The education secretary has said no decision has been made on whether university tuition fees will increase with inflation each year.
Bridget Phillipson has announced the maximum cap on tuition fees in England will go up in line with inflation from April 2025.
The cost of tuition will increase by £285 to £9,535 next year – the first rise in eight years.
Politics latest: Big name comeback in new Tory shadow cabinet
There will also be a rise in maximum maintenance loans to increase in line with inflation, giving an increase of £414 a year to help students with living costs.
However, the education secretary did not say if the rise would continue after that.
Speaking to Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge, Ms Phillipson admitted she did not know what would happen with tuition fees after April 2026.
“We’re going to look at this and the maintenance support and the sector overall as part of the reform that we intend to set out in the months to come,” she said.
“So no decision, no decision has been taken on what happens beyond this.”
She said the government will be looking at “what is required… to get our universities on a more sustainable footing… but also to deliver a better deal for students as a part of that”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
0:57
University tuition fees to increase
The minister said she also “intends to look at” uprating the threshold at which students need to start paying tuition fees back in line with inflation.
Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), said the tuition fee rise was “economically and morally wrong”.
She said: “Taking more money from debt-ridden students and handing it to overpaid underperforming vice-chancellors is ill conceived and won’t come close to addressing the sector’s core issues.”
Read more: Who’s who in Badenoch’s new shadow cabinet? Migrants stuck on Chagos Islands may have chance to be moved to UK More funding to tackle ‘national security threat’ of people smugglers
The National Union of Students (NUS) said students were being asked to “foot the bill” to keep the lights and heating on in their universities and to prevent their courses from closing down amid the “crisis”.
Alex Stanley, vice president for higher education of the NUS, said: “This is, and can only ever be, a sticking plaster.
“Universities cannot continue to be funded by an ever-increasing burden of debt on students.”
Universities have been making up for fees being frozen since 2017/18 by taking in international students who pay more.
However, student visa numbers have fallen after the previous government made it more difficult for them to come to the UK recently, so universities can no longer rely on the fees.
Post Office boss Nick Read has admitted his attempts to get a pay rise while victims were still waiting for compensation “looks very poor”.
Giving evidence on his third and final day at the inquiry into the Horizon scandal, the outgoing chief executive denied trying to get more money “interfered” with his ability to carry out his role.
“I don’t believe that to be the case,” he told Sam Stein KC. “I am very aware of the furore around my pay and remuneration, I’m not in any way deaf to that.”
He continued: “It looks very poor in light of the victims who are still waiting for their compensation and I very much regret the furore that has exploded and as a consequence of that has been a distraction for everybody.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
2:21
‘I don’t need to clear my name’
Henry Staunton, former chair of the Post Office, previously told the inquiry he had asked the government twice to double Mr Read’s pay and said the chief executive had threatened to resign over it.
Speaking to Sky News afterwards, Mr Staunton said: “It was taking up a disproportionate [amount of] time without question… it must have been taking a disproportionate amount of his energy I think.”
Mr Read was also asked about a letter he sent to the Lord Chancellor on 9 January this year after the ITV drama about the scandal was shown.
A note provided by the Post Office’s legal counsel was attached stating it was “highly likely that the vast majority of people who have not yet appealed were, in fact, guilty as charged and were safely convicted”.
Mr Read denied it had been intended to persuade the government against introducing a mass exoneration of sub-postmasters.
The letter and note were published on the Post Office website.
When asked if that was the “view of the general executive”, Mr Read said he did not believe that was the case but agreed publishing the letter and note “looks pretty appalling”.
Read more: Staff implicated in scandal may still be ‘at heart’ of business Government is using Post Office as ‘shield’, Read says CEO says ‘I don’t need to clear my name’
Image: Pic: PA
Mr Read was also asked where sub-postmasters’ money, used to pay non-existent shortfalls in their branches, had gone.
He said a number of external forensic accountants had been “trying to assess what it is that has gone and where it has gone”.
The accountants have identified a figure of “somewhere in the region of £36m between 1999 and 2015,” he said – the years during which hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly accused of stealing.
“It’s our best endeavour in terms of where we’ve got to,” Mr Read added.
Mr Read joined the Post Office in 2019 and is due to stand down from the role in March 2025.
The final phase of the Post Office inquiry is due to end in mid-November.
