Politics

The partner of disgraced ex-Tory MP Peter Bone has been chosen as the Conservative candidate to replace him in the Wellingborough by-election. Helen Harrison, who is a Conservative councillor in Wellingborough’s North Northamptonshire area, was selected by members of the party on Sunday afternoon, according to party chair Richard Holden. An election is being held

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt says the former net zero chief is “wrong” after he quit the Tory party in protest of the government’s decision to ramp up oil and gas drilling. Chris Skidmore resigned as an MP on Friday, accusing the government of “rowing ever further back from its climate commitments”. Speaking on Saturday, Mr Hunt

In its long and venerable history dating back 192 years, the British Medical Association used to shy away from being called a “trades union”. Collective bargaining was for “trades people”; the doctors were independent professionals. Their association was there to campaign for best practice and to offer advice to the politicians regulating health treatment. That

A former energy minister has said he will quit as a Conservative MP over new legislation “that promotes the production of new oil and gas”. Chris Skidmore has said he will resign when parliament returns next week over the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill. The senior Tory had already announced his intention to stand down at

Derek Draper, a former political adviser and husband of TV presenter Kate Garraway, has died after several years of serious health complications due to coronavirus. The 56-year-old was said to be one of the UK’s longest-suffering COVID patients, spending 13 months in hospital after contracting the virus in March 2020. Garraway posted a statement on

The NHS “doesn’t just belong” to striking junior doctors and can’t be “switched on and off on whim”, the health secretary said. Victoria Atkins turned up the heat in the government’s row with the British Medical Association (BMA) as their record-breaking walk-out continues. Junior doctors in England are in the middle of a six-day strike

Rishi Sunak has given the clearest hint yet about when he will call a general election, saying his “working assumption” is that it will happen in the second half of this year. Speculation has been rife for months about when the prime minister will choose to go to the polls. Politics latest: Sunak reveals when

Sir Keir Starmer is launching his election campaign on Thursday – and will promise the “character of politics will change” if Labour enters power. The government has until December this year to call an election – although if it decides to go to the polls so late, the vote itself will not happen until January

Nigel Farage is still “assessing” what role he will play in the upcoming general election, the leader of Reform UK has said. Holding a news conference to kick off the long campaign for the general election expected this year, Reform UK leader Richard Tice revealed he had been talking to Mr Farage over the festive

The cost of living crisis is “no excuse” for a rise in shoplifting, the policing minister has told Sky News, because the UK’s benefits system is “very generous”. Chris Philp’s comments come amid escalating levels of retail thefts, with increases blamed on inflation, organised crime and a lack of focus from police. Asked if he

Downing Street has insisted that the prime minister has achieved his target of clearing the legacy backlog of asylum claims, despite the government’s own data showing that 4,537 remain. Rishi Sunak pledged in December 2022 that he would “abolish” the legacy backlog of asylum claims made before 28 June of that year, with the Home

Rishi Sunak himself declared that 2024 will be an election year – at the least discreet location possible: a Christmas party for political journalists. This year that election will be looming in the background of every issue, whether politicians intend it to or not. The Conservatives – who were last ahead in the polls more

Britain is reportedly considering air strikes on Houthi rebels after the US Navy sank three boats that had been targeting a container ship in the Red Sea. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the government would not hesitate to take “direct action” to prevent further attacks on shipping. It comes after the US military said four

The Liberal Democrats have called for an inquiry into whether Rishi Sunak breached the ministerial code by holding secret meetings with Dominic Cummings. The Times reported on Sunday that the prime minister had held two sets of talks with the former chief adviser to Boris Johnson as he considered bringing the controversial figure back into

Dominic Cummings has claimed Rishi Sunak sought to strike a “secret deal” with him to help the Tories win the next election. The prime minister reportedly asked Boris Johnson’s ex-chief aide for advice on how to hold on to power when the country goes to the polls. Mr Cummings – The Sunday Times has reported

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has attacked critics of Liz Truss’ honours list, calling them “po-faced puritans”. The former prime minister was allowed to submit her so-called “resignation honours” after leaving office last year – a convention given to all departing leaders – and the final 11 names were announced on Friday. But the decision has been

