Salman Rushdie attacker sentenced to 25 years for attempted murder

The man convicted of trying to kill Salman Rushdie has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the frenzied knife attack on the celebrated author.

A New York jury deliberated for less than two hours before convicting Hadi Matar, 27, of second-degree attempted murder in February. British-American author Rushdie was blinded in one eye in the harrowing attack in August 2022. The attacker was also found guilty of assault for injuring a man onstage with Rushdie, Henry Reese, who was about to interview the author.

Rushdie, 77, did not return to the Chautauqua County courtroom in western New York for his assailant’s sentencing Friday, but submitted a victim impact statement.

Matar received the maximum 25-year sentence for the attempted murder of Rushdie and seven years for wounding Reese, who sustained a gash above his left eye that required stitches. The sentences must run concurrently because both victims were injured in the same event, District Attorney Jason Schmidt said.

Before being sentenced, Matar stood and made a statement about freedom of speech in which he called Rushdie a hypocrite.

In requesting the maximum sentence, Schmidt told the judge that Matar “chose this.”

“He designed this attack so that he could inflict the most amount of damage, not just upon Mr. Rushdie, but upon this community, upon the 1,400 people who were there to watch it,” Schmidt said.

Public defender Nathaniel Barone pointed out that Matar had a otherwise clean criminal record and disputed that the people in the audience should be considered victims, suggesting that a sentence of 12 years would be appropriate.

The Booker Prize-winning novelist was about to speak in front of an audience at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York when Matar rushed at him onstage, slashing him more than a dozen times.

Rushdie was stabbed and slashed in the head, eye, neck, torso, leg and hand, and spent 17 days at the hospital and more than three weeks at a New York City rehabilitation center.

On the second day of the trial, Rushdie faced Matar for the first time as he calmly told a jury about the frenzied moments of the attack, revealing that he believed he was going to die.

“I became aware of a great quantity of blood I was lying in,” Rushdie testified in court. “My sense of time was quite cloudy, I was in pain from my eye and hand, and it occurred to me quite clearly I was dying.”

Jurors were shown video footage of the attack during the trial.

“I want you to look at the unprovoked nature of this attack,” District Attorney Jason Schmidt said. “I want you to look at the targeted nature of the attack. There were a lot of people around that day but there was only one person who was targeted.”

The 2022 attack is the subject of Rushdie’s memoir Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder.

The celebrated Indian-born author has faced death threats since his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses was declared blasphemous by Iran’s then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The attacker’s defense argued that prosecutors didn’t prove Matar wanted to kill the author, a core component of the attempted murder charge.

Matar, of New Jersey, did not testify during the trial, and his defense did not call any witnesses on his behalf. After the guilty verdict was handed down, Matar said “Free Palestine,” as he was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs.

Matar was also indicted on federal terrorism charges related to the stabbing. A trial date for those charges has yet to be confirmed.

The terror indictment alleges Matar was motivated by the Hezbollah leader’s 2006 endorsement of Khomeini’s decades-old fatwa.

Matar pleaded not guilty to a three-count indictment charging him with providing material to terrorists, attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah and engaging in terrorism transcending national boundaries.

Rushdie has been hailed as one of the greatest writers of his generation, and was awarded the Booker Prize in 1981 for Midnight’s Children. The title was also awarded the Best of Booker for a special anniversary prize in 2008.

The Associated Press contributed reporting

Cassie testifies Diddy would take her passport and phone when he was angry

Casandra “Cassie” Ventura is expected to return to the witness stand for a fourth and final time to face further cross-examination as the first week of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial draws to a close.

The defense team confronted the star witness about explicit text messages between her and Combs, hoping that the exchanges would show that Ventura willingly participated in the drug-dazed marathon sex sessions, known as “freak-offs.”

Judge Arun Subramanian became riled when the defense suggested that its questioning of Ventura, who is eight months pregnant, might extend to next week. Friday’s hearing is scheduled to resume at Manhattan federal court at 9.30 a.m.

Meanwhile, Justin Bieber broke his silence amid social media speculation that he was a victim of Combs, with his representative telling TMZ the pop star is “not among Sean Combs’ victims.”

Combs is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges. Combs was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024. Combs has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.

Trump claims James Comey’s ‘86’ post called for his assassination

Donald Trump claims a social media post from former FBI director James Comey called for the president’s assassination.

On Thursday, Comey posted a picture of sea shells in the shape of “86 47,” a reference to the 47th president and the term “86,” commonly used in bars and restaurants to cancel an order or toss someone out.

