Connect with us

Published

on

The chancellor has said he “is willing to do what it takes” and increase support for households if energy bills rise again this autumn.

Sky’s economics and data editor Ed Conway asked the chancellor if he could guarantee he would step in if energy bills start rising again.

“All I can say is that I think I’ve demonstrated in the autumn statement, and the spring budget where I extended the energy price guarantee for another three months, funded in part by a windfall tax on the oil companies, that we are willing to do what it takes,” Mr Hunt said.

“We are very aware of the pressures that families are facing, and we want to do what we can to support them”, he said.

But, he added they were not expecting a major increase in Ofgem’s energy price cap, which today brought average bills to £2,074 a year, down £426 a year from the previous cap and is reviewed every three months.

When asked if the government would step in, if bills hypothetically reached £3,000 a year, the chancellor said he was not expecting those kinds increases.

“I don’t want to predict today what might happen to energy prices at the moment”, he said. “I don’t have a crystal ball.”

More on Energy

Wholesale gas prices have come down, enabling the energy regulator to bring down the price cap, but the future of prices is unknown.

Ofgem’s chief executive on Thursday told MPs it is “very, very hard” to predict future energy prices.

“Every prediction on the market has turned out to be substantially wrong,” Jonathan Brearley said at the Public Accounts Committee.

Read more
Why high energy prices are the new normal – despite price cap drop
Energy price cap set to remain more than £1,000 higher than pre-pandemic

His “best guess” is prices will continue to come down but said it was only a guess.

Mr Brearley added he hopes prices continue to fall but said that it only takes one global event to bring prices up again.

Energy prices rose sharply in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as Western countries rushed to cease use of Russian gas and find alternative sources.

Oil and gas prices had already been rising as economic activity restarted after pandemic-era lockdowns.

The government’s energy price guarantee is set to end on 1 July. It limits the amount suppliers can charge per unit of energy used and was applied throughout the autumn and winter.

No state support is planned from July.

Continue Reading

UK

Murder arrest after woman stabbed to death in Enfield – as victim named

Published

on

By

Murder arrest after woman stabbed to death in Enfield - as victim named

A woman who was stabbed to death in north London has been named by police – as a man was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Pamela Munro, 45, was found with a stab wound and died at the scene in Ayley Croft, Enfield, on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday and is in custody, the force added.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: “Investigating officers have worked relentlessly across the weekend to investigate the circumstances around Pamela’s death.

“We continue to support her family who are understandably devastated.”

GVs from SN footage on 20/04/2025 at scene of murder on 19/04/2025 of woman at Gainsborough House, Ayley Croft, Enfield in north London.
Ingest 25 NM25 SKY SAF ENFIELD MURDER GVS ENFIELD 2045
Image:
Police at the scene at Ayley Croft in Enfield

Read more from Sky News:
Fresh appeal over student’s murder
100 firefighters battle flats blaze

The Met Police has asked anyone with information or who was driving through Ayley Court between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday and may have dashcam footage to contact the force.

Continue Reading

UK

‘British man’ dies after being dragged out of police station in Ecuador – reports

Published

on

By

'British man' dies after being dragged out of police station in Ecuador - reports

A “British man” has died after being beaten and set on fire by a mob in Ecuador, according to reports by media in the South American country.

According to reports, the man – who has not been officially identified – had been detained by police after being accused of being involved in a fatal shooting.

Ecuadorian news outlet Ecuavisa reported that the man had been taken to a police station Playas del Cuyabeno, a remote village in the Amazon rainforest.

While there, a group broke into the station and took the man away. He was then set on fire in the street, it is reported, and died from his burns.

Playas del Cuyabeno
Image:
The incident reportedly happened in the Playas del Cuyabeno area of Sucumbios province

Another local report, from EXTRA.ec, said that specialist police units had been slow to arrive due to the geographical conditions of the area – which is accessible by river.

Read more from Sky News:
IDF finds ‘failings’ over attack on aid workers
Pope blesses Easter crowds from popemobile

According to reports, police officers at the station apparently decided they could not intervene when the mob arrived out of concerns for their own safety.

It is understood the UK Foreign Office is following up reports about the incident and working with local authorities to confirm the details.

Continue Reading

UK

Three men charged over death of woman struck by van at golf course after police chase

Published

on

By

Three men charged over death of woman struck by van at golf course after police chase

Three men have been charged with manslaughter over the death of a woman who was struck by a van at a golf course following a police pursuit.

Suzanne Cherry died in hospital four days after she was struck by the vehicle on the morning of 11 April.

Two police cars had been following a grey Nissan van in Lichfield, Birmingham, after receiving reports of suspicious activity, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

However, they stopped chasing the van when it went off-road and up an embankment at Aston Wood Golf Club, where it hit Ms Cherry, of Aldridge, Walsall.

West Midlands Police said John McDonald, 51, of Bloxwich, has been charged with manslaughter, assault by beating and failing to stop a vehicle when directed by a constable.

Johnny McDonald, 22, of Dudley, and Brett Delaney, 34, of Darlaston, Walsall, have also been charged with manslaughter.

They are due to appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 21 April.

Three other men who had been arrested have been bailed with conditions.

Read more from Sky News:
Woman, 45, stabbed to death
The 10 worst airports for flight delays
Just 303 DeLoreans left on Britain’s roads

Following Ms Cherry’s death, her husband paid tribute to his “beautiful wife” and described how he watched in “helpless horror” during the incident.

“Suzanne leaves a legacy and an unfillable void in the lives of her mother Maureen, her three adult children, two step-children and countless others from her work, her sporting activities and social circle,” he added.

The IOPC continues to investigate the circumstances prior to the crash.

Continue Reading

Trending