Politics

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Conservative MPs of “mudslinging” over footage of him drinking a beer with colleagues at a time when COVID restrictions were in place. The Labour leader told broadcasters those pictured were working and paused for some food and that “no rules were broken”. At the time, people in England were banned

A growing divide is predicted at this week’s local elections, with Labour on course to make gains in cities in England but struggling to breakthrough in former industrial heartlands. Experts say there are “two elections” at play, predicting big urban areas could swing to Labour due to the cost of living squeeze and the partygate

Angela Rayner has written to Boris Johnson demanding answers over reports that a ‘Sexist of the Year’ award was handed out at a lockdown-busting Christmas party in Number 10. Labour’s deputy leader has called on the prime minister to confirm whether or not the award was presented at a gathering in Downing Street in December

Many voters in England, Wales and Scotland will head to the polls on 5 May to elect their new local representatives. More than 4,350 seats will be contested in England on over 140 councils, with all of Scotland’s 32 councils and all 22 councils in Wales also holding elections. While these elections will directly decide

“Radical” reform is needed to working practices in the Commons, the Speaker of the House has urged, following a series of bullying and sexual misconduct claims against MPs. Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s call for urgent action comes as Conservative MP Neil Parish resigned from his post after admitting to watching pornography in a “moment of madness”

A former MP who was jailed for sexually assaulting two women told a court he is looking at supermarket shelf stacking and building site work to pay back his prosecution costs. Charlie Elphicke, the former Conservative Dover MP, presented Universal Credit and bank statements during an appearance at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday to prove

An MP under investigation for allegedly watching pornography in the Commons said he opened a file by mistake but would step down if he is found guilty. Conservative MP Neil Parish referred himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards on Friday, days after two female Tory MPs said they witnessed him watching pornography on his

All women in parliament have been subjected to “wandering hands”, a female cabinet minister has said as she told male MPs “to keep your hands in your pockets”. International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan made her comments to Sky News, amid renewed accusations of misogyny and sexual misconduct in parliament, including claims a Tory MP watched

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has described sexist behaviour in Parliament as “shameful” and said “the culture of Westminster needs to change”. Mr Javid made the comments on Twitter after an allegation surfaced that an unnamed Conservative MP was spotted watching pornography on his phone in the House of Commons. He becomes the latest cabinet minister

Labour MP Liam Byrne should be suspended from the House of Commons for two days for bullying a member of his constituency staff, a report has recommended. Following an investigation by an independent investigator, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone upheld the allegation of bullying against Mr Byrne made under Parliament’s Independent Complaints and

The Conservative Party’s chief whip is investigating reports that a Tory MP watched pornography on his phone in the Commons chamber. The party’s whips office said “the chief whip is looking into this matter” in a statement released on Wednesday. “This behaviour is wholly unacceptable and action will be taken.” It is believed the accusation

Annual MOT checks could be scrapped under government plans to ease the cost of living for households across the country, Sky News understands. On Tuesday, Boris Johnson held a cabinet meeting in which he asked his top team to come with “innovative” ideas to help ease the pressure on household finances which do not require

The Mail on Sunday editor has refused to meet with Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle over the paper’s controversial report about MP Angela Rayner. Sir Lindsay told MPs on Monday he had arranged a meeting with David Dillion following an outcry over anonymous claims the Labour deputy leader crossed and uncrossed her legs during Prime

There is “no golden bullet” to solve the cost of living crisis, a minister has warned, as Boris Johnson prepares to ask his Cabinet ministers to help him find solutions to ease the pressure on household finances. Armed Forces minister James Heappey told Sky News there is “no doubt” that any interventions by the government

The UK is sending more ambulances and further funding to train Ukrainian doctors to deal with mass casualties, Boris Johnson has announced. More fire engines and medical supplies are also being donated to Ukraine as part of the government’s continuing support for the country more than two months after Russia first invaded. As part of

Tory whips will be “looking at whether they know” who made comments about Angela Rayner to a newspaper that have been roundly condemned as sexist, a minister has told Sky News. Technology minister Chris Philp said he expected that if the source of the comments to the Mail on Sunday about Labour’s deputy leader were

Angela Rayner has condemned a “sexist” and “misogynistic” Mail on Sunday article which claimed Tory MPs have accused her of a ‘Basic Instinct’ ploy to distract Boris Johnson. The prime minister also commented, tweeting: “As much as I disagree with Angela Rayner on almost every political issue I respect her as a parliamentarian and deplore

There is a “strong case” for Boris Johnson to remain “in office” despite growing calls for him to resign over the ongoing partygate scandal as the PM has “plenty more fuel in the tank”, Oliver Dowden has said. The Conservative Party chairman told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that Mr Johnson is “getting

Jacob Rees-Mogg has been criticised for leaving “crass, demeaning” notes on the empty desks of civil servants urging them to return to the office. The government efficiency minister has recently called for the “rapid return” of civil servants to their desks in Whitehall now COVID restrictions have ended. In notes left for civil servants, he

Boris Johnson will shortly return to England with his premiership under increasing strain amid the ongoing partygate scandal. The prime minister has been on a two-day official visit to India this week where he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and vowed to deepen trade ties with the country. But now, heading back to Westminster,