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Lord’s bosses have apologised after England cricket fans clashed with Australia players during the second Ashes Test.

As Australia players walked through the Long Room of the stadium during lunch, they appeared to exchange heated words with several Lord’s members.

Australia’s Usman Khawaja and David Warner both stopped to hit back at criticism the team were receiving, and were separated from the crowd by match officials.

The incident followed the controversial stumping of England’s Jonny Bairstow, which was met with chants of “same old Aussies, always cheating” by the home crowd.

Australia's David Warner
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Australia’s David Warner exchanges words with an England fan

Australia's Usman Khawaja was pulled back by a match official
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Australia’s Usman Khawaja was pulled back by a match official

Bairstow had ducked under a bouncing delivery which made its way through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey, before wandering out of his crease as he thought the ball was dead.

Carey threw the ball at the stumps and the run out was given following a check – prompting claims of unsportsmanlike conduct.

Bairstow’s unusual dismissal was met with fury by England’s players, with Stuart Broad taunting Carey and telling him: “That’s all you’ll ever be remembered for”.

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Cricket Australia called on Lord’s bosses to investigate the confrontation in the Long Room, alleging that Aussie players had been verbally abused with some “physically contacted”.

In response, Marylebone Cricket Club said “emotions were running high” and “words were unfortunately exchanged” by a small number of members.

A spokesperson said: “We have unreservedly apologised to the Australian team and will deal with any member who has not maintained the standard we expect through our disciplinary processes.

“It was not necessary to eject anyone from the ground and I am pleased to say that there was no repeat of this as the players resumed the field for this afternoon’s session.”

Former England player Eoin Morgan said: “I’ve never seen scenes like that. Particularly in the Long Room, never mind all the way around the ground.

“There is a huge sense of frustration but I can understand why, it was complete naivety around what has happened with Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal.”

Despite a spirited England comeback, Australia eventually won the second Test by 43 runs.

An inspired Ben Stokes hit 155 to move England 70 runs away from victory, but his dismissal effectively ended hopes of an incredible comeback.

Australia now have a 2-0 lead in the series and will retain the Ashes should they win at Headingley next week.

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Assisted dying bill backed by MPs after emotional Commons debate

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Assisted dying bill backed by MPs after emotional Commons debate

Assisted dying could become legal in England and Wales after the bill was backed by MPs in a historic vote.

Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received 330 yes votes compared to 275 noes at its second reading in the House of Commons – a majority of 55.

Politics Live: MPs voting on historic assisted dying legislation

The bill would allow adults who are terminally ill with just six months left to live to request medical assistance to end their lives.

Today’s result means the legislation will now progress to the committee stage for scrutiny, with the Lords also to be given opportunities to express their views on the measure before it potentially becomes law.

MPs were given a free vote – meaning they could side with their conscience and not along party lines, with the government staying neutral on the matter.

The division list showed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the proposal, as did Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

But other cabinet members like Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood voted against the bill, having previously warned about vulnerable people being coerced and of a “slippery slope of death on demand”.

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MPs debate assisted dying

The vote came after a five-hour debate in the chamber, which drew emotional arguments on both sides.

Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell revealed he changed his mind on assisted dying after finding himself with “tears pouring down my face” on hearing the stories of constituents whose loved ones had died “in great pain and great indignity”.

On the other side of the argument, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott said assisted dying could result in sick people “feeling like a burden” on society, adding: ” I can imagine myself saying that in particular circumstances.”

She warned: “If this bill passes, we will have the NHS as a fully-funded 100% suicide service but palliative care will only be funded at 30% at best.”

Bill about ‘choice and dignity’

Opening the debate on the topic, Labour backbencher Ms Leadbeater said the bill was about giving dying people “choice, autonomy, and dignity” – saying the current law was “failing” them.

Pic: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA

Screen grab of Labour MP Kim Leadbetter opening the debate in favour of her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, in the chamber of the House of Commons in Westminster, London. Picture date: Friday November 29, 2024.

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Five stories that bring the assisted dying debate home

She has insisted her bill contains “the most robust safeguards” of any assisted dying legislation in the word.

This includes two independent doctors having to approve the decision, followed by a high-court judge, with the person having to administer the drugs themselves.

The legislation also includes a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone who coerces someone into requesting assisted dying or taking the medicine.

Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby after the vote, an emotional Ms Leadbeater said she was “incredibly proud” of the result and parliament must now “take on board everything that’s been discussed in the chamber”, including the state of palliative care and the rights of disabled people.

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Heidi Alexander named new transport secretary after Louise Haigh’s resignation over mobile phone guilty plea

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Heidi Alexander named new transport secretary after Louise Haigh's resignation over mobile phone guilty plea

Heidi Alexander has been appointed the new transport secretary after Louise Haigh stepped down.

The Swindon South MP had been serving as a justice minister until her promotion today, and worked as Sadiq Khan’s deputy transport mayor between 2018-2021.

Ms Haigh resigned after Sky News revealed she pleaded guilty to an offence related to incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013.

In a letter to the prime minister, she described the incident as a “mistake” but said that “whatever the facts of the matter, this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering on the work of this government”.

Ms Haigh claims she was “mugged on a night out” and believed her phone had been stolen, but discovered “some time later” this was not the case.

She called the incident a “genuine mistake from which I did not make any gain”.

The Tories have said it raises questions about what exactly Sir Keir knew when he appointed her to his shadow cabinet in opposition.

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Responding to her resignation letter, the prime minister thanked Ms Haigh for “all you have done to deliver this government’s ambitious transport agenda” and said: “I know you still have a huge contribution to make in the future.”

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16-year-old girl charged with murder of man in King’s Cross

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16-year-old girl charged with murder of man in King's Cross

A 16-year-old girl has been charged with the murder of a man in King’s Cross.

The teenager, from Brixton, south London, will appear at magistrates’ court later today charged with the murder of Anthony Marks, 51, in August this year.

Mr Marks was assaulted on Cromer Street on Saturday 10 August.

A 17-year-old boy has previously been charged and remanded in custody to face trial next year.

Police are keen to hear from any witnesses who may not have come forward yet, as well as Mr Marks’s next of kin, who still remain unidentified.

Read more from Sky News:
Assisted dying: What is in the legislation?
Woman on e-bike dies after being ‘rammed by 4×4’

Anyone with information should call the police at 101 or contact the incident room direct on 0208 358 0300.

They can also reach out on social media platform X.

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