Author: SKYNEWS

Piers Morgan is leaving TalkTV to focus on his YouTube channel, the broadcaster has revealed.His show, Piers Morgan Uncensored has been shown at 8pm on the Rupert Murdoch owned channel for almost two years, but ratings have been lacklustre. However, his YouTube channel has been garnering far more views, prompting the veteran journalist to decide he wants to go “full digital globally” and escape the “straightjacket” of a nightly show.”There’s something quite anachronistic about a show like mine still trying to create old fashioned TV for a pre-scheduled time slot each night for a relatively small audience – when we’re…

Tariff-free trade with Ukraine has been extended until 2029, the government has announced, marking a deeper commitment to the country’s economy as its war with Russia continues. Trade minister Greg Hands, who was due to sign the reciprocal extension at a virtual ceremony, said the support would continue for “as long as needed”. However, the UK’s National Farmers’ Union (NFU), while welcoming the renewed show of “solidarity”, has expressed concern about the impact on domestic production amid industry anger across Europe about hits to profit margins and shifting regulations.The UK-Ukraine deal had been due to expire at the end of…

There has been a jump in the number of properties falling behind with mortgage payments, according to industry figures that also show an 11% rise in repossessions of buy-to-let (BTL) properties.UK Finance said cost of living pressures and higher interest rates continued to take a toll on borrowers over the final three months of 2023, with the numbers falling behind with payments rising in line with its forecasts. Its data showed that homeowner mortgages in arrears increased by 7% to 93,680 compared to the previous quarter.Buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages, also adjudged to be more than 2.5% behind the outstanding balance of…

Labour has finally confirmed it is ditching a flagship pledge to spend £28bn-a-year on green investments if it wins the next general election.The party says it will now spend just £23.7bn on environmental schemes over the course of its first term in office – equivalent to just under £5bn a year. Politics Live: We must speak out over ‘frightening’ Trump plans, warns ex-PMHowever, Labour insists its commitment to becoming a clean superpower by 2030 remains unchanged and the reduced funding will still meet existing promises made under the original green prosperity plan.These include: • The launch of Great British Energy…

The Premier League is to inject £20m into elite women’s football as part of a deal to accelerate the sport’s commercial development.Sky News has learnt that Women’s Super League (WSL) and Championship clubs approved the financing at a meeting on Wednesday, following parallel talks with the Football Association about a similar debt package over recent months. Club executives said the Premier League loan would be made on an interest-free basis and only repayable when the ‘newco’ established by the top two divisions had recorded £100m in annual revenue.The new funding will be used for a variety of purposes as the…

The minimum price for alcohol in Scotland is to increase by 30% under refreshed plans to tackle deaths and hospital admissions. After a raft of legal challenges were defeated, the Scottish government introduced a world-first policy in 2018 banning retailers from selling alcohol below 50p per unit. At Holyrood on Thursday, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison announced the minimum unit price (MUP) will be increased to 65p.The increase will be subject to parliamentary approval and is expected to come into force on 30 September.Ms Robison said: “Research commended by internationally-renowned public health experts estimated that our world-leading minimum unit pricing policy…

A serial chair of government-sponsored agencies is to become the new head of Britain’s bank compensation scheme as the Bank of England prepares to widen its scope after last year’s string of industry crises.Sky News has learnt that Lesley Cowley, who chaired the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for nearly a decade, is the frontrunner to take the same post at the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). City sources said that her appointment could be announced within days.If confirmed, Mrs Cowley would replace Marshall Bailey, who has served two three-year terms at the helm of the FSCS.Money latest:Dutch lender…

Taylor Swift appears to have sold one of her two private jets, while her lawyers have threatened legal action against a student tracking her movements.The singer’s Dassault Falcon 900 jet had been listed under SATA LLC, a company with the same address as Taylor Swift Productions in Nashville, until 30 January, according to Business Insider. Federal Aviation Administration data shows the jet, which had been listed under Swift’s holding company since 2009, is now registered to Triangle Real Estate LLC, a company based in Missouri.Swift still has a Dassault 7X jet, which many fans and media outlets have predicted she…

Finland’s flagship airline has announced it is now weighing passengers – not just their luggage.Finnair said the weigh-ins are “voluntary and anonymous” and will help to ensure the airline does not exceed the set maximum weight for a safe take-off. Volunteer passengers will be weighed with their carry-on baggage, and only the customer service agent working at the measuring point will be able to see the total weight.The collected data will not be linked in any way to a passenger’s personal data, the airline said.The voluntary weigh-ins have started taking place at the departure gates at Helsinki Airport. Read more…

Santander UK has filed a formal complaint with advertising watchdogs over a Nationwide campaign which “discredits and denigrates” Britain’s high street banking industry.Sky News has learnt that the Spanish-owned lender has told the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that the Nationwide television commercial – featuring the actor Dominic West as an arrogant bank boss – is misleading about its rivals’ approach to closing branches. The complaint was filed during the autumn, soon after the building society campaign launched, according to insiders, but has not been publicly disclosed.The ASA has yet to adjudicate on it.Money latest: Dutch lender introducing new type of…