Connect with us

Published

on

Presenter and author Carol Vorderman has called on the prime minister to apologise over cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners.

The controversial policy was approved by parliament today, despite a number of Labour MPs abstaining from the vote, with ministers saying “tough decisions” were needed to fix the public finances.

But it was widely criticised by opposition MPs and campaigners, who warned the move would leave millions of pensioners worrying over how to make ends meet.

Politics live: Mel Stride eliminated from Tory leadership race

Speaking to Sky News’ Politics Hub show with Sophy Ridge, Vorderman said Labour’s decision to pursue the cut was “astonishing”.

Asked by Sophy what Sir Keir Starmer should now do, she said: “I think he should apologise. I absolutely do.”

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

The broadcaster, famed for her stint on Channel 4 gameshow Countdown, has become more vocal about her politics in recent years, and in the run-up to July’s general election gave her backing to a tactical voting website designed to “stop the Tories”.

She said: “I was following intently the build-up to the election and we had just under two million postcodes typed in [to the website]… we know it had an influence.

“And millions of people loaned their vote to Labour in the belief that finally this gross inequality that has grown over the last 14 years would be diminished somewhat.

“And then this [cutting the winter fuel allowance] is the first thing.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Starmer: ‘Labour knew there would be new problems’

Vorderman said she understood why ministers would want to take the payment – worth up to £300 – from wealthy pensioners who got the money regardless of their income.

“I’ll be one of those in two years time”, she added. ” So I wouldn’t need the winter fuel allowance payment.

“But to go from 12 million to less than two million pensioners receiving it is just way too low.

“And I’m shocked by it, because they could raise that money in so many other ways.”

Read more on Sky News:
Early release of thousands of prisoners is deeply unpopular – so will it work?
Wanted: The new Harry, Ron and Hermione

Asked by Sophy if she believed the government had “duped” the public ahead of them getting into power, she said: “I do, I really do. And I am shocked because, even extracting the fact that many pensioners will be suffering because of it… it is unbelievable that this new Labour government the first thing they do is that?

“It is not, I don’t believe, what they were voted in to do, it is quite astonishing really.”

When this was put to Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, he told Sophy: “We had a mandate [at the election] to get a grip of the public finances, and what we didn’t know in opposition – what the public didn’t know – was that the Conservatives had hidden the facts that there was £22bn of bills coming this year they’d put no money aside for.

“That’s the running of our health service, our GP services, our schools, our police. It is our responsibility, because we are trusted on the economy, with people’s money, to be able to find the money to pay those bills, to keep our public services running to order.

“That’s about resetting the budget so that at the Labour Budget on 30 October, we can start to invest in fixing the foundations and then start to deliver on our manifesto to rebuild Britain.”

The full interview will air on Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge tonight at 7pm.

Continue Reading

UK

Bank worker and brother who murdered drug dealer in ‘ferocious’ knife attack are jailed

Published

on

By

Bank worker and brother who murdered drug dealer in 'ferocious' knife attack are jailed

A brother and sister have been jailed for the murder of a drug dealer in a “ferocious” knife attack.

Isaiah Marsh, 21, and his 23-year-old sibling Mya Marsh were sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison for killing Minister Enfrence, 21, in a row over a £200 cannabis debt.

Bank worker Mya was trying to buy drugs from Mr Enfrence in Kings Norton, Birmingham, when she met him armed with a kitchen knife at about 10am on 5 November, the city’s crown court heard.

Judge Simon Drew KC said that Mya was the aggressor in an initial confrontation with Mr Enfrence over the debt as he sentenced the siblings on Thursday.

Mya called her brother Isaiah to the scene, who “launched a ferocious attack on Minister as he lay defenceless on his back on the floor” and had intended to kill, the judge said.

Mr Enfrence suffered at least 12 stab wounds to his body, arms, hands and head in the “unprovoked” attack.

He did not die instantly and managed to escape before collapsing nearby.

More on Birmingham

Judge Drew said footage of the attack, which was caught on CCTV, was “truly sickening” to watch as Mr Enfrence died a “traumatic and painful death”.

Minister Enfrence. Pic: West Midlands Police
Image:
Minister Enfrence was killed on 5 November. Pic: West Midlands Police

Siblings unanimously convicted of murder

The footage shows Mya passing a knife to her brother during the stabbing.

The judge told them: “This was an attack by two people on one. That attack was unprovoked. Members of the public, including a child in a pushchair, passed very close by while the attack was taking place.”

After the killing, Mya went to work “as if nothing had happened” after taking the morning off work, citing mental health problems, the court was told.

Isaiah later handed himself in to the police.

