Politics

Bruised, battered and battle-hardened, Boris Johnson knows from recent experience that Prime Minister’s Questions is something to endure not enjoy. He has survived four brutal sessions so far this year, facing multiple calls for his resignation, the defection of one of his own MPs to Labour, and David Davis’ savage call for the PM to

Twelve alleged lockdown-busting gatherings are being investigated by the Metropolitan Police as part of the Downing Street partygate row, it has been revealed. The Scotland Yard investigation is the second inquiry to take place into claims Number 10 officials – including Prime Minister Boris Johnson himself – were partying in 2020 and 2021 in breach

The public would “hypothetically” be told if the prime minister was fined for breaking COVID rules, Downing Street has said – reversing an earlier assertion that refused to guarantee that would happen. When asked earlier whether any fixed penalty notices would be made public, the prime minister‘s spokesman said it was for the Metropolitan Police

Boris Johnson is heading off to Ukraine, but he doesn’t leave his troubles entirely behind him.  Tory MPs are, for now, rallying around the PM who – after weeks of insisting he did nothing wrong – apologised yesterday after Sue Gray documented “failures of leadership” in No10. “He survives another day”, said one of his

Rishi Sunak has said the government is “going after each and every person” suspected of “defrauding the taxpayer” through the government’s COVID support schemes. The chancellor disputed reports the government has written off £4.3bn of fraudulently claimed COVID business support loans and denied he is “ignoring” the matter. His comments came as Labour called on

People who followed COVID rules “will feel like they’ve been taken for mugs” by the prime minster, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has told Sky News. Speaking to Kay Burley, Sir Keir said many members of the public will have felt “anger, grief and guilt” when looking back at how they obeyed COVID-19 restrictions over

The Foreign Office has pledged to release nearly £100m in emergency funds to Afghanistan after a former UN chief warned “a million children will die” if unspent aid isn’t released quickly. On Thursday afternoon, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss described a Sky News report showing how Afghans are resorting to desperate measures to feed themselves after

Boris Johnson has said he is “absolutely not” delaying the release of a much-anticipated report into lockdown parties at Downing Street and Whitehall – and promised it would be released in full. The report, which is being compiled by senior civil servant Sue Gray, has yet to be received by Number 10 Asked during a

Boris Johnson’s parliamentary assistant contacted a private charter company in the hope of securing a plane to transport animals and staff during the evacuation of Afghanistan, telling them that her boss was keen, Sky News understands. Trudy Harrison, the prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary (PPS), contacted the firm on 25 August – a few days

The wait for Sue Gray’s report into lockdown parties in Downing Street and Whitehall to be published looks almost certain to roll into tomorrow as the House of Commons has concluded its business – with Boris Johnson still yet to receive the findings. Sky News understands from three government sources that, as of Wednesday afternoon,

Boris Johnson has still not received a report by Sue Gray into lockdown parties in Downing Street and across Whitehall despite expectations being raised last night that he would address its findings in the commons this lunchtime. On Tuesday afternoon, it was understood that Number 10 would publish the report compiled by the senior civil

A celebration in Downing Street on Boris Johnson’s birthday involved people who were already working together, the transport secretary has told Sky News. Speaking to Kay Burley, Grant Shapps said he did not “seek to defend” the gathering on 19 June 2020, the PM’s 56th birthday. Latest reaction as new claims of Downing Street parties

Downing Street has disputed a report suggesting Boris Johnson held a birthday party inside Number 10 attended by up to 30 people during the first lockdown. ITV News understands the prime minister’s wife, Carrie Johnson, helped to arrange the event which was held just after 2pm the afternoon of 19 June – Mr Johnson’s birthday.

A minister has resigned at the despatch box after criticising the government’s record on tackling fraud in the coronavirus business schemes. Lord Agnew, who was both a Treasury and Cabinet Office minister, dramatically quit his role in Boris Johnson’s government in the House of Lords on Monday afternoon, saying the Department for Business, Energy and

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a week of reckoning as a report into Downing Street parties during lockdown is due to be released. The partygate inquiry, which is being carried out by civil servant Sue Gray, could determine Mr Johnson’s fate as the country’s prime minister. Many Tory MPs have said they will wait

Nusrat Ghani made history in 2018. Standing at the famous Commons spot that has been occupied by generations of politicians, she became the first Muslim woman to speak as a minister from the despatch box. Colleagues cheered as the Kashmir-born MP got to her feet. For many, this was the most visual sign of a

Labour MP Liz Kendall has said she is “bursting with love and happiness” after welcoming a baby boy via surrogate. The former shadow minister for social care, 50, announced in November she would be temporarily stepping back from the front benches to become a mum. The Leicester West MP shared a picture of the new-born

Wales’ first minister has claimed that Boris Johnson’s “history” is “catching up with him”. In a highly-charged intervention in the partygate row, Mark Drakeford said he is not surprised the prime minister has become embroiled in controversy over Downing Street parties during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021. “If I’m truthful about it, the prime

Two-thirds of anti-vaccination propaganda posted online is created by just 12 so-called influencers, research has found. Different to those who describe themselves vaccine hesitant, anti-vaxxers tend to employ aggressive methods to persuade others not to get injections designed to help prevent disease. The list was compiled by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) and

Fears are growing inside 10 Downing Street that former pub landlady Sue Gray could call time on Boris Johnson in her Whitehall report on partygate. Sky News understands there is nervousness in Number 10 over what the top civil servant’s report on the Downing Street Parties – which some MPs believe could be published as