Politics

Penny Mordaunt said Boris Johnson’s Brexit intervention is “helpful” as there is “there’s still a lot to be done” to secure a deal over the Northern Ireland Protocol. In a move that could trigger a new Tory civil war on Brexit, a source close to the former prime minister told Sky News: “His general thinking

Boris Johnson is on collision course with Rishi Sunak over the prime minister’s attempts to reach a deal with Brussels over the Northern Ireland Protocol. The former PM is bitterly opposed to Mr Sunak‘s plans to abandon the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which gives ministers power to rip up parts of the protocol and ignore

Rishi Sunak says Britain and the EU have an understanding on what needs to be done around the Northern Ireland Protocol, but that work still needs to be done. The prime minister spoke about where things stand following his speech at the Munich Security Conference, saying that Britain wanted to have a positive relationship with

Britain and the EU have an understanding on what needs to be done to resolve issues surrounding the Northern Ireland protocol but a deal is “by no means done”, Rishi Sunak has said. Speaking during a question and answer session after his speech at the Munich Security Conference, the Prime Minister said Britain wanted to

“Significant progress has been made” to resolve the row over the Northern Ireland protocol and a deal is “very much game on”, Sinn Fein’s leader said.  Speaking after talks with Rishi Sunak, Mary Lou McDonald told reporters: “We have always believed that a deal on the protocol was possible and we’ve always known it was

Candidates are expected to formerly enter the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the SNP and first minister today – after the timeline for the contest was unveiled last night. No individual has officially announced their bid to become Ms Sturgeon’s successor at present. But on Thursday, numerous candidates ruled themselves out of

Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation could prompt a major rethink around the SNP’s plans for indyref2, the party’s Westminster leader has suggested. The first minister previously announced her intention to fight the next UK general election as a de facto referendum on independence. Following the decision of the UK Supreme Court that Holyrood could not legislate for

The race to replace Nicola Sturgeon as Scotland’s first minister is now under way – but nobody has officially thrown their hat into the ring yet. Ms Sturgeon announced her resignation during a press conference in Edinburgh at her official residence, Bute House, on Tuesday. The 52-year-old said it had been “the very best job

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced her resignation, saying the job “takes its toll on you and all around you”. The SNP leader made the the shock announcement during a press conference in Edinburgh at her official residence, Bute House. The 53-year-old said it had been “the very best job in the world” and

Almost half of all NHS trusts in England missed a crucial two-week cancer diagnosis target in every month last year, new data has revealed. NHS targets state that 93% of patients should have an appointment with a cancer specialist within two weeks of an urgent GP referral. But new research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats

Political leaders should “take a clear stand” and condemn violence against asylum seekers, charities have said – as they warned scenes like those outside a Merseyside hotel could be replicated across the country. Fifteen people were arrested after “violent scenes” outside the hotel where asylum seekers were staying in Knowsley on Friday. A demonstration descended

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak still supports BBC chairman Richard Sharp, despite revelations about the part he played in securing an £800,000 loan for Boris Johnson, his spokesman has said. Mr Sharp took the role in January 2021 after being recommended by then-PM Mr Johnson and having his appointment approved by a committee of MPs. But

Rishi Sunak has said the UK is in “in touch” with allies after a minister claimed Chinese spy balloons may have already flown over the country. A number of flying objects have been shot down over North America during the past week, with a fourth taken out by fighter jets on Sunday on the orders

Rishi Sunak has been accused of failing to rein in a “culture of lavish spending” across government departments as Labour published details of thousands of purchases over the past two years on taxpayer-funded debit cards. The opposition party’s report on Government Procurement Cards (GPCs) showed 14 departments spent at least £145.5m in 2021 compared with

BBC chairman Richard Sharp made “significant errors of judgement” by facilitating an £800,000 loan guarantee for Boris Johnson, a cross-party committee of MPs has found. The committee said Mr Sharp should “consider the impact his omissions will have” on public trust in the broadcaster after he failed to declare his role as a go-between for

BBC chairman Richard Sharp made “significant errors of judgement” by facilitating an £800,000 loan guarantee for Boris Johnson, a cross-party committee of MPs has found. The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee said Mr Sharp should “consider the impact his omissions will have” on public trust in the broadcaster after he failed to declare his