Politics

From an Iraqi-refugee who spoke no English to a multi-millionaire businessman and cabinet minister, Nadhim Zahawi’s story is one of the most compelling in Westminster. But questions about his financial affairs are now front and centre, having first gained prominence during the Stratford-on-Avon MP’s short-lived campaign to become prime minister last summer. The allegations centre

“Predators” could exploit gender self-identification, government minister Kemi Badenoch has said, as she voiced her opposition to proposed reforms. The minister for women and equalities argued that offenders would be able to “exploit any system that says you can just say you are what you are,” putting women and girls at risk. In an unprecedented

Labour has called on Rishi Sunak to dismiss Nadhim Zahawi from his cabinet after questions over the Tory chairman’s tax affairs remain unanswered. Questions have swirled following an article in The Sun on Sunday, which claimed a seven-figure payment was made by Mr Zahawi to end a dispute with the taxman “after scrutiny of his

Labour has pledged to extend the windfall tax on energy companies if they were to get into government, in a bid to help families from further increasing bills in April. In a speech at the Fabian Society Conference today, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to urge the government to stop the energy price cap

The police have said they are “looking into the matter” after the prime minister was caught on camera not wearing a seatbelt. Rishi Sunak admitted a “brief error of judgement” after appearing beltless in a clip on Instagram as he promoted his levelling-up funding in Lancashire. Downing Street said: “That was a brief error of

Rishi Sunak has apologised for making a “brief error of judgement” after being caught on video not wearing a seatbelt. A Downing Street spokesman said: “That was a brief error of judgement. The PM removed his seatbelt to film a small clip. He fully accepts this was a mistake and apologises about it.” “The prime

Rishi Sunak has announced that more than £2bn will be invested in over 100 projects across the UK through the levelling up fund – with £19m going to his own constituency. Reinforcing his commitment to levelling up the country, the prime minister promised the latest round of funding would “build a future of optimism” by

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on Rishi Sunak to apologise for the “lethal chaos” in the NHS. He made the demand during Prime Minister’s Questions, saying Mr Sunak should “stop blaming others and take some responsibility”. But the PM said Labour should get behind his anti-strike legislation to ensure minimum service levels when

The inevitable Commons row over Rishi Sunak blocking the Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill quickly descended into a pantomime. And not just because the SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, and his MPs repeatedly mocked the Scotland secretary, calling him “Baron Jack”. That’s a reference to widely reported claims that Alister Jack is on his way

The education secretary has criticised a teaching union for planning to go on strike, telling Sky News: “Our children don’t deserve it.” Speaking to Kay Burley, Gillian Keegan said she was “very disappointed” after members of the National Education Union (NEU) voted in favour of industrial action, with thousands of staff set to walkout next

A controversial anti-strike bill has moved a step closer to becoming law – hours after teachers and nurses announced fresh walkouts. Under the government’s draft Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, the right to strike would be restricted by imposing minimum service levels and bosses would be legally able to fire employees who ignore a “work

The UK government has blocked Scotland’s gender reform bill in an unprecedented intervention which Nicola Sturgeon has described as a “full-frontal attack” on the Scottish parliament. Downing Street has the power to stop legislation from Holyrood receiving Royal Assent – the final stage of any new bill – if it believes it will have an

The health secretary claims the disparate level of emergency cover during recent ambulance strikes could not be “relied upon to ensure patient and public safety”. In a letter to the GMB union sent ahead of further strikes this month, and seen by Sky News, Steve Barclay accepted all areas that staged walkouts ensured the most

Rishi Sunak plans to give wider powers to the police to tackle “highly disruptive and dangerous protests”. In an announcement on Monday, the prime minister will pledge to amend the already controversial Public Order Bill to “broaden the legal definition of serious disruption”. A government statement said it would give officers “greater flexibility and clarity

More nurses strikes that would see twice as many workers take action will be announced for February if talks with the government do not progress soon, union bosses have warned. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union said that new walkouts would be announced should negotiations over pay remain stalled by the end of January.

