Politics

Kemi Badenoch has been accused of stirring up a culture war after claiming 5-10% of civil servants are “very bad” and “should be in prison”. The Tory leadership hopeful claimed at a party conference fringe event on Tuesday that some civil servants have been “leaking official secrets” and “undermining ministers”. Politics live: China should pay

Robert Jenrick is within touching distance of Kemi Badenoch after a surge in his support, according to an exclusive Sky News poll of Tory members. The latest YouGov survey of Conservative members for Sky News suggests there is a path to victory for all four candidates, although Tom Tugendhat faces a bigger hurdle than the

Politicians, we know only too well, are fond of repetition. With Sir Keir Starmer it’s: “My father was a toolmaker.” With Sadiq Khan it’s: “Did I ever tell you my dad was a bus driver?” With Tom Tugendhat it’s: “I was a soldier. I served my country.” No, really, Tom? Politics Live: Badenoch praises Israel

Kemi Badenoch has said her remarks about maternity pay have been “misrepresented”, as she called for an “honest campaign” for the Tory leadership. The first day of the Conservative Party conference saw a row erupt over comments made by the shadow housing secretary, where she appeared to call the current level of the benefit “excessive”.

Robert Jenrick has defended being handed a £75,000 donation from a company which had received money from a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), despite criticising Labour over the freebies row. The Tory leadership contender told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that the firm “as I understand it… is a fitness company that

In some ways this isn’t surprising. Rosie Duffield has been open with her discontent with the party, specifically over the party’s gender views – and she has been only too happy in her disagreement with Sir Keir Starmer. But what is surprising is the strength and tone of the letter – it is savage –

Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has resigned from the Labour Party. The 53-year-old MP is the first to jump ship since the general election and in her resignation letter criticised the prime minister for accepting thousands of pounds worth of gifts. She told Sir Keir the reason for leaving now is “the programme of policies you

Applications for pension credit hit nearly 75,000 in the eight weeks since the new chancellor announced the winter fuel payment for pensioners would be means-tested for the first time. Figures released on Friday by the Department for Work and Pensions figures showed there were around 74,400 pension credit claims in the eight weeks since 29

Sir Keir Starmer is to meet with Donald Trump later tonight. It is believed to be the first meeting between the current UK prime minister and former – and potentially future – US president. David Lammy, the Labour foreign secretary, has met Mr Trump‘s vice presidential candidate, JD Vance. Speaking to journalists, Sir Keir reiterated

Sir Keir Starmer should give up his current arrangements for watching football and instead watch on television, a former Labour MP and minister has said. Baroness Harriet Harman, a host of the Sky News Electoral Dysfunction podcast, has again criticised the prime minister and leader of her party for his actions in the ongoing freebies

Russell Findlay has been elected the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives. The MSP saw off competition from Murdo Fraser and Meghan Gallacher in the bruising battle to replace Douglas Ross. Mr Findlay won with 2,565 votes. Mr Murdo placed second with 1,187 votes, while Ms Gallacher claimed third with 403 votes. The announcement comes

Sir Keir Starmer has attacked Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, accusing the country of “treating [its] own citizens as bits of meat to fling into the grinder”. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council in New York – and sat opposite a Russian representative – the British prime minister accused the state of committing

Sir Keir Starmer campaigned in the general election about being a politician who would do things differently and lead a government of service.  His was a message of change not just about how he would run the country, but also about how he would lead the government change. It was billed not just as a

Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.  The political attention has turned away from the Labour Party conference to Lebanon, which Western leaders have warned is on the brink of war. British troops are being sent to

Sir Keir Starmer has defended removing the winter fuel allowance from millions of pensioners as he warned of a “hard” path ahead. The prime minister, giving his keynote speech at Labour’s conference, was attempting to turn around the doom and gloom of the past few months. He addressed concern about cutting the winter fuel allowance,

Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.  On the day Sir Keir Starmer addresses the Labour Party conference as prime minister for the first time, Jack and Sam set out what he’ll announce and ask whether he