Politics

Voters in Rochdale will today choose their new MP as polling stations open across the constituency. The by-election was called after the death of Labour stalwart Sir Tony Lloyd last month, who had been suffering from an aggressive and untreatable form of leukaemia. There are now 11 candidates vying to replace him and represent the

Police are “assessing” a report of hate speech made against Lee Anderson following his claim “Islamists” had taken control of London and its mayor, Sadiq Khan, Sky News understands. The Ashfield MP was suspended from the Conservative Party last weekend after he refused to apologise for the remarks, which have been branded as racist by

Michael Gove has been placed under investigation by parliament’s standards watchdog. It relates to the housing secretary’s register of financial interests. Further details will remain confidential until the inquiry is concluded – and those under investigation are barred from discussing the allegations. Although the cause of investigation has not been published, last week the Guardian

Nestled in the foothills of the Pennines, Rochdale is a town with a proud history. It was once home to the world’s foremost cotton processing centres and is widely known as the birthplace of the modern co-operative movement. But in recent years the town has been marred by child exploitation scandals, poverty and deprivation. According

Former Tory MP Scott Benton has been suspended from the Commons over his role in a lobbying sting – creating a further headache for Rishi Sunak. MPs approved the suspension of Mr Benton, who had the Tory whip removed last April after suggesting to undercover reporters at The Times that he would be willing to

Rishi Sunak has “made the calculation” that he doesn’t need Muslim voters for his “political purposes”, a former minister has claimed. Tory MP Rehman Chishti told Sky News’ Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge that during the last leadership election, Mr Sunak promised he was “committed” to engaging with the community and told him: “We will

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has rejected an application from the SNP for an emergency debate over a ceasefire in Gaza – despite proposing the debate himself. Last week saw the Commons descend into chaos when Sir Lindsay breached convention and allowed a Labour amendment to dominate an SNP opposition day, discussing the Israel-Hamas conflict. The

The spring budget on 6 March is likely to be the last major fiscal event before the next general election, expected later this year. The Tories have been hinting at further tax reductions in a bid to woo over voters as the party continues to languish behind Labour in the polls. But as the country

Tory MPs have complained that suspending Lee Anderson may have been a mistake, WhatsApp messages leaked to Sky News have revealed. After one of the most toxic weeks in Westminster, the Sky News and Politico podcast, Politics at Jack and Sam’s, examines the attitude of all sides to the controversies of the last few days.

MPs are set to hold another debate on a ceasefire in Gaza after the SNP said it would take up the Speaker’s offer following last week’s chaotic scenes in parliament. It comes after Sir Lindsay Hoyle faced a backlash last week for breaching convention by allowing a vote on a Labour amendment to an SNP

Sir Keir Starmer has accused the prime minister of harbouring extremists in his party after a senior Tory MP was suspended for “Islamophobic” comments. The Labour leader said Rishi Sunak’s “weakness” allowed Lee Anderson “to act with impunity” and that he “needs to get a grip and take on the extremists in his party”. Sir

Lee Anderson has been suspended from the Conservative party after “Islamophobic” comments. A spokesperson for Chief Whip Simon Hart said: “Following his refusal to apologise for comments made yesterday, the Chief Whip has suspended the Conservative whip from Lee Anderson MP.” Speaking on GB News this week, Mr Anderson, MP for Ashfield, said: “I don’t

Conservative MP Lee Anderson has been criticised for making “divisive and dangerous” comments about London mayor Sadiq Khan – with calls for him to be kicked out of the party. Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said the former Tory deputy chairman had engaged in “outright racism and Islamophobia”, while ex-Tory MP Gavin Barwell said

For weeks – months even – we’ve been watching a beauty parade on the Conservative benches preparing for life after Rishi Sunak as various MPs hook up with various groupings of Conservative backbenchers hoping to garner support for the moment when the ball comes out of the scrum. On the right, we have seen the

The Speaker changing the “usual ways in which parliament works” was “very concerning”, according to the prime minister – who did not say whether he accepted Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s apology. Sir Lindsay’s role has been thrown into jeopardy after he allowed both Labour and government amendments to be voted on, on an SNP debate –

An emotional Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he never wants to pick up the phone “to find a friend has been murdered” – as he defended his actions in the Commons on Wednesday. The Commons Speaker is facing a backlash for allowing a vote on a Labour amendment to an SNP motion calling for an immediate