United Kingdom: News and Reviews from Sky News

Here is the latest UK News from Sky News.

Stephen Crabb Replaces Iain Duncan Smith
Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb will take over from Iain Duncan Smith as Work and Pensions Secretary, David Cameron has announced.

PM Is Criticised For Picking Lanza Over Lakes
David Cameron told British families to holiday in the flood-hit Lake District this Easter but will spend his break in Lanzarote.

Plane-Spotter Britons Held On Terror Charges
The four men were detained after reportedly taking pictures of planes at an airport in Kenya and sparking a terror alert.

Vigilantes Unmask Hundreds Of Fake Veterans
The Walter Mitty Hunters Club tells Sky News that fake soldiers are an insult to those who have lost loves ones in combat.

PM ‘Puzzled’ By Iain Duncan Smith’s Resignation
The Prime Minister hits back at Iain Duncan Smith’s claim that he was pressured to make spending cuts which were “not defensible.”

Adele To Headline At Glastonbury Festival
Award-winning singer Adele will join Muse and Coldplay at the top of the bill for this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

Alton Towers’ Smiler Rollercoaster To Reopen
A man who was badly injured when the Smiler crashed in June last year says he would have preferred the £18m ride to remain closed.

Pendleton’s ‘Special Achievement’ At Cheltenham
The cycling champion first sat on a horse a year ago, making her fifth place at the horse racing festival all the more striking.

Harry: Diana ‘Longing’ For Me To Have Kids
The prince said he hoped he was a “fun uncle” to George and Charlotte, and “can’t wait for the day” he has his own children.

Iain Duncan Smith Resigns Over Disability Cuts
Iain Duncan Smith has quit the Cabinet and described proposed cuts to disability benefits announced in George Osborne’s Budget as indefensible.

Musician Guilty Of Murdering Pianist Wife
Natalia Strelchenko suffered 76 separate injuries after John Martin went at her “like an animal” and they fell down the stairs.

Osborne Accused Of ‘Back Door’ Pensions Raid
The Liberal Democrats say changes to the funding of public sector pensions are a “vicious attack” on already-stretched services.

Government Committed To Disability Benefits Cut
Downing Street says the controversial changes to Personal Independence Payments are needed to curb the “ballooning” welfare bill.

Poppi Worthington Father ‘In Real Danger’
Lawyers argue it would not be safe for Paul Worthington to appear at a new inquest after he was accused of abusing his daughter.

MP Danczuk Agrees To Repay £11,000 In Expenses
A watchdog finds the Rochdale MP claimed accommodation costs for two children who did not “routinely” live with him.

Helicopter Top Guns Quit Army Over Pay Row
Some are told to return overpayments of up to £30,000, despite concerns it take four years and costs £3.5m to train a new pilot.

Police Officer Hurt By Man Armed With Machetes
Witnesses report seeing a man wearing a balaclava near the private school St Aloysius College and the Glasgow School of Art.

Man Held After Teenager Shot Dead In The Street
Residents say a forensics tent has been set up around a car after police discover the body of an 18-year-old in Birmingham.

Man Utd And Liverpool Charged Over Fan Clashes
The Europa League game between England’s most successful clubs was marred by scuffles, chairs being thrown and ugly chanting.

Fraud Probe Into Police Federation Accounts
The inquiry into the union representing most police officers in England and Wales comes as its vice chairman resigns.

Make Rail Delay Refunds Easier, Watchdog Says
Compensation forms must be written in plain English and staff need better training, the Office of Rail and Road says.

Which Voracious Feeder Is The Top Garden Pest?
The top pest is now making itself at home across the Home Counties and is spreading across south east England.

Child Sex Abuse ‘Sterotypes’ Mean Victims Missed
Boys and girls targeted by older women may be falling under the radar because they do not fit the more typical model of abuse.

Friday’s National Newspaper Front Pages
Sky News takes a look at the stories making a splash in Friday’s national newspapers.

Victoria Pendleton To Saddle Up At Cheltenham
The Olympic champion makes the move from racing novice to Cheltenham Festival, a year after sitting on a horse for the first time.

Britain’s Highest Mountain Just Got Higher
Ever climbed Ben Nevis? Well, your efforts have just become ever so slightly more impressive.

Police Officer Charged With Child Sex Offences
Scotland Yard says a detective constable from the force’s child abuse command will appear in court charged with 14 offences.

Police Racism Row Over Four-Leaf Clover Tweet
Officers in east London are accused of being “racist” and “threatening” after wishing followers a happy St Patrick’s Day.

Tampon Tax Set To Be Scrapped After EU Deal
The move comes as the Government faced a revolt by Tory MPs demanding it go it alone to scrap the levy in defiance of EU rules.

Jools And Jamie Oliver Expecting Fifth Child
The couple reveal their family is due to get bigger as they attend a film premiere with Mrs Oliver sporting a baby bump.

PM Summoned To Appear Before MPs Over Libya
The invitation comes amid claims – denied by the Government – that the UK could send 1,000 ground troops to the country.

British Astronomers Find Nine ‘Monster’ Stars
The cluster of stars around 170,000 light years from Earth is the largest group of very massive stars ever identified.

Roaring Lionesses Interrupt Queen’s Zoo Visit
Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh gave the royal seal of approval to London Zoo’s Land Of The Lions exhibition.

‘Dedicated’ Doctor Who Treated 7/7 Victims Dies
Tributes are paid to Dr Claire Sheppey, who worked with the Royal London Hospital’s response team during the 2005 terror attacks.

Queen Puts Top Scottish Artworks On Display
Works by artists including the Glasgow Boys, Allan Ramsay and Sir David Wilkie are among the exhibits at Buckingham Palace.

Crash Driver Branded ‘Idiot’ Over Sticker
Police tweet a photo of the sticker saying “sorry officer I thought you wanted a race” after the driver is held after a car chase.

Qualified Teacher Status To Be Scrapped
Headteachers will decide when trainees are good enough to become professional teachers in a system compared to learning to drive.

Rolf Harris Denies Indecent Assault Charges
Rolf Harris denied eight charges of indecent assault – including some against children – as he appeared in court via video link.

Britons Face Pay Cut After Budget, IFS Says
If forecast downgrades are right it means lower pay and living standards, a leading think-tank has warned in its Budget analysis.

Child Terror Arrests Reach Record Levels
Sixteen under-18s were arrested in 2015, up from 10 on the previous year, while the number of women detained is also up.

Bank Of England Leaves Interest Rates On Hold
The Bank of England has left interest rates on hold at 0.5% marking seven years at which they have remained at the historic low.

‘One Of The Greatest Magicians We’ll Ever See’
Stars from the world of TV and magic pay tribute to Paul Daniels following his death from an incurable brain tumour.

Police Officer ‘Deliberately’ Hit By Car
An officer gets off his bicycle to stop a car but is struck, ending up on the bonnet before falling to the ground.

Magician Paul Daniels Dies From Brain Tumour
Television magician Paul Daniels died aged 77 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Skipping Car On Commute Could Extend Your Life
A study suggests cycling, walking and taking the bus or train to work offers greater health benefits than commuting in the car.

Thursday’s National Newspaper Front Pages
Sky News takes a look at the stories making a splash in Thursday’s national newspapers.

Government Defeated In Lords On Union Reforms
Government plans which have been criticised as an attack on Labour’s finances have been watered down in an amendment by the Lords.

Teachers Fear Education Reforms Do Not Add Up
There are concerns that plans to teach maths to children until 18, and extending the school day, could pile pressure on teachers.

Disabled Tory: Osborne ‘Is Robbing Vulnerable’
A Conservative activist says he wants to end his party membership after the Chancellor cut disability benefits in the Budget.

Owners Of Killer Dogs Face 14 Years In Prison
The new sentence guidance will be used to punish owners where the dog is being used as a weapon or is a banned breed.