“He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant,” Trump told Fox News host Bret Baier in an interview airing on Friday. “If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant ‘assassination.’ It says that loud and clear.”

The president called him a “dirty cop” and said he will leave a decision on whether to prosecute him over a social media post with Attorney General Pam Bondi.

On Instagram, Comey posted an image of the seashells with the caption “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”

Administration officials quickly fell in line to denounce the post and demand investigations and prosecution.

Homeland Security Kristi Noem swiftly claimed Comey was calling for Trump’s assassination and announced DHS and the US Secret Service were investigating. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said the agency is “aware” of Comey’s post and “we take rhetoric like this very seriously. White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich claimed the post “can clearly be interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting president of the United States.”

Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard called it “a veiled call to action to murder the sitting president of the United States” and suggested Comey should be immediately imprisoned.

“James Comey should be held accountable and put behind bars for this,” Gabbard told Fox News host Jesse Watters on Thursday.

Comey — whose firing by Trump during his first term sparked the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller — has long been a target of the president and his allies following his investigation to determine whether Trump’s associates coordinated with Russian figures to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.

He subsequently deleted the image and explained in a separate post that he had posted a picture of “some shells I saw on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message.”

“I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” he wrote. “It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

It’s unclear on what grounds federal law enforcement officials could investigate Comey, as it is not illegal to post pictures of shells, even if they spell out what the president and his allies claim is offensive or threatening, which is largely First Amendment-protective activity.

Several other high-profile right-wing figures have used the term “86” in recent years, including now-former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who claimed last February that his allies in Congress had “86’d” Republican leadership.

In 2022, far-right activist Jack Posobiec wrote “86 46,” referring to then-president Joe Biden.

Trump himself has been repeatedly accused of using violent rhetoric against his perceived enemies and political opponents, which federal prosecutors and state attorneys have argued inspired a wave of threats against judges, lawyers, officials and their families.

During his 2016 campaign, he said that if his then-rival Hillary Clinton could appoint judges, there is “nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know.”

In 2023, Trump accused Gen. Mark A. Milley, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, of “treason” over a phone call to a Chinese official. “This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Throughout his criminal investigations and civil trials, prosecutors routinely warned judges that the president’s rhetoric and social media posts — including sharing an image of himself wielding a baseball bat against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg — could derail the prospect of fair trials and intimidate jurors. Law enforcement reported “serious and credible threats” of violence as well as hoax bomb threats and suspicious packages.

Last year, Trump shared a post on Truth Social suggesting former congresswoman Liz Cheney is “guilty of treason” and should be tried in “televised military tribunals” after she joined a congressional investigation into the events surrounding January 6.

“Let’s see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face,” he told Tucker Carlson last year, referencing Cheney, whom Trump accused of being a “war hawk.”

During the 2024 campaign, Trump shared a video showing a supporter’s truck with a graphic depicting a hog-tied Joe Biden.

You don’t speak for middle England, Mr Farage, and here’s why

How many people, I wonder, seriously think that Keir Starmer has much in common with Enoch Powell? It’s true that whoever came up with the phrase “island of strangers” was, at best, naive. But those three words don’t do justice to his whole speech. Powell was a (proud) racialist. Starmer is not.

But, somehow, in modern Britain as elsewhere, we are more comfortable with pigeonholes. Not so long ago, Starmer was typecast as weak-kneed and woke-minded on the issue of immigration. Now he apparently spies the River Thames foaming with much blood. Maybe his views aren’t so extreme, but he has simply been persuaded to nudge a little to the right to undermine the threat from Reform. In other words, perhaps Starmer is, at heart, that most ridiculed of creatures: a centrist dad.

But aren’t most of us somewhere in the middle on most of the big issues of the day? The common wisdom is that we’re living in an age of great polarity, which is true up to a point. But, increasingly, I suspect, most of us aren’t attracted to extremes. We are repelled by pigeonholes and huddle for warmth somewhere in the middle instead.

I am no John Curtice, so what follows is a gut feeling rather than a psephological revelation. But that feeling, when it comes to immigration, is that most people appreciate that, as a country, we do benefit from migration, and that we also need controls on who – and how many people – should be allowed in.

In other words, we do buy the argument that migrants bring considerable benefits and are probably necessary for growth, but we also understand those who fear that, wrongly handled, there could be a risk to social cohesion – and that unskilled workers, in particular, feel threatened by the lower pay rates that an excessive number of foreign workers can cause.

