Will Charley
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Political Reporter @SkyNews 🗞️ | Often found writing the Politics Hub | william.charley@sky.uk | Prev: @ITVWestCountry
Articles by Will Charley
MPs to launch national ad campaign to highlight extent UK military is unprepared for war - and call for increased spending
The group of predominantly veterans believe the British public are unaware how "stripped bare" the country's military is, and of the need to rearm at speed. Those behind the plans believe a top London advertising agency is prepared to run the campaign pro bono, though Sky News understands no agreement has yet been signed. This would feature both a national social media campaign, and other methods to convey messaging to people offline.
Great British Railways: How much of your cash has been spent on trains rebrand?
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander unveiled the emblem for Great British Railways (GBR) last month, the brand which nationalised trains in England will fall under. Politics Hub: Follow latest updates As well as a fresh logo, which features the familiar double arrow symbol used by British Rail when the country's trains were last publicly owned, carriages are also getting a paint job.
More than 80% of shoplifting offences result in no charge - as number of unsolved cases soars
New figures show that 289,464 cases of shoplifting were shut by police without a suspect in England and Wales in the year to March 2025, according to House of Commons library analysis. Of all shoplifting cases, more than half (55%) were closed without a suspect identified, while fewer than one in five (18%) led to someone being charged.
Minister defends proposals to ban over 70s from driving if they fail new compulsory eye tests
Ministers are considering "tougher" measures to tackle road deaths and injuries in England and Wales, which they believe have "remained stubbornly high under successive Conservative governments". Under the new proposals, first reported by The Times, the drink-drive limit would be lowered to match the current rules in Scotland. Currently, the drink-drive limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath in England and Wales, or 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
Minister defends proposals to ban over 70s from driving if they fail new compulsory eye tests
Ministers are considering "tougher" measures to tackle road deaths and injuries in England and Wales, which they believe have "remained stubbornly high under successive Conservative governments". Under the new proposals, first reported by The Times, the drink-drive limit would be lowered to match the current rules in Scotland. Currently, the drink-drive limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath in England and Wales, or 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
The photographer who captured Bath Rugby's opening Premiership game on a roll of expired film
A photographer who has millions of 'likes' on social media for his work capturing sports matches on vintage cameras has spoken about how it all began in Cornwall. Miles Myerscough-Harris uses rolls of expired film as well as vintage cameras that date as far back as 1894, to capture his other big passion: sport. To his legions of followers, he is best known as the man behind the Expired Film Club and his work has been viewed around the world.
Historic exercise books detailing life in Bristol in the 1960s rescued from a skip
A collection of historic schoolbooks from the 1960s have been salvaged from a skip in Bristol, and have now been viewed by more than a million people online. Charlotte Sellers was making her way to a pub with friends in Easton when she spotted the books in a skip and decided to take a closer look. The 25-year-old, who describes herself as "a bit of a scavenger", was first drawn to the skip by a cabinet that had been thrown away, before spotting the schoolbooks.
'Results don't define you' - Woman who left school with no A-Levels qualifies as a nurse
A woman who has recently qualified as a nurse in Bath after trying for seven years is encouraging others to believe they can achieve their dream job too. Charlie Gerrish left school with no A-levels and was unsure of what she wanted to do - but has since worked her way up to the role at the Royal United Hospital (RUH). The 32-year-old mum of two received a lot of love when she shared the good news on X, formerly Twitter, with more than 122,000 people liking her post.
Some of the key factors that could affect the vote this general election | ITV News
We are just days away from the 2024 General Election and finding out who will form the UK's next government. By now, millions of voters will have decided both if they are going to vote, and if so, who for. But there are a number of surprising factors that can affect how voters will decide on the day, which could end up impacting results in constituencies across the West Country. Among other things, these factors include the weather, age, accessibility and complacency.
The South West constituencies to watch this general election | ITV News
Millions of people across the West Country are set to go to the polls to vote for their next MP on 4 July. Some candidates are confident they will be re-elected as they are standing in safe seats - that is a constituency that has a history of delivering a large majority for one particular party's candidate. But for others, the election could come down to just a handful of votes - and it is these seats that all parties are now watching.