A jury unanimously convicted the siblings of murder on Monday following a three-week trial.

Both had denied murder and alternative charges of manslaughter.

Read more from Sky News:
Police fear mother might abandon fourth baby
Remains of more than 30 dogs found in raid

Isaiah claimed he acted in self-defence, while Mya claimed she did not believe her brother would use the knife to stab Mr Enfrence.

Rachel Brand KC, representing Mya, said the attack was “utterly out of character” for her client and that Mya had shouted “stop it” and “break it up” during her brother and Mr Enfrence’s struggle.

Isaiah, meanwhile, would find it “almost impossible to reconcile what he saw on the CCTV with who he is”, his barrister Michael Ivers KC told the court.

“He has told everyone who will listen when they have spoken to him that he is full of remorse about what happened,” Mr Ivers said.

Continue Reading

UK

Woman’s testimony from beyond the grave helps to convict rapist Steven Connery

Published

on

By

Woman's testimony from beyond the grave helps to convict rapist Steven Connery

A “despicable” rapist has been brought to justice and jailed for 10 years in part thanks to a woman’s testimony from beyond the grave.

Steven Connery, 41, repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted two women in the Forth Valley and Tayside areas.

Judge Douglas Brown said Connery’s first victim was left “so shocked that she couldn’t speak” following a painful attack in a bathroom while she was getting ready for a night out.

A court heard how the second woman was also left in “agony” after a sex assault.

Connery was arrested in 2022 after his past crimes were brought to the attention of Police Scotland.

His second victim died before a trial was held at the High Court in Glasgow, but her evidence was read out in the form of a statement by one of the investigating officers.

Connery denied any wrongdoing but was in March found guilty of four charges.

More on Crime

He returned to the dock on Wednesday and was handed a 13-year extended sentence, with 10 years in jail and three years on licence once released back into the community.

Judge Brown said: “It is almost inevitable that offences of this nature will cause substantial harm and in relation to the second complainer, who has since died, it is clear from a victim impact statement submitted by her sister that your behaviour had a massive impact not only on her but also on her family.”

Read more from Sky News:
TikTok influencer shot dead during livestream
Police fear mum might abandon fourth baby but close in on her location

It was noted that Connery was “still reasonably young” at the time of some of his offending, but the judge added: “Though there is little to indicate that a lack of maturity was a significant factor.”

Connery was additionally placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and banned from contacting the woman who is still alive.

Detective Sergeant Khalid Abdulrahman said: “Although one of Connery’s victims passed away, it was right that her evidence was heard in court through the reading of statements.

“I hope this sentencing brings some comfort to both her family and the other victim in this case.

“Our thoughts remain with them, as without their information Connery wouldn’t have been held accountable for his despicable actions.”

Continue Reading

UK

Police hunt for teenagers seen ‘carrying dismembered kittens in duffel bag’

Published

on

By

Police hunt for teenagers seen 'carrying dismembered kittens in duffel bag'

Police investigating the torture and killing of a pair of kittens in west London have published CCTV pictures of two teenagers they want to speak to.

Warning: This article contains details some readers may find distressing

The Metropolitan Police were tipped off on 3 May that two teenagers had allegedly dismembered the animals at Ickenham Road, Ruislip.

No arrests have been made.

Officers released footage of a boy and a girl on Thursday and asked people to help identify them.

The boy is described by the Met as 5ft 6in (168cm) tall, with short dark hair. He was wearing a dark jacket with long sleeves, with blue jeans.

Police sergeant Babs Rock said the boy “was also seen carrying a black duffel bag, which sadly is thought to have contained the kittens”.

More on London

BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE Screen grab taken from CCTV dated 03/05/25 issued by Metropolitan Police of CCTV of two teenagers they want to speak to after two kittens were tortured and killed in Ruislip. The Metropolitan Police received a report on May 3 that alleged two teenagers dismembered the animals in Ickenham Road, Ruislip. Issue date: Thursday May 15, 2025.
Image:
The two youths. Pic: Metropolitan Police/PA

More from Sky News:
Police search for mother of abandoned babies
Influencer shot dead during livestream

Remains of dozens of dogs found

Sergeant Rock said the young girl was the same height as the boy, with long red hair.

“She was wearing a white top with black shorts. She was also carrying a purple jumper, which she later puts on to wear,” she said.

“If you know these two individuals then please come forward to us, we would like to speak with them as soon as possible.”

In the video, the pair are seen walking down a street and then later running back the way they came.

Sergeant Rock described it as “an incredibly distressing incident which I know has caused concern in the local community”.

Continue Reading

Trending