Woman Accused Of Murdering Child ‘Was Crap Mum’
Kathryn Smith made the comment after social services had raised the prospect of taking her young child into care, jurors are told.

Taxpayers Face £20bn Loss On RBS Share Sales
Taxpayers could recoup just £23.6bn of the £45.5bn used to rescue RBS according to an analysis of figures published on Wednesday.

Obama To Lunch With Queen At Windsor Castle
The US President will also hold a joint conference with Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street in April’s visit.

Osborne To Levy Sugar Tax On Soft Drinks
The Chancellor vows the Government will do right by the next generation “no matter how difficult and how controversial it is”.

Corbyn: Budget Reveals Six Years Of Failure
The Labour leader responds to George Osborne’s Budget, saying the Chancellor has failed to rebalance the British economy.

Key Points: Budget Announcements At A Glance
All the main bulletpoints – including efforts to tackle tax avoidance and measures on personal tax thresholds and fuel duty.

Footballer Sorry For Urinating Into Beer Glass
MK Dons midfielder Samir Carruthers says he’s “let everyone down” following the drunken incident at Cheltenham race course.

Sex Attack On Girl At Greggs: Witnesses Sought
The security camera images show people who may be able to help police investigating an assault on an eight-year-old.

Unemployment Falls And Wage Growth Improves
Employment minister Priti Patel hails “strong” labour market figures but the TUC says they show pay growth is still too slow.

Voice Of Thunderbirds’ Lady Penelope Dies
Sylvia Anderson co-created the hit TV show along with a string of other classics, including Stingray.

Dogs In UK At Risk From Deadly Tick Disease
One dog is reported to have died and several others are seriously ill after contracting Canine Babesiosis.

London Stock Exchange Agrees £21bn Merger
Deutsche Boerse agrees a “merger of equals” with the London Stock Exchange Group in a deal that will create a European giant.

Hamilton Swerves Trouble Over Motorway Snapchat
The F1 driver was investigated by police for allegedly using his mobile while riding a motorbike in New Zealand.

Footballer ‘Urinated In Glass’ At Cheltenham
MK Dons is examining pictures which allegedly show one of their midfielders relieving himself in a busy executive box.

Wednesday’s National Newspaper Front Pages
Sky News takes a look at the stories making a splash in Tuesday’s national newspapers.

Sony Announces Playstation VR Release Date
Its launch comes in a big year for virtual reality technology with Facebook’s Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive also due out.

What To Expect In Osborne’s Eighth Budget
The Chancellor is preparing to deliver his eighth Budget but who is going to do well and who will miss out? Here’s what to expect.

Education Pledges At Heart Of Osborne’s Budget
The Chancellor will announce an extra £1.5bn of funding and new legislation aimed at ensuring every school is an academy by 2020.

JK Rowling Replies To Mother’s Moving Letter
The author has offered condolences to a woman who wrote about how her daughter found solace in Harry Potter books before she died.

Extra £450k Pledged To Find Missing Ben Needham
As the 25th anniversary of the boy’s disappearance in Greece approaches, police hope to achieve a resolution “one way or another”.

William Shrugs Off ‘Work-Shy’ Accusations
The Duke has been called a part-time royal amid criticism of his workload, but he says such claims are “part of the job”.

Meningitis B Vaccine Cost-Effective, Parents Say
MPs hear from parents who believe extending the immunisation programme to all children could save the NHS money in the long term.

Prince Joins Shipping Firms To Curb Trafficking
The Duke of Cambridge warns there may be no African elephants or rhinos left in the wild by the time his daughter Charlotte is 25.

Funeral For Biker After Didcot Plant Collapse
Mick Collings loved his motorcycle club and, on his final ride, hundreds of its members came along to say goodbye.

Teen ‘Needed Cuddle’ After Knocking Down Cop
Clayton Williams said he cried and felt scared and lost after fatally mowing down PC Dave Phillips with a stolen pick-up truck.

