The government has been accused of producing a “rehashed document” in a bid to quell a Tory rebellion over its strengthened coronavirus tiers.
Arcadia Group collapses – biggest business failure of the pandemic so far
Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia retail empire has collapsed in the worst single corporate failure of the COVID-19 crisis to date, leaving 13,000 jobs hanging in the balance.
Virus ‘back under control’ but we must stay vigilant, Hancock warns
The health secretary has said that England’s lockdown means “we’ve got this virus back under control” – but warned continued vigilance is needed in the fight against COVID-19.
Welsh pubs and restaurants banned from selling alcohol and face 6pm curfew
Pubs and restaurants across Wales will be banned from selling alcohol and be forced to close at 6pm every evening.
Council warns care home providers not to use rapid COVID tests over accuracy doubts
Sheffield City Council has warned care home providers not to use the government’s much-hailed rapid COVID tests over doubts about their accuracy.
Man who threw baby son into Manchester river guilty of manslaughter
A man who threw his 11-month-old son into a river in Manchester has been found guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility.
‘I’m just a stupid chicken’: Woman denies being involved in £25m raid on Ecclestone’s home
A Romanian woman accused of assisting with Britain’s biggest-ever domestic burglary plot has told jurors she was a “stupid chicken” and therefore not a thief.
Family of Pat Finucane say decision not to have a public inquiry is an ‘insult’
The family of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane say the government’s decision not to hold a public inquiry is an “insult”.
UK records another 12,330 coronavirus cases and 205 deaths
A further 12,330 people have tested positive for coronavirus and 205 people have died in the UK in the last 24 hours, government figures show.
Buckingham Palace catering assistant admits stealing medals and photos
A catering assistant at Buckingham Palace has pleaded guilty to stealing photos and medals from the Queen’s official London residence.
UK COVID deaths down in last 24 hours with 215 fatalities and 12,155 cases
Another 12,155 COVID-19 cases and 215 deaths of people who have tested positive for the virus have been recorded in the UK in the past 24 hours.
Can you go carol singing? Government issues Christmas guidance
Santa’s grottos, nativity plays and door-to-door carol singing will be permitted once lockdown ends, according to new Christmas guidance.
Mother who killed six children in fire freed from jail after serving half of sentence
A mother who killed her six children in a fire has been freed from prison after serving just half of her 17-year sentence.
People with Down’s syndrome charged for letters allowing them into college
GPs have been charging people with Down’s syndrome for letters allowing them to go to college, despite them being on the COVID-19 clinically vulnerable list, Sky News has learned.
Thousands of turkeys to be culled after bird flu outbreak at North Yorkshire farm
More than 10,000 turkeys are to be culled at a farm in North Yorkshire after an outbreak of bird flu.
‘Scrap peak fares, bring in mass testing’: Labour wants Christmas travel plan to avoid ‘chaos’
The government is being urged to suspend peak rail fares and introduce mass testing for transport staff, to help the country avoid travel “chaos” in the run up to Christmas.
Man left ‘shattered’ as British partner goes missing in the Pyrenees
A British woman who has spent six years travelling around Europe in a camper van has gone missing in the Pyrenees.
‘He cried for my pain’: Former convict says London Bridge terror victim changed his life
Former gang member and convict Rosca Onya has released a tribute single to honour Jack Merritt on the anniversary of his death in the London Bridge terror attack.
UK secures two million more Moderna jabs as new vaccine minister appointed
The government has secured an additional two million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which trials suggest has a 95% effectiveness.
PM tells Tory MPs COVID tiers ‘have a sunset of 3 February’
Boris Johnson has said the new coronavirus tiers “have a sunset of 3 February” as he tries to fight off a backlash from Tory MPs.
UK records another 15,871 coronavirus cases and 479 deaths
The UK has recorded another 15,871 coronavirus cases and 479 deaths in the past 24 hours.
PM appoints vaccine roll-out minister amid Tory unrest over tier system
Boris Johnson has appointed a minister to take charge of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, as his government seeks to quell a backbench rebellion over the new tier system.
UK and France reach deal to tackle migrant crossings using ‘specialist equipment’
The UK and France have reached a new agreement to tackle migrants crossing the Channel with more officers patrolling beaches and “cutting edge” surveillance technology deployed, the Home Office has said.
‘But I don’t have symptoms’: Councillors go door to door encouraging people to get tested
In a global pandemic, it doesn’t get much more local than this.
Sharp rise in road rage crimes with victims stabbed, punched, bitten and spat at
The number of road rage crimes has risen sharply in the UK, with thousands of offences including attempted murders, assaults and racist abuse incidents reported in the last three years, Sky News has found.
More than 150 arrested in London during protests against lockdown
More than 150 people have been arrested as anti-lockdown protesters clashed with police in central London.
Ashley offers Green £50m lifeline amid tussle over Arcadia millions
Mike Ashley is offering a £50m lifeline to keep Arcadia Group afloat amid a looming tussle between the high street’s biggest beasts for control of Sir Philip Green’s TopShop empire.
SNP pledges free breakfast and lunch for primary school pupils all year round
Free breakfasts and lunches will be provided to all primary school children in Scotland throughout term time and the holidays if the SNP is re-elected in May, the country’s education secretary has pledged.
Bird flu link investigated after dying swans found ‘spinning in circles and bleeding from nostrils’
A spate of swan deaths across the UK are reportedly being investigated amid concerns they could be connected to a wave of avian flu from Europe.
Christmas COVID rules will increase infections ‘potentially by a large amount’ – SAGE
The relaxation of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas will increase infections “potentially by a large amount”, the government’s scientific advisers have warned.