Politics

Rishi Sunak has been urged to stay on as Conservative leader until November amid divisions within the party over how long the contest to replace him should take. Shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell said the former prime minister’s instinct “is almost certainly to go” but more time was needed for potential successors to make their

More than half of this new parliament is made up of new MPs which makes the House of Commons a better reflection of the nation it serves. Having more than 50% of MPs entering the Commons for the first time does have benefits but also poses some issues. “This is significant because, on the one

The new Labour government will unveil more than 35 bills during the first King’s Speech of its tenure, Downing Street has said. Trailing the significant moment on Wednesday, which will see the King announce the party’s plans for power in a ceremony full of pomp, ministers promised to focus on economic growth and to ensure

Is Sir Keir Starmer turning into Harold Wilson with his high-profile public support for Gareth Southgate’s boys in the final of the Euros? “Have you ever noticed,” the wily Mr Wilson declared after Alf Ramsey’s heroes triumphed in 1966, “how we only win the World Cup under a Labour government?” Barely a week after becoming

Home Office minister Jess Phillips has shared the story of how she was appointed to her new role – and why it means she can no longer appear on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast. Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby and Conservative peer Ruth Davidson, it was revealed this episode would be the Labour

The last government left “a mountain of mess” that was like “a Downing Street party”, according to Sir Keir Starmer. Writing in The Guardian, the Labour prime minister attacked the Conservative government that preceded him and the state they left the economy. Sir Keir said: “Like a Downing Street party, they’ve left a mountain of

Prisoners who have served 40% of their sentence will be released to help alleviate overcrowding, the government has announced. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said failing to act now risks “the collapse of the criminal justice system and a total breakdown of law and order”, including looting and rioting in the streets. Prisoners in England and

Sir Keir Starmer has “doubled down” on his promise to hold a free vote on assisted dying in the future. The new prime minister has not committed to a timeline for considering a change of law, although hinted it may not be in the coming year. But his stance is that MPs will be able

Sir Keir Starmer has said Joe Biden was “on good form” after a meeting with the US president at the White House during the NATO summit. The prime minister dismissed concerns the US president’s cognitive ability is not up to scratch as Mr Biden faces calls to step down as the Democratic candidate ahead of

Sir Keir Starmer has met Joe Biden at the White House for formal talks after the prime minister’s debut on the world stage. The pair were pictured sitting together, and at one point laughing, as the prime minister said the “special relationship with the US is so important and stronger than ever”. To cement the

Sir Keir Starmer is on his first overseas visit as prime minister at a NATO summit where he will flex his diplomatic muscles. Less than a week after becoming prime minister, Sir Keir has joined other world leaders in Washington DC for the summit marking 75 years since NATO was formed. It is expected to

Kemi Badenoch has twice as much support among Conservative members to be the next party leader as the next candidate, new polling suggest. A survey from the Party Members Project run out of Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Sussex University, carried out by YouGov, asked 725 members for their views. Once the “none”

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the “most diverse parliament by race and gender” in his first speech as prime minister in the House of Commons. Sir Keir spoke following the unopposed election of Sir Lindsay Hoyle as Speaker of the House of Commons, as parliament’s lower chamber reopened following its dissolution during the election. Rishi

Just days into his premiership, Sir Keir Starmer is heading to the US for a meeting with NATO leaders. We take a look at why he is taking the trip and what might happen when he is there. Why is the prime minister going to Washington? NATO – or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation –

Sir Keir Starmer has said his government will have a “different way of doing politics” as he toured the UK’s nations in his first week as prime minister. The UK’s new leader said it is “very important” for him to “reset relations” with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. He kicked off his tour of the

The Labour government has made a swathe of announcements as it enters its first full week in power, including plans to liberalise planning laws, boost dentist appointments and recruit more teachers. The Starmer administration is taking action on the economy, health and education today, while the prime minister continues his tour of the UK in

The new Labour government has ruled out the introduction of digital ID cards after former prime minister Sir Tony Blair called for the measure to help control migration. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds initially told Sky News that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper would look at “all sources of advice” on the issue. But sources close to

Sir Keir Starmer will begin his tour of the UK nations with a visit to Scotland today where he will meet the country’s first minister, John Swinney. The prime minister announced he would embark on a tour of the UK at his first news conference yesterday since his landslide victory on Thursday. Sir Keir, whose

Sir Keir Starmer is chairing his first cabinet meeting following Labour’s landslide win that ended 14 years of Tory rule. It comes after the new prime minister appointed his top team on Friday afternoon – making few changes to the shadow cabinet that existed before the election. Follow general election fallout live Please use Chrome

Boris Johnson says Nigel Farage played a “significant” role in the “destruction” of the Tories – while taking a swipe at those who ousted him from Number 10 back in 2022. The Conservatives endured a crushing defeat in the general election with numerous big name casualties, as Labour secured a landslide victory. Reform UK have