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Just Stop Oil has denied responsibility for a stunt that saw a woman throw orange confetti over George Osborne and his wife at their wedding.

The former chancellor and Thea Rogers were targeted at the ceremony on Saturday.

The woman was initially believed to be a protester from the environmental campaign group, which is known for attention-grabbing stunts involving orange paint or powder.

But a statement from the group said: “As much as we applaud the use of orange confetti at this wedding, we were not responsible.”

It added: “If it was a form of protest – which is yet to be established – we applaud it and thank the person concerned.

“It was peaceful and not especially disruptive, but got massive media attention for Just Stop Oil’s demand.”

A woman throws orange confetti over former chancellor George Osborne and his wife and former adviser, Thea Rogers
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A woman throws orange confetti over ex-chancellor George Osborne and his wife Thea Rogers

Wimbledon, the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, the Premiership rugby final at Twickenham and the World Snooker Championship have already been targeted by Just Stop Oil protesters.

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On Saturday, the couple looked confused when the smartly-dressed older woman approached them as they left St Mary’s Church in the Somerset town of Bruton with a bag filled with confetti.

Aides stepped towards the woman who then moved away from the couple.

A spokesperson for Mr Osborne said they didn’t believe it was a protest and that the individual didn’t say anything.

George Osborne and his wife Thea Rogers
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George Osborne and his wife Thea Rogers

Before denying an association with the woman, Just Stop Oil tweeted Mr Osborne “looked good in orange”.

Several MPs hit out at the alleged stunt including the shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves.

She told the Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme on Sky News: “I have got no time for Just Stop Oil. To be honest, I think it is a bit pathetic and quite tedious disrupting tennis, snooker, other people’s weddings.”

“If they want to tackle climate change, engage in the policy answers, but they are not building support for their cause, they are doing the exact opposite,” she said.

“So it is counter-productive and it is rude frankly.”

The confetti incident comes as Mr Osborne called in police to investigate alleged online harassment after a “poison pen” email was sent to wedding guests, politicians and journalists on Thursday.

Friends say the email is part of a “long-term campaign” of abuse in which an individual has “made up rumours” and engaged in “cyber bullying”.

It is understood the couple believes they know the identity of the person behind the email.

Former prime minister David Cameron and wife Samantha
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Former prime minister David Cameron and wife Samantha

The individual is not thought to be directly connected to Mr Osborne, and their specific motivation is also unclear.

A string of well-known politicians and public figures gathered in Bruton on Saturday afternoon, including former prime minister David Cameron, ex-BBC correspondent Jon Sopel and former health secretary Matt Hancock.

Jon Sopel (centre) and Sajid Javid (right) arrive at St Mary's Church in Brunton
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Jon Sopel (centre) and Sajid Javid (right) arrive at St Mary’s Church in Brunton

Former health secretary Matt Hancock
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Former health secretary Matt Hancock

Ms Rogers, 40, was a Treasury adviser to Mr Osborne, 52, when he was chancellor.

He served in David Cameron’s cabinet between 2010 and 2016, when the former prime minister resigned after the Brexit result.

Mr Osborne went on to be the editor of the Evening Standard and now serves as chairman of the British Museum.

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League table of foreign criminals awaiting deportation and their offences set to be published

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League table of foreign criminals awaiting deportation and their offences set to be published

A league table of foreign criminals and their offences is set to be published for the first time.

The plans, due to be announced on Tuesday, will reportedly focus on those offenders awaiting deportation from the UK.

The latest data shows there were 19,244 foreign offenders awaiting deportation at the end of 2024, a rise from 17,907 when the Conservatives left office in July and 14,640 at the end of 2022.

Despite more offenders being deported since Labour came to power, the number waiting to be removed from the UK has been growing.

Factors are understood to include the early release of inmates due to prison overcrowding, instability and diplomatic problems in some countries and a backlog of legal cases appealing deportation.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the decision to publish the nationalities of foreign criminals showed Labour had “buckled” under pressure from the Conservatives to disclose the data.

The latest government statistics show there were 10,355 foreign nationals held in custody in England and Wales at the end of 2024, representing 12% of the prison population.

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The most common nationalities after British nationals were Albanian (11%), Polish (8%), Romanian (7%), which also represented the top three nationalities who were deported from the UK in 2024, according to Home Office figures.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is understood to have ordered officials to release the details by the end of the year, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper reported Ms Cooper overruled Home Office officials, who previously claimed it was too difficult to provide quality data on foreign criminals.

A Home Office source said: “Not only are we deporting foreign criminals at a rate never seen when Chris Philp and Robert Jenrick were in charge at the Home Office, but we will also be publishing far more information about that cohort of offenders than the Tories ever did.”

The source added that ministers wanted “to ensure the public is kept better informed about the number of foreign criminals awaiting deportation, where they are from and the crimes they have committed”.

In March, the government announced £5m in funding to deploy staff to 80 jails in England and Wales to speed up the deportation of foreign offenders.

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Foreign nationals sentenced to 12 months or more in prison are subject to automatic deportation, but the home secretary can also remove criminals if their presence in the UK is not considered desirable.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick welcomed the news, saying: “We will finally see the hard reality that mass migration is fuelling crime across our country… Frankly, the public deserved to know this [detail on foreign criminals] long ago.”

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Rachel Reeves to head to Washington amid hopes of US trade deal

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Rachel Reeves to head to Washington amid hopes of US trade deal

Rachel Reeves will pledge to “stand up for Britain’s national interest” as she heads to Washington DC amid hopes of a UK/US trade deal.

The chancellor will fly to the US capital for her spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the first of which began on Sunday.

During her three-day visit, Ms Reeves is set to hold meetings with G7, G20 and IMF counterparts about the changing global economy and is expected to make the case for open trade.

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Her visit comes after Donald Trump imposed blanket 10% tariffs on all imports into the US, including from the UK, and as talks about reaching a trade deal intensified.

The chancellor will also hold her first in-person meeting with her US counterpart, treasury secretary Scott Bessent, about striking a new trade agreement, which the UK hopes will take the sting out of Mr Trump’s tariffs.

In addition to the 10% levy on all goods imported to America from the UK, Mr Trump enacted a 25% levy on car imports.

Ms Reeves will also be hoping to encourage fellow European finance ministers to increase their defence spending and discuss the best ways to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Read more:
Mission: Impossible? Chancellor heads to the IMF

Starmer and the King pay tribute to Pope Francis

Speaking ahead of her visit, Ms Reeves said: “The world has changed, and we are in a new era of global trade. I am in no doubt that the imposition of tariffs will have a profound impact on the global economy and the economy at home.

“This changing world is unsettling for families who are worried about the cost of living and businesses concerned about what tariffs will mean for them. But our task as a government is not to be knocked off course or to take rash action which risks undermining people’s security.

“Instead, we must rise to meet the moment and I will always act to defend British interests as part of our plan for change.

“We need a world economy that provides stability and fairness for businesses wanting to invest and trade, more trade and global partnerships between nations with shared interests, and security for working people who want to get on with their lives.”

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

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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
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Police at the scene at Ayley Croft in Enfield

Read more from Sky News:
Fresh appeal over student’s murder
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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.

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