Rishi Sunak is preparing to block laws in Scotland that make it easier for people to change gender, Sky News understands. The move would be an unprecedented intervention in 25 years of devolution and is likely to spark a new constitutional row with Holyrood. The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was passed by a majority

Ambulance workers have written to Rishi Sunak accusing his government of “demonising” them in order to justify new anti-strike legislation. The letter from paramedics and other members of the GMB union said they were “appalled” at some of the statements from ministers in recent days and that “targeting ambulance workers for a deliberate attack is

Rishi Sunak has said Boris Johnson intends to stand in his current Uxbridge seat at the next general election – after allies suggested the pair could strike a deal to avoid a leadership challenge. Yesterday, Sky News reported that close allies of former PM Mr Johnson had claimed he could agree not to challenge Mr

A meeting between civil servants’ unions and the government was a “complete farce” so they will go ahead with their strike, union leaders said. On Wednesday, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union announced its 100,000 members, from 124 government departments, will strike on 1 February over pay, jobs and conditions. It will be the

Boris Johnson has become the number one most donated to MP this parliament after receiving a single donation of one million pounds. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had previously been the most donated to MP with £740,000 in multiple donations, Sky News’ Westminster Accounts tool showed. But the money from Brexiteer and crypto investor Christopher

The “scandal” of MPs’ earnings from second jobs and donations exposed by Sky News’ Westminster Accounts project “needs to end” through “root-and-branch” reform, the SNP has said. The party’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn told Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates that the findings of the investigation should “ring alarm bells for everyone” and demonstrate

Andrew Bridgen has become the latest MP in the Commons to lose the whip after he compared the roll-out of COVID vaccines to the Holocaust. But what does it mean to “lose the whip” when you are a politician? And who else has faced the same fate in this Parliament? What does it mean? Losing

All-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) have received over £20m worth of funding from external organisations since the 2019 general election, with registered lobbying agencies dominating the ranks of biggest benefactors. Companies are required by law to sign the consultant lobbyist register if they engage in direct communications with ministers in relation to government policy or legislation

Angela Rayner has defended compromising within Labour’s top team, saying she will not let her principles “block” her party from getting into government. Speaking to the Beth Rigby Interviews programme, the deputy leader – known for being on the left of the party – said it was “not about getting rid of my principles”. But,

Sir Keir Starmer and Labour have accepted hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations from a wealthy climate activist who has also been funnelling money to Just Stop Oil – a group condemned by the party. Ecotricity, a company founded by Dale Vince, gave more than £20,000 to Sir Keir Starmer during Labour’s 2020 leadership

The health secretary has announced the government will block-book beds in residential homes so around 2,500 people can be released from hospitals when they are medically fit to be discharged. Steve Barclay gave a statement to the Commons outlining the government’s plans to help ease the “severe pressures” on the NHS – hours after his

On a freezing, foggy evening in December, the House of Commons finally formally responded to the last major financial sleaze scandal to hit parliament, and in doing so, sent an important signal about the way politicians look after themselves. After more than a year of deliberation, the debate and vote late in the evening of

The prime minister has urged health leaders at an emergency meeting to take “bold and radical” action to alleviate the winter crisis in the NHS. Rishi Sunak warned them during Downing Street talks on Saturday, that a “business-as-usual mindset won’t fix the challenges we face”. His plea came as ministers, health leaders and clinical experts

The chair of the Public Accounts Committee has told Sky News she “could weep for the five years” lost by the decision to abolish the organisation set up to managed the long-term renovation of parliament. Dame Meg Hillier MP says there is an “unacceptable cloak of secrecy” around the restoration programme which she says was

Ministers, health leaders and clinical experts will meet in Downing Street today in an attempt to solve the short and long-term issues facing the health service. Rishi Sunak will host the NHS recovery forum in Number 10 as the winter crisis rolls on, with discussions focusing on social care and delayed discharge, urgent and emergency

Nurses have said they will call off strike action later this month if the government discusses pay for this year – but ministers are standing by their refusal not to. Rishi Sunak dodged answering whether talks the government has invited all unions to next week will include discussions about pay for the 2022-23 financial year

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) could accept a pay rise of around 10% to end its ongoing dispute with the government, its chief has said. The union had initially demanded an increase of up to 19% to cover soaring inflation and falls in real term wages over the past decade. But union boss Pat

When the Labour leader was up against the flamboyant Boris Johnson, Sir Keir Starmer, at times, struggled to have impact. But the fall of Mr Johnson, the ensuing Tory chaos, and Labour’s 20-point lead in the polls, has changed the race and seems to have given Mr Starmer a new gear. His New Year’s speech