Politics

Vladimir Putin is “highly likely” to be planning a move on Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has told Sky News – as she warned Russia that “nothing is off the table” when considering further Western sanctions. The UK, US and EU have announced a raft of fresh sanctions on Russia following Mr Putin’s

President Biden, Prime Minister Johnson, President Macron, Chancellor Scholtz and the European Commission President von der Leyen: as the West woke up to Russian incursions into Ukraine, the co-ordinated response began with leaders announcing limited sanctions, with the promise of more. Their aim – outlined by leaders on podiums and in legislative chambers across Western

The UK is sanctioning five Russian banks and three oligarchs, freezing their UK assets and banning travel to Britain, Boris Johnson has announced. The prime minister told the House of Commons it was the “first tranche” and “first barrage” of measures, in response to Russian troops moving into two separatist regions of Ukraine. “We hold

The legal requirement for people who test positive for coronavirus to self-isolate will be removed from Thursday and free symptomatic and asymptomatic testing will end in England from 1 April, the PM has announced. Boris Johnson confirmed the move as he unveiled his government’s plan for “living with COVID” in the Commons. The changes will

A cabinet meeting to sign off on Boris Johnson’s “living with COVID” strategy has been delayed due to a row over free testing. Number 10 has told Sky News that the gathering has been pushed back while the prime minister is briefed, with ministers convening later on Monday afternoon to agree the plan. Mr Johnson’s

Boris Johnson is expected to announce how England will “live with COVID” on Monday as he considers dropping all remaining restrictions, Downing Street said. The prime minister will meet his cabinet ministers on Monday morning to agree the plan for living with the virus after nearly three years of restrictions, according to Number 10. He

The plan to end all legal COVID restrictions marks a key moment for everyone in England – but for Boris Johnson’s premiership too. It puts the country at the forefront of learning to live with the disease which has wrought havoc on the world for the past couple of years. Some say it is a

Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O’Neill is urging the Irish government to prepare for a united Ireland as a result of Brexit. She says the Tories and DUP need to recognise that the controversial Irish Sea border is the consequence of their own decisions. Ms O’Neill, who could be the next first minister of Northern

Boris Johnson has responded to a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police about Downing Street gatherings during coronavirus restrictions. A Number 10 spokesperson confirmed to Sky News that the prime minister has returned the document. Downing Street has previously said Mr Johnson’s responses will not be made public. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has said she wants police to “shoot your terrorists and ask questions second”. Ms Rayner told Matt Forde’s Political Party podcast she was “quite hardline” on law and order and said she would encourage police to “antagonise” criminals. “On things like law and order, I am quite hardline. I am

The justice secretary has revealed plans to create 4,000 prison places at 16 sites in a bid to deliver on the government’s promise to increase capacity by the middle of the decade. Dominic Raab’s plans, which are subject to planning permission being granted, will involve building new wings and refurbishing old prison space. The government

Campaigners found to have been harmed by medical products have written to the health secretary warning that government inaction is “causing pain and destroying lives” by ignoring review recommendations. Some 18 months ago, an independent review recommended financial help for people damaged by some products and drugs that had been prescribed by UK doctors. The

A Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring “massive consequences” for Moscow, the foreign secretary is set to warn Vladimir Putin during a speech in the Ukrainian capital. Liz Truss will visit Ukraine this week as part of continuing diplomatic efforts to avoid a war between Russia and its neighbour. It comes as a senior US

The world must judge Russia with its own eyes as to whether it is de-escalating, the defence secretary said as he warned an invasion of Ukraine is still possible. Ben Wallace told Sky News: “I can also tell you judge with your own eyes at the scale of that Russian deployment on the borders of

Former health secretary Matt Hancock did not comply with a public sector equality duty when making appointments to top health jobs during the COVID pandemic, the High Court has ruled. In a judgment issued on Tuesday, it was found that Mr Hancock failed to comply with the duty when appointing Conservative peer Baroness Dido Harding

A Russian invasion of Ukraine would be a “very dangerous moment” for the world and could encourage aggressors such as China and Iran, the foreign secretary has warned. Liz Truss’ warning came as the UK and the US said an invasion was “imminent” as Moscow amasses more than 130,000 troops on Ukraine’s border. Ms Truss

Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he has received death threats following the discredited Jimmy Savile remarks Boris Johnson made about him. The Labour leader said he had received death threats after the Metropolitan Police revealed on Sunday it was investigating allegations of malicious communications after receiving a third party report. Asked on Monday morning if