Labour Anti-Semitism Row: Vice-Chair Suspended
Local Labour Party vice-chair Vicki Kirby used her Twitter feed to say Jewish people have “big noses”.

How Eurosceptic Is Your Home Town?
Almost 400 areas feature in our Sky Data Euroscepticism rankings. How are people where you live poised to vote in the referendum?

Sports Direct Boss Formally Told To Face MPs
Mike Ashley is to be ordered to face a grilling by a parliamentary committee as it escalates its stand-off with the tycoon.

Prison Officer Dies After Belfast Bomb Blast
It’s believed the 52-year-old who suffered leg wounds in the blast suffered a heart attack this morning.

RBS To Slash 448 Investment Banking Jobs
The latest announcement brings to around 1,000 the overall number of job cuts set out by the lender over the last couple of days.

Elderly Woman Dies After Escalator Fall At M&S
The 94-year-old is understood to have hit her head as she fell backwards from the top of an escalator inside the shop.

Clubbing Out, Coffee Pods In For Inflation Basket
The basket of goods and services used to calculate inflation suggests people would rather stay in with a coffee and buffet food.

Pillion Passenger Gunman Fires In Street Chase
A man was left with a gunshot wound to his leg after being shot by the pillion passenger of a moped.

Verdict In Lynx Helicopter Crash Inquest
Undermanning and unsatisfactory training contributed to a Lynx helicopter crash that killed five UK servicemen, a coroner has found.

Sainsbury’s Sales Rise First Time Since 2013
The supermarket ends eight quarters of sales falls as product ranges focus on new year healthy eating trends among consumers.

Police Hunt Man Over 200 Burglaries In 10 Years
CCTV shows the suspect, who wears a black fisherman’s hat, throwing a safe from a window in one of his scores of burglaries.

CBI Says 80% Of Firms Want To Remain In EU
A poll shows most member firms back an “In” vote, but leave campaigners have questioned the way the survey was conducted.

Firefighters Tackle Wythenshawe Hall Blaze
Dozens of firefighters are fighting a fire which is feared to have seriously damaged 16th century Wythenshawe Hall in Manchester.

Hotel Du Lac Author Anita Brookner Dies Aged 87
The Booker Prize winner, who penned 25 books during her career, has been praised as a “serious, serious writer” by Jilly Cooper.

Parents Of Meningitis Victim To Address MPs
As a petition demanding meningitis vaccines for every child closes, Faye Burdett’s family are taking their campaign to Parliament.

Tuesday’s National Newspaper Front Pages
Sky News takes a look at the stories making a splash in Tuesday’s national newspapers.

McCoy: I Was Lucky To Walk Away From Racing
The retired jockey tells Sky News that while he misses competing, he knows he was lucky to avoid serious injury during his career.

Sky’s Brexit Map Reveals Most Pro-Leave Areas
Coastal areas dominate the top 30 places most likely to support a Brexit, whilst the top 20 pro-EU districts are found in London.

Tricky Patients ‘Likelier To Be Misdiagnosed’
Patients who behave problematically during appointments can increase the risk of their doctor making a mistake, a study suggests.

North To Get £300m Transport Boost In Budget
The Chancellor is set to fund a high-speed rail link between Manchester and Leeds, and support a major new train route in London.

PC’s Death: Accused Just Released From Prison
Clayton Williams was released from jail three weeks before he hit PC Dave Phillips in a stolen pick-up truck, a court hears.

RBS Cuts 550 Jobs In Move To Automated Service
Jobs lost as ‘robo-advisers’ replace face-to-face help, but the FCA calls for the industry to embrace the cost-cutting technology.

Employers Say University Isn’t The Only Way
As National Apprenticeship Week starts, Sky News takes a look at some of the options, and hears from employers who support them.

Mystery Man Found Dead On Moor Was Poisoned
Detectives are struggling to identify the elderly man, who had travelled north from London to Manchester before he died.

Sixth Form Teachers’ Strike Can Go Ahead
The High Court refuses to grant the Education Secretary an urgent declaration that the action planned by the NUT is unlawful.