Middle East crisis: Former home secretary Suella Braverman joins pro-Israel rally

Published

1 year ago

January 15, 2024

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Former home secretary Suella Braverman joined thousands of pro-Israel protesters at a rally in London on Sunday as the world marked 100 days since the country’s war with Hamas began.

Demonstrators, many of them waving Israeli flags, listened to speeches and chanted “bring them home” – in reference to hostages held by the militant group – as they gathered in the capital’s Trafalgar Square.

Ms Braverman, who was sacked by the prime minister in his November reshuffle, told Sky News: “I’ve come today to show solidarity with Israel and with those people who are still held captive by Hamas.

“We need to get them out, they need to be brought home and we need to stand with Israel continually throughout this bitter, and cruel, and evil conflict.”

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Ms Braverman has long been an enthusiastic supporter of Israel. She told the Jewish Chronicle last year that her Jewish husband Rael previously lived in the country and that she has “close family members who serve in the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]”.

Police initially said two people were arrested at the rally – a man who allegedly shouted “antisemitic abuse from a passing car” and a demonstrator who snatched and tore up a sign belonging to a member of a counter-protest organised by anti-Israel Jewish group Neturei Karta.

However, the Met later said the man was “detained but not ultimately arrested” after a review of CCTV confirmed he was not the person responsible.

Meanwhile the rally was also played a video message from Israel’s president Isaac Herzog, who thanked political leaders in the UK for supporting the country.

He said: “In the face of those who wish to scare us into silence, you’ve stood up and spoken out with clarity, pride and passion but it isn’t only within the Jewish community, across every branch of British leadership, the truth reigns clear.

“In the name of the state and people of Israel, I thank you all.

“I want to thank His Majesty King Charles III. I want to thank Prime Minister [Rishi] Sunak.

“I want to thank the UK government and I want to thank opposition leader [Sir Keir] Starmer and his colleagues.”

Labour MP Christian Wakeford, who spoke at the rally, said an estimated 25,000 people attended.

Following criticism that the figure was an exaggeration, he wrote on X: “I’ve seen no other estimates. The size of the crowd wasn’t what was important today, it was the message of solidarity and hope 100 days on from that dreadful day in Israel.”

Earlier on Sunday, a group of cyclists also held a ride through central London as part of a campaign to raise awareness about hostages still being held by Hamas.

It came a day after pro-Palestinian protesters held a demonstration in central London as part of a “global day of action” calling for a ceasefire.

Speakers at the rally also criticised the recent US-UK air strikes on Yemen, while also congratulating South Africa for bringing a genocide case against Israel at the UN’s International Court of Justice.

Co-organisers the Palestine Solidarity Campaign estimated more than 500,000 people attended.

Police said nine people were arrested – for alleged offences including inciting racial hatred, a suspected racially aggravated public order offence, and on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation.

UK

David Beckham to be knighted in King’s Birthday Honours list

Published

1 hour ago

June 6, 2025

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David Beckham to be knighted in King's Birthday Honours list

David Beckham is set to receive a knighthood in the King’s upcoming Birthday Honours list, Sky News understands.

The former England football captain was awarded an OBE in 2003, on the recommendation of then prime minister Tony Blair, but is now set to receive further recognition.

Beckham, who turned 50 in May, would take on the title of Sir and his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, would become Lady Beckham, as first reported by The Sun.

It has been a long-held ambition of Beckham’s, and rumours abounded last year he may finally get the honour after he was announced as ambassador to the King’s Foundation.

Speculation then hit fever pitch in December last year when he attended a state banquet for the first time, alongside his wife.

Beckham, who would go by Sir David, met the King last week at the Chelsea Flower show.

The monarch was heard asking the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain star, “You got it, didn’t you?”

Beckham responded: “It was incredible, thank you. It was very kind.”

The Queen was then heard telling him: “I’m glad you got the roses.”

Services to football and beyond

The footballing legend played 115 times for England before his retirement in 2013. He is the only Englishman to score at three different World Cups.

His career included the treble-winning campaign of 1998-99 – when Manchester United won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

He also played a key role in securing the London 2012 Olympics and has been an ambassador for UNICEF since 2005.

