations shutting their doors at 10pm, and results are expected in the early hours of Friday morning. Watch our Sky News by-election special on TV