Ministers who are found to have breached the ministerial code will no longer have to resign or face the sack. Revisions to the ministerial code, which sets out standards of conduct for government ministers, were published on Friday. The changes come following recommendations by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, as well as discussions
UK
Millions of people are expected to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on the extended Bank Holiday weekend, with events planned across the UK. An estimated 16,000 street parties will be thrown around the country after councils approved “a huge number” of applications from residents eager to celebrate the monarch’s 70-year milestone. Some of the events
The boss of one of Britain’s biggest airports says staffing levels may not fully recover until the autumn, and has predicted a busy summer ahead. Passengers have faced long delays at airports recently and are being warned to prepare for a busy week ahead with families jetting off for half term and the jubilee bank
Eight million of the poorest UK households will receive a one off “cost of living payment” of £650 – and there will be an effective windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies, the chancellor has announced. Rishi Sunak said the package of support for households is worth over £5bn and will come
Boris Johnson has insisted the UK needs to move on from partygate after the Sue Gray report revealed a slew of lockdown-breaching events at Downing Street. The prime minister said he took “full responsibility” for the scandal but defied renewed calls to resign as he sought to play down his personal involvement in the gatherings.
The senior leadership at Downing Street – both political and official – must “bear responsibility” for the culture of partying during COVID lockdowns, according to a report from senior civil servant Sue Gray. The report added that “while there is no excuse for some of the behaviour set out here it is important to acknowledge
Pressure is mounting on the prime minister over Downing Street lockdown parties ahead of the release of the Sue Gray report into partygate. Number 10 is expecting to receive the inquiry’s final report on Wednesday. It is anticipated to be more in-depth than the Met Police investigation that concluded last week – and will include
Tory MPs have criticised photos of Boris Johnson drinking with colleagues during lockdown ahead of the Sue Gray report into parties being published. New pictures emerged on Monday of the prime minister appearing to toast colleagues allegedly during the second national lockdown when people were not allowed to mix with other households inside. The photos,
Boris Johnson has conceded that the cost of living crisis “is going to go on” but said people asking what more the government will do to help will “just have to wait a little bit longer”. The prime minister faces a growing clamour – including from a number of Tories – to adopt Labour’s idea
A man who murdered his partner’s three-year-old son has been sentenced to at least 24 years in prison, while his mother has been jailed for 11 years. Kemarni Watson Darby died from abdominal injuries on 5 June 2018, after his rib cage was “crushed” at the home he shared with his mother and her partner
Amber, 19, has waved her anonymity to tell her story. From the age of 13 she bounced through the care system, on a journey to ever-greater isolation and abuse, which ended in her being placed in “prison-like” secure accommodation “for her own safety”. Like many children, she was removed from home, in part, due to
Monkeypox is spreading in the UK through community transmission and new cases are being detected on a daily basis, a senior doctor has warned. Officials are expecting a “significant rise” in infections this week after it was confirmed the total had increased to 20 on Friday. The cause of the outbreak is unknown and there
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has called for benefits to be immediately increased in line with inflation to help the poorest cope with the cost of living. The senior Tory MP also called for tax cuts for those in work to help “the squeezed middle”. “During the course of this spike, we should
The UK is facing a “significant rise” in monkeypox cases over the next week, an expert has warned, with some health clinics stopping people walking in as they try to slow the spread of infections. About 80 cases have now been confirmed across 12 countries – including 20 in the UK – with the majority
Sue Gray and Boris Johnson had a private meeting to discuss the handling of the partygate report, Sky News can reveal. The pair discussed where Ms Gray believed the Metropolitan Police were with the inquiry, and Whitehall’s understanding of where the police were on interviews. The revelation of an undisclosed meeting is likely to trigger
Monkeypox cases in the UK have more than doubled, with 11 more announced today. It brings the total number reported in the country to 20 – although there are concerns many cases are going undetected. Confirming the news, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “This morning I updated G7 health ministers on what we know so
Eight new cities have been created as part of the celebrations for the Queen’s platinum jubilee taking place in two weeks. The Cabinet Office announced the capital of the Falkland Islands is among the eight places to win converted city status, alongside Bangor in Northern Ireland, Douglas on the Crown Dependency of the Isle of
The investigation into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and around Whitehall has concluded, the Met Police has announced. In all, police have made 126