In other words, Starmer was right two years ago when he spoke up in favour of migration and also right today in wanting to set boundaries. He’s more or less in tune with most people, who are not in favour of uncontrolled migration any more than they share a cruel obsession with denying sanctuary to those most in need.

See also Israel-Palestine. Most people surely agree that Israel had to defend itself after the barbarous 7 October attacks by Hamas. But many, if not most, people now consider that Israel’s response has been wildly, possibly criminally, disproportionate. By holding these two thoughts, they are not siding with either the Islamist radicals or the ethno-nationalist hardmen propping up Benjamin Netanyahu. Stop the killing, end the famine, and get around a table and talk. That’s where most people are.

On trans issues, the majority probably feel sympathy and understanding towards people who feel trapped in the wrong body. They probably believe that such people should be free to live whatever lives they want – including self-identifying in terms of gender. They simultaneously acknowledge that, in a tiny proportion of cases, there might be issues to resolve sensitively around toilets, prisons and sport. Anyone with any personal knowledge of trans people will know that 99.9 per cent are not in prison, don’t compete in sport and quietly resolve any issues around bathrooms. The obsessive vitriol and noise about the 0.1 per cent leaves most of us cold.

And then Brexit. Most people could see there were some sovereignty issues with “rule from Brussels”, but that there were also huge economic benefits from being part of a trading bloc. It was, literally, a trade-off: freedom of movement brought advantages as well as disadvantages.

Self-evidently and by a small margin, it transpired that we were relaxed about a form of decoupling. But support for the most extreme version of severance was limited and is declining now the economic (and security) consequences are becoming icily apparent.

That leaves climate change. Most people accept that it is very real – and that we need to move fast to try and mitigate the damage that a significant rise in warming will cause. Most support an energy transition, though they are up for a constructive argument about how fast and at what cost. The majority of people don’t want to go back to coal or maintain our reliance on fossil fuels for longer than we have to. If there’s a cleaner way of generating energy, bring it on.

Moderation in all things. But contrast that instinctive moderation with how most of these issues are presented and discussed as either/or rather than a bit of both. When did we lose the art of nuance and reasonable discussion? The easy response is to blame it all on social media algorithms, which do, indeed, favour the shouters and the polarisers. But is that the only explanation?

Some argue that a fairer voting system would change the nature of the debate so that we could discuss in shades of grey rather than the prevailing black and white. We’re tired of the adversarial approach to everything.

Does the mainstream media have to accept some responsibility for the way we force people to take more eye-catching positions than those they actually believe in? Or have we simply lost the art of nuance? Keir Starmer as Enoch Powell – really?

Our instinct for moderation was once considered a defining British – or, at least, English trait. We didn’t fall for fascism or communism in the Thirties because we – well, because we huddled somewhere in the middle.

George Orwell, famously writing under the hail of Nazi bombs in February 1941, said: “Like all other modern people, the English are in process of being numbered, labelled, conscripted, ‘coordinated’. But the pull of their impulses is in the other direction, and the kind of regimentation that can be imposed on them will be modified in consequence. No party rallies, no youth movements, no coloured shirts, no Jew-baiting or ‘spontaneous’ demonstrations. No Gestapo either, in all probability.”

And so it turned out. Which makes it all the stranger that Nigel Farage, with his Mr Toad flat cap and yellow cords, has managed to brand himself as the epitome of Englishness. Speak for England, Nigel? I don’t think so. Let’s hear it for the neglected middle.

Pear could see these 6’7ft twins reaching new comedic heights at Fringe

All comedians need an identifier: a visual cue by which the audience will remember them and, hopefully, tell others to go see their show. Few have one better than Patrick and Hugo McPherson aka Pear. When it comes to sketch comedy, you’ll struggle to find two more instantly recognisable performers than these 6ft 7in identical twins.

But while twindom provides a good tagline and all the requisite gags about how, actually, they met at uni and their triplet Emmanuel keeps failing his audition to join their act,​​ the Pear pair get most of their fun out of totally dismantling the expectations placed upon them as twins. Throughout the show, they get up close and personal in one another’s space, going so far as to play lovers. The brothers clearly revel in knowing that the audience will find these subversive moments even more funny because of their shared DNA.