The energy price cap will rise to an average annual £1,717 from October, the industry regulator has confirmed as the clock ticks down to the loss of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
The new figure represents a 10% a year – or £12 per month – leap in the typical sum households face paying for gas and electricity when using direct debit.
Ofgem said that the rise was largely due to higher wholesale gas prices and it urged bill-payers to “shop around” as there are fixed rate deals on the market that could offer savings.
Money latest: Warning £2,500 will be added to stamp duty ‘overnight’
Its decision means the cap, which is adjusted every three months and limits what suppliers can charge per unit of energy, will remain around £500 up on the average annual bill levels seen before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It is, however, set to be £117 lower than the October 2023 level.
That gap may partly explain why chancellor Rachel Reeves likely opted to end winter fuel payments – worth up to £300 annually – for around 10 million pensioners not in receipt of means-tested benefits including pension credit.
She blamed the measure, revealed last month, on the need to help plug a “black hole” in the public finances left by the Conservatives but has faced a widespread backlash including from within Labour’s own ranks.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:08
Cuts to pensioners’ winter fuel payments
Charities warn that heating costs remain punitive and a key plank of the continuing cost of living crisis that will force many to choose between heating and eating this winter.
Research by Citizens Advice suggests one in four could be forced to turn off their heating and hot water amid record levels of energy debt.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband admitted the rise in the cap was “deeply worrying” but defended the cuts.
“The truth is that the mess that was left to us in the public finances is what necessitated that decision around winter fuel payment and us focusing it on those who need it the very most.
“That’s why this government is also driving throughout the coming months to get the people, the 880,000 pensioners who are entitled to pension credit and not getting it to try and get them to take it up, to make them aware of this so they can get the winter fuel payment as well.”
An updated forecast issued by the energy research consultancy Cornwall Insight predicted a further 3% hike in the cap during the peak use months of January-March to £1,762.
SHOULD I TAKE A FIXED DEAL?
Cast your mind back to before the COVID pandemic and you will remember that a reluctance among households to switch suppliers helped give birth to the energy price cap.
The majority of homes were on so-called default tariffs – sometimes through no choice of their own – but those able to choose and the more financially savvy had a fixed rate deal, often changing their supplier once a year to bring down their bills.
But they largely disappeared from view after dozens of suppliers collapsed amid a series of cost shocks, latterly caused by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, forcing the bulk of households to hunker down and rely on the price cap.
It certainly is not perfect and is ripe for reform, as Ofgem has suggested again today.
A feature of the energy market this year has been the return of fixed rate deals.
They are fewer in number but can offer certainty on what you will pay over the term of the deal.
Ofgem figures show that around one million more households have taken that opportunity since April, bringing the total to five million.
Are they worth it? Is it too late?
The price comparison site Uswitch claimed today that savings of about £125 on the October price cap level are out there.
Emily Seymour, the energy editor at consumer group Which?, cautioned: “As a rule of thumb, we’d recommend looking for deals around the price of the current price cap, not longer than 12 months and without significant exit fees.”
Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley said: “We know that this rise in the price cap is going to be extremely difficult for many households. Anyone who is struggling to pay their bill should make sure they have access to all the benefits they are entitled to, particularly pension credit, and contact their energy company for further help and support.
“I’d also encourage people to shop around and consider fixing if there is a tariff that’s right for you – there are options available that could save you money, while also offering the security of a rate that won’t change for a fixed period.
“We are working with government, suppliers, charities and consumer groups to do everything we can to support customers, including longer term standing charge reform, and steps to tackle debt and affordability.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
8:25
What is GB Energy and what will it do?
“Options such as changing how standing charges are paid and getting suppliers to offer more tariff choices and give customers more control are all on the table, but there are no silver bullets.
“Any change could leave some low-income households worse off, so it’s important we hear views on our proposals and continue working with the government to see what targeted support could help customers.
“Ultimately the price rise we are announcing today is driven by our reliance on a volatile global gas market that is too easily influenced by unforeseen international events and the actions of aggressive states. Building a homegrown renewable energy system is the key to lowering bills and creating a sustainable and secure market that works for customers.”
The government’s energy strategy includes measures to eradicate the country’s dependence on natural gas for heating and electricity through a greater commitment to wind power, including onshore.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
2:02
Starmer confident over lower bills
The hope is for lower bills in the future.
Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said: “A lack of progress on energy efficiency and heat pumps means that our reliance on gas hasn’t fallen much in recent years, despite the volatility in the international markets forcing bills to skyrocket.