In 2015, the organisation launched the David Beckham UNICEF Fund.

Victoria Beckham received an OBE for services to the fashion industry in 2017.

Beckham’s ‘hacked’ honours emails

Beckham’s hopes of being rewarded for his Olympic efforts in the 2014 honours list were scuppered by an issue with his taxes. HM Revenue and Customs placed a red flag on his nomination due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme, according to previous reports.

In 2017, details of the footballer’s leaked emails were printed in the national press, in which he appeared to criticise the honours system and committee.

A spokesperson for the footballer said at the time his emails were “hacked” and “doctored”.

UK

Starmer will be breathing a sigh of relief after clinching shock victory over SNP and Reform UK

Published

7 hours ago

June 6, 2025

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Starmer will be breathing a sigh of relief after clinching shock victory over SNP and Reform UK

Anything other than a win for Labour would have been a humiliation in this contest.

It wasn’t any old local by-election – this was a contest where Labour knew it could act as a mini barometer of Sir Keir Starmer’s recent U-turn on winter fuel payments and become a test of how popular the politics of Nigel Farage are in Scotland.

Labour are power hungry and have, for a long time, set their sights on forming the next Scottish government.

The prime minister will this morning be breathing a sigh of relief after clinching this shock victory over the SNP and Reform UK.

This contest on the outskirts of Glasgow came at a time where Labour had been firefighting and grappling with polling suggesting they had blown their chances of ousting the SNP from power in Edinburgh after almost 20 years.

The SNP had a spring in their step during this campaign after a chaotic couple of years.

First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney had apparently stemmed the bleeding after the infamous police fraud investigation, endless fallout over gender identity reforms, and last year’s general election where they were almost wiped out.

This result leaves them no further forward than 12 months ago with questions over the party’s strategy.

Reform UK is very much in the Scottish picture now, finishing a few hundred votes behind the nationalists.

This is a party led by a man who barely registered any support north of the border for many years. A remarkable transformation.

The surge in support has spooked many because they know fine well Nigel Farage is only just getting started.

One poll had Reform UK forming the next official opposition at Holyrood. After tonight, that might be a tall order but Mr Farage is shaking things up at the expense of the Conservatives.

The unpredictable nature of this contest may give us a taste of what is to come.

UK

EuroMillions: Single ticket-holder could win UK’s biggest lottery prize tonight

Published

7 hours ago

June 6, 2025

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EuroMillions: Single ticket-holder could win UK's biggest lottery prize tonight

A single ticket-holder could win the biggest lottery prize the UK has ever seen if they match the right numbers in tonight’s EuroMillions draw.

The jackpot has rolled over to an estimated £208m, after Tuesday’s £199m draw – which also would have been a record-breaking amount – had no winners.

The winner would instantly become richer than Adele and Harry Styles, while also bagging the top spot on the National Lottery’s biggest wins list.

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Andy Carter, senior winners’ adviser at Allwyn, said: “We are now on the verge of potentially creating the biggest National Lottery winner this country has ever seen.”

The previous largest prize pot was won by an anonymous UK ticket-holder, who took home £195m on 19 July 2022.

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Just two months earlier, Joe and Jess Thwaite, from Gloucester, won £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket. At the time, Joe was a communications sales engineer, and Jess ran a hairdressing salon with her sister.

Mr Thwaite said he woke up at 5am as usual, and checked his phone to see an email saying, “Good news, you have won a prize”.

But he did not immediately wake his wife, choosing to let her sleep in.

“I saw how much and I didn’t know what to do,” Mr Thwaite said.

“I couldn’t go back to sleep, I didn’t want to wake Jess up, so I just laid there for what seemed like forever. I spent some time searching for property with no budget limit, which was a novelty!”

When his wife woke up, she assumed the National Lottery app was wrong.

In February last year, Richard and Debbie Nuttall were revealed as the UK winners of a £61m EuroMillions jackpot – who at first thought they had only won £2.60.

The couple from Lancashire split the £123m prize with a winner in Spain.

This year’s biggest prize, of £83m went to a UK winner in January.