Politics

Sir Keir Starmer has told police chiefs to remain “on high alert” after anticipation of more disorder largely failing to materialise on Wednesday. The prime minister is understood to have told an emergency COBRA meeting that the levels of policing and swift justice in response to the past week’s unrest has “undoubtedly” worked as a

Male Labour MPs should back a woman when the party chooses a successor to Sir Keir Starmer, Harriet Harman has said. The veteran politician, who stepped down at the general election after 40 years in parliament, said it is “embarrassing and sort of shameful” that Labour has never had a female at the helm. Speaking

A suspended Labour councillor has been arrested after allegedly telling a protest that fascists needed to have their throats cut. Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest in a tweet which included the original video of Ricky Jones, a local councillor in Dartford in Kent, appearing to make the comments. The force said: “Officers have arrested a

The government’s policing minister has warned there is intelligence more protests could happen in the next few days after concerns about violence last night did not materialise. Dame Diana Johnson said: “I am cautious about what happened last night. “It’s good that we didn’t see the level of disorder and criminality on our streets that

A Tory leadership hopeful has accused his rival of being “unwise and insensitive” after saying those who shout Allahu Akbar should be “immediately arrested”. Mel Stride took aim at his fellow Tory Robert Jenrick over the comments, telling Sky News: “I think the suggestion of wholesale criminalisation of the words Allahu Akbar is unwise and

Billionaire media baron Elon Musk is engaged in a war of words with Sir Keir Starmer over the role social media has played in riots around the UK. The X owner began to retweet posts a few days after the Southport stabbings and after the prime minister fired a warning shot to social media companies

Elon Musk has ramped up his row with the UK as he questioned if it was “Britain or the Soviet Union” after a man was apparently arrested over comments he made on Facebook. The billionaire owner of X has been engaged in a war of words with Sir Keir Starmer over riots gripping the UK,

The Metropolitan Police has said its commissioner was “in a hurry” after he grabbed a Sky News journalist’s microphone and threw it to the ground. Sir Mark Rowley grabbed part of the microphone and discarded it as he walked off after Sky News journalist Rob Catherall asked if he was “going to end two-tier policing”.

Anyone whipping up violence online will face the full force of the law, Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman warned after Elon Musk said “civil war is inevitable”, following days of rioting in the UK. Mr Musk, the billionaire owner of X, made the comments on the social media platform below a video of rioters setting off

The home secretary has said prison places “are ready” for the “thuggish minority of criminals” rioting across the UK, ahead of an emergency COBRA meeting today. Yvette Cooper will hold the emergency meeting this morning following nearly a week of rioting in cities and towns across the UK. More than 140 people have been arrested

The prime minister has vowed to do “whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice” as he addressed the nation amid rioting in UK streets. “I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, either directly or those whipping up this disorder online,” Sir Keir Starmer said in a televised address. UK rioting

Sir Keir Starmer has told the police they have ministers’ full backing to take “all necessary action to keep our streets safe” from “thugs” who “sow hate” as violent protests erupted across the UK following the stabbing of three girls in Southport. A Downing Street spokesperson said the prime minister had met senior ministers including

Robert Jenrick has said the political system he was part of is broken as he claimed he is the person who can change that as Tory leader. The former minister told a leadership race rally in his Newark constituency he wants to “breathe new life into our party” and will ensure it becomes a “mass

The cost of putting homeless people in temporary accommodation has soared by 25% for London councils in the past year as landlords sell up or choose private tenants, Sky News can reveal. Some councils in the capital are facing potential bankruptcy as the growing demand for homelessness services alongside increasing accommodation costs has meant local

The culture secretary has said BBC newsreader Huw Edwards should return his salary after he admitted accessing indecent images of children. Edwards was paid £200,000 after he was arrested in November while he was suspended by the broadcaster up until he resigned in April on medical advice. On Wednesday, the 62-year-old BBC veteran pleaded guilty

A senior Labour politician who lost their seat in a shock result on election night has hinted at a future to return to parliament. Jonathan Ashworth, the former Labour MP for Leicester South who was defeated by an independent candidate, told Beth Rigby’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast that he was “still around” and “not going anywhere”.