Sky News halted for urgent breaking alert as it all goes wrong for Keir Starmer

Sky News was interrupted by a breaking news announcement - and it's not an update that Prime Minister Keir Starmer will welcome. Presenter Jayne Secker was joined by Economics and Data Editor Ed Conway, who revealed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts UK inflation will soar to the highest level among G7 nations in 2025 and 2026, largely driven by rising energy and utility costs. Inflation is forecast to average 3.4% this year and 2.5% in 2026, but the IMF describes this as "temporary," expecting it to fall back to 2% by the end of next year.

Conway recognised that the UK is projected to be the second-fastest growing economy among the world's most advanced nations this year and next. "That looks pretty good and I suspect we're going to hear Rachel Reeves talk about that," he said. "What she might not like to talk about quite so much are two other things.

"We have this incredibly high level of migration at the moment, so when you divide it between the number of the people in the country, actually, our 2026 growth is the weakest in the G7.

"When you look at inflation, we have the strongest or highest inflation in the G7 in the next couple of years and I think those are two things that she and the Bank of England governor will be called on to try and explain."

It's more bad news for the prime minister, who was recently left humiliated after an interaction with Donald Trump.

He was left red-faced yesterday as he joined a queue of world leaders awaiting a handshake with the US President at a Gaza peace summit in Egypt, highlighting Britain's waning influence on the global stage.

The Labour leader was pictured queuing behind Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as Mr Trump held court after overseeing the signing of a landmark ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

During the speech, Trump gave a shoutout to the UK and invited Starmer to join him on stage. "Where is the United Kingdom?! Where is our friend?" Trump asked while looking for Starmer.

The politician coyly waved his hand before being invited up to the podium, as Trump asked him: "Is everything going well?"

Starmer responded awkwardly that things were "very good" and appeared to step forward to speak, only to be interrupted as the president continued with his speech.

He added: "It is very nice that you are here. These people all came on like 20-minute notice and I think it is fantastic."