Politics

A rise in National Insurance contributions in April “is going ahead”, a minister has told Sky News, amid reports Boris Johnson is considering delaying the increase. Technology minister Chris Philp said funds are needed for the NHS and social care and the move is a “proportionate way” of finding the cash. His comments come after

A senior Conservative MP has called for the government to delay the proposed National Insurance hike amid rising cost of living pressures Mel Stride, who chairs the influential Commons Treasury Select Committee, told Sky News that “for a period of one year, the increase should be jettisoned” as the economy is managing better than the

Boris Johnson’s parliamentary assistant contacted a private charter company in the hope of securing a plane to transport animals and staff during the evacuation of Afghanistan, telling them that her boss was keen, Sky News understands. Trudy Harrison, the prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary (PPS), contacted the firm on 25 August – a few days

The wait for Sue Gray’s report into lockdown parties in Downing Street and Whitehall to be published has rolled into another day – with Boris Johnson still yet to receive the findings. Sky News understands the report – which is being compiled by the senior civil servant – is still yet to have been sent

Downing Street has yet to receive a report into lockdown parties in Downing Street and across Whitehall, the foreign secretary has confirmed to Sky News. Speaking to Kay Burley, Liz Truss said the government would release the “findings” from the Cabinet Office inquiry, which is being led by senior civil servant Sue Gray. PM braces

One of the odder claims doing the rounds in Westminster is that the announcement that the Metropolitan Police is investigating potentially illegal pandemic parties in Downing Street somehow diffuses Boris Johnson’s political troubles and relieves the pressure on him.  This counterintuitive argument is being pushed by Mr Johnson’s inner circle, who say that since the

The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into “a number of events” in Downing Street and Whitehall over potential breaches of coronavirus regulations. “I can confirm that the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of

Downing Street has disputed a report suggesting Boris Johnson held a birthday party inside Number 10 attended by up to 30 people during the first lockdown. ITV News understands the prime minister’s wife, Carrie Johnson, helped to arrange the event which was held just after 2pm the afternoon of 19 June – Mr Johnson’s birthday.

A Cabinet Office investigation has been launched into claims from a Conservative MP that she was sacked as a minister because of her Muslim faith. Nusrat Ghani was sacked as transport minister in a February 2020 reshuffle. Downing Street police officers ‘interviewed about partygate’ as PM faces crunch week – politics latest Ms Ghani said

Nusrat Ghani made history in 2018. Standing at the famous Commons spot that has been occupied by generations of politicians, she became the first Muslim woman to speak as a minister from the despatch box. Colleagues cheered as the Kashmir-born MP got to her feet. For many, this was the most visual sign of a

The UK will stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine but it is “extremely unlikely” British troops will be sent to the Russian border, Dominic Raab has said. The deputy prime minister said the UK and other nations will enforce economic and financial sanctions on Moscow if Russia invades Ukraine – as troops mount at the

Labour MP Liz Kendall has said she is “bursting with love and happiness” after welcoming a baby boy via surrogate. The former shadow minister for social care, 50, announced in November she would be temporarily stepping back from the front benches to become a mum. The Leicester West MP shared a picture of the new-born

Wales’ first minister has claimed that Boris Johnson’s “history” is “catching up with him”. In a highly-charged intervention in the partygate row, Mark Drakeford said he is not surprised the prime minister has become embroiled in controversy over Downing Street parties during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021. “If I’m truthful about it, the prime

Two-thirds of anti-vaccination propaganda posted online is created by just 12 so-called influencers, research has found. Different to those who describe themselves vaccine hesitant, anti-vaxxers tend to employ aggressive methods to persuade others not to get injections designed to help prevent disease. The list was compiled by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) and

Harlow is one of Essex’s most deprived towns. Nearly a third of households here have a yearly income of less than £20,000 and nearly two-thirds of households have less than £125 of spare cash left at the end of the month for non-essentials. A quarter of all homes in Harlow are council houses. This, then,

For all of the turbulence and the tempestuous events of the last 48 hours, the key drivers which will determine the prime minister’s future remain broadly the same. A large number of MPs, possibly a majority, are unhappy with Boris Johnson‘s premiership. However they are unsure when to defenestrate him, how to do so, and