Politics

The last time MPs voted on the question of assisted dying – nearly three quarters were against it. Nine years later – polling suggests two thirds of the country would back a change in the law. That ratio is mirrored in the number of cabinet ministers who’ve so far publicly declared their position, with 10

The Labour MP behind the assisted dying bill said she has “no doubts” about its safeguards after a minister warned it would lead to a “slippery slope” of “death on demand”. Kim Leadbeater told Sky’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that she has “huge respect” for Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, but that she doesn’t agree

Ireland’s Taoiseach Simon Harris says he is setting aside “significant funds” to protect the country from any economic shock under Donald Trump’s presidency. But the Fine Gael leader, whose party is seeking a historic fourth consecutive term in Friday’s general election, remains hopeful of retaining good trade relations. President-elect Trump has threatened to impose tariffs

The UK is on a “slippery slope towards death on demand”, according to the justice secretary ahead of a historic Commons vote on assisted dying. In a letter to her constituents, Shabana Mahmood said she was “profoundly concerned” about the legislation. “Sadly, recent scandals – such as Hillsborough, infected blood and the Post Office Horizon

“We are in unchartered territory.” Sir John Curtice understands polling like few others, but you do not have to be an expert to see the Labour government has had a rough start. It’s been less than five months since Sir Keir Starmer’s landslide election victory and already two-thirds of Britons say they feel worse off.

It’s the most controversial battle over a private members’ bill in parliament for nearly 60 years. Not since David Steel’s 1967 Abortion Act has a piece of legislation been so potentially consequential. So don’t expect Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to enjoy a smooth passage on to the statute

The home secretary has refused to say if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be arrested if he landed on British soil after an international arrest warrant was issued for him. On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and former Israeli defence secretary Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes

Anas Sarwar is “right” to distance himself from Sir Keir Starmer over the decision to scrap winter fuel payments for most pensioners, Baroness Davidson has said. The Scottish Labour leader has promised to go against the national party and reintroduce the universal winter fuel payment for pensioners if elected to Holyrood in 2026. The Tory

Government borrowing rose to £17.4bn last month – the second highest October figure since monthly records began, official figures show. Economists had predicted £13.3bn of borrowing. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing was £1.6bn higher than the same month last year. Figures also showed that central government debt interest rose

John Leslie Prescott was born on 31 May 1938 in Prestatyn, Wales, to his parents John and Phyllis. He came from working-class roots, with his father working on the railways and his grandfather a miner. In his autobiography, Pulling No Punches, he described his father as an “old-fashioned socialist” who “believed in fairness and equality”,

Ukraine has fired British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles into Russia, a source has told Sky News. The UK and Ukraine have not yet confirmed the use of the Storm Shadow missiles in Russia but their deployment has been widely reported in British media. Image: A Storm Shadow cruise missile on display in June 2023. Pic: AP

The prime minister marked the 1,000th day of the war in Ukraine tending to global affairs at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. Over the two days of our trip to Brazil, the PM wanted to talk about “doubling down” on support for Ukraine, opening a “serious and pragmatic” dialogue with President Xi Jinping

Labour is “absolutely not” engaged in a class war, the prime minister has said. Sir Keir Starmer was asked by Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby if the changes to inheritance tax and putting VAT on private school fees shows the new government is looking to wage a “class war” on wealthier people. The prime

Thousands of farmers from across the UK are expected to gather outside Downing Street today – in the biggest protest yet against the government’s changes to inheritance tax rules. The reforms, announced in last month’s budget, will mean farms worth over £1m will be subject to 20% inheritance tax from April 2026. Farmers say that

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the “vast majority of farmers” will not be affected by changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) ahead of a protest outside parliament on Tuesday. It follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing a 20% inheritance tax that will apply to farms worth more than £1m from April 2026, where they were previously exempt.

Climate change, the crisis in the Middle East, the continuing war in Ukraine, combating global poverty. All of these are critical issues for Britain and beyond; all of them up for discussions at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro this week, and all of them very much in limbo as the world awaits the