“The new government has made steps on renewables, but not confirmed its plans for home heating or insulation yet, and there is clearly no time to waste.
“Unless we start to reduce our demand for gas, we will only see our dependence on foreign imports rise. Oil and gas from the North Sea is sold on international markets to the highest bidder so doesn’t help with our bills or energy independence.
“With the removal of the winter fuel payment for some pensioners at the same time as bills going up, it’s likely that some will struggle and it remains to be seen if the government will bring in measures to support those worst hit by the removal of winter fuel payment.”
Another infant has died of whooping cough in the UK, health officials have confirmed.
The child died in June, according to the Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
It brings the number of deaths from the infection in the UK to 10 since an outbreak began in November last year.
Whooping cough: What are the symptoms and who can get a vaccine?
The number of cases of the infection has also risen above 10,000, according to UKHSA.
The agency has urged women to get vaccinated to protect their babies from birth.
Young babies are at highest risk of dying or developing severe complications from whooping cough.
But evidence from England shows that vaccination at the right time during pregnancy is highly effective, giving 92% protection against infant death.
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
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
The average annual energy bill will be £506 cheaper than a year ago from July, the sector’s regulator has announced.
The energy price cap – which limits what can be charged per unit of energy – is due to fall from the month after next.
It means the average annual bill will be£1,568 a year, 7% less than at present.
But while the July figure is a reduction, bills are still more expensive than before.
Before the energy price shock, caused primarily by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a standard 12-monthly bill was £1,084.
Money latest: Energy bills fall – but predictions say they will rise again
So compared with three years ago, energy is costing homes an extra £484.
During the current period from 1 April to 30 June, the energy price cap is set at £1,690 per year for a typical bill.
Energy regulator Ofgem sets the cap four times a year, with the latest announcement applying from July to September.
The overall rate of inflation came down in April – in large part thanks to the current higher cap which came into effect that month and brought prices down for energy users, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:40
Price cap model faces review
However, many households are in debt to energy providers.
“The fall in the energy price cap reduces bills slightly, but our data tells us millions have fallen into the red or are unable to cover their essential costs every month,” said Dame Clare Moriarty, the chief executive of Citizens Advice.
“People cannot rely on lower energy prices alone to escape the financial issues they’ve been experiencing. That’s why we need better targeted energy bill support for those really struggling to keep the lights on or cook a hot meal.”
More expense to come
Latest forecasts suggest bills will increase again coming into winter as wholesale gas costs are on the rise.
Respected research firm Cornwall Insight said it expects the fall announced today “may be temporary”.
It predicts a typical bill will increase to £1,762 from October and remain around this level until the end of March.
Read more on Sky News: Are you being mis-sold beer? Study casts doubt over Britain’s pints Four killed and 16 injured after restaurant collapse on Majorca beach
Gas prices reached four-month highs earlier this week on concerns that Russia could halt gas flows to Austrian multinational oil, gas and petrochemical company OMV and that US exports to Europe may be damaged by a contractor at a Texas terminal filing for bankruptcy protection.
As Olivia* was picking her wedding dress, she and her partner Leo were also discussing divorce.
Despite being in love and ready to commit, having a prenup, they both agreed, was simply the sensible thing to do when starting married life.
“You go into it with love and hope for the future,” Olivia says. “But also realism.”
They are not alone. Once the preserve of Hollywood celebs and the super-rich, prenuptial agreements are on the rise among “normal” people too, with legal and marriage experts saying numbers have increased dramatically in recent years; around one in five weddings in the UK now involves some form of legal agreement, according to several polls.
Olivia and Leo got engaged last year after meeting on a dating app. Olivia, in her early 40s, is a business founder and Leo, who is in his late 30s, now works for her company. He was the one to initially broach the subject of a prenup.
“I didn’t want to at first as it doesn’t feel very romantic,” says Olivia. “It kind of puts a dampener on things – you’re at this really happy stage of getting married and then you’re potentially talking about, what happens if we split?”
Both have children from previous marriages, both have been through divorce. They decided a prenup was the right thing to do. Now, just a few weeks after their honeymoon, they are happily reminiscing through their wedding day photos; the prenup filed away, no longer a talking point, but there should they ever need it.
Image: Experts say it is not just about protecting money, but about property and other assets, too
“It didn’t feel right that if something was to happen in the future, I could just have what she had built with her business,” says Leo. “I wanted to make the decision from my heart and do what’s right and to focus on building shared assets together.”
