Politics

A Tory frontbencher is urging the government to “focus” on pupil absence after a report found as many as 300,000 children were missing from education in England last year. Figures from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) – which compare GP registrations with school enrolment data – mark a 40% increase in unaccounted absences since 2017.

Protecting wildlife shouldn’t come at the expense of building more homes, Angela Rayner has said. Last week, Sir Keir Starmer pledged to build 1.5 million homes and fast-track planning decisions on 150 major infrastructure projects by the end of the decade. Ms Rayner, who is deputy prime minister and housing secretary, was asked if this

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner says the collapse of Bashar al Assad’s regime in Syria is “welcome news”. Speaking to Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Ms Rayner said: “Well, the situation looks very serious and if the Assad regime has fallen, then I welcome that news. “But what we need to say is a political

Sir Keir Starmer is not accustomed to receiving much praise, so he’ll take it where he can. And on Friday it came from an unlikely source, his political opponents. Speaking at the British-Irish Council summit in Edinburgh, SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney described a change in atmosphere since Labour took office. Image:

Conservative peer Lord Rami Ranger has forfeited his CBE – just a month after regaining the Tory whip. The move was confirmed in a notice published in the London Gazette saying the King had directed Lord Ranger’s CBE would be “cancelled and annulled”. According to the PA news agency, the decision was made after the

Sir Keir Starmer has said it is not his “plan” to increase any more taxes before the next election – but he cannot categorically rule them out if “unforeseen circumstances” strike the government. The prime minister told the BBC he did not “want to suggest we’re going to keep coming back for more because that

A film set location, a big budget production, an audience bussed in – the prime minister’s Plan for Change speech had all the hallmarks of big campaign moments past when Sir Keir Starmer used the event to launch his “first steps’ set of promises – from cutting NHS waiting lists and setting up a new

Like Rishi Sunak did before him, Sir Keir Starmer has announced “measurable milestones” that he says his government will deliver on during his time as prime minister. He says that this will “throw a gauntlet down” to ministers and civil servants who will have to deliver on the priorities, while also allowing the British people

After five months in power, even the most loyal cabinet members would quietly admit it’s been a rocky run for Sir Keir Starmer and Labour. The prime minister’s personal polling ratings have tumbled from a +7 in the post-election honeymoon to -29 now. Many pensioners, business owners, entrepreneurs and farmers are angry, and between the

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to reveal the “further information” he was told about Louise Haigh’s phone “theft” conviction which led to her stepping down as transport secretary. The prime minister was asked by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch what new information “came to light” about Ms Haigh’s conviction, which is now “spent”, for reporting a

Richard Tice has been challenged for appearing to cast doubt on court documents that detailed how one of the party’s MPs was jailed for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend. The Reform UK deputy leader defended James McMurdock, who was jailed 18 years ago for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend, saying the UK is a “Christian nation” that

British businesses have blamed “mind-boggling” bureaucracy on a £3bn-a-year hit to food exports since Brexit. A new report by the Centre of Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP) has found that the shipping of UK food and agricultural products to the EU has fallen by more than 16% on average across the three years since Britain left

Pyrotechnics, fireworks, balloons – Reform UK’s conference was unlike any other. Back in September, Nigel Farage’s party used its annual gathering to underscore its message that it offers something different.  Throughout Birmingham’s NEC, screens flashed up images of the party’s leader. When it was time for Mr Farage’s speech, delegates flocked to hear him speak.

Sir Chris Wormald has been named as the new cabinet secretary and head of the civil service. The 56-year-old will replace Simon Case after he announced in September he would stand down as cabinet secretary at the end of the year for health reasons but would remain in place while his successor was chosen. Sir

Bereaved families and MPs are urging the government to take tougher steps to protect younger teenagers from “horrific” content on social media.  The Australian government’s decision to legislate for a smartphone ban for under 16s has reignited the debate in the UK about further restrictions, and a Labour MP is hoping to get government support

Labour is set to publish its plan to tackle migration next week – as the number of people who have crossed the Channel under Sir Keir Starmer is understood to have hit a new milestone. In the early hours of this morning, Sky News understands two small boats were picked up in the Channel with

Sir Keir Starmer is set to reveal his Labour’s “plan for change” as he looks to draw a line under a tough first five months in office amid public anger over budget proposals. The prime minister will set out milestones in key policy areas to achieve the targets laid out in the manifesto. Sir Keir

I have watched hundreds of hours of parliamentary debates in my long time covering Westminster and I can honestly say that the five hours of discussion I witnessed in the Commons on Friday were some of the most memorable, moving and humane exchanges I have ever seen.  Because this bear pit of a debating chamber

The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office after the names of the alleged victims of the Westminster honeytrap scandal were revealed to each other. The force has said it apologises “sincerely for any distress” after an email was “sent in error”. According to reports, the Met sent an email to all

Kemi Badenoch will be “defined” by the first “clanger” she makes as Tory leader, Baroness Davidson has said. The Tory peer said Ms Badenoch, who replaced Rishi Sunak earlier this month, had to be “humble and work bloody hard” in her role following the Conservatives’ worst-ever general election performance. Speaking to Beth Rigby on the