General Election: West Country boundary changes explained | ITV News
Millions of people in the South West will cast their vote for a new local MP on 4 July, and thousands will be affected by constituency boundary changes. These were carried out in 2023 to ensure every parliamentary seat is roughly a similar size and is adjusted for changes in the population since the last review in 2010. The changes mean tactical voting may be more difficult in this election, while previous boundary changes have tended to benefit the Conservatives nationally.
'It's about a feeling of belonging': Students' bid to rename Bristol buildings linked to slave trade
Students are calling for two buildings named after a family linked to the slave trade at the University of Bristol to be renamed. Hundreds of people have signed a petition demanding that Goldney House and Goldney Hall are rebranded, as they believe it goes against the "inclusive values" of the university. The Goldneys were a prominent family in Bristol in the 17th and 18th centuries, and produced manillas - "bracelets" - and other brass objects that were used to acquire slaves in West Africa.
'We're over the moon' - Family-owned nursery crowned best in the country | ITV News
Watch Will Charley's report on the 'best nursery in the UK' here. Staff at a family-run nursery in the southwest say they are "over the moon" at being crowned the best nursery in the UK. Archfield House in Bristol has been given the prestigious award by Nursery World magazine, having been short-listed against other sites around the country. It follows the nursery being rated as 'outstanding' by Ofsted for the second time, which encouraged staff to enter for the award.
Storm Ciarán forces closure of secondary school with unsafe building | ITV News
A secondary school in Somerset say it is disappointed at being told to close as Storm Ciarán hits the region. The Department for Education has recommended that Haywater School in Bridgwater should shut it's classrooms to pupils on Thursday 2 November due to safety concerns. It has informed school staff that temporary buildings being used to teach pupils on site will be affected by predicted strong winds.
Pensioners call for bus service to return after being left isolated in 'lost part' of Bristol
Watch Will Charley's report Residents in South Bristol say they have been left totally isolated after their local bus service was scrapped. Pensioners in Ashton Vale are now campaigning for the number 23 route to resume, after it was cut due to low passenger numbers in April. The community has been calling on the metro mayor, Dan Norris, for him to provide a bus service, after they say people have been left unable to leave the local area for months.
Families of women killed by their partners call for tougher restrictions on where murderers can live
Watch: ITV West Country's Will Charley speaks to the families of Julie Butcher and Ellie Gould The families of two women who were violently killed by their ex-partners are calling for increased restrictions on where murderers can live when they are released from prison. Julie Butcher was murdered in Chiseldon in 2005 while Ellie Gould was killed in Calne in 2019. Julie was just 25-years-old and was attacked by her ex-husband after years of abuse.
Growing calls for residential educational centres to be given extra funding
A petition by campaigners calling for residential educational centres to be given £10m from the Welsh Government has passed 1,000 signatures. Campaigners say that these centres have been unable to open in any meaningful way since March 2020, when the UK went into lockdown due to coronavirus. When the rest of the country unlocked in the Summer, the UK Government’s Department for Education issued advice that schools should not carry out overnight stays.
‘Justice for Palestine’: BME coalition to protest Conservative Association event on Israeli-British relations
By Will Charley, Deputy Editor A group of BME societies are set to protest an event on Israeli-British relations, after the University of Bristol refused to cancel it. A coalition of BME societies will be protesting a Bristol University Conservative Association (BUCA) event today (Feb 10), in the belief that both invited external speakers should not be given a platform.
Bristol has seen the second highest increase in rent across the UK
By Will Charley, Deputy Editor Rent in Bristol has risen the second fastest in the UK, according to a study by property agent, Zoopla Whilst the average national rent rose by two per cent, rent in Bristol rose by four-point-five per cent. The cost of renting in Leeds has also risen the second most in the UK, joining Bristol with a four-point-five per cent rise. However, rent increased the most this year in Nottingham, where it rose by five-point-four per cent.
