Politics

An MP whose office was hit by a suspected arson attack on Christmas eve says he wears a stab vest when going to public events. Conservative MP Mike Freer told Sky News that the use of stab vests among MPs is “sadly par for the course these days” when out in public. His comments came

Labour has vowed to tackle rogue American candy stores – and has urged the government to help restore the British high street. The party is calling on the government to introduce a “new shops bonus” for any legitimate businesses which open up on shopping streets, starting with Oxford Street in central London. There are currently

It’s been another eventful year in British politics. But how much of it do you remember? The Politics Hub Christmas special will air on Sky News from 9pm on Christmas Eve. It will include a quiz testing your knowledge of the last 12 months – and you can play along below as the show airs.

The Mayor of London has pledged his support to send 4x4s to Ukraine that would otherwise be scrapped under the city’s ULEZ scheme. Sadiq Khan had previously blocked cars that were not ULEZ compliant from being sent to the country, saying he did not believe altering the environmental scheme for exports was possible under current

If you think this has been a pretty tough year, you are not alone. The annual Global Advisor survey conducted around the world by Ipsos records that a majority of us, 53%, think 2023 has been a bad year for us and our family. Worse, a significantly greater proportion, 70%, say it has been a

James Cleverly has apologised after joking about putting a date rape drug in his wife’s drink in comments made at a Downing Street reception within hours of the Home Office announcing plans to crack down on spiking. The home secretary told female guests “a little bit of Rohypnol in her drink every night” was “not

Rishi Sunak has urged people to focus on “the promise of a brighter future” – as party leaders delivered their Christmas messages. The prime minister said Christmas was “a time of hope” but it was important to remember “those facing a difficult time”. Mr Sunak, who is a Hindu, highlighted the “Christian values at the

Rishi Sunak has said the higher threshold for a family visa will rise in 2025 after he came under fire from Tory MPs for rowing back on plans to introduce it next spring. The prime minister said the government was “increasing the salary threshold significantly” to £38,700 in “early 2025” – a change from the

Rishi Sunak is under fire from his own MPs after rowing back on plans to lift the salary threshold for a family visa – with some Tories accusing him of “weakness”. The prime minister said the government was “increasing the salary threshold significantly” to £38,700 in “early 2025” – a change from the original plan

Simon Case is set to return to his role leading the civil service in January following weeks of medical leave, the Cabinet Office has confirmed. Mr Case, who as cabinet secretary is the UK’s most senior civil servant, took a leave of absence for medical reasons in October. Politics latest: Rishi Sunak accused of ‘legacy

As if the government’s “stop the boats” policy wasn’t already in disarray, now James Cleverly’s crackdown on legal migration is already unravelling. In a move cynically timed to avoid a backlash from MPs, he has admitted he’s made a major climbdown on workers bringing family members from overseas to the UK. When he announced plans

Scotland’s first minister has been mocked over a “bold claim” world leaders have been “lining up” to seek advice from the Scottish government. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross ridiculed a statement made by transport, net zero and just transition secretary Mairi McAllan in the chamber last week. She said world leaders have been approaching the

Jeremy Hunt has said the “door is open for constructive discussions” with junior doctors, as they begin three days of strike action in England over pay and conditions. The walk-out started at 7am on Wednesday, after negotiations between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Department of Health broke down earlier this month. Reports suggested

Another winter. Another strike. Except this time the industrial action by junior doctors will be longer than any other NHS history. In total, three days starting on Wednesday morning. Then back out again for six consecutive days from 3-9 January. In all, there will only be four weekdays unaffected by strike action or holidays over

An MP suspended from the parliamentary Conservative Party has lost his seat in a recall petition, Sky News understands, leaving another by-election for Rishi Sunak to contend with. The voters of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire have decided they want to choose a new MP after Peter Bone was found by parliament to have subjected a staff

Former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling has been remembered at a public memorial service in Edinburgh, attended by the likes of Tony Blair, Sir Keir Starmer and author JK Rowling. The Labour leaders past and present were joined by colleagues including Mr Blair’s fellow ex-PM Gordon Brown, current shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband at

Rishi Sunak is under pressure to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after 10 senior Conservative MPs accused Israel of carrying out the “brutalisation of the civilian Palestinian population” – which they argue risks fuelling more extremism in the region. The MPs, including former cabinet ministers, have written to Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron to argue

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has demanded the government “comes clean” over the role ministers played in dealing with Baroness Mone during the pandemic. The Tory-appointed peer and her husband, Doug Barrowman, have been embroiled in a scandal after a company they had links with was awarded multi-million pound contracts by the government for personal

Grant Shapps and Mark Harper are the most trusted public faces of this government, according to new research for the Politics at Jack and Sam’s podcast. On this week’s edition of the Sky News and Politico podcast we reveal which members of the cabinet are put up for the daily breakfast round – appearing on

David Cameron has called for a “sustainable ceasefire” in the escalating Gaza conflict – adding to growing global pressure on Israel. The home secretary’s intervention saw him warn that “too many civilians have been killed”. It sees the UK follow Joe Biden’s White House in expressing unease about the failure of Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration to