Politics

The UK and Japan are set to agree a new defence agreement when Boris Johnson hosts the Japanese prime minister in London on Thursday. Downing Street said the prime minister’s meeting with Fumio Kishida is expected to conclude with a “landmark” reciprocal access agreement being signed. The agreement would allow British and Japanese forces to

Britain’s cost of living squeeze and the future of the prime minister have taken centre stage as party leaders delivered their final messages to voters on the eve of local elections. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Thursday’s local elections, in which thousands of seats across England, Scotland and Wales will be up for grabs,

At the City of Wolverhampton Market business is brisk, but it’s a hard time for the traders and their customers. Richard Dollar, a fishmonger who has run his popular stall for 20 years, says he’s never known it this tough, as he talks about trying to stay afloat amid rising costs and price. “Some of

Durham Police should reopen an investigation into whether Sir Keir Starmer broke coronavirus laws, a minister has said. The Labour leader has come under pressure since footage emerged of him drinking a beer with colleagues at a time when restrictions were in place. Speaking on Sky News, International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said officers should

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