Politics

Even the Iron Lady flinched at the prospect of delivering her leader’s speech to the annual party conference. Her speech writer Ronald Millar recalled leaning forward moments before Margaret Thatcher went to the rostrum with words of encouragement. “Piece of cake, prime minister,” he whispered, only to be rebuffed with “not now Ronnie, I’m about

Lisa Nandy has said Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to accept thousands of pounds worth of football tickets was “very sensible”. The minister for culture, media and sport also said she had never accepted free clothes from a donor. Speaking to Sky News at the start of the Labour Party conference today, the MP for Wigan

Nigel Farage has spoken about his aspirations as Reform UK party leader and insists he could become prime minister. He told Sky’s political correspondent Darren McCaffrey the prospect of taking over at Number 10 at some point “may not be probable, but it’s certainly possible”. In an interview on the sidelines of the Reform UK

A government minister has said Sir Keir Starmer accepting more freebies than any other MP “is not important at all”. Jess Phillips said she was “satisfied” with the prime minister’s explanation it would “cost the taxpayer a fortune” in security if he watched Arsenal from the stands after it emerged he has accepted thousands of

Sir Keir Starmer should stop trying to “justify” accepting free gifts as it is “making things worse”, former Labour MP Harriet Harman has said. The baroness, now a peer on the red benches and the co-host of Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, said the row was “out of line” for the prime minister and he

Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes. 👉 Tap here to follow Politics at Jack and Sam’s wherever you get your podcasts 👈 Just days before Labour meets for their party conference, they’re dealing with criticism over

Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard share their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes. 👉 Tap here to follow Politics at Jack and Sam’s wherever you get your podcasts 👈 Just days before Labour meets for their party conference, they’re dealing with criticism over

Ten years ago today the people of Scotland went to the polls to decide on the future of their country in the Scottish independence referendum. The historic event – which would have seen Scotland break free from the rest of the UK – took place on 18 September 2014 and saw more than two million

Sir Ed Davey has pledged to be a champion for carers – as he put his party forward as the “responsible opposition”. In a personal and emotional keynote speech in Brighton on Tuesday, the Lib Dem leader said “care and carers must not be forgotten and ignored any longer”. “If the Liberal Democrats don’t offer

Sir Keir Starmer has said he was “angry” to learn that offenders were being greeted with champagne outside of prison gates after being released early to ease overcrowding. The prime minister said the government had been “forced” to let some offenders out early because prisons across England and Wales had become “so full” that police

The prime minister has said the UK has moved “from a government of gimmicks to a government of pragmatism” as he attempts to tackle the small boat crisis. Sir Keir Starmer is in Rome to hold talks with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni about a range of issues, including irregular migration and her controversial plans

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper has revealed she was told she had four days to live but the NHS saved her. Speaking to the party’s conference in Brighton, Ms Cooper also told for the first time how the Lib Dems were on the brink of extinction in 2020. She said the NHS gave her

Italy’s migration deal with Albania will be on the agenda as the prime minister meets his counterpart in Rome on Monday, after appointing a former police chief to tackle people smuggling. Sir Keir Starmer has signalled he is “interested” in the plan under which Tirana will accept asylum seekers on Italy‘s behalf while their claims

The foreign secretary has said the UK and allies will not be “bullied by Putin’s shameless grandstanding” as the prime minister faces pressure to allow Ukraine to fire British long-range missiles into Russia. David Lammy told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips the Russian president’s threats to use nuclear weapons if the West sends

Sir Keir Starmer is under investigation for a possible breach of parliamentary rules after failing to declare that some of his wife’s high-end clothes were bought for her by his biggest personal donor, Lord Alli. The Labour peer paid for a personal shopper, clothes and alterations for Lady Victoria Starmer, reportedly both before and after

Sir Keir Starmer has talked up the US-UK relationship after a White House meeting with Joe Biden, but questions remain over Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles. The prime minister travelled to Washington this week to meet with President Biden to discuss the wars in Ukraine and Gaza – among other issues. Speaking before the “long

Labour’s biggest union backer has accused the government of being “cruel” over cuts to the winter fuel payment, as it opens a potential rift at the party’s conference later this month. A motion to be submitted to Labour‘s conference by the Unite trade union – that has been seen by Sky News – says “workers

There has been no impact assessment of how the decision to strip millions of pensioners of winter fuel payments will affect them, Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves decided to means-test the payments, worth up to £300, to help fill a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances. Pressed on

Sir Keir Starmer has said that Russia started the Ukraine war and “could end the conflict straight away”. The prime minister is heading to Washington DC for talks with President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday over the ongoing conflict. Sir Keir has backed Kyiv’s right to defend itself after Russian leader Vladimir

MPs could face a crackdown on hosting TV shows under new rules to restore trust in parliament. The newly formed Modernisation Committee today published a memorandum agreeing to look at tightening rules on second jobs. Politics Live: PM to pledge ‘biggest reimagining of NHS’ in major speech The committee was promised in Labour’s manifesto and