Politics

Thousands of prison cells could be left empty because they are not fit for inmates to stay in. It comes at a time when the prison estate is under extreme pressure, with the government already having to extend the prisoner early release scheme to try to free up space – with certain offenders allowed out

Reform UK’s new Treasurer has revealed he spoke to Elon Musk this morning following suggestions the tech tycoon could make a multi-million-pound donation to Nigel Farage’s party. Nick Candy, the billionaire husband of singer Holly Valance and former Tory party member, told Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby that the pair exchanged messages after his

Sir Keir Starmer has said UK economic growth was his “number one mission” as he defended his trip to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The prime minister accused predecessor Boris Johnson of “going cap in hand from dictator to dictator” when the former PM met Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in

The government has paused all decisions on Syrian asylum claims following the rapid fall of the Assad regime over the weekend. The Home Office said the move had been made “whilst we assess the current situation”. “The Home Office has paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation,” a statement said.

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the fall of Bashar al Assad, saying Syrians “have put up with his brutal regime for far, far too long”. The prime minister said his government is “talking to regional allies” as he urged Syrians to find “a political way forward”, adding that “it’s very important that civilians and minorities

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner says the collapse of Bashar al Assad’s regime in Syria is “welcome news”. Speaking to Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Ms Rayner said: “Well, the situation looks very serious and if the Assad regime has fallen, then I welcome that news. “But what we need to say is a political

Sir Keir Starmer will travel to the Persian Gulf today as he tries to build stronger trade ties with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. In his first visit to the region as prime minister, he will aim to boost investment in the UK and deepen defence and security partnerships, said Number 10. The

Sir Keir Starmer is not accustomed to receiving much praise, so he’ll take it where he can. And on Friday it came from an unlikely source, his political opponents. Speaking at the British-Irish Council summit in Edinburgh, SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney described a change in atmosphere since Labour took office. Image:

Conservative peer Lord Rami Ranger has forfeited his CBE – just a month after regaining the Tory whip. The move was confirmed in a notice published in the London Gazette saying the King had directed Lord Ranger’s CBE would be “cancelled and annulled”. According to the PA news agency, the decision was made after the

Sir Keir Starmer has said it is not his “plan” to increase any more taxes before the next election – but he cannot categorically rule them out if “unforeseen circumstances” strike the government. The prime minister told the BBC he did not “want to suggest we’re going to keep coming back for more because that

A film set location, a big budget production, an audience bussed in – the prime minister’s Plan for Change speech had all the hallmarks of big campaign moments past when Sir Keir Starmer used the event to launch his “first steps’ set of promises – from cutting NHS waiting lists and setting up a new

Sir Keir Starmer has promised change as he outlined his government’s “milestones” but bringing migration down failed to make the list. The prime minister revealed the government’s six milestones he said would be reached by the end of this parliament. He said they would “drive forward” his party’s missions and allow the public to “hold

After five months in power, even the most loyal cabinet members would quietly admit it’s been a rocky run for Sir Keir Starmer and Labour. The prime minister’s personal polling ratings have tumbled from a +7 in the post-election honeymoon to -29 now. Many pensioners, business owners, entrepreneurs and farmers are angry, and between the

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to reveal the “further information” he was told about Louise Haigh’s phone “theft” conviction which led to her stepping down as transport secretary. The prime minister was asked by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch what new information “came to light” about Ms Haigh’s conviction, which is now “spent”, for reporting a

Richard Tice has been challenged for appearing to cast doubt on court documents that detailed how one of the party’s MPs was jailed for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend. The Reform UK deputy leader defended James McMurdock, who was jailed 18 years ago for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend, saying the UK is a “Christian nation” that

👉 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