Former home secretary Suella Braverman, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform, wrote earlier on Monday to FA chief executive Mark Bullingham asking for the target to be scrapped. It was introduced by the governing body two years ago, covering the men's senior team down to the under-17s, with the ambition of reaching 30% of their coaching teams being non-white, or at least 25%, by 2028. Ms Braverman, who holds the equalities brief for Reform, said the men's team targets were "fundamentally flawed, inherently racist and bad for the game" because "the best coaches should get the job, not because of their skin colour, but because they are the best person for the job". While she requested a meeting with Mr Bullingham to discuss their diversity, equality and inclusion policies, the governing body responded publicly within hours, defending the diversity plans while agreeing the "best people" would be appointed to jobs. In full: FA's response to Reform criticism An FA spokesperson told Sky News: "Football has the unique ability to break down barriers and bring communities together. "Through our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (EDI), we aim to ensure the game reflects the full diversity of our nation. "This means opening up pathways and creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds - including those from historically under-represented groups. "While we will always take a meritocratic approach by appointing the best people for roles, we also recognise the importance of having a broader range of participants across the sport. "We are proud that our strategy is supporting the growth of football among men, women, boys and girls from all communities." Read more from Rob Harris:Government prepares to sue AbramovichEngland stars concerned about 'speak out' pressure Ms Braverman had said she supports the FA's fight against racism in football. But she said: "Your DEI strategy does precisely that, it divides rather than unites. It replaces merit with quotas and implements identity politics where teamwork, ability and hard graft should prevail."

A young lynx tossing a rodent into the air before killing and eating it in Ciudad Real, Spain, was chosen as the winner from 24 shortlisted pictures. A panel of judges chose the shortlist, in addition to the winning images announced in October. Here is the winning picture and four "highly commended" photos which impressed wildlife lovers in the public vote. Conservation efforts mean the Iberian lynx, which was on the brink of extinction in the early 2000s, has now recovered to number more than 2,000. Good news for the lynx, bad news for the local rodents. This game lasted 20 minutes before the cat got bored and took its prey behind a bush to eat it. A group of flamingos stands out against a stark industrial backdrop of power lines at a bird sanctuary in Walvis Bay, Namibia. A mother polar bear and her three cubs resting in the summer heat along the Hudson Bay coast in Canada. A silhouetted pair of young bear cubs rearing up and play-fighting in the middle of a quiet road in Jasper National Park, Canada. A sika deer carrying the interlocked severed head of a rival male that had died after their battle on Notsuke Peninsula in Hokkaido, Japan. The winner and four runners-up will be shown on the voting screens at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition in London until it closes on 12 July. The top image will also be on the gallery wall alongside the winning images in the main competition.

The energy secretary told a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) on Monday night that the move would be "complicated but possible", according to sources present. Politics Hub: Follow the latest He is said to be looking at a proposal by eco-tycoon Dale Vince, which argues Labour's clean energy drive will not bring down bills without reform to the wholesale energy market. The UK uses a model of marginal cost pricing, where electricity is sold at the price of the most expensive unit of energy needed to meet demand at that point in time. Gas is often the most expensive energy source, so prices of electricity generated by gas effectively set the wholesale price for all energy generation. Mr Vince's report proposes a new bidding system that would break that link, but various other proposals have been put forward by experts as well. Mr Miliband did not guarantee it could be done but said the government was trying to find a way. Going green? Labour MP for Stroud, Simon Opher, urged ministers to "grasp the chance", saying it could save households hundreds of pounds a year. He told Sky News: "The crisis in the Middle East provides us with a real opportunity to radically rethink the way in which our energy market operates. "Cutting the link between gas prices and electric bills could save consumers hundreds of pounds a year and show that our government is serious about alleviating the cost of living crisis." Green Party leader Zack Polanski called for the decoupling of electricity and gas prices in a speech on the economy last week. Rachel Reeves was asked about the measure by Green MP Ellie Chowns in the Commons on Tuesday, as she confirmed contingency planning is under way for energy bill support amid the growing fallout from the Iran war. The chancellor made no commitment, saying Labour's Planning and Infrastructure Act would "make it easier to build" renewable energy projects. She added that "gas is setting the price of our energy something like a third less than it was just four years ago" due to a reduction of imports. Sky News has contacted