Boris Johnson is love-bombing Scots on Valentine’s Day with a pledge to boost trade and business by creating two “green freeports” north of the border. The prime minister is visiting Scotland on day one of a “levelling-up” tour of the UK which will also take him to England’s North West and North East regions this

The Metropolitan Police is investigating death threats against Sir Keir Starmer following Boris Johnson’s use of the discredited claim that the Labour leader failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile when he was director of public prosecutions. The force confirmed that on Friday it received a third party report relating to allegations of malicious communications made against

Boris Johnson is making his first visit to Scotland since the leader of the Scottish Conservatives called for him to quit over Downing Street partygate allegations. He is using Parliament’s half-term break to embark on a “levelling up” tour of the UK, starting in Scotland with visits to a manufacturing site and research and development

Boris Johnson is facing more pressure over Downing Street parties as he attempts to cling to power, after receiving a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police. Senior Tory MPs claim that despite his determination to fight on it will be difficult for him to continue as prime minister if he is fined for breaching COVID lockdown

All children aged five to 11 in the UK will be offered a low dose COVID vaccine after England and Northern Ireland became the latest of the four nations to offer those in that age group the jab. Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed that the UK government’s vaccine advisory body – the Joint Committee on

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will hold fresh talks with EU vice-president Maros Sefcovic over post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland ahead of a hoped-for deadline for a deal later this month. The pair will meet at Ms Truss’s official residence in London on Friday morning for their latest discussions over the Northern Ireland Protocol. It brings

COVID passes and the need to wear face coverings in certain venues will be scrapped in Wales later this month. From 18 February, domestic COVID passes will no longer be required to enter indoor or outdoor events including nightclubs, cinemas, or theatres. But venues will still be able to use them if they choose to.

The education secretary has told Sky News he would have been in “big trouble” if he had not been vaccinated against COVID-19. Recounting his experience of the virus, which he contracted at the end of last month, Nadhim Zahawi said he could have ended up on a ventilator. “I think, without the vaccine and the

Former prime minister Sir John Major has launched a stinging attack on Boris Johnson, accusing him of asking the public to “believe the unbelievable” over lockdown parties in Downing Street. In an apparent call-to-action for MPs to move against Mr Johnson, he said “deliberate lies to parliament have been fatal to political careers – and

Police are reviewing their initial decision not to investigate a Christmas quiz in Number 10, held at a time of strict COVID rules, after a picture of Boris Johnson and a bottle of alcohol emerged. Scotland Yard said they would rethink their assessment of the event following the publication of an image of the prime

A minister has warned that “everyone needs to reflect carefully on the language they use” as Boris Johnson faces increasing pressure to apologise over his discredited claim that Sir Keir Starmer failed to prosecute Jimmy Saville. At Prime Minister’s Questions at noon, the PM will make his first House of Commons appearance since Sir Keir

MPs have mocked Boris Johnson’s triple-jobbing chief of staff after he declined to appear in the House of Commons to explain his new role. Following an exodus of senior advisers from Number 10 in the wake of the partygate scandal, the prime minister has appointed Steve Barclay as his new top aide. He has been

Boris Johnson’s new communications chief has said the PM welcomed him into the job with a rendition of ‘I Will Survive’. In his first interview since being appointed as Downing Street director of communications, Guto Harri told Welsh-language website Golwg360 the pair launched into the Gloria Gaynor classic after he asked Mr Johnson if he

Jacob Rees-Mogg has been made minister for Brexit opportunities and government efficiency in a mini-reshuffle as Boris Johnson fights for his premiership. Mr Rees-Mogg, who was leader of the Commons, will remain a member of the cabinet in his new role, Downing Street said. Both of his new jobs have been newly created as the

Boris Johnson is starting a new week hoping that a fresh shake-up of his top Downing Street team will ease the concerns of Tory MPs – some of whom have publicly called for the prime minister to resign over his handling of the partygate scandal. The prime minister made key changes to his staffing over

Carrie Johnson has claimed she is the target of a “brutal briefing campaign” from her husband’s “enemies” after she was accused of meddling in decisions taken by the prime minister. A spokesperson for Boris Johnson’s wife said “bitter ex-officials” were trying to discredit her and insisted she played “no role in the government”. It comes