Politics

The globe-trotting prime minister has hit back at his critics – and cosied up to Donald Trump like never before. After claims by opponents that he spends too much time abroad, Sir Keir Starmer has insisted his travels are in the UK’s interests. Tax rises will be ‘catastrophic’ – politics latest A reminder: in just

Pyrotechnics, fireworks, balloons – Reform UK’s conference was unlike any other. Back in September, Nigel Farage’s party used its annual gathering to underscore its message that it offers something different.  Throughout Birmingham’s NEC, screens flashed up images of the party’s leader. When it was time for Mr Farage’s speech, delegates flocked to hear him speak.

Bereaved families and MPs are urging the government to take tougher steps to protect younger teenagers from “horrific” content on social media.  The Australian government’s decision to legislate for a smartphone ban for under 16s has reignited the debate in the UK about further restrictions, and a Labour MP is hoping to get government support

Labour is set to publish its plan to tackle migration next week – as the number of people who have crossed the Channel under Sir Keir Starmer is understood to have hit a new milestone. In the early hours of this morning, Sky News understands two small boats were picked up in the Channel with

Sir Keir Starmer is set to reveal his Labour’s “plan for change” as he looks to draw a line under a tough first five months in office amid public anger over budget proposals. The prime minister will set out milestones in key policy areas to achieve the targets laid out in the manifesto. Sir Keir

I have watched hundreds of hours of parliamentary debates in my long time covering Westminster and I can honestly say that the five hours of discussion I witnessed in the Commons on Friday were some of the most memorable, moving and humane exchanges I have ever seen.  Because this bear pit of a debating chamber

The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office after the names of the alleged victims of the Westminster honeytrap scandal were revealed to each other. The force has said it apologises “sincerely for any distress” after an email was “sent in error”. According to reports, the Met sent an email to all

Kemi Badenoch will be “defined” by the first “clanger” she makes as Tory leader, Baroness Davidson has said. The Tory peer said Ms Badenoch, who replaced Rishi Sunak earlier this month, had to be “humble and work bloody hard” in her role following the Conservatives’ worst-ever general election performance. Speaking to Beth Rigby on the

Sir Keir Starmer has accused the Tories of using Brexit to deliberately run an “open borders experiment” in the UK. The prime minister said the British people are “owed an explanation” after revised figures showed net migration reached a record high of almost one million under the previous government’s watch. Follow live: Spending on asylum

Hundreds of migrants living in the UK are facing agonising delays in finding out if they can stay, despite some having British children. Most immigrants in the UK have to apply to extend their stay every 30 months – before qualifying to remain indefinitely after either five or 10 years – paying thousands of pounds

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is unlikely to last in the long term, according to a former British spy chief. Sir Richard Dearlove – who ran MI6 between 1999 and 2004 – explained his concerns with the recently announced deal in an interview on the Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge. As well as the

The controversial assisted dying bill has just been approved by MPs in a truly historic vote in the Commons. The bill, which would make it legal for over-18s who are terminally ill to be given medical assistance to end their own life, passed its second reading – the first parliamentary hurdle it must go through

A landmark bill to ban the younger generation from ever smoking has cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons. The legislation, backed by 415 to 47, means anyone born after 1 January 2009 will be prevented from buying tobacco if it ultimately becomes law. Before then, the bill must go through further parliamentary

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin says his party has made “a policy decision” not to enter coalition government with Sinn Fein after Ireland’s general election. Current polling shows the three largest parties – Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein – in a three-way tie. In the third of our leader interviews ahead of Friday’s

Jobcentre reform will be at the centre of the Labour government’s plans to “get Britain working again”. Tackling the increasing number of people out of work and relying on the state for income has become a major priority of the state, with welfare costs taking up a sizeable portion of government spending. According to the

Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out an early general election after a petition calling for a second vote reached two million signatures. The petition was launched over the weekend and says there should be another vote, just four months after Labour won a landslide, because they have “gone back on their promises they laid out