the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero for further information. Iran war poses cost of living challenge Forecasters have predicted energy bills will hit a three-year high when the current price cap ends at the end of June. There have been some splits within the Labour Party about how best to protect the UK from future energy shocks - with MP Henry Tufnell calling for an end to the government's ban on new North Sea oil and gas exploration in an article for The Sun this week. The Conservatives have also called for more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, claiming the government is allowing energy security to be "smashed" by the push to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. On Tuesday they lost an Opposition Day vote aimed at ending the moratorium. At Monday night's meeting of the PLP, Mr Tufnell is said to have been a lone voice in his demand, with most of those present "behind Ed". Mr Miliband told the meeting that there was "one overriding lesson of the crisis: while we are dependent on fossil fuel markets, we are price takers, not price makers, and we are exposed". He also said: "From the moment this war began, we have been determined to go further and faster in driving for clean power. We can only get energy sovereignty and national security with homegrown power we control." Read more from Faye Brown:Report suggests slashing income taxCalls for 'major reset' in challenge to PM Labour's aim is to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030, saying that will cut household bills by £300 a year. However, Mr Vince's "Breaking the Link" report says there will still be some degree of gas used under these plans, so high prices would persist even if 95% of electricity came from clean energy, unless market rules are changed. His report estimates the current link between electricity and gas added £43bn to UK energy bills in 2023 - £367 per household. He has proposed a system where each generator gets paid the price they actually bid to sell the electricity - not the highest price on the market - which he argues would reflect the truer, cheaper cost of renewables. 'This won't be the last energy crisis' Speaking to Sky News, Mr Vince, a Labour donor, said the Conservatives spent billions suppressing energy bills during the last crisis and we "mustn't do the same again". "We've got to solve the cause; that's the crazy link," he said. "This won't be the last energy crisis of this decade; we will have more. If we sort out the market now, we can insulate ourselves…and make our bills more affordable and stable."

Liverpool say an agreement has been reached with the legendary forward to end his "remarkable" nine-year stay at Anfield after this season, when he will become a free agent. Salah's contract, which he signed only last April, will be cut short by a year after a difficult season for the 33-year-old, which has seen him dropped and publicly fall out with head coach Arne Slot. Liverpool's statement read: "Salah expressed his wish to make this announcement to the supporters at the earliest possible opportunity to provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them." The Egyptian, one of Liverpool's greatest-ever players, will have his Anfield farewell against Brentford on May 24 on the final day of the Premier League season. Andy Robertson called Salah "the greatest" as he led the tributes, while another team-mate, Cody Gakpo, described him as a "true legend". Salah to leave - YOUR reaction🔴| Transfer Centre LIVE! Liverpool fixtures & scores | FREE Liverpool PL highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Liverpool games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Salah was signed from Roma for £34m in the summer of 2017 and will leave as Liverpool's third highest goalscorer, having won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup. Salah, who has lifted seven major trophies as as Liverpool player, can add more silverware before he departs with plenty still to fight for this season. The reigning Premier League champions are in the Champions League quarter-finals against holders Paris Saint-Germain and face Manchester City in the FA Cup last eight. Liverpool are also still fighting to get back in the Champions League next season. Arne Slot's side are fifth in the Premier League, which is expected to be enough qualify, and have seven games to play. Salah's agent has said he does not know where his client will be playing next season although there are multiple Saudi Arabian clubs that want to sign the Egyptian this summer. The Liverpool forward has long been a target for clubs in Saudi Arabia and that appeared to be Salah's most likely destination when he delivered a bombshell interview after being dropped at Leeds earlier this season. It was less than three years ago that Liverpool rejected a £150m offer from Saudi club Al Ittihad for Salah. Analysis: What next for Salah? Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol: "Mohamed Salah leaving is saving Liverpool money. You have to remember his wages, he is said to be the highest paid player ever in the history of Liverpool, there are reports he gets paid between £350,000-£400,000 per week. "Salah is still an incredible player, but is he at his absolute peak? He's 33 at the moment and he'll be 34 in June. Did Liverpool really want to carry on paying him that kind of money until the summer of 2027? "Behind the scenes, his representatives have sat down with Liverpool and come to an agreement which suits all parties. It means he can carry on playing for Liverpool until the end of the season. "I think it's too early to say he'll definitely end up in Saudi Arabia. I know for a fact multiple clubs in Saudi Arabia are going to be interested in signing him. "Back in 2023 Al Ittihad made a verbal offer of £150m which Liverpool turned down. MLS clubs want him, too. But I think he'll have lots of options. "There will be Premier League clubs interested in signing him, European clubs as well. "A year or so ago, the possibility was there for him to play for other Premier League clubs and it was an option being explored. But of course the landscape is different now. "For a long period of time a year or so ago it looked like he would be leaving Liverpool and Liverpool were not particularly keen on offering him a new contract but then he had this incredible season, scored 28/29 goals and Liverpool won the title. "I think Liverpool were backed into a corner where they felt they had to give him a new contract." Robertson hails 'the greatest' Liverpool player Andy Robertson has described the departing Salah as Liverpool's "greatest" player. With 255 goals in 435 appearances, the 33-year-old will leave as the Reds' third-highest goalscorer behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt. And Robertson, who signed for the club in the same transfer window in 2017, led the dressing room tributes, saying: "You deserve a send-off that reflects your status at LFC - the greatest. Second to none." Joe Gomez also delivered a heartfelt tribute, saying: "The numbers cement your legacy forever." Salah was described as a "great player and a true legend" by Liverpool team-mate Cody Gakpo. "Grateful to have shared the pitch with you," Gakpo wrote on social media. "Thank you for everything - not just for what you did on the pitch, but for the example you set every single day." Salah's final Liverpool gamesSaturday April 4: Man City (A) - FA Cup quarter-finalWednesday April 8: PSG (A) - Champions League quarter-final first legSaturday April 11: Fulham (H) - Premier League, live on Sky SportsTuesday April 14: PSG (H) - Champions League quarter-final second legSunday April 19: Everton (A) - Premier League, live on Sky SportsSaturday April 25: Crystal Palace (H) - Premier League*Saturday May 2: Man Utd (A) - Premier League*Saturday May 9: Chelsea (H) - Premier League*Sunday May 17: Aston Villa (A) - Premier LeagueSunday May 24: Brentford (H) - Premier League *Fixtures subject to change Liverpool's Salah statement in full "Mohamed Salah is to bring the curtain down on his illustrious career with Liverpool FC at the end of the 2025-26 season. "The forward has reached an agreement with the Reds that will see him close a remarkable nine-year chapter at Anfield. "Salah expressed his wish to make this announcement to the supporters at the earliest possible opportunity to provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them. "Signed from AS Roma in the summer of 2017, the No 11 has firmly established himself as one of the greatest players in Liverpool's history, helping the club to two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups, as well as an FA Community Shield. "His 255 goals in 435 appearances to date has the Egyptian sitting third on the Reds' all-time leading goalscorers chart, winning the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions in addition to a host of personal accolades. "With plenty still left to play for this season, Salah is firmly focused on trying to achieve the best possible finish to the campaign for Liverpool and, therefore, the time to fully celebrate his legacy and achievements will follow later in the year when he bids farewell to Anfield." Salah's farewell statement in full In a video published on social media, Salah said: "Unfortunately the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell. I will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. "I wanted to start by saying that I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life. "Liverpool is not just a football club. It's a passion. It's a history. It's a spirit I can't explain in words to anyone not part of this club. "We celebrated victory, we won the most important trophies and we fought together through the hardest time in our life. "I want to thank everyone who was part of this club throughout my time here, especially the team-mates, past and present and to the fans… "I don't have enough words. The support you showed me through the best time of my career and you stood by me in the toughest times, it's something I will never forget and something I will take with me always. "Leaving is never easy. You gave me the best time of my life. I will be always one of you. "This club will always be my home to me and to my family. Thank you for everything. "Because of all of you, I will never walk alone." Your views: 'Salah will be a huge miss' JG: He hasn't been the same player from last season. From the outburst with Slot a couple of months back, the poor performances I reckon it's the right time. Has been a legend for the club and the league, YNWA. Steve Eds: The greatest winger to embrace the league. Took four seasons fewer than Wayne Rooney to smash his record g/a. Absolute phenomenon. Will be missed. Form doesn't last forever, but greatness does. Thanks Mo, for everything. Andy: Maybe it's time that Salah does go at the end of the season, but he will be a huge miss at this football club. Definitely need a star replacement next season. Mike: Right for all parties, he's been a shadow of himself this season which hasn't helped the poor performances. Will go down as one of our greatest ever players and should leave with nothing but gratitude from the fans.