“Both of us had amicable divorces,” Olivia adds. “But we know what can happen. It’s reality, and I think life is more complex these days.”
The law on prenups in the UK
A prenuptial or premarital agreement is one made before a couple marries or enters into a civil partnership, setting out how they wish assets to be divided in the event of a split. They are not automatically enforceable in England and Wales, but following a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court in 2010, courts now take them into account as long as they have been made in good faith.
They have long been commonplace for celebrities: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie reportedly had one, as apparently did Britney Spears and Sam Asghari. Catherine Zeta Jones reportedly told Vanity Fair back in 2000, the year she married Michael Douglas, that she thinks prenups are “brilliant”. And over the past few years, they have filtered into the real world, too.
Co-op Legal Services says prenup sales in 2023 were up by 60% on 2022, as were cohabitation agreements – and that postnup agreements almost trebled (an increase of almost 185%) in the same period. It says 21% of married people in Britain, or one in five couples, now have some form of an agreement in place, tallying with research published by marriage advocate charity the Marriage Foundation in 2021.
The average value of the assets included in Co-op prenups sits between £500,000 and £600,000, it says. Family law firm OLS Solicitors also reports a big increase in requests – a rise of 60% between 2021 and 2023, with a further 26% increase in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period last year.
Experts put the rise down to a number of factors: women earning more; more people remarrying and going into partnerships with children; the internet increasing savviness and accessibility when it comes to the law. Millennials and younger generations are also generally getting married later in life than their parents, therefore accruing more assets individually ahead of the milestone.
Plus, these generations have grown up experiencing divorce between mums and dads or other people close to them, in a way that was far less common for their parents and grandparents.
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
‘Break-up talk isn’t romantic – neither is death, but we make a will’
Despite the rising number of couples choosing this route, it seems few are comfortable talking about it publicly. The idea of a prenup being “unromantic” still prevails.
Olivia and Leo did not want to give their real names, saying they did not feel ready to share the details with the world. They arranged their prenup through Wenup, an online platform aiming to make couples’ deals more accessible and affordable, launched in the UK in 2023 in response to the increasing demand.
“Prenups are considered taboo, unromantic and are something very private to most people,” says Wenup co-founder James Brookner.
“This is changing for younger generations who have a more open, pragmatic and non-traditional view of marriage, but for many people, thinking about what will happen if they break up in the lead-up to a wedding is a difficult enough conversation to have in private, let alone public.”
Image: Couples who have children from previous relationships are among those seeking more security to protect their assets
Nicole*, who moved from the UK to New Zealand several years ago and married her husband, Will, after three years together in 2019, says they discussed getting a prenup – or contracting out agreement, as they are known there – before she moved in with him, six months into their relationship.
“[He] raised the idea because he had worked hard to buy his first house and wanted to ensure he retained his rights to ownership should our relationship break down,” Nicole says.
The 38-year-old admits she was “caught a bit off guard” when he first broached the subject, but due to the law in the country – the Property Relationships Act, which means any individually owned property is shared equally in the event of a break-up after three years of a couple living together, regardless of marriage – it felt like the right thing to do.
They reached an agreement they were both happy with and Will, 42, covered legal costs as they had to have independent advice. The couple now have a young daughter and are happily married – and for this, you have to balance romance and practicality, says Nicole.
“Talking about breaking up isn’t romantic – nor is talking about death, but we all have to write a will at some stage. I think the reluctance is often because one party is trying to protect assets from the other, with no ill intent usually, but I can see why the other party may feel a little despondent about the suggestion if they don’t understand the law.
“Personally, I have seen too many nasty break-ups that could have been a lot cleaner had the proper agreements been in place at the outset.”
What do prenups cover?
While couples in the UK might not be showing them off along with their engagement pics, attitudes are changing privately. A YouGov poll in 2023 found that 42% of British people consider prenups a good idea, compared with 13% who consider them a bad idea. A similar poll on prenups 10 years earlier found that 35% would sign a prenup if asked to, with 36% saying they would not.
Family law solicitor Tracey Moloney, who is known as The Legal Queen online – with more than a million followers across her TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube accounts – says social media has made legal advice more accessible.
Up to about five years ago she would probably get one prenuptial request a year, if that. Now, she averages about one a week, taking cohabitation agreements for unmarried couples into consideration as well. She says she would always advise couples to have one.
