Politics

Boris Johnson’s claim he knew nothing about who was funding the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat has been contradicted by an investigation. The Electoral Commission has fined the party £17,800 for improperly declaring donations by Huntswood Associates used for the works at 11 Downing Street, where the PM lives. In its report, concluding an

Boris Johnson is facing mounting pressure from senior backbenchers over an alleged lockdown Downing Street Christmas party and the move to “Plan B” COVID restrictions. Conservative former chief whip Mark Harper led the criticism against the government as Health Secretary Sajid Javid told the Commons further measures were being brought in from Friday, including vaccine

Boris Johnson is considering the imposition of fresh coronavirus restrictions in England and a move to Plan B of the government’s strategy for dealing with COVID-19 this winter. Following the discovery of the Omicron variant, which Downing Street fears is more transmissible than the Delta variant, the prime minister is mulling tougher measures to slow

Labour has accused Number 10 staff of “laughing” at the British public after footage emerged of Downing Street officials joking about a Christmas party during a time of strict COVID restrictions. In a video recording of what ITV News reported was a rehearsal for a TV media briefing, senior Number 10 aides were filmed talking

Labour’s Harriet Harman, the longest-serving female MP in the Commons, has announced that she will not be standing for the party at the next election. Ms Harman, who has represented the south London constituency of Camberwell and Peckham since 1982, revealed the news on Twitter. She wrote: “After nearly 40 years in Parliament I won’t

Damning claims from a whistleblower about failures during Britain’s evacuation from Afghanistan will be presented to MPs today. The government is accused of being unprepared for a huge number of cries for help from Afghans at risk because of their links with the UK. Some of those Afghans have since been murdered, it is alleged.

The FDA union has lost a High Court challenge over Boris Johnson’s decision to back Priti Patel following accusations that she bullied staff. The prime minister decided last year that the home secretary did not breach the ministerial code by bullying members of her team. This was despite an investigation by the then independent adviser

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has told Sky News he is to call in police after claims that drug abuse is rife in the Houses of Parliament. Sir Lindsay is demanding a drugs crackdown – including sniffer dogs prowling the corridors – amid growing evidence of cannabis and cocaine being used openly. Allegations include a

Scotland Yard is “considering” complaints from two Labour MPs about Christmas parties held in Downing Street last year that allegedly broke coronavirus regulations. The Metropolitan Police said that while it does not routinely look into “retrospective breaches of the COVID-19 regulations”, it would “consider the correspondence received”. Backbenchers Neil Coyle and Barry Gardiner have asked

The speeding up of COVID booster jabs in England will happen no later than 13 December, NHS bosses have said. From that date, or earlier, the online booking system for coronavirus vaccines will be updated in order to allow people to book their booster jab three months after their second dose. It comes after Prime

The Metropolitan Police has not received any complaints about an alleged party in Downing Street last year when indoor socialising was banned under COVID restrictions, the force’s commissioner has said. It has been reported this week that a large party was held on 18 December last year where around “40 or 50” people were crammed

Britons have been urged to “keep calm and carry on with your Christmas plans” despite fears over the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden told Sky News that people should continue to go to the pub and dine at restaurants during the festive season, as he said the government had taken “sufficient”

Downing Street have confirmed “in-person events” such as parties will be held in the lead up to the festive period as a Cabinet minister urged Britons to “keep calm and carry on with your Christmas plans”. A Number 10 spokesperson told Sky News celebrations will be held across Whitehall in the run up to Christmas

Former cabinet ministers who remain in parliament earn an average of £162,000 on top of their MP salary from the private sector in their first year after leaving government, Sky News research has found. The figure, arrived at by analysing data from the register of members’ interests between 2015 and 2021, excludes earnings from media

Number 10 has stressed that Christmas parties should not be cancelled and there are no rules limiting their size after conflicting comments from ministers and officials in recent days. The discovery of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has prompted speculation about how Britons should be approaching festive celebrations this year. As scientists work to assess

MPs have given up second jobs worth more than £250,000 per year in the wake of Westminster’s sleaze row. Fresh scrutiny of MPs’ outside earnings in recent weeks appears to have prompted some to end their other employment away from the House of Commons. A recent update to the register of financial interests reveals Julian

A number of social gatherings were held in Downing Street in the run-up to Christmas last year while indoor mixing was banned in London under COVID restrictions, Sky News understands. Following reports that a large party was held in late December, it has also emerged that Number 10 staff gathered after work and drank alcohol

Boris Johnson has said “all guidance was followed completely” as the prime minister was accused by Sir Keir Starmer of hosting a “boozy party” in Downing Street last Christmas despite COVID rules that were in place at the time. The Labour leader said Mr Johnson was “taking the British public for fools” as the pair

Labour have a new top team, after a hectic day of hiring and firing for Keir Starmer concluded on Monday night. Despite stoking what seemed to be an entirely avoidable row with his deputy Angela Rayner, the leader’s team seem very happy that they have now have their top performers in prominent posts. Lisa Nandy

France’s interior minister has suggested talks with the UK over Channel crossings could resume as Paris proposed ideas to tackle the crisis. Gerald Darmanin said Prime Minister Jean Castex will write to Boris Johnson on Tuesday with proposals for a “balanced agreement” between the UK and the EU. He said discussions could take place “very