Broadcast timeline
Sky News Today with Jayne Secker
Thursday 2 July 2026 · 13:00 BST · 30m · 7 stories · 10 annotated moments · 28 of 30 min on news stories (92%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
The Prime Minister issued a formal apology in the House of Commons for historical forced adoptions between 1949 and 1976, telling survivors the shame belongs to the state. Campaigners and MPs welcomed the apology but called for long-term support and record-keeping. Separately, the Prime Minister asked the Home Secretary to explore deporting Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang, who was released from prison after 14 years but cannot be deported to Pakistan due to provisions in the 1971 Immigration Act.
In an interview with Sky News, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said his country does not want war but is not afraid of it, responding to threats from US President Donald Trump. The government accepted all recommendations from phase one of the inquiry into the 2024 Southport stabbings, which found the attack could have been prevented. The Court of Appeal heard arguments on whether non-custodial sentences for three teenage boys convicted of multiple rapes were unduly lenient. Russia launched a large drone and missile attack on Kyiv, killing 20 people and injuring at least 80, with residential buildings hit. A report on traveller encampments highlighted tensions between families seeking to put down roots and local residents, including a suspected arson attack on a caravan.
- 0:12
- 0:16
Charged quote PM apologizes for historical forced adoptions in England and Wales
This is Sky News Today. It's one o'clock, the headlines. A stain on our history. The Prime Minister apologises to survivors of historical forced adoption. The shame is not yours. The shame was never yours. The shame is ours. Also today, the Prime Minister asked the Home Secretary to consider what can be done
Sky News, Sky News Today with Jayne Secker, 2 July 2026, 0:16-0:18
- 6:06
Charged quote PM apologizes for historical forced adoptions in England and Wales
Karen Constantine speaking there. While responding to the Prime Minister's apology, Adoption UK's Chief Executive Emily Firth said this, Today's apology matters because it acknowledges a profound injustice that should never have happened. For decades, mothers were coerced into having their children taken for adoption,
Sky News, Sky News Today with Jayne Secker, 2 July 2026, 6:06-6:11
- 10:46
- 10:57
Claim Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed released from prison
Ahmed's British citizenship was revoked by the Home Office when he was convicted in 2012.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Jayne Secker, 2 July 2026, 10:57-11:04
- 11:04
Claim Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed released from prison
Ahmed cannot be deported to Pakistan due to provisions in the Immigration Act 1971.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Jayne Secker, 2 July 2026, 11:04-11:11
- 11:19
Charged quote Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed released from prison
which Barr has removed. The Rochdale MP Paul Waugh raised the issue in the Commons this morning. Shabir Ahmed was the ringleader of a disgusting Rochdale grooming gang convicted of serial rapes against young white girls but also repeated rapes of a young Asian girl. Today Shabir Ahmed is being released from prison
Sky News, Sky News Today with Jayne Secker, 2 July 2026, 11:19-11:22
- 11:57
Charged quote Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed released from prison
to make sure people like Ahmed are deported and that their victims never ever get to face them again? In short, Mr Speaker, yes I do because our thoughts should be with the victims of these appalling crimes and the perpetrators of grooming gangs or sexual abuse must face the full force of the law whoever they are and wherever they come from.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Jayne Secker, 2 July 2026, 11:57-12:00
- 12:25
Claim Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed released from prison
The government is exploring options to deport Ahmed, with the Prime Minister asking the Home Secretary to consider what can be done.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Jayne Secker, 2 July 2026, 12:25-12:31
- 12:37
- 16:21
- 16:21
Claim Government accepts Southport stabbings inquiry recommendations
The Home Secretary announced that the government accepted all recommendations from the first phase of the Southport inquiry and promised to do whatever is needed to protect the public.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Jayne Secker, 2 July 2026, 16:21-16:29
- 16:39
Claim Government accepts Southport stabbings inquiry recommendations
The Southport inquiry found that the murders could and should have been prevented, citing failings including agencies failing to share information, the killer's family being dishonest, and missed arrest opportunities.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Jayne Secker, 2 July 2026, 16:39-16:54
- 18:28
- 19:29
Claim Court of Appeal increases sentences for two teenage boys convicted of rape
The Attorney General referred the case to the Court of Appeal, saying he believed the sentences were unduly lenient, following public and political outcry.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Jayne Secker, 2 July 2026, 19:29-19:35
- 21:42
- 27:47
Source: Sky News, "Sky News Today with Jayne Secker", Thursday 2 July 2026. Transcript excerpts and stills are shown only to support the analysis annotated alongside them. Search-result excerpts are distinct from the editorial annotations — see our copyright basis. The full broadcast is not reproduced.