Ordinarily, conference season is an opportunity for political parties to push the reset button. The three-day gathering can help leaders heal rifts with tetchy MPs – a relaxed dinner here, a drink with a group of backbenchers there. Put plainly, party conferences are the perfect place for leaders to score political brownie points with MPs
Politics
Pressure is mounting on an MP who broke coronavirus rules to quit, after she was accused of making “a huge error of judgement”. Margaret Ferrier has already been kicked out of the SNP parliamentary party but is facing calls to leave the Commons completely over her actions. She travelled from Scotland to London on Monday
An MP has apologised for travelling on public transport after testing positive for coronavirus. The SNP’s Margaret Ferrier said in a statement there was “no excuse for my actions” and “I apologise unreservedly for breaching COVID-19 restrictions by travelling this week when I shouldn’t have”. “On Saturday afternoon, after experiencing mild symptoms, I requested a
The EU Commission says it will start legal action against Boris Johnson’s bid to potentially override parts of the Brexit deal. Brussels claims the prime minister is breaching the “good faith” promise both sides signed up to in the withdrawal agreement struck and passed by parliament last year. President Ursula von der Leyen said given
The prime minister has urged the public to stick to new coronavirus rules to avoid the potential of a new national lockdown – our correspondents give their analysis. Thomas Moore, science and medical correspondent Can you smell the coffee? This was a wake-up call for the nation. It’s not just cases of COVID-19 rising now.
Boris Johnson is bidding to head off a Tory rebellion over emergency coronavirus legislation as he prepares to give his latest update on the COVID-19 crisis from Downing Street. The prime minister – fresh being forced to apologise for getting confused by his own coronavirus regulations – is facing the prospect of a Conservative revolt
Boris Johnson has seen MPs approve his controversial Brexit legislation, which ministers have admitted could lead to the UK breaching international law. The UK Internal Market Bill, which has provoked a furious row with the European Union, had its third ready passed by the House of Commons in a vote on Tuesday night with a
Boris Johnson has apologised for muddling up his own coronavirus rules on social gatherings. The prime minister was questioned about the latest COVID-19 restrictions coming into force for northeast England from midnight on Wednesday. At first, he said people could meet indoors and outdoors in groups of six in areas where no additional coronavirus restrictions
The prime minister and government officials have been accused of trying to “terrify” the British public over coronavirus. Conservative MPs voiced their disquiet with aspects of Boris Johnson’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in a lengthy Commons debate. It comes ahead of a looming showdown over the government’s powers to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. PM:
Tighter social restrictions could be imposed if coronavirus infections continue to rise, a minister has suggested. Helen Whately said “we don’t want to” bring in measures taking the UK back towards a second national lockdown but cautioned the government is keeping a “constant eye” on COVID-19 cases. Asked on Sky News’ Kay Burley show what
Sir Ed Davey will speak of being a carer as a son, grandson and father in a highly personal first party conference speech as Liberal Democrat leader. In his address to the Lib Dems‘ autumn conference on Monday, Sir Ed will promise to be “the voice of the nine million carers in our country”. Drawing
A Conservative rebel ringleader is “certain” his group have enough votes to compel the government to give MPs a greater say over coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Steve Baker, a former Brexit minister, is among a group of around 40 Tory MPs bidding to alter legislation so as to allow the House of Commons to be able
Labour have moved ahead of the Conservative Party for the first time since Boris Johnson became prime minister, an opinion poll has indicated. The survey by Opinium for The Observer newspaper gave Labour a three-point-lead over the Tories, with 42%, compared to 39%. It suggested Labour was ahead for the first time since July 2019
The government has said MPs will get to vote on the “rule of six” as it attempts to see off a rebellion by Conservatives who want more scrutiny of coronavirus regulations. Senior Tory Sir Graham Brady told Sky News he would be “pressing on” with his attempt to change the law as “we need debates
The search to find the prime minister’s new spokesperson is reaching its final stages, with interviews for the £100,000-a-year role due to conclude in the coming days. Allegra Stratton, the mastermind behind Rishi Sunak’s press operation, remains the favourite, with other contenders including Angus Walker, the media adviser who helped education secretary Gavin Williamson through
A minister has denied that the chancellor’s message to “live without fear” during the pandemic was a suggestion people do not have to follow the coronavirus rules. Rishi Sunak made the remark in the Commons as he set out his “Winter Economy Plan” designed to avert a jobs crisis amid continuing COVID-19 restrictions. Live updates