Author: SKYNEWS

JK Rowling has been labelled a “transphobe” for her “grotesque” views on trans rights after she deliberately misgendered Britain’s first transgender newsreader, India Willoughby.The Harry Potter author has been widely condemned in recent years for her views on transgender rights, having claimed that she would rather go to jail than refer to a trans person by their preferred pronouns. On Sunday, Rowling posted several comments on X complaining about trans women being allowed in female locker rooms.When another X user sent her a video of Willoughby, asking if she thought “this lady should use the men’s locker room?”, Rowling replied:…

The businessman behind Britain’s biggest poultry empire is shaking up its leadership team by recruiting a former Starbucks executive as its new finance chief.Sky News understands Nigel Williams, who most recently worked at Australia’s Collins Foods, will become the group chief financial officer of Boparan Holdings in the spring. He will replace Craig Tomkinson, who has held the role for the last six years.The handover will come ahead of a major refinancing at the company, which owns 2 Sisters Food Group, one of Britain’s biggest privately owned food companies.Money latest: How much would 2p national insurance cut affect your take-home…

She is one of the greatest songwriters of her generation – so it should come as no surprise to hear that Taylor Swift’s way with words appears to be in her blood.Genealogy company Ancestry has found that the star, who is currently touring the world and made history at the Grammys last month, is related to 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson. As revealed to NBC’s Today show, a Sky News US affiliate, the two women are sixth cousins, three times removed.With Swift’s upcoming album titled The Tortured Poets Department, it seems pretty apt.”Swift and Dickinson both descend from a…

The chief executive of Marks & Spencer (M&S) has described operating under the current government as “like running up a downwards escalator with a rucksack on your back”.Writing on his LinkedIn account, Stuart Machin appealed to the chancellor to take three steps to help the retail sector in Wednesday’s budget, describing planned increases to business rates as “economically illiterate”. Money blog: How much would 2p national insurance cut change your take-home pay?He argued the industry’s tax burden was unfair at a time when consumer demand continues to be constrained by the effects of the evolving cost of living crisis and…

Baywatch is set to return to screens in a reboot 25 years after the original show last aired, according to reports.The show following a group of Los Angeles lifeguards became one of the most watched series in the world over 11 seasons between 1989 and 1999. Fremantle, the company that owns the rights, appeared to confirm a remake will broadcast on Fox after sharing an article announcing the plans on X.Written by showrunner Lara Olsen, the reboot will reportedly retain the same team of producers from the original – but it isn’t clear if fans will get to see some…

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has hinted that cuts to public services may be used to pay for an election-year reduction in taxes.On the Politics at Jack and Sam’s podcast, it was revealed Mr Hunt was considering a last minute further cut to public spending to boost the tax giveaway in the spring budget. Mr Hunt is set to deliver the 2024 Budget at Wednesday lunchtime. The government is using the fiscal event to try and win back voters ahead of the general election expected to take place later this year. Spreaker This content is provided by Spreaker, which may be using…

Sinead O’Connor would have been “disgusted, hurt and insulted” at one of her hit songs being used by Donald Trump at political rallies, her estate has said.O’Connor’s version of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U has been played at rallies for the former president, who is hoping to be re-elected. Together with label Chrysalis Records, her estate has demanded Mr Trump “desist from using her music immediately”.In a joint statement, they said O’Connor, who died aged 56 last July “lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness, and decency towards her fellow human beings”.”It is no exaggeration to…

The Post Office’s embattled chief executive has been issued with a final chance to submit the 80-page investigation into his conduct before a committee of MPs look to formally summon the report. After a number of lapsed deadlines to provide the report, Nick Read has been told by the Business and Trade Committee chair he has a deadline of 9am on Tuesday morning. If it is not submitted by then, the committee will discuss formally summoning the document, an infrequently used and limited power retained by MP committees when they are unsuccessful in their normal requests.The existence of the report…

Bullseye star and darts commentator Tony Green, who worked alongside Jim Bowen on the hit ITV show for more than a decade, has died aged 85.A statement on the Bullseye Facebook account said “our dear friend and much-loved colleague… passed away peacefully today after a long battle with Alzheimer’s”. Green, a former amateur player, was a darts commentator for the BBC and also became the announcer and co-host of Bullseye, where he worked for 13 years from 1982.He returned in a new version of the show which aired from April 2006. Image: Tony Green with Jim Bowen in Bullseye. Pic:…

Jeremy Hunt is to extend a key government lending programme for another two years following pleas from Britain’s army of small businesses.Sky News has learnt that the chancellor will announce in his budget on Wednesday that the recovery loan scheme, which was reintroduced in the summer of 2022, is to be extended until 2026. Sources said that Treasury officials had heeded calls from business groups that the expiry of the existing scheme in June would represent a cliff-edge for smaller companies in need of loan guarantees.Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, is understood to have urged the chancellor to back the…