“I think any family lawyer is going to say that because we see so many divorces. We’re realists. I think people can forget that when you say ‘I do’, you are entering into a contractual relationship anyway… financial ties exist because your marriage has created a binding contract. If you’re going to go into a contract in any other scenario – buying a property, buying shares in a company – you’re going to take advice. I don’t think marriage should be seen any differently.”
Prenups can cover anything from money to property to assets – including future assets such as expected inheritance – whether they are worth millions or simply of sentimental value, she points out, citing a recent agreement drawn up to protect an antique writing desk. It was “really dear to that person, passed down from generation to generation”, but of no real monetary value.
Image: Prenups used to be associated with the rich and famous, but are becoming more mainstream
At the other end of the scale, she recalls one divorce after a long marriage which didn’t involve a prenup; the wife had inherited jewellery worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. “It was never intended to be sold but it had significant value and it was added to her side of the balance sheet. She kept the jewellery but as a result, the ex kept a lot more of his pension, which she was entitled to. If she’d had a prenup, it could have been ring-fenced.”
Read more from Sky News: Homeless man charged over random assault on actor Steve Buscemi Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth discuss Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Michelle Elman, a TV life coach and author known as Queen Of Boundaries, says when it comes to prenups she encourages any conversations about finance early on in a relationship.
“It’s hard to say, black or white, whether prenups are good or bad as it depends on the couple,” she says. “Some people might think a prenup is going into a marriage with bad faith, but if you’re going into the marriage with more certainty and clarity because you have it, then that’s best for you.
“The unhealthy option is not going into a prenup because you’re scared to have the conversation. I think for any healthy marriage to survive, you need to have already spoken about money before you get married, whether it’s because of a prenup or not.”
From proposal to prenup
Harry Benson, research director for the Marriage Foundation, says he was surprised at the results of the charity’s survey findings. “I thought this was something we would only find among the very richest people,” he says.
The 20% having some form of agreement applied to those married since 2000, compared with just 1.5% who were married in the 1970s, 5% in the 1980s and 8% in the 1990s. The charity’s poll did find higher earners were more likely to have prenups; higher earning women in particular. In terms of education, the findings were the other way round.
Mr Benson says he personally finds the idea of “dividing up the spoils before you even get started” as “deeply” unromantic. “Divorce law, broadly speaking, protects people,” he says. “For the vast majority, there’s not an awful lot of point to getting them. And of course, there is the risk that you make the proposal, down on one knee, and then say, ‘please sign my prenup’. The response? ‘Get stuffed! Are you the type of person I want to marry?'”
However, he says the research found no link to divorce rates – that having a prenup did not make it more or less likely that a couple would go on to break up.
“It’s not for me, but it is for some people,” he says. “I can see why people do it and I can certainly see the benefits for some… I just personally find them a bit oxymoronic.”
But the idea of the prenup being unromantic is definitely changing. Wenup says making the process more equitable and open means they are seeing the shift firsthand, with customers who don’t necessarily fit the stereotype of rich wealth protectors.
“If you’re not sure you need one, you probably need one,” says the Legal Queen. “They’re a bit like insurance – you hope you never have to claim on it, but it’s there to protect you if you do.”
Liz Truss has acknowledged she and her government lost the confidence of financial markets following the mini-budget of October 2022 – but has refused to apologise to homeowners for higher interest rates.
Talking to Sky News, the former prime minister blamed her downfall on the Bank of England, primarily governor Andrew Bailey. However, she said she did not meet Mr Bailey once during her time in office.
“I actually had a meeting set up – I wanted to meet him,” she said. “But I was advised that would be a bad idea. And perhaps I shouldn’t have taken that advice.
“But that advice came from the cabinet secretary and what I didn’t want to do is further exacerbate the [market] problems.
“In retrospect, yes, I probably should have spoken directly to the governor of the Bank of England at the time.”
Follow live – latest politics news
Asked about the aftermath of the mini-budget, at which her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced a series of unfunded tax cuts, without presenting evidence of how he would pay for them, Ms Truss said: “It’s fair to say that the government did not have the confidence of the markets…
“But if you have organisations within the state, like the Bank of England, like the Office of Budget Responsibility, who are pretty clear to people they don’t support the policies that are being pursued and are essentially undermining those policies, then it is difficult to command the confidence in the markets – because the markets look to the government for that leadership.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:33
A look back: Truss’s time as PM
During Ms Truss’s short time in office, the expected path for the Bank’s interest rate a year ahead rose from below 4% to around 6%.
