Politics

This week’s two by-elections had something for everyone – except Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives. Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has now broken into the record books with six by-election gains from the Conservatives, beating New Labour’s performance in the run-up to the 1997 Election. Reform UK got more than 10% of the votes in both constituencies.

Scottish Labour has unanimously backed an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with MSPs calling for “unequivocal” support and putting pressure on the rest of the party. All delegates backed Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s calls for an immediate end to the Israel-Hamas war at the party conference in Glasgow. Politics latest: Backbench Tories deliver message to

It has been a stonking night for Labour – winning two more by-elections in safe Conservative seats on substantial swings. The momentum of last year’s gains in Tamworth, Selby and Ainsty, and Mid Bedfordshire, which some in the party had feared would stall, has continued to accelerate in the first tests of the general election

Losing both the Kingswood and Wellingborough by-elections means the Conservatives have established a new record – the largest number of defeats it has suffered in a single parliament. A net loss of nine seats is one more than the eight defeats in the mid-1990s as John Major led the party to one of its heaviest

Rishi Sunak has suffered a double-blow after losing two by-elections to Labour, overturning significant majorities in both. Both Kingswood and Wellingborough turned from blue to red, meaning this government has seen the most by-election losses of any Conservative administration since the Second World War. By-election results live: Labour secures double victory The losses do not

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is looking at cutting planned public sector spending in order to lower taxes, Sky News understands. The government has been hinting at further tax reductions in recent weeks ahead of the budget on 6 March – and as it seeks to make an attractive offer to voters before the next general election.

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to suspend any Labour member who was present at a meeting of activists where antisemitic comments were allegedly made. Mike Katz, the national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM), which is formally affiliated to the Labour Party, criticised those who were present at a community meeting that has

Another Labour politician attended a meeting of activists that has become the centre of an antisemitism row within the party, Sky News understands. Hyndburn councillor Munsif Dad is thought to have attended the gathering where two parliamentary candidates are alleged to have made antisemitic remarks. On Monday, Labour withdrew support from and suspended Azhar Ali,

The Labour Party has suspended one its election candidates who allegedly referred to “f***ing Israel” at a meeting of activists, Sky News understands. Graham Jones has been administratively suspended from the party pending investigation and was called in for an interview this evening after his comments were revealed by the website Guido Fawkes. Mr Jones, the

Labour has withdrawn its support for Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali following criticism of remarks he made about Israel. However, he will still appear on the ballot as the party’s candidate on Thursday 29 February. Politics latest: Labour in ‘absolute mess’ over by-election So, what happened and why can’t he be replaced? Mr Ali’s candidacy

The sacking of Azhar Ali as Labour’s candidate in the Rochdale by-election is the biggest disaster for Sir Keir Starmer in his nearly four years as leader of the party. There will now be an almighty inquest into how a candidate who had made such comments about Israel and Gaza was selected for such a

Labour’s candidate in Rochdale “fell for an online conspiracy” that led to his remarks over the 7 October attacks in Israel, a shadow minister has said. Councillor Azhar Ali told a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party in the wake of the atrocity that Israel deliberately allowed the massacre to go ahead to give it

Labour’s by-election candidate in Rochdale was “completely wrong” to say Israel deliberately allowed the 7 October massacre to give it the “green light” to invade Gaza, the party’s UK campaign coordinator has said. But senior shadow frontbencher Pat McFadden told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips confirmed Azhar Ali will still stand for the

The defence secretary is said to be “furious” after it was reported the British Army wants to relax security clearance vetting for overseas recruits to boost diversity and inclusion. The UK’s armed forces are looking overseas to boost ethnic minority representation because they have consistently failed to hit recruitment targets, according to The Sunday Telegraph.

Fujitsu is set to have received more than £3.4bn through contracts from Treasury-linked organisations since 2019, despite its role in the Post Office scandal, MPs have found. The international tech firm, which is under intense scrutiny, was awarded around £1.4bn worth of deals since a 2019 High Court ruling concluding there had been numerous bugs

Rishi Sunak has promised to reward hard work with tax cuts as he struck an optimistic note over the UK’s economic prospects. Official figures next week may show the UK slipped into a technical recession at the end of last year, while the prime minister is facing a heavy opinion poll deficit against Labour and

Sir Keir Starmer’s first conversation with his future wife ended with her snapping “Who the f*** does he think he is?” The Labour leader told British Vogue that he didn’t have the “best of starts” with his now spouse, Victoria. The pair first spoke over the phone when Sir Keir called the former solicitor to

Rishi Sunak has published his personal tax return, showing he paid more than half a million pounds in UK tax last year. The document shows he paid a tax bill of £508,308 in the financial year 2022-23. His income included £1.8m in capital gains, as well as his £150,000 prime minister’s salary. The prime minister

The dentist Rishi Sunak visited in Cornwall to promote his “recovery plan” is not accepting new NHS patients, it has emerged. The prime minister met staff and patients at Gentle Dental in Newquay on Thursday. Politics Live: Starmer ditches his ‘biggest dividing line’ with Tories He told broadcasters that “it hasn’t been easy enough for

Rishi Sunak should apologise for his transgender jibe which was made while Brianna Ghey’s mother was in parliament, Gordon Brown has told Sky News. The former PM was speaking to the Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge a day after the current occupier of Number 10 joked during Prime Minister’s Questions about Sir Keir Starmer’s record