UK political leaders have delivered their New Year messages as they prepare for the battle ahead at the ballot box. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak struck a positive tone in his remarks, looking back on what he deemed a “momentous year” and promising the Conservatives would “keep driving forward” in 2024 with tax cuts, lowering inflation

The home secretary’s date rape joke was “misogynistic” and “very ill-judged”, a senior Conservative MP has told Sky News. James Cleverly apologised after making an “ironic joke” about putting a date rape drug in his wife’s drink, hours after the Home Office announced plans to crack down on spiking. He has faced calls to resign,

A Conservative MP has claimed that most children who struggle in his town are the “products of crap parents”. James Daly, the Tory MP for Bury North, made the claim while speaking to the i newspaper. He was first elected in 2019 as an MP for the area. Bury North has swapped between Labour and

It is “the worst kept secret in parliament” that the UK is heading for a May general election, according to a Labour frontbencher. Emily Thornberry told Sky News that the date of the spring budget “seems to confirm” what many MPs suspect – that the prime minister could go to the polls early. The next

With the start of a new year, the 2024 general election campaign will officially get under way. The time for festive frivolity and fun is over. Rishi Sunak poked fun at himself with a highly amusing Home Alone-style video filmed in Number 10 Downing Street for Christmas day. Sir Keir Starmer and wife Victoria went

Fires, floods and overheating incidents have increased across the NHS in England year-on-year, analysis of official figures has shown. NHS Digital statistics highlighted by the Liberal Democrats show that flooding on health service properties increased by 59% when the 2022/23 period was compared to the 2021/22 year. There were 279 incidents in the most recent

No action will be taken against James Cleverly over his date rape joke as the prime minister “considers the matter closed”. The home secretary has been facing calls to quit after joking about putting a date rape drug in his wife’s drink – hours after the Home Office announced plans to crack down on spiking.

An MP whose office was hit by a suspected arson attack on Christmas eve says he wears a stab vest when going to public events. Conservative MP Mike Freer told Sky News that the use of stab vests among MPs is “sadly par for the course these days” when out in public. His comments came

Labour has vowed to tackle rogue American candy stores – and has urged the government to help restore the British high street. The party is calling on the government to introduce a “new shops bonus” for any legitimate businesses which open up on shopping streets, starting with Oxford Street in central London. There are currently

It’s been another eventful year in British politics. But how much of it do you remember? The Politics Hub Christmas special will air on Sky News from 9pm on Christmas Eve. It will include a quiz testing your knowledge of the last 12 months – and you can play along below as the show airs.

The Mayor of London has pledged his support to send 4x4s to Ukraine that would otherwise be scrapped under the city’s ULEZ scheme. Sadiq Khan had previously blocked cars that were not ULEZ compliant from being sent to the country, saying he did not believe altering the environmental scheme for exports was possible under current

If you think this has been a pretty tough year, you are not alone. The annual Global Advisor survey conducted around the world by Ipsos records that a majority of us, 53%, think 2023 has been a bad year for us and our family. Worse, a significantly greater proportion, 70%, say it has been a

Rishi Sunak has urged people to focus on “the promise of a brighter future” – as party leaders delivered their Christmas messages. The prime minister said Christmas was “a time of hope” but it was important to remember “those facing a difficult time”. Mr Sunak, who is a Hindu, highlighted the “Christian values at the

Rishi Sunak has said the higher threshold for a family visa will rise in 2025 after he came under fire from Tory MPs for rowing back on plans to introduce it next spring. The prime minister said the government was “increasing the salary threshold significantly” to £38,700 in “early 2025” – a change from the

Rishi Sunak is under fire from his own MPs after rowing back on plans to lift the salary threshold for a family visa – with some Tories accusing him of “weakness”. The prime minister said the government was “increasing the salary threshold significantly” to £38,700 in “early 2025” – a change from the original plan

The cost of train travel is set to rise by almost 5% next year, according to the government. In England, regulated rail fares will increase by up to 4.9% from 3 March 2024, the Department for Transport has said. The government says the new 4.9% cap is lower than the equivalent in Scotland, where prices

Simon Case is set to return to his role leading the civil service in January following weeks of medical leave, the Cabinet Office has confirmed. Mr Case, who as cabinet secretary is the UK’s most senior civil servant, took a leave of absence for medical reasons in October. Politics latest: Rishi Sunak accused of ‘legacy