While those rates were increasing before the fiscal event, they shot up dramatically in the wake of the mini-budget, rising even further when, a few days later, Mr Kwarteng promised even more tax cuts.
That sharp increase in interest rates precipitated a short-lived crisis in UK financial markets, which triggered the near collapse of liability-driven investment (LDI) funds which underlie the pension market.
Asked whether she would apologise for the sharp rise in interest rates during her time in office, Ms Truss said: “I question the premise of what you’re asking me, because mortgage rates have gone up across the world.
“The issues that I faced in office, were issues of not being able to deliver the agenda because of a deep resistance within the establishment.”
More from Sky News: Resignations and rebellions in less than 50 days as PM Truss memoir breaks Cabinet Office rules
Image: Liz Truss beside Kwasi Kwarteng at the mini-budget announcement in September 2022. Pic: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via Reuters
She continued: “I think it’s wrong to suggest that I’m responsible for British people paying higher mortgages. That is something that has happened in every country in the free world.
“I’m not saying that I got everything absolutely perfect in the way the policy was communicated. But what I am saying is I faced real resistance and actions by the Bank of England that undermine my policy and created the problems in the market.”
Ms Truss was talking to Sky News in Washington DC on the US leg of her publicity tour for her new book, Ten Years To Save the West.
Spreaker
This content is provided by Spreaker, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Spreaker cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Spreaker cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow Spreaker cookies for this session only.
Enable Cookies
Allow Cookies Once
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
Since publication it has emerged that one of the quotes she used in the book, attributed to Mayer Amschel Rothschild, is in fact a fake quote, often used in an antisemitic context.
Ms Truss said: “I’m very sorry about that. It was a complete mistake. It was something I found online and I’ve said I’m very sorry to the British Board of Deputies for that.
“It will be removed from all future editions of the book and removed from the Online Edition.”
Asked whether she feels more at home in the US than in the UK these days, she said: “Well, I do like aspects of American politics. I believe that on economics the US has got it more right than the UK has.
“My heart’s in Britain. But I think you’ve got to be prepared to learn from other countries that have that success.”
You can watch the full interview with the former prime minister on Sky News’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme from 8.30am this morning. Trevor is also joined by Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho, shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood and Reform UK leader Richard Tice.
Fewer middle-aged people are dying from cancer than at any point in 25 years, despite cases rising, according to new research.
A Cancer Research UK study found death rates among people aged between 35 and 69 have nosedived, thanks to screening, better treatment and fewer people smoking.
However, the Britain-wide study warned that improvements in survival are slowing down, while cancer cases are rising, with a 57% jump in men and a 48% jump in women over the quarter of a century studied.
In 1993, 55,014 cancer cases were registered in males, but this rose to 86,297 in 2018, while in women the rise was from 60,187 to 88,970.
Researchers said the rise was largely driven by increases in prostate and breast cancer, mostly due to better screening.
However, there were also “concerning” rises in melanoma, liver, oral and kidney cancers.
While cases are also rising due to population growth, obesity, drinking and inactivity are also playing a part, the researchers said.
Cancer Research UK claims that policies being brought in to combat smoking, obesity and alcohol, could prevent around 37,000 by 2040.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
0:48
Cancer survivor in favour of assisted dying
According to the study, four cancers (liver, melanoma, oral and kidney) showed “substantial increases in incidence” of more than 2% per year in both sexes across the period.
These are linked to lifestyle factors, such as alcohol, smoking, sun exposure and obesity, according to the study.
“Increases in liver cancer incidence and mortality for both men and women are very concerning, with nearly one in two attributable to modifiable risk factors,” they said.
“With high prevalence of overweight and obesity and diabetes in the general population, other studies expect the rates to remain high.”
Being overweight or obese can cause 13 types of cancer including stomach, bowel, liver, pancreatic, gallbladder, breast, uterus, ovary, kidney and thyroid.
Alcohol has been linked to seven types of cancer, including mouth, upper throat, larynx, oesophagus, breast and bowel cancer.
Read more: Olivia Munn reveals breast cancer diagnosis Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers dies aged 66 Esther Rantzen ‘disappointed’ after assisted dying report
The study found that, overall, death rates have dropped by 37% in men and by 33% in women over the 25 years, when accounting for the growing and ageing population.
Success against individual cancers is noted.
