Politics

Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel has accused her former department of being “evasive” and “secretive” over how long it plans to use a former RAF base to house asylum seekers. In a letter to her successor Suella Braverman and the immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, earlier on Monday, Dame Priti wrote that the “lack of

Ministers are injecting £250m into the NHS ahead of winter as they try to get a grip on record waiting times for treatment. The funding for 30 NHS organisations across England will create 900 new beds in urgent and emergency care services to avoid patients needing to be admitted and occupying hospital spaces. However, a

Rishi Sunak still has confidence in the home secretary and her department despite the ongoing controversy around the Bibby Stockholm, Downing Street has said. The prime minister’s official spokesman defended the Home Office’s response to the discovery of Legionella on the barge last week, but said lessons would be learned following the incident. Asylum seekers

The government has defended its immigration strategy after deaths in the English Channel prompted renewed criticism of the “stop the boats” pledge – including from Tory MPs. At least six people died after a small boat crossing from France to the UK capsized and sank, in what has been described as an “appalling and preventable”

The deaths of six people after a migrant boat capsized in the English Channel has been described as an “appalling and preventable tragedy”. Campaigners are urging the government to create more safe routes to the UK, with the Refugee Council warning “more people will die” unless urgent action is taken. Meanwhile, MPs from across the

Jeremy Hunt’s younger brother has died from an ‘aggressive’ form of cancer aged 53. Charlie Hunt, a father-of-three, died peacefully on August 2, his family said in a statement to the Daily Telegraph. The chancellor spoke last month about how the disease had hit his family, with his sibling having been diagnosed with sarcoma in

The next general election is only 17 months away at most. It is already seen as a “change election” – meaning that, on the basis of opinion polls and recent political contests, the party in power is likely to switch. Conventional wisdom is that the Conservatives will most likely be out after 14 years continuously

The discovery of Legionella on board the Bibby Stockholm is the latest embarrassing setback in a plan beset with controversy and delay from the very start. Thankfully, no one on board has developed any symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially serious form of pneumonia spread by infected water droplets. The Home Office insist the 39

Asylum seekers are being removed from the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset after Legionella bacteria was found in the water. All of those on board are likely to be taken to new accommodation as a precautionary measure. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick is understood to be chairing meetings about the situation. Legionella bacteria, which is commonly

The number of people who have crossed the English Channel in small boats in the past five years is now likely to have passed 100,000. Government figures show that since 2018, when records began, 99,960 people have made the perilous journey from France to the UK as of Tuesday. With more than 40 people believed

Thousands of patients stuck on NHS waiting lists could be offered treatment much sooner at another facility – as long as they are willing and able to travel. As part of government efforts to bring down record waiting lists for healthcare, the NHS is expanding its new online “matching” platform to offer more patients quicker

Diane Abbott has been accused of exploiting the deaths of 41 migrants in a shipwreck off Italy in a now-deleted tweet about the tragedy. The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, who is currently suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party, tweeted a link to an article about the deaths earlier today, and wrote: “These

A government minister has called for “absentee” Tory MP Nadine Dorries to officially resign, saying her constituents are not being properly represented – while a Labour MP has said the Conservative is “taking voters for a ride”. Robert Jenrick said Downing Street will “consider” proposals to oust her from the Commons but she should “get

Lee Anderson has refused to apologise for saying asylum seekers who don’t want to be housed on barges should “f*** off back to France”. But the Conservative deputy chairman also said there was “no doubt” the government had failed to tackle illegal immigration. Tory MP Mr Anderson made the remark about asylum seekers after it

The government has announced a “task force” to root out dodgy lawyers after reports that false asylum claims are being submitted for a fee. The Home Office said the unit would bring together regulatory bodies, law enforcement teams and other government departments to act against solicitors and barristers found to be deceiving the courts. The

Asylum seekers who did not get on the Bibby Stockholm today have until Tuesday to board the vessel or face having their government support cancelled, Sky News can reveal. While 15 people did board the barge docked in Portland, Devon, around 20 people did not take up the offer made on what the government has

Some of the first group of asylum seekers have boarded the Bibby Stockholm barge with more arrivals expected today, Sky News understands. Around 50 people were expected to move on to the vessel, docked in Portland Port in Dorset, on Monday following weeks of delays. The Bibby Stockholm is one of a number of alternative

Bosses who hire migrants who don’t have the right to work in the UK could face fines of up to £60,000 under new government plans to deter Channel crossings. The civil penalties for “unscrupulous” employers and landlords who help people live and work in the country illegally will be significantly increased, the Home Office has

Interest rates are up, house prices are down, the small boats are still coming, and NHS doctors are striking. Labour are still 20 points ahead of the Conservatives in the poll of polls. As he contemplates his political future and the lack of progress on his five pledges, it is understandable that the prime minister

A gym-goer has said she was shocked as she claimed Rishi Sunak turned up to a SoulCycle class on Friday. The prime minister is currently on holiday in California, saying earlier in the week it’s his first family trip away in several years. But after being pictured on Santa Monica Pier and visiting Disneyland, he