Hugh Brady: Deal or no deal, Brexit will hurt UK universities
By Will Charley, Deputy Editor Bristol University's vice-chancellor warned that Brexit may damage research, but would not reduce international admissions Professor Hugh Brady warned of the effects of Brexit and stated that "what we fear most" is a no-deal exit from the EU. Speaking in Ireland last week about Brexit and its effect on higher education, Professor Brady dismissed the notion that fewer international students would apply to the University as a result.
Bristol University one of ten worst for social inclusion in England and Wales
By Will Charley, Deputy Editor Bristol University has less than five per cent of students from 'deprived areas' compared to nearly 15 per cent at UWE Bristol Over a third of students at the University of Bristol are from independent schools, according to figures in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020. The Guide ranks Bristol University as one of the ten least socially inclusive universities in England and Wales.
In photos: The global climate strike in Bristol
By Will Charley, Deputy Editor Today, Friday September 20, Bristol city centre was swamped with colourful and creative marchers calling for climate justice Environmental protestors marched across Bristol today, making speeches on College Green and by the Victoria Fountains. The protestors called on the government and ordinary people to 'act now', reducing the harmful effects of global warming. Those campaigning in Bristol were part of a wider movement, which held protests around the world today.
Largest annual balloon gathering in Europe begins at Longleat
Balloons launched this morning ahead of the weekend's festival. Credit: ITV News More than 70 hot air balloons took off this morning, beginning the three day Longleat Sky Safari. The ballooning festival is the largest of its kind in Europe and will involve pilots from across the world. It is hoped 150 balloons will fly over the weekend, if the weather holds up. Longleat staff lead the festival with their own lion shaped balloon, while other animal shapes also participate.
Bristol's Ovo Energy to become second largest energy supplier in UK
Ovo Energy will become the second largest energy supplier in the UK Credit: ITV News Ovo Energy, a Bristol-based company, is to buy a second energy firm's household arm, delivering them an additional 3.5m customers as well as 8,000 new staff. This follows discussions between energy company SSE and Ovo Energy, where it has been agreed that SSE's household arm will be purchased for £500m.
Dozens of Bristol University students offered accommodation in Wales
Bristol University courses are so over-subscribed students are being offered accommodation in Wales Credit: ITV News Students coming to the University of Bristol have learned that they will be living in Wales for the foreseeable future. Dozens of students who accepted places at the university have not been offered any accommodation in the city.
Owners of Grade ll* listed pier issued with repairs notice
The pier was listed by the Victorian Society among its top ten most endangered buildings. Credit: ITV News The owners of Western-super-Mare's Birnbeck Pier have been issued with a repairs notice by North Somerset Council. Working with Historic England, the council issued a notice to the owners to fix the pier, having "exhausted all other options". Birnbeck Pier was bought by private owner CNM Estates in 2014, following the collapse of Urban Splash's plans to repair the site.
Conservative Government seeks to minimize student vote
By Will Charley, Deputy Editor The Government has admitted it is seeking to reduce the number of students voting by choosing an early election date. The Conservative Government have admitted today that their proposed general election date, October 15th, was chosen with the belief that it might reduce the number of students able to vote.
'B*llocks to Boris': Bristol club enforces anti-government petition
By Will Charley, Deputy Editor Lakota, a popular Bristol nightclub, only allowed guests entry to an event on Friday if they signed a petition criticising the government. Hours before the event 'B*llocks to Boris', the club announced a 'change of plan' on its Facebook page, ending the sale of monetary tickets for the night.
Man from mobility scooter viral video is a budding entrepreneur
Shops / Barton Hill By will charley, Friday Jul 26, 2019 Entrepreneur Anthony Paradox only moved to Bristol last month, but many will have already seen him. DJ Danny Byrd tweeted a video of Anthony, known as Ant, blaring jungle music from his mobility scooter. The video went viral, being viewed over 100,000 times in two days.
Avon Fire & Rescue gifted handmade teddies to help traumatised children
Features / Avon Fire and Rescue By will charley, Friday Jul 26, 2019 Children who have gone through traumatic experiences, be it a house fire, a traffic collision or simply being locked in the bathroom, will be given a furry friend to help them recover. Teddies knitted by 12 groups, including the Knowle Townswomen’s Guild, will be be given out by Avon Fire and Rescue after incidents.
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