Politics

A plan to ban gay conversion therapy will be brought back by the government and will include the outlawing of trans conversion therapy, the culture secretary has confirmed. The policy had been proposed several times by successive Conservative governments, starting with Theresa May back in 2018. Boris Johnson also supported the move, but after a

Nurses will stage two more strikes next month as the row over pay continues. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced its members will walk out on 6 and 7 February. In an escalation of industrial action, more NHS trusts will take part than during the two previous days of industrial action in December.

The High Court has granted an appeal against its own ruling last month that the government’s scheme to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is lawful. The controversial policy was introduced under Boris Johnson, but has been pushed forward by his successors as part of their plans to tackle small boats crossings in the Channel. Campaigners

The foreign secretary has condemned the planned execution of a British-Iranian dual national by Iran, calling it “a politically motivated act by a barbaric regime”. James Cleverly has appealed for the release of Alireza Akbari, a former senior defence official in Iran accused of working for British intelligence. The Iranian judiciary claimed Mr Akbari, who

Nurses have said they will call off strike action later this month if the government discusses pay for this year – but ministers are standing by their refusal not to. Rishi Sunak dodged answering whether talks the government has invited all unions to next week will include discussions about pay for the 2022-23 financial year

To say 2022 was an eventful year in British politics is certainly an understatement. Luckily (or unluckily), politicians gave us some memorable quotes to remind us of all the year’s tumultuous events. From the bizarre to the poignant and the outrageous, here they are: January Boris Johnson: “Categorically nobody told me it was against the

Nurses will continue to strike in January if the government does not negotiate with them on pay, union leader Pat Cullen has told Sky News. Ms Cullen, of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said it was “absolutely not true” that pay is a “tiny element” in the dispute as she hit out at “disparaging”

Police officers have expressed “grave concern” after being told they may be called on to drive ambulances when paramedics go on strike this month. Under national contingency plans, it was understood that military personnel would be drafted in to help drive ambulances when the walkouts go ahead just before Christmas. Now it has emerged that

More children in England cannot afford school meals, lack warm clothing, and struggle to concentrate in class, according to a new survey. Education charity the Sutton Trust surveyed 6,200 state school teachers during the autumn term and found staff were seeing “serious issues linked to the cost of living crisis”. Some 52% of senior teaching

China’s military advances could “eventually lead to a clash” and the UK has been “asleep” to the threat it poses for the last 30 years, an influential Tory MP has warned. Tobias Ellwood, the chairman of the defence select committee, said Beijing is “taking advantage of a timid West” and Rishi Sunak’s speech declaring the

Ukraine’s first lady has urged the UK to lead the way in the creation of a special international tribunal to prosecute Russia for aggression against her nation – as she stressed that “just to stop the war is really the first step”. Speaking to Sky News’ Beth Rigby Interviews programme, Olena Zelenska said Russia is

The Online Safety Bill began life as a white paper – a government policy document – in 2019. Its aim? To regulate online content to help keep users safe, especially children, and to put the onus on companies to protect people from the likes of abusive messages, bullying and pornography. But the government also wants

An investigation into whether Boris Johnson misled parliament over partygate will be delayed after a hold up with evidence from Downing Street. The former prime minister has faced accusations he made false statements at the despatch box about the lockdown gatherings, including when he told MPs “all guidance was followed in Number 10”. After a

King Charles has hosted his first state visit since becoming monarch, welcoming South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa to Buckingham Palace. The pair are said to have voiced their mutual respect and admiration for both the late Queen and Nelson Mandela during the first day of the leader’s two-day trip. The pomp and ceremony began with

Pensioners will start to receive up to £600 in their bank accounts from today to help with their energy bills. More than 11.6 million pensioners will receive the Winter Fuel Payment over the next two months. This year’s payments have been boosted by an extra £300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment. The vast

The King will host his first state visit as monarch as he welcomes the president of South Africa to the UK. The Prince and Princess of Wales will play a key role in the visit, which includes a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. William and Kate will greet President Cyril Ramaphosa and his wife, Tshepo

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will accuse Iran of spreading “bloodshed and destruction” around the world as he reaffirms Britain’s determination to prevent it acquiring a nuclear weapon. Addressing an international security conference in Bahrain on Saturday, Mr Cleverly will warn that Iranian-supplied weapons are threatening security in the Middle East and beyond. He will point

Conservative former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith says there will be “deep concern” in his party if Rishi Sunak raises taxes next week as part of the autumn statement. Speaking to Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates, the senior backbencher said it is “pretty clear” there will now be a recession in the UK.

Conservative former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith says there will be “deep concern” in his party if Rishi Sunak raises taxes next week as part of the autumn statement. Speaking to Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates, the senior backbencher said it is “pretty clear” there will now be a recession in the UK.

Boris Johnson has criticised net zero “naysayers” who want to “frack the hell out of the British countryside” in his first appearance at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt. Speaking at an event hosted by The New York Times on the first day of the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, the former prime minister said the