Deaths from cervical cancer fell by 54%, reflecting the success of NHS cervical screening and HPV vaccine programmes.
Lung cancer deaths also fell, by 53% in men and 21% in women, thanks to a fall in the number of smokers.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
2:29
UK ‘behind’ in cancer treatment
Drops were also observed for stomach, mesothelioma and bladder cancers in men, and stomach and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in women.
Cancer Research UK’s head of cancer intelligence and lead author of the study Jon Shelton said: “We must continue to prevent as many cancer cases as possible, diagnose cancers sooner and develop kinder treatments.”
“Cancer patients won’t feel the full benefits of advances in research breakthroughs and innovation, including new cancer treatments, without a long-term plan and funding from the UK government.”
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “I welcome the positive findings of this report. Through innovations in technology and treatment, cancer screening programmes and measures to help people quit smoking, survival rates are improving across almost all types of cancer.”
For the study, researchers used UK-wide data to examine trends in men and women aged 35 to 69 who were newly diagnosed with, or died from, cancer between 1993 and 2018.
Young drivers with automatic-only licences face paying £760 more for car insurance than those who can also drive a manual vehicle, according to new figures.
In what is described as a “concerning” rise, figures from comparison site Compare the Market show motorists under 25 with automatic licences now pay £2,803 on average.
That is a year-on-year increase of £916.
It is a concern for the increasing number of drivers taking automatic-only tests, with DVLA data showing that 138,354 passed in an automatic car in 2022-23.
That figure was 34,749 in 2012-13.
“The increasing cost of car insurance is concerning for young drivers across the board, particularly those who have only learnt to drive automatic cars,” Julie Daniels, motor insurance expert at Compare the Market, said.
“These drivers face paying over £900 more this year to insure their car.”
The figures also show insurance premiums have risen since January 2023 by £644 on average to reach £2,009 for drivers under 25.
It all means young drivers now face paying £3,043 on average for the total running costs of a vehicle, a 25% increase from last year when this bill stood at £2,436.
“A tip for young drivers would be to look around for cheaper car insurance first, either when their policy is up for renewal, or when taking out insurance for the first time,” Ms Daniels added.
Read more: Car insurance premiums hit record levels due to rising costs Monthly motor insurance can cost hundreds more than paying annually
“Adding an experienced named driver to a person’s insurance can also help reduce prices – as long as the information is accurate.
“Finally, a telematic policy, also known as a black box, can help give a younger driver more affordable quotes.”
When you break a record jointly held by three of the biggest British music acts of the last 30 years, you know you’re doing something right.
Before tonight’s Brit Awards, only three artist had ever won four prizes in one ceremony – Harry Styles last year, Adele in 2016, and Blurin 1995.
Raye, who just a few years ago was contemplating a very different future after leaving her record label, went not one but two better last night – picking up a history-making six trophies in total, including the big awards for best artist, best song and best album.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
0:42
Raye on ‘miracle’ night
Speaking to Sky News on the red carpet beforehand, she said she had been left “heartbroken” a few years ago and could only describe her multiple Brits nominations as “a miracle” – and this was before she had won a single prize.
Her Brits record caps an incredible year for the star, which started with her first number one single, Escapism featuring 070 Shake; this was followed by the release of her debut album, My 21st Century Blues, a Glastonbury performance, a Mercury Prize nomination, and Ivor Novello and MOBO awards.
Among the awards won by the star at this year’s Brits was the prize for best new artist, but in fact, despite only being 26, she has been around for quite a few years already.
Raye, whose real name is Rachel Keen, signed to Polydor Records as a teenager and later featured as a vocalist on top five hits by David Guetta and Jax Jones. She also wrote lyrics for the likes of Beyonce and Rihanna.
Despite her talent, her own solo work never seemed to get off the ground. From the outside, she appeared to be flying high with her collaborations, but in 2021 she released a series of tweets claiming she had been stifled and prevented from releasing her solo album.
The journey from ‘heartbreak’ to making history
Image: Raye was joined by her grandmother, Agatha, on the Brits stage as she collected her final award. Pic: PA
“Imagine this pain. I have been signed to a major label since 2014… and I have had albums on albums of music sat in folders collecting dust, songs I am now giving away to A list artists because I am still awaiting confirmation that I am good enough to release an album,” she posted.
“I’m done being a polite pop star. I want to make my album now, please that is all I want.”
