Politics

I have watched hundreds of hours of parliamentary debates in my long time covering Westminster and I can honestly say that the five hours of discussion I witnessed in the Commons on Friday were some of the most memorable, moving and humane exchanges I have ever seen.  Because this bear pit of a debating chamber

Heidi Alexander has been appointed the new transport secretary after Louise Haigh stepped down over a criminal conviction. The Swindon South MP had been serving as a justice minister until her promotion today, and worked as Sadiq Khan’s deputy transport mayor between 2018-2021. Politics Live: Landmark assisted dying debate under way Ms Haigh resigned after

Dame Prue Leith believes her son would have a “different attitude” towards assisted dying had he watched his uncle or father die – as she did. The broadcaster, best known for The Great British Bake Off, urged members to “vote for change” as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is set to be

The Scottish government has announced that all pensioners in Scotland will receive a winter heating payment in 2025/26. The devolved benefit, if passed, is expected to come into force by next winter and will help the estimated 900,000 people north of the border who were cut off from accessing the winter fuel payment which used

David Cameron has become the first former prime minister to come out in support of the assisted dying bill. The former Tory leader has written a piece in The Times explaining his decision, and saying that in the past he opposed moves to introduce measures allowing terminally ill people to end their own life. Lord

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to repeat a promise made by the chancellor that the government will not raise any more borrowing or taxes. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch challenged the prime minister to double down on Rachel Reeves’ commitment at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference on Monday. Politics Live: Starmer says ‘we had

The controversial assisted dying bill has just been approved by MPs in a truly historic vote in the Commons. The bill, which would make it legal for over-18s who are terminally ill to be given medical assistance to end their own life, passed its second reading – the first parliamentary hurdle it must go through

A landmark bill to ban the younger generation from ever smoking has cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons. The legislation, backed by 415 to 47, means anyone born after 1 January 2009 will be prevented from buying tobacco if it ultimately becomes law. Before then, the bill must go through further parliamentary

This is politics but not as we know it. Up and down the country public meetings are being held where attendees speak candidly, listen respectfully and pay tribute to those with whom they passionately disagree. The MPs are often, genuinely, undecided on the subject and are more inclined to listen than to impose their views.

Jobcentre reform will be at the centre of the Labour government’s plans to “get Britain working again”. Tackling the increasing number of people out of work and relying on the state for income has become a major priority of the state, with welfare costs taking up a sizeable portion of government spending. According to the

Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out an early general election after a petition calling for a second vote reached two million signatures. The petition was launched over the weekend and says there should be another vote, just four months after Labour won a landslide, because they have “gone back on their promises they laid out

The Labour MP behind the assisted dying bill said she has “no doubts” about its safeguards after a minister warned it would lead to a “slippery slope” of “death on demand”. Kim Leadbeater told Sky’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that she has “huge respect” for Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, but that she doesn’t agree

Young people will lose their benefits if they refuse to take up work and training opportunities, a minister has confirmed ahead of announcing measures to cut the welfare bill. Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that “conditions” will be attached to new skills opportunities the government intends

The UK is on a “slippery slope towards death on demand”, according to the justice secretary ahead of a historic Commons vote on assisted dying. In a letter to her constituents, Shabana Mahmood said she was “profoundly concerned” about the legislation. “Sadly, recent scandals – such as Hillsborough, infected blood and the Post Office Horizon

The UK will “set out a plan” to lift defence spending to 2.5% of national income in the spring, the prime minister has said, finally offering a timeframe for an announcement on the long-awaited hike after mounting criticism. Sir Keir Starmer gave the date during a phone call with Mark Rutte, the secretary general of

The UK will “set out a path” to lift defence spending to 2.5% of national income in the spring, the prime minister has said, finally offering a timeframe for an announcement on the long-awaited hike after mounting criticism. Sir Keir Starmer gave the date during a phone call with Mark Rutte, the secretary general of

