Politics

The prime minister has announced £84m of new funding for African and Middle Eastern countries in an attempt to tackle the migration crisis “at source”. Speaking in a press conference at Blenheim Palace, where a raft of leaders have been meeting for a European Political Community (EPC) summit, Sir Keir Starmer said the new money

Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to “fire the starting gun” on a closer relationship with Europe as he hosts a major summit, set to focus on Ukraine and migration.  The prime minister will welcome at least 45 European leaders to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire for a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), which was

The new government is setting out its legislative agenda for the next year in the King’s Speech. The announcements focus on improving living standards by driving economic growth, the first of Sir Keir Starmer’s five “missions for national renewal”. Big ticket items include a plan to build more houses and infrastructure, nationalise the railways and

Labour has promised to “take the brakes off Britain” as it outlines its plans for government in the King’s Speech later today. More than 35 bills are expected to be unveiled during the event, which will see King Charles read out the list of policies and pledges from the Houses of Parliament. The party said

Vaughan Gething has announced he is quitting as Welsh First Minister after four members of his government resigned and demanded he left office. In a statement on Tuesday morning, Mr Gething said he had “taken the difficult decision to begin the process of stepping down”, and will now discuss a timetable for the election of

Sir Keir Starmer will today launch a “root and branch” review of the UK’s Armed Forces. It comes after the prime minister promised to “make sure our hollowed out armed forces are bolstered and respected”. The review will be led by former NATO general secretary Lord Robertson – who carried out a previous strategic defence

Rishi Sunak has been urged to stay on as Conservative leader until November amid divisions within the party over how long the contest to replace him should take. Shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell said the former prime minister’s instinct “is almost certainly to go” but more time was needed for potential successors to make their

More than half of this new parliament is made up of new MPs which makes the House of Commons a better reflection of the nation it serves. Having more than 50% of MPs entering the Commons for the first time does have benefits but also poses some issues. “This is significant because, on the one

The new Labour government will unveil more than 35 bills during the first King’s Speech of its tenure, Downing Street has said. Trailing the significant moment on Wednesday, which will see the King announce the party’s plans for power in a ceremony full of pomp, ministers promised to focus on economic growth and to ensure

Sir Keir Starmer has issued a rallying cry ahead of the Euro 2024 final, telling the England team: “We’re all behind you.” The prime minister, who will be in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Sunday to cheer on the Three Lions against Spain, told the players they have already “made the country proud”. They

Home Office minister Jess Phillips has shared the story of how she was appointed to her new role – and why it means she can no longer appear on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast. Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby and Conservative peer Ruth Davidson, it was revealed this episode would be the Labour

The last government left “a mountain of mess” that was like “a Downing Street party”, according to Sir Keir Starmer. Writing in The Guardian, the Labour prime minister attacked the Conservative government that preceded him and the state they left the economy. Sir Keir said: “Like a Downing Street party, they’ve left a mountain of

Prisoners who have served 40% of their sentence will be released to help alleviate overcrowding, the government has announced. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said failing to act now risks “the collapse of the criminal justice system and a total breakdown of law and order”, including looting and rioting in the streets. Prisoners in England and

There are fears that prison overcrowding could lead to a breakdown in law and order and even looting if further action to alleviate capacity problems in jails across England and Wales is not taken.  Justice Secretary Shabanah Mahmood will today warn the justice system is on “the brink of total collapse”, which is “putting the

A total of 1.6 million children are now affected by the two-child benefit cap as the Labour government faces pressure to lift it. The Conservative government introduced the cap, which prevents parents from claiming child tax credit or Universal Credit for more than two children for those born after April 2017. Politics live: Streeting orders