Politics

Angela Rayner has said a Mail on Sunday article that claimed Tory MPs had accused her of a Basic Instinct ploy to distract Boris Johnson was “misogynistic”, “sexist” and “steeped in classism”. Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, Labour’s deputy leader said she was “crestfallen” upon hearing that the paper planned to publish the story and described

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

Labour says it will reform “non-dom” status to stop people who make their home in Britain from being able to avoid paying UK tax on foreign income for up to 15 years. The party said that if elected it would cut the length of time that the advantage was available so that only those genuinely

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

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

Three Conservative cabinet ministers are reportedly facing allegations of sexual misconduct after being reported to a parliamentary watchdog. According to The Sunday Times, two Labour shadow cabinet ministers have also been referred to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), which deals with complaints against MPs. A total of 56 MPs are said to have

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

At least one Number 10 official has received a fixed penalty notice from the Metropolitan Police for attending a lockdown-busting “bring your own booze” event held in the Downing Street garden, Sky News understands. It is not known who has been fined for the gathering which was held at the height of the UK’s first

Boris Johnson has said he is sure he will still be prime minister in six months despite further rumblings of backbench discontent over partygate. The PM has faced repeated questions about his future as the scandal continues to dog him despite his attempts to move on to broader issues during a trip to India. On

Boris Johnson is to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday as a investigation into whether he misled parliament about lockdown-busting Downing Street parties looms. The prime minister will try to progress UK-India trade talks when he meets Mr Modi in New Delhi, emphasising the importance of the partnership between the two nations for

Boris Johnson has insisted he has “nothing to hide” over partygate – as he comes under pressure from MPs debating a fresh investigation into the prime minister. Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby on his two-day trip to India, Mr Johnson said he didn’t “want this thing to endlessly go on”. His comments

If the prime minister was feeling bruised or laid low over the storm that has been building over his fine for breaking COVID-19 regulations, the attempt by MPs to investigate his conduct and the prospect of more fines from other events he attended, he did a very good job of disguising it as he bounded

A Conservative MP has called on Boris Johnson to appoint a minister for men and to rollout a men’s health strategy. Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions, Nick Fletcher, the Tory MP for Don Valley, said the new ministerial position should be created so there is an individual responsible for looking out for the particular health

Boris Johnson acted in the “heat of the moment” to interpret the rules when he attended events at the heart of the partygate scandal, a minister has said. Business minister Paul Scully defended Mr Johnson’s conduct as the prime minister prepared to face a second day of grilling by MPs following his Commons apology after

Boris Johnson will face a Commons vote on whether claims that he misled MPs over partygate should be investigated. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle granted a request from opposition MPs for a vote which will be held on Thursday – and which Sky News understands will seek to refer Mr Johnson for investigation by the privileges

Nicola Sturgeon has been spoken to by police to “remind her of the importance of wearing a face covering when there is a legal requirement to do so”, Police Scotland has said. The Scottish first minister has apologised for what she said was “a few seconds” without a face covering and said officers were “absolutely

Pegasus spyware is suspected to have been used to infect the 10 Downing Street network, researchers at Canadian internet security watchdog Citizen Lab have concluded. A device connected to that network was infected using the spyware on 7 July 2020, according to a report on the research by the New Yorker. The report added that

The legal requirement to wear face masks on public transport and most indoor public spaces in Scotland has ended. It is Scotland’s final legal COVID requirement to be lifted – though the Scottish government is still recommending the use of face masks where appropriate. The long-planned easing of rules comes a day after Scotland’s first

New allegations have emerged regarding lockdown parties in Downing Street – with Labour claiming Boris Johnson has “deliberately misled the British people at every turn”. The prime minister has already been fined once for breaking COVID rules on his birthday in 2020, but that is said to be regarded as the least problematic of a

The Home Secretary has issued a “ministerial direction” in relation to the Rwanda asylum plan, overruling concerns from her own civil servants, Sky News understands. Ministerial directions are used when the top civil servant in a department has objected to the costs or feasibility of a spending plan. A Home Office source said: “Home Office