Politics

Rishi Sunak has hired the Spectator’s political editor, James Forsyth, as his political secretary. The move comes as the PM continues bolster his top team in Downing Street in the hope of overturning recent negative polling results for the Conservative Party. It is understood that Mr Forsyth’s role will be to act as a link

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sent Christmas wishes to the UK and thanked Rishi Sunak’s government and the public for their support as Ukraine’s war against Russia continues. In an earlier message, the prime minister had posted a short video on social media with the message: “This Christmas, we’re with you Ukraine.” Responding, Mr Zelenskyy posted:

The plan to slash local authority funding to house Ukrainian refugees is “short-sighted” and must be “urgently reviewed”, the government has been told. Michael Gove, the communities secretary, announced earlier this month that councils will receive £5,900 – down from £10,500 – for each Ukrainian refugee who arrives in their area. He said this was

Rishi Sunak has said he is “sad and disappointed” that strikes are threatening to disrupt Christmas getaways. The prime minister admitted setting public sector pay was a “difficult question” but insisted that “the government has acted fairly and reasonably in accepting all the recommendations of the independent public sector pay review bodies”. However, he did

Rishi Sunak’s new ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, is an old Etonian “quango king”, a City grandee and a pillar of the establishment. He wasn’t awarded his knighthood in the usual way by the Queen after being nominated by 10 Downing Street. His title is hereditary. He is in fact a baronet, the third in

Rishi Sunak has appointed a new ethics adviser after a six-month vacancy – but the prime minister is facing criticism for maintaining the power to veto any investigation into ministers. Mr Sunak was under pressure to fill the role after promising to bring “integrity, professionalism and accountability” to government when he entered Downing Street. The

Health Secretary Steve Barclay is considering offering NHS staff a pay rise in spring in a bid to end strikes – but has ruled out any immediate movement on current wages. The stalemate between unions and the government appeared to show no signs of abating on Thursday morning, following two days of historic action from nurses

People aged 16 will be able to apply to change their gender in Scotland, while the time required for someone to live in their acquired gender is to be slashed to three months after a controversial bill was passed. After two long days of debate in the Scottish Parliament, the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill

Rishi Sunak has warned the Taliban the “world is watching” after it banned women in Afghanistan from attending university. Taliban security forces in Kabul have been blocking women from entering universities after the group instructed public and private universities across the country on Tuesday to immediately suspend access to female students until further notice. The

The government’s Brexit scheme that means EU citizens must reapply for the right to live and work in the UK is unlawful, the High Court has ruled. The EU Settlement Scheme opened in March 2019 and meant all EU citizens who wanted to remain in the UK after the Brexit transition period ended on 31

Thousands of ambulance workers in England and Wales are going on strike today – with NHS leaders warning that they cannot guarantee the safety of patients. Speaking to Sky News, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the system would be “under severe pressure” due to the strike, and urged Britons to use “common sense in terms

Troops have been training at Heathrow and Gatwick airports for passport checking roles ahead of Border Force staff going on strike over Christmas. The Ministry of Defence confirmed to Sky News armed forces personnel arrived at London’s two main airports earlier this week. The PCS union announced on Wednesday that Border Force officers will go

He’s done it! It was a low bar to jump over but at least Rishi Sunak has lasted longer as prime minister than Liz Truss. The nation can be reassured that there will not be a fourth prime minister this year, or even a general election before Christmas, as Boris Johnson subjected the country to

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will launch a major reform of the UK’s financial sector, with plans to rip up red tape and replace a number of EU regulations. Mr Hunt said the changes, to be announced in Edinburgh later, will “turbocharge” growth as the country struggles with a sluggish economy and a cost of living crisis.