Politics

The UK’s approach to China is “more robust” than its allies, Rishi Sunak has claimed, as he continues to face calls to use more aggressive language to describe Beijing in the wake of two cyberattacks. The prime minister said suggestions the government was not taking strong action against China were “completely and utterly wrong”. Mr

When David Cameron was prime minister, Oliver Dowden was one of his backroom fixers, first at Tory HQ and then in 10 Downing Street. From his early days as a Tory researcher he’s been known as “Olive” because of an office typo. But it’s a nickname that’s stuck, even now he’s deputy prime minister. Politics

China “state-affiliated actors” have been blamed by the government for two “malicious” cyber attack campaigns in the UK. Making a speech in the Commons, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden revealed the two incidents involved an attack on the Electoral Commission – responsible for overseeing elections and political finance – in 2021, and targeted attacks against

MPs are set to be briefed on the cyber threat posed by China today, while a smaller group of parliamentarians will be told about specific threats against them. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is applying to the Speaker’s office to make a statement to parliament about China on Monday, Sky News understands. Meanwhile, three MPs

Britain will sanction individuals whom it alleges are involved in Chinese backed-disruption of the democratic process on Monday. Ministers will step up pressure on China tomorrow when they set out further details of the attack on the Electoral Commission and 43 individuals, including MPs and peers. The Politics at Jack and Sam’s podcast reveals this

Rishi Sunak looks to have seen off his backbenchers – at least for now. The nascent rebellions have gone quiet in the past few weeks and the Commons is currently in its Easter recess, with MPs returning to Westminster on 15 April. Time away from parliament normally strengthens – or at least prevents the further

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has warned the UK should “absolutely” be concerned about the threat of Islamic State following the terror attack in Moscow. At least 133 people died in the massacre in the Russian capital on Friday. Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), which is a branch of the militant group operating in central Asia, has claimed

The chancellor has claimed that earning £100,000 a year is “not a huge salary”. Jeremy Hunt made the remark on social media platform X, in a post which was aimed at his constituents in Surrey. He will be campaigning hard as he is changing seats for the next general election after the boundaries were redrawn

Home Secretary James Cleverly used a private chartered flight to visit Rwanda at a cost of £165,561.53 to the taxpayer, government documents have revealed. The latest transparency data from the Home Office showed Mr Cleverly took the flight in December last year as he headed to Kigali to sign a new treaty with the African

Police are investigating alleged racist comments made by a major Tory party donor about former Labour MP Diane Abbott. The remarks were made by businessman Frank Hester during a company meeting, where he said Ms Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and she “should be shot”. A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said

Harry Maguire says he did not give permission for the Conservative Party to use an image of him and his partner on social media. The photo is of the footballer talking to his then girlfriend – now his wife – Fern Hawkins after England‘s penalty shootout win over Colombia in the 2018 World Cup in

Sir Keir Starmer has backed criticism of Nike for changing the cross of St George on the back of the new England kit. The Labour leader called on the sports manufacturer to switch the multicolour flag back to the original one. His comments come after a social media storm over the change, with calls on

Rishi Sunak will guarantee that the pensions triple lock will remain in place under a future Conservative government, Sky News understands. The costly policy came under fresh scrutiny after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt warned this week that improved economic growth and public sector spending cuts might be needed to sustain it. Politics Live: Autumn timeframe’ for

A government bill centred on deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda has been sent back to MPs after peers rejected it. The Safety of Rwanda Bill had been debated in the House of Lords after their previous changes were dismissed by the Commons earlier this week. In the upper chamber, the government lost seven votes by

Ireland’s Leo Varadkar has announced he is stepping down as prime minister. In a statement delivered this afternoon in Dublin, Mr Varadkar said his reasons for leaving were “both personal and political”. He said he believed a new leader “will be better placed than me” to gain seats for his party Fine Gael in the

Jeremy Hunt has hinted at an autumn election as speculation continues to grow over when the country will head to the polls. Speaking at the Lords’ Economic Affairs Committee on Tuesday, the chancellor was asked about the government’s spending review – the detailed multi-year plan on how departments will spend their cash – and revealed

The Conservatives have been fined over £10,000 by the elections watchdog for failing to accurately declare donations. The party under-reported non-cash donations in the form of a member of staff seconded to the party by donor Richard Harpin between April 2020 and December 2023, the Electoral Commission said. Politics Live: ‘Act of folly’ to get

The government has announced its plan for an Independent Football Regulator (IFR) for the professional men’s game. The IFR came about following a review by Tory MP Tracey Crouch, which itself was launched after the attempt by clubs to form the European Super League. But the Premier League has responded by saying they “remain concerned”

Rishi Sunak said he is “not interested in Westminster politics” and insisted his party is “united” as he brushed off rumours of a plot to oust him. Asked during a visit to the West Midlands why he did not let one of his “disloyal colleagues” have the “poisoned chalice” of being prime minister, Mr Sunak

Darren Jones, the newest member of the shadow cabinet, has made more appearances than any other member of the shadow cabinet on the breakfast TV round since September. The shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, who was parachuted in as Rachel Reeves’ deputy in the last reshuffle, has made 15 appearances in front of Kay