Politics

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has warned there will be no “easy cost-free answer” as he vowed to “balance the books” following his spending splurge during the coronavirus crisis. In his speech to the Conservative Party‘s virtual conference, Mr Sunak listed the various schemes he has introduced in a bid to shore up the economy amid the

After a shaky  start to the Conservative Party Conference (at least on the technological front), Monday will see Rishi Sunak speaking from the virtual podium. Right now the chancellor can do no wrong, but he knows difficult decisions are coming, not least the problem of how to come back from the largest recession on record.

The coronavirus pandemic “will be bumpy through to Christmas” and potentially beyond that, Boris Johnson has warned, as he said it is is “too early to say” whether local lockdowns are effective in bringing down infection rates. The prime minister was asked specifically about Oldham, which has seen its COVID-19 infection rate double despite being

The home secretary will promise an asylum system that is “firm and fair” when she speaks at the Conservative Party conference later. Priti Patel will present a system that would see the government routinely denying asylum to migrants who cross the English Channel on boats or via other “illegal routes”. This would include migrants who

One in four of us is now living under some form of tighter COVID-19 restrictions. The prime minister may say that a national lockdown is the nuclear option that he doesn’t want to resort to – but for millions of people who can’t meet other households indoors, the red button has already been pressed. But

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

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