The energy secretary told a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) on Monday night that the move would be "complicated but possible", according to sources present. Politics Hub: Follow the latest He is said to be looking at a proposal by eco-tycoon Dale Vince, which argues Labour's clean energy drive will not bring down bills without reform to the wholesale energy market. The UK uses a model of marginal cost pricing, where electricity is sold at the price of the most expensive unit of energy needed to meet demand at that point in time. Gas is often the most expensive energy source, so prices of electricity generated by gas effectively set the wholesale price for all energy generation. Mr Vince's report proposes a new bidding system that would break that link, but various other proposals have been put forward by experts as well. Mr Miliband did not guarantee it could be done but said the government was trying to find a way. Going green? Labour MP for Stroud, Simon Opher, urged ministers to "grasp the chance", saying it could save households hundreds of pounds a year. He told Sky News: "The crisis in the Middle East provides us with a real opportunity to radically rethink the way in which our energy market operates. "Cutting the link between gas prices and electric bills could save consumers hundreds of pounds a year and show that our government is serious about alleviating the cost of living crisis." Green Party leader Zack Polanski called for the decoupling of electricity and gas prices in a speech on the economy last week. Rachel Reeves was asked about the measure by Green MP Ellie Chowns in the Commons on Tuesday, as she confirmed contingency planning is under way for energy bill support amid the growing fallout from the Iran war. The chancellor made no commitment, saying Labour's Planning and Infrastructure Act would "make it easier to build" renewable energy projects. She added that "gas is setting the price of our energy something like a third less than it was just four years ago" due to a reduction of imports. Sky News has contacted the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero for further information. Iran war poses cost of living challenge Forecasters have predicted energy bills will hit a three-year high when the current price cap ends at the end of June. There have been some splits within the Labour Party about how best to protect the UK from future energy shocks - with MP Henry Tufnell calling for an end to the government's ban on new North Sea oil and gas exploration in an article for The Sun this week. The Conservatives have also called for more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, claiming the government is allowing energy security to be "smashed" by the push to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. On Tuesday they lost an Opposition Day vote aimed at ending the moratorium. At Monday night's meeting of the PLP, Mr Tufnell is said to have been a lone voice in his demand, with most of those present "behind Ed". Mr Miliband told the meeting that there was "one overriding lesson of the crisis: while we are dependent on fossil fuel markets, we are price takers, not price makers, and we are exposed". He also said: "From the moment this war began, we have been determined to go further and faster in driving for clean power. We can only get energy sovereignty and national security with homegrown power we control." Read more from Faye Brown:Report suggests slashing income taxCalls for 'major reset' in challenge to PM Labour's aim is to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030, saying that will cut household bills by £300 a year. However, Mr Vince's "Breaking the Link" report says there will still be some degree of gas used under these plans, so high prices would persist even if 95% of electricity came from clean energy, unless market rules are changed. His report estimates the current link between electricity and gas added £43bn to UK energy bills in 2023 - £367 per household. He has proposed a system where each generator gets paid the price they actually bid to sell the electricity - not the highest price on the market - which he argues would reflect the truer, cheaper cost of renewables. 'This won't be the last energy crisis' Speaking to Sky News, Mr Vince, a Labour donor, said the Conservatives spent billions suppressing energy bills during the last crisis and we "mustn't do the same again". "We've got to solve the cause; that's the crazy link," he said. "This won't be the last energy crisis of this decade; we will have more. If we sort out the market now, we can insulate ourselves…and make our bills more affordable and stable."

The rapper has broken his silence over allegations made against him and Sean "Diddy" Combs by an anonymous accuser in late 2024. Both men denied the accusations, which concerned an alleged incident at a party in 2000, and the case was withdrawn in February 2025. "It was hard, really hard. I was heartbroken," the 25-time Grammy winner told GQ. "We're in a space now where it's almost like consequence is not thought about enough," he added. "Because everything is so instant, you know what I'm saying?" 'I haven't been that angry in a long time' At the time, he described the clams as a "blackmail attempt" and said they were "heinous in nature". The 56-year-old later filed a motion that the accuser must be named that was struck down by a judge. He also sued the accuser and their lawyer in March 2025 for allegedly conspiring to falsely accuse him of sexual assault and causing him to lose $20m. Jay-Z, who has been married to Beyonce for 17 years, told GQ of the allegations: "I was angry. I haven't been that angry in a long time, uncontrollable anger." Read more from Sky News:Woman awarded $19.25m in Cosby caseStar says racist attack could have killed him "The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims," he continued. "I would not wish this experience on anyone. "The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed." Jay-Z carried out the interview to mark 30 years since his debut album, Reasonable Doubt.