By the end of 2022 she had struck out on her own and her dance track Escapism featuring US rapper 070 Shake had gone viral on TikTok.
At the beginning of 2023, the song topped the UK charts. “[I feel] like anything is possible and I was right to back myself,” she told Sky News at the time. “Never give up on your dreams. For someone who [felt] so, like, mediocre and… such a disappointment, actually, for so long, to just receive all the affirmation in the world that I was right to back my music is just…
“For someone who puts words together for a living, I don’t necessarily really have the best words to describe how crazy this is.”
Escapism went on to win the award for best contemporary song at the Ivor Novello Awards. Now, it is song of the year at the Brits – one of six gongs for Raye in 2024, and it feels like this is just the beginning.
Read more on the Brits: The best of the Brits red carpet Kylie the global icon to Raye’s record – the Brits as it happened Raye on the fight for her album: ‘It’s been a real wild journey’
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:20
Kylie Minogue reflects on her career
‘The eternal Queen of Pop’
Back in 1987, everybody was doing a brand new dance now – who would have thought back then that Kylie would still be leading the way almost 40 years later?
The 55-year-old Australian megastar has sold more than 80 million records worldwide and in 2020 became the first female artist to score a number one album in five consecutive decades in the UK.
Could there have been a more worthy global icon?
Speaking to Sky News on the red carpet before the ceremony, she reflected on her lifetime of “chipping away” in the industry, “and just learning the craft… that’s an achievement I’m really proud of – highs and lows and everything in between”.
She also recalled her “ultimate” Brits moment – “being ejected from a CD player” for her Blue Monday mash-up of Can’t Get You Out Of My Head in 2002, and added: “The Brits are always fun and I did not imagine all those years ago that I would be having a night like tonight.”
On stage, she was announced as “quite simply, the eternal Queen of Pop” – and she showed exactly why that is with a performance including a medley of songs and several costume changes.
Across her career, Minogue has had seven UK number one singles, including Spinning Around and Can’t Get You Out Of My Head. Last year, she announced her first Las Vegas residency and released her 16th studio album, Tension – including the viral dance hit Padam Padam.
Girl power
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
0:24
Dua Lipa: ‘We need more girl energy’
Female stars dominated this year’s Brits, and not just because of Raye (although her six wins definitely helped).
Of the 17 prizes dished out this year, 12 were won by female acts – among them, Dua Lipa, who picked up the prize for best pop act, and also opened the show with a high energy, acrobatics-infused performance of her latest single, Training Season.
“It’s wonderful to see so many incredible female artists, who I love and I admire and I listen to their music,” Lipa told Sky News on the red carpet before the show. “To be alongside them feels really special. We need more girl energy!”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
2:02
Raye makes Brits history with six gongs
Lipa’s Brits win comes after the huge success of her recent single Dance The Night, from the Barbie soundtrack – and also a cameo in the film.
Charli XCX, who was up for best pop act alongside Lipa, also spoke about this being a strong year for for the female nominees when she chatted to Sky News on the red carpet – giving a shout-out to Raye, saying she was “so happy” to see an independent female artist taking the reins and showing others how to do it.
Post Office scandal victim presents award
Image: Pic: James Manning/PA
Hosted by Maya Jama, Clara Amfo and Roman Kemp, the majority of the ceremony was a light-hearted affair, with skits including a kisscam and The Traitors mother and son stars Diane and Ross revealing their predictions.
But there was a serious note ahead of the first award of the night, which was presented by Jo Hamilton, a former subpostmistress who was a victim of the Horizon IT scandal, and actress Monica Dolan, who portrayed her in ITV’s hit series Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
Mrs Hamilton, 66, told the crowd at the O2 Arena: “I want to thank everyone in the country for the love and the support they have given the postmasters. Please can you keep on supporting us because, despite what the government says, they’re not paying the postmasters.”
Rob Beckett turns up as a giraffe
Image: It’s called fashion, look it up. Pic: Ian West/PA
That’s it, that’s the story. Comedian Rob Beckett turned up on the red carpet dressed in an inflatable giraffe suit.
We can confirm that Green Day in particular were very taken with him, posing for photographs on the red carpet right in front of the Sky News spot.
The reasons behind Beckett’s sartorial choice are unconfirmed, but we suspect it may have something to do with his recently announced upcoming tour, titled Giraffe. Yes, that’s probably it.
Publicity stunt or not, we really, really hope he made all the best-dressed lists.
