Politics

Former Tory MP Scott Benton has said he will appeal his recommended suspension from the House of Commons and intends to make a formal complaint over it. The Blackpool MP was suspended from the parliamentary Tory party in April after being caught in a sting by The Times suggesting he would be willing to break

Just Stop Oil protesters who gathered outside the home of Sir Keir Starmer to sing climate change-inspired Christmas carols have been told not to return to the area for three months after being dispersed by police. In footage shared on X, protesters were asked to leave the area surrounding the Labour leader’s house in north

A ban on social media use for under-16s has been branded “speculation” – but the government must “continue to look at” the need to protect children, a minister has said. Science minister Andrew Griffith dismissed as “speculation” reports that social media access could be curbed for some young people as part of a “potential consultation”

It may seem pretty standard nowadays for chaos to follow wherever politics goes. But there were a number of unexpected political moments this year that left even the most seasoned Westminster watcher open-mouthed. We take a look at some of the most surprising incidents from the past 12 months. Glitter bombing Please use Chrome browser

Rishi Sunak is facing another by-election after the Commons standards committee recommended MP Scott Benton be suspended from the chamber for 35 days. Mr Benton was suspended from the parliamentary Tory party in April after being caught by The Times suggesting he would be willing to break lobbying rules for money. In its ruling handed

Rishi Sunak has publicly disagreed with an Israeli ambassador, who told Sky News the country rejected the idea of a two-state solution. It is the long-standing position of the UK government that there should be an independent Palestinian state established alongside the existing one of Israel – giving both peoples their own territory. But asked

Levels of homelessness in England this Christmas are likely to be 14% higher than last year, according to analysis by Shelter. The charity has blamed the figures on a housing emergency it said is out of control. It estimated that on any given night in 2023 there were 309,550 people in some form of homelessness,

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced his resignation. Mr Drakeford made the announcement in the Senedd on Wednesday morning five years to the day since he was first elected as leader of Welsh Labour. He had already indicated he would step aside during the current Senedd term and that he would not be standing

Rishi Sunak has avoided a damaging Tory rebellion over his flagship Rwanda bill in a crunch vote in the Commons. The totemic legislation, which aims to revive the stalled £290m deportation scheme after the Supreme Court ruled it unlawful, has been backed by MPs at its second reading by 313 votes to 269, a majority

Conservative rebels are meeting later to decide how they will vote on Rishi Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda bill. The prime minister met with some of those threatening to shoot down the totemic legislation for breakfast in Downing Street on Tuesday morning. Mr Sunak was hoping to convince the group – including the likes of Jonathan

The One Nation group of centrist Tory MPs have recommended its members vote for the government’s Rwanda bill tomorrow. It comes after MPs on the right of the party earlier today suggested they may not support the legislation. The faction of about 100 One Nation MPs met this evening to discuss their concerns that the

After appearances from Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock and a range of Downing Street advisers, it is now time for Rishi Sunak to be questioned at the official COVID inquiry. We take a look at what questions the prime minister – who served as chancellor throughout the pandemic – is likely to face. Please use Chrome

Rishi Sunak will be challenged at the COVID inquiry on claims that government scientists branded him “Dr Death” – and called his scheme to kickstart the economy “Eat Out to Help Out the Virus”. The inquiry has also been told that Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s chief adviser in Downing Street at the time, claimed Mr

The government is “not contemplating” an early general election because ministers are “confident” the Rwanda bill will be approved by MPs, Michael Gove has told Sky News. Speaking to the Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme, the cabinet minister said the emergency legislation was “a tough but also proportionate measure”. The levelling up secretary also

Rishi Sunak has attacked Labour’s illegal migration policy as Sir Keir Starmer accused the Conservatives of “fighting like rats in a sack” over the Rwanda bill. The prime minister called on Labour to “rise above political games” and back the emergency legislation when it comes before the Commons on Tuesday, despite battling to convince his

Robert Jenrick has said the government’s Rwanda bill is too weak and will still mean a “merry-go-round” of legal challenges. The former immigration minister quit this week over the new law – designed to speed up deportations and deter people from crossing the Channel on small boats. Mr Jenrick, writing in The Daily Telegraph, said