Anas Sarwar is “right” to distance himself from Sir Keir Starmer over the decision to scrap winter fuel payments for most pensioners, Baroness Davidson has said. The Scottish Labour leader has promised to go against the national party and reintroduce the universal winter fuel payment for pensioners if elected to Holyrood in 2026. The Tory

Government borrowing rose to £17.4bn last month – the second highest October figure since monthly records began, official figures show. Economists had predicted £13.3bn of borrowing. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing was £1.6bn higher than the same month last year. Figures also showed that central government debt interest rose

Former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott has died aged 86, following a battle with Alzheimer’s, his family has announced. The former political giant served as MP for Kingston upon Hull East for 40 years and was a key part of New Labour under Sir Tony Blair. His family said he had “spent his life

Former Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has said her experience of being abused as a child “ruined” her life. The former culture secretary has spoken about how she had been abused by a Church of England vicar when she was just nine years old. In a recent column for the Daily Mail, Ms Dorries said she

The prime minister marked the 1,000th day of the war in Ukraine tending to global affairs at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. Over the two days of our trip to Brazil, the PM wanted to talk about “doubling down” on support for Ukraine, opening a “serious and pragmatic” dialogue with President Xi Jinping

A woman casually walks into a convenience store and starts filling a bread crate with goods from one of the aisles. A shop assistant tries to stop her, but she shrugs him off, undeterred. With the crate now full of items, she leaves without paying. It is a scenario that is played out day in

Labour is “absolutely not” engaged in a class war, the prime minister has said. Sir Keir Starmer was asked by Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby if the changes to inheritance tax and putting VAT on private school fees shows the new government is looking to wage a “class war” on wealthier people. The prime

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the “vast majority of farmers” will not be affected by changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) ahead of a protest outside parliament on Tuesday. It follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing a 20% inheritance tax that will apply to farms worth more than £1m from April 2026, where they were previously exempt.

Climate change, the crisis in the Middle East, the continuing war in Ukraine, combating global poverty. All of these are critical issues for Britain and beyond; all of them up for discussions at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro this week, and all of them very much in limbo as the world awaits the

Sir Keir Starmer has said he intends to pursue a “pragmatic” relationship with China when he meets President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit. The prime minister said the size of China’s economy and its membership of the UN security council meant he wanted to have “serious and pragmatic discussions” with the Chinese leader during

The government has indicated the £3 bus fare cap in place until next year may be scrapped beyond that point. Bus fares have been capped at £2 on more than 4,600 routes in England since 1 January 2023, but the government has said that from next year the cap will rise to £3. Speaking to

Sir Keir Starmer has said he will defend the decisions made in the budget “all day long” amid anger from farmers over inheritance tax changes. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced last month in her key speech that from April 2026, farms worth more than £1m will face an inheritance tax rate of 20%, rather than the

A former Conservative MP has said he felt “enormous guilt” when he found out he was the victim of a Westminster honeytrap scandal. William Wragg resigned from the parliamentary party in April after he admitted giving out fellow politicians’ phone numbers to the suspected perpetrator of the sexting scam. He said he felt threatened and

Nigel Farage has announced that he has paid a visit to Clacton following criticism that he does not spend enough time in his constituency. The Reform UK leader shared an image of himself on X alongside the caption: “I would like all my haters to know that I am once again in Clacton living my

Wes Streeting “crossed the line” by opposing assisted dying in public and the argument shouldn’t “come down to resources”, a Labour peer has said. Speaking on Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harriet Harman criticised the health secretary for revealing how he is going to vote on the matter when it comes before parliament later

Brexit has “weighed” on the British economy and relations with the EU must be rebuilt, according to the governor of the Bank of England. Andrew Bailey’s comments come in a speech at the City of London’s Mansion House this evening and were widely trailed beforehand. He said although he takes “no position on Brexit per

Pension “mega funds” will be created under government plans to increase infrastructure investment. Reforms could “unlock £80bn” of investment, according to Treasury plans, which say bigger funds can get greater returns. Chancellor Rachel Reeves wants to imitate the way large Canadian and Australian pension schemes work. She will give more details about her plans in