Local News

Politicians should stop tying themselves in knots in promising not to raise taxes, the head of an influential thinktank told Sky News - warning it could lead to something worse.Speaking to Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips show, Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, argued neither of the main parties wanted to talk about the scale of the financial challenge faced by the next government. He […]

An electric headset for treating depression has been recommended as a more widespread treatment for depression after a successful NHS trial. But it's not yet known what the long term benefits of the device are.An NHS trial has found that an innovative electric headset for treating depression is an effective way of reducing the symptoms, and has recommended its more widespread use within the health service. The headset from Flow […]

An 11-year-old girl is among four people injured after a "malfunction" on a funfair ride in south London.Lambeth Council said the "serious incident" happened at the Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park at about 6.20pm on Saturday. Police officers said a man and a woman in their 40s and a man in his 50s were also hurt."None of the four is believed to be in a life-threatening condition," Lambeth Police […]

A Conservative election candidate has apologised for joking about the date rape drug Rohypnol in social media posts from 2012.In messages passed to Sky News, Oliver Johnstone - who is standing to be an MP in Stockport - wrote "if [sic] wasn't for the incentive of material goods just how do you expect me to get laid" before adding in another message: "Well that or rohypnol". The former Stockport councillor […]

The Conservative Party will pledge to cut stamp duty for first-time buyers as part of its manifesto.The levy is currently paid on property purchases worth more than £250,000 - with the rate ranging from 5% to 12% of the ticket price, increasing as the price rises. For people purchasing their first home, stamp duty kicks in on properties worth £425,000 - although this offer is set to expire in March […]

Jasmine is in so much pain she can hardly get out of bed.She's clutching a hot water bottle and taking morphine, a strong painkiller which she says turns her into "a zombie"."It's like there's like a ball of acid in the middle of my torso and it's burning its way through each of my organs. And it feels like that 24/7," said the 23-year-old.The pain Jasmine is describing is caused […]

Checking our bodies for unusual lumps and bumps has become a normal way of looking after our health.But what about considering how our genes might predispose us to cancer or cognitive decline? Should we find out - even in cases where we are powerless to stop it?It's been more than a decade since the so-called "Angelina Jolie effect".In 2013, the actress announced she'd had a double mastectomy, having tested positive […]

A chaotic end to a chaotic day Rob Powell Political correspondent @robpowellnews A chaotic end to a chaotic day for the Tory campaign. Public engagements can be risky at the best of times, never mind when you are trailing badly in the polls with four weeks until voting day. You would have hoped a somewhat closed-off event for Tory members in the safe Wiltshire countryside might have passed off without […]

A fire extinguisher has been set off outside the Duke of Westminster's wedding.The environmental protest group Just Stop Oil said it had "disrupted" the ceremony outside Chester Cathedral as the bride and groom made their way to a Bentley car. A woman was seen spraying orange powder paint in the air from a fire extinguisher while standing among a crowd of spectators outside the venue.Seconds later, police officers wrestled it […]