Wes Streeting said "failure has been tolerated for too long", and although there has been improvement across the NHS overall, some "challenged" trusts continue to struggle. The new NHS Intensive Recovery programme has identified trusts at the bottom of the NHS league tables where patients face the longest waits, there is high leadership "churn" and there are persistent financial problems. Beginning in April, these trusts will kick off the programme: • North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust • Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust • Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust • Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust • East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. 'The worst services in the country' The Department of Health and Social Care said the trusts are not failing through lack of effort but face "deep-rooted challenges", including "structural constraints and financial imbalance". Each trust will receive tailored help, including a change of leadership where necessary, with NHS "veterans" with a history of success brought into underperforming areas, the merging or separating of trusts and funding for crumbling estates. Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Streeting will say: "Right now, a cluster of high-performing trusts are masking some chronic under-performance in other parts of the country. "Failure has been tolerated for too long. Staff know it. Patients feel it. And I won't stand for it. "We won't have succeeded in changing the NHS until we change it for the patients who are suffering the worst services in the country." Read more:Taskforce set up to improve maternity careFamily's anger as hospital where father died The latest British Social Attitudes Survey revealed satisfaction with the NHS has risen for the first time since before the COVID pandemic. But experts said improvements were "fragile", as the public is still largely "unhappy" about the health service after satisfaction dipped to a record low in 2024, with just 21% of people satisfied. The latest figures, from August to October 2025, found 26% are satisfied.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould confirmed on Monday that the positions of Ben Stokes, managing director Rob Key and head coach Brendon McCullum were safe, despite a resounding 4-1 series loss Down Under. Gould said "a lot of consideration" had been put in to keeping the same personnel - following a "thorough review" into the defeat, despite England's preparation, selection and behaviour coming under scrutiny. Ashes review: Key on McCullum, drinking culture and moreGot Sky? Watch cricket live on the Sky Sports appFollow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for news and moreNot got Sky? Stream cricket contract-free on NOW When questioning Key on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Atherton said: "From the perspective of people out there, they will find it extraordinary that there's been no accountability for the mistakes made in The Ashes. "It's not necessarily bloodlust people want, but I think they want genuine accountability. If there's no change to key personnel, they will argue, 'well, there is no accountability'. "In part, one of the criticisms of the players over that two or three-year period is that inadequate performance doesn't lead to accountability. That's the same at the top, it would seem to be." Key admitted mistakes were made and promised a change of approach to selection, having described the period since the series loss as 'as tough a three months I think I've had in my career, if not my life'. When questioning Key on what England had learned, former captain Nasser Hussain said: "You've talked about the learnings, but if I was an England fan sitting in there, I would have gone, 'this is your job for before the Ashes, not two months after the Ashes'. "Why are you learning now? Why weren't you doing these things? Why weren't all these things put in place? Have you been marking your own homework in the last few months?" Key and McCullum 'lucky to survive? Gould insisted football's hire-and-fire culture was not a useful model for England's cricket future, despite Key and McCullum's predecessors - Chris Silverwood and Ashley Giles - departing after a 4-0 away Ashes drubbing four years earlier. Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott bemoaned a lack of accountability in the ECB after not making changes, suggesting Key and McCullum had "sabotaged" the Ashes campaign. "Like me, cricket supporters will be asking how ‌McCullum and Key could make so many bad decisions on the Australian tour and yet the chief executive of ​English cricket decides there is no need to make any changes. Where is the accountability?" Boycott wrote in the Telegraph. "I'm sure they promised him they would do better, ​but leopards don't change their spots, so it looks like we will ⁠get the same type of Test cricket. "In trying to create a free-spirited team, he has made them too comfortable and complacent. They know they will not get dropped, whatever their performances ‌or conduct on or off the field. "It looks like a boys' club where, once you are in the team, it is hard to get out... competition for places is the lifeblood of sport. Complacency in a team does not breed a good appetite to excel." Former England captain Michael Vaughan added on the BBC's Test Match Special: "I think they [Key and McCullum] are very, very lucky [to keep their jobs]. There's not many management groups that deliver something so poor away from home in an Ashes series and get the chance to carry on. "They seem to me it's like a football management team. I actually felt if one went, they all went. They've had some exciting times but they haven't won enough. "What England fans are looking for now is, what change [will happen]." Ashes review 'will anger fans' Sky Sports News reporter James Cole: "Ashes review action-points were presented to the media at Lord's in the form of a slide-show presentation. It was very corporate. All the right noises were made; key words emphasised: "learnings", "evolve" and "culture" featured heavily. "There was, though, little new information. And all the proposed improvements around 'preparation', 'performance' and 'environment' were obvious ones that should have been implemented long before the Ashes debacle. "The fact that no one has paid for the woeful winter with their job will anger a lot of cricket fans. As much as Rob Key insists there's no drinking culture and the team environment isn't too computable and cliquey, that is the wider perception. "Key admitted that the demand for consistency in selection had been taken too far, resulting in a failure to act on poor form. This summer some hard selection decisions will need to be made. A more sensible approach to batting will be needed; and most of all, England must start winning again. "Bazball is broken. McCullum and Stokes must rewrite the playbook. Series wins over New Zealand and Pakistan will go a long way to restoring fans' faith. But you sense the team's approach, particularly when batting in pressured situations, will be key." Watch England's home international summer live on Sky Sports, starting with a three-Test series against New Zealand from June 4. Not got Sky? Stream cricket contract-free on NOW.