Politics

👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 Young men are ditching the mainstream politics of Labour and the Conservatives for Nigel Farage and Reform UK, much more so than young women. Our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh has been speaking to those voices to unpack what’s fueling this gendered political divide and

Pyrotechnics, fireworks, balloons – Reform UK’s conference was unlike any other. Back in September, Nigel Farage’s party used its annual gathering to underscore its message that it offers something different.  Throughout Birmingham’s NEC, screens flashed up images of the party’s leader. When it was time for Mr Farage’s speech, delegates flocked to hear him speak.

Sir Chris Wormald has been named as the new cabinet secretary and head of the civil service. The 56-year-old will replace Simon Case after he announced in September he would stand down as cabinet secretary at the end of the year for health reasons but would remain in place while his successor was chosen. Sir

The UK will “war-game” how British troops could be sustained on the frontline in the event of intense fighting and supply chain disruption. In the first defence industrial strategy since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the government will set out measures to strengthen national security amid increasing global threats and instability. It comes after Defence

Labour is set to publish its plan to tackle migration next week – as the number of people who have crossed the Channel under Sir Keir Starmer is understood to have hit a new milestone. In the early hours of this morning, Sky News understands two small boats were picked up in the Channel with

Sir Keir Starmer is set to reveal his Labour’s “plan for change” as he looks to draw a line under a tough first five months in office amid public anger over budget proposals. The prime minister will set out milestones in key policy areas to achieve the targets laid out in the manifesto. Sir Keir

I have watched hundreds of hours of parliamentary debates in my long time covering Westminster and I can honestly say that the five hours of discussion I witnessed in the Commons on Friday were some of the most memorable, moving and humane exchanges I have ever seen.  Because this bear pit of a debating chamber

Heidi Alexander has been appointed the new transport secretary after Louise Haigh stepped down over a criminal conviction. The Swindon South MP had been serving as a justice minister until her promotion today, and worked as Sadiq Khan’s deputy transport mayor between 2018-2021. Politics Live: Landmark assisted dying debate under way Ms Haigh resigned after

Dame Prue Leith believes her son would have a “different attitude” towards assisted dying had he watched his uncle or father die – as she did. The broadcaster, best known for The Great British Bake Off, urged members to “vote for change” as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is set to be

The Home Office spent a record £5.38bn over the last year on asylum – more than a third higher than the previous year. Figures released on Thursday showed spending on asylum rose by £1.43bn in the 2023/24 financial year to £5.38bn – 36% higher than in 2022/24 when £3.95bn was spent. The latest figure, covering

“Just the man I want to talk to!” We are out in Dover with Mike Tapp, the first elected Labour MP here for 20 years. “When are you going to do something about these boats?” constituent Carol puts down her shopping to ask him. Politics latest: Starmer rejects calls for election Image: Dover MP Mike

The controversial assisted dying bill has just been approved by MPs in a truly historic vote in the Commons. The bill, which would make it legal for over-18s who are terminally ill to be given medical assistance to end their own life, passed its second reading – the first parliamentary hurdle it must go through

A landmark bill to ban the younger generation from ever smoking has cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons. The legislation, backed by 415 to 47, means anyone born after 1 January 2009 will be prevented from buying tobacco if it ultimately becomes law. Before then, the bill must go through further parliamentary

Council services such as leisure centres and waste collection could suffer due to the cost of social care if the government goes ahead with plans to scrap district councils in favour of “super councils”, local government sources have claimed. They told Sky News the government is considering getting rid of district councils, which are responsible

Jobcentre reform will be at the centre of the Labour government’s plans to “get Britain working again”. Tackling the increasing number of people out of work and relying on the state for income has become a major priority of the state, with welfare costs taking up a sizeable portion of government spending. According to the

Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out an early general election after a petition calling for a second vote reached two million signatures. The petition was launched over the weekend and says there should be another vote, just four months after Labour won a landslide, because they have “gone back on their promises they laid out

The last time MPs voted on the question of assisted dying – nearly three quarters were against it. Nine years later – polling suggests two thirds of the country would back a change in the law. That ratio is mirrored in the number of cabinet ministers who’ve so far publicly declared their position, with 10

Young people will lose their benefits if they refuse to take up work and training opportunities, a minister has confirmed ahead of announcing measures to cut the welfare bill. Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that “conditions” will be attached to new skills opportunities the government intends

The UK is on a “slippery slope towards death on demand”, according to the justice secretary ahead of a historic Commons vote on assisted dying. In a letter to her constituents, Shabana Mahmood said she was “profoundly concerned” about the legislation. “Sadly, recent scandals – such as Hillsborough, infected blood and the Post Office Horizon

The UK will “set out a plan” to lift defence spending to 2.5% of national income in the spring, the prime minister has said, finally offering a timeframe for an announcement on the long-awaited hike after mounting criticism. Sir Keir Starmer gave the date during a phone call with Mark Rutte, the secretary general of