Staples of the Edinburgh Fringe, Pear are back at the Soho Theatre with Phobia, a rambunctious, light-hearted hour of sketch and silliness. The premise (that term is used pretty loosely here) is that Pear have had enough of trivial sketch comedy, and want to shift their attention to making more quote-unquote powerful work. So, determined to start small, Pear are going to end fear once and for all. Referencing their Soho Theatre forefathers, they declare: “This is what Fleabag did for women. This is what Baby Reindeer did for… pubs?”

The fear plot is the perfect catalyst for the kind of improvised audience interaction moments the siblings feel most comfortable doing. Early on, one audience member is given a party popper to set off in the show whenever they feel things are at their most intense high. Another receives a set of maracas. Props fly through the air, adding to the chaotic student comedy night environment, and the audience howls with laughter.

The tangential link to fear barely extends to the sketches, which hardly matters. The strongest work comes right up top, with Patrick and Hugo playing a set of German border security officers with tiny plastic hands jutting out of their sleeves. As the duo frisk one another with said tiny plastic hands, one revealing a tiny plastic gun, it’s a display of exactly the kind of physical comedy at which they excel. One sketch between the US president and his overfamiliar, neck-kissing FBI agent is another highlight; likewise, a short skit in which the pair don neck braces and stiffly dance at the InjuryLawyers4U disco.

At times, there’s so much focus on the raucous use of props and sound cues that the sketch writing itself takes a backseat. The ideas are there, but they need parcelling out and fine-tuning through further performance in front of an audience. Many of the sketches almost stop mid-scene; were it not for the blackouts that end each vignette, I’m not sure I would have known when to clap or laugh. But you can chalk this down to the show being so early in its run. By the time it makes it to Edinburgh this August, it’ll surely be a hit.

Pear’s ‘Phobia’ is on at Soho Theatre until 3 June; tickets here

Celebration villa breaks: find your perfect luxury getaway

If you’re planning a milestone birthday, a big anniversary, or a long-awaited reunion, a villa holiday is hard to beat. Imagine clinking glasses on a rooftop terrace at sunset or gathering loved ones around a candlelit garden table for a leisurely dinner under the night sky.

These special occasions deserve much more than booking out a busy hotel, and nothing beats having your own sun-drenched sanctuary where you have the space and privacy to celebrate in style. Whether you’re heading to Marrakech in the shadow of the Atlas Mountains, to the rolling hills of Tuscany, or a tropical oasis further afield, Villas are the perfect home-away-from-home for celebrating something, or someone, special.

CV Villas’ luxurious ABOVE collection offers the perfect backdrop for unforgettable moments – think breathtaking settings, total privacy, and the kind of comfort and space that makes everyone feel at home. All come with stunning interiors, sweeping views as far as the eye can see, and enviable locations in some of the world’s most sought-after spots. Each villa is hand-picked by dedicated CV Villa specialists, who are experts in helping people craft their dream getaway. Many come with their own infinity pools, breathtaking views and large alfresco dining areas, perfect for spending quality time together during life’s most important moments. Villas aren’t just places to stay, they’re a big part of the celebration itself.

From the moment you book your stay to your arrival back home, the CV Villas Concierge team is there to make everything as seamless and stress-free as possible. They are dedicated to looking after you and your party before and throughout your holiday so that you can focus on the things that really matter, like spending quality time together and celebrating without having to worry about the minor details. The team tailors each trip to exactly what you’re after, whether you’re looking to book a private boat day or need to organise a surprise celebration dinner, nothing is too much trouble. Many of the five-star villas even come with their own butlers and chefs so that you can be waited on hand and foot during your special getaway.

ABOVE villas are the epitome of luxury and come with designer interiors, infinity pools boasting panoramic ocean views, and terraces made for golden hour cocktails  – properties with serious star quality. What’s more, they’re located all around the world, from the sun-soaked shores of Spain and Greece to the palm-fringed beaches of far-flung Sri Lanka and beyond.

Sampling delicious local food is a big part of a holiday, but catering for a large group can often mean juggling different requests and palates. Luckily for you, many of these luxury villas come with their very own in-villa chefs – perfect for when you’d rather toast the moment with a glass of fizz than spend time flapping around in the kitchen. Instead, let your chef whip up multi-course meals morning till night, using the freshest local produce, all based on your personal tastes and dietary requirements, before tucking into it alfresco under the undisturbed starry night sky.

The little luxuries make a big difference to a bucket-list trip: daily housekeeping to keep things spic and span, spa treatments for when you need a little R&R, wine tastings for the adults, yoga sessions with epic views, and even round-the-clock babysitting. All of this can be arranged to make your stay feel even more indulgent.

Maison Emilion, France

This rustic French villa is practically made for wine lovers, aptly located amidst the rolling vineyards of Bordeaux. This six-bedroom hilltop hangout boasts views of the working vineyards from every angle, including from the heated pool and surrounding sunbeds. Wander into the nearby village of Saint-Émilion, then enjoy the included wine-tasting experience before settling into the garden for dinner with nothing but the glow of flickering candlelight and the moonlit sky.

Oleander, Corfu

It doesn’t get much more luxurious than Oleander in Corfu, a five-bedroom villa overlooking Avlaki Bay and the picturesque town of Kassiopi. It’s located high above the Ionian Sea and is the ideal villa for memorable summer celebrations. Soak up the sunshine from the infinity pool while enjoying views of Albania’s craggy Ceraunian Mountains, or hang out on the wrap-around terraces and communal outside dining areas. During peak season at Oleander, chef service is also included, so you can enjoy meals with your loved ones without even having to leave the villa.

Spirit of Son Fuster, Mallorca

Spirit of Son Fuster in Mallorca is hard to beat for large groups and multigenerational stays. This five-star bolthole is set in a stunning natural landscape at the foot of the Alaro twin mountains, right near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Serra de Tramuntana, and is as secluded as it gets. This gorgeous ​​14th-century manor house sleeps twenty people across ten bedrooms and even has its own on-site spa and hammam where everyone can enjoy treatments in the dedicated treatment rooms. There’s even a private cinema room for movie nights and a well-stocked wine cellar filled with local vintage wines.

Masseria Giardini, Puglia

Masseria Giardini in Puglia is the height of luxury and the perfect home-away-from-home for families and large groups. It was built in 1750 and is surrounded by leafy olive groves and landscaped gardens curated by Chelsea Flower Show winners Urquhart & Hunt. Enjoy unparalleled views of the Canale Di Pirro Valley from this ten-bedroom farmhouse and spend days lazing around in the heated pool. This villa is an architectural masterpiece, with signature stone domed roofs and hand-carved stone baths in five of the ten bedrooms.

For more travel information and inspiration and to book your perfect villa getaway, visit CV Villas

Dr Who star Ncuti Gatwa ‘no longer able’ to be UK Eurovision spokesperson

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has unexpectedly pulled out of presenting the UK jury vote during the Eurovision Song Contest final, with Sophie Ellis-Bextor stepping in at the last minute.

The BBC cited only “unforeseen circumstances” for the change – an announcement that coincides with rising controversy around this year’s event.

Protests erupted during Thursday night’s rehearsal in Basel, where six demonstrators waving flags and blowing whistles interrupted Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael’s preview performance.

Raphael, who survived the Hamas attacks of 7 October, said she anticipated a hostile reception but was determined to perform her song, “New Day Will Rise”.

Gatwa, 32, had been announced as the UK’s official Eurovision spokesperson earlier this month, in a move that formed part of a Doctor Who crossover timed for Saturday’s final. No further reason was given for his departure.

A BBC statement about Gatwa’s departure from the coverage said: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately, Ncuti Gatwa is no longer able to participate as Spokesperson during the Grand Final this weekend. However, we are delighted to confirm that BBC Radio 2’s very own Friday night Kitchen Disco Diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be presenting the Jury result live from the UK.”

Ellis-Bextor added as part of the statement: “I love Eurovision and it’s a privilege to be part of 2025’s Grand Final. What an honour it is to announce the UK’s jury score on such a special show which always puts music front and centre. I am very much looking forward to delivering the iconic douze points from the United Kingdom!”

The Scottish actor’s involvement was part of a Doctor Who crossover, with an episode titled “The Interstellar Song Contest” airing before Saturday’s Eurovision final (17 May).

The sixth episode in the current season of the sci-fi hit will see The Doctor (Gatwa) and companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) travelling to the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest.

In the episode, the Interstellar Song Contest features planets from across the universe competing for the top prize and is co-hosted by TV and radio presenter Rylan Clark, while Irish TV host and “King of Eurovision” Graham Norton also appears.

Clark presented live commentary on BBC One for the Eurovision semi-finals on 13 May and 15 May, and will commentate the final for BBC Radio 2 alongside presenter Scott Mills. Norton will commentate on the final for BBC One viewers.

Representing the UK this year is girl group Remember Monday with their track “What The Hell Just Happened?”, a celebration of the close-knit friendship they developed at Farnborough Sixth Form in Hampshire.

Other nations that have qualified include Austria’s JJ and Malta’s Miriana Conte.

Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Ireland’s entry Emmy, who failed to qualify for the final.

The Eurovision 2025 grand final will see 26 contestants go head to head on Saturday.

Here are the finalists, including the “big five” of the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, who all provide extra financial support to Eurovision and gain automatic entry to the final as a result:

The Eurovision 2025 grand final takes place on Saturday 17 May and will be broadcast on BBC One from 8pm.

Calls for wealth tax as Rich List shows just 350 families have £772bn

Millionaires have called on the government to properly tax the richest people in Britain, after it was revealed that just 350 families hold over £772bn of the nation’s wealth.

Members of the Patriotic Millionaires have urged for a “long overdue” wealth tax to invest in “our much-loved country”, adding that the wealth of the top 350 people could cover the total cost of the UK’s annual healthcare spend three times over.

The call comes after the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List revealed the annual catalogue of Britain’s wealthiest people, with famous figures including Sir Elton John, Andrew Lloyd-Webber and the King all making the list.

Responding to the publication, Julia Davies, an angel investor who sold her stake in backpack and travel bag company Osprey Europe, said: “Once again this year’s rich list shows the phenomenal wealth that is stuck at the top with a whopping £772bn in the hands of a mere 350 people.

“Those wringing their hands about fewer billionaires and the threat of multi-millionaires leaving would be better off focusing on real British problems, like our crumbling NHS, than nursing the niche concerns of the super-rich.

“£772bn, held by just 350 families, would cover the total cost of the UK’s annual healthcare spend three times over. Properly taxing this wealth, to invest in our much-loved country, is long overdue.”

The 37th annual list reveals who are the 350 richest individuals and families in the UK, based on identifiable wealth, including land, property, other assets such as art and racehorses, or significant shares in publicly quoted companies.

At the top was the Hinduja family, who sat in first place for the fourth consecutive year despite a decline in their fortune.

Gopi Hinduja and his family, who are behind the Indian conglomerate Hinduja Group, were recorded as having £35.3bn.

The Hindujas were followed in the list by real estate moguls David and Simon Reuben, who moved up to second after increasing their wealth to £26.9bn.

They were followed by investor Sir Leonard Blavatnik, entrepreneur Sir James Dyson and shipping tycoon Idan Ofer.

Ms Davies, a member of Patriotic Millionaires, added: “Our media and political leaders need to stop focusing on the interests and habits of a small number of people who are hoarding extreme wealth at the expense of us all and instead prioritise the interests of Britain’s true wealth creators, our ordinary hardworking families, small businesses, entrepreneurs, teachers, health and other public-sector workers.

“These people are the backbone of the British economy, many of whom haven’t seen a pay rise in 15 years. Our government should treat the Rich List as the smelling salt it needs, wake up, and tax the super-rich.”

Manchester United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe came seventh in the list with a £17bn fortune.

However, the Ineos founder was the biggest faller on the list as he saw his wealth decline by around £6bn for the second consecutive year.

Other notable figures on the list included the King, who saw his personal wealth jump by £30m to £640m in the last year, making him as rich as former prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty.

Charles, who acceded to the throne in 2022, ranks joint 238th in the list, up 20 places from 258th in 2024.

The monarch is £140m richer than David and Victoria Beckham, who are said to be worth £500m, with the former England captain being Britain’s richest sports star.

Meanwhile, the personal wealth of Mr Sunak and Ms Murty dropped £11m from £651m to £640m.

Since leaving Downing Street, the former prime minister has taken a part-time role at Stanford University and signed up to the Washington Speakers Bureau, while Ms Murty has a stake in Infosys, the Indian IT giant co-founded by her billionaire father.

The latest publication revealed a third consecutive slump in the number of billionaires residing in the UK, down to 156 this year from 165 in 2024.

“Our billionaire count is down and the combined wealth of those who feature in our research is falling,” said Robert Watts, compiler of the Rich List.

“We are also finding fewer of the world’s super-rich are coming to live in the UK.”

He said he was also “struck by the strength of criticism for Rachel Reeves’s Treasury” when speaking to wealthy individuals for the publication.

Mr Watts said: “We expected the abolition of non-dom status would anger affluent people from overseas.

“But homegrown young tech entrepreneurs and those running centuries-old family firms are also warning of serious consequences to a range of tax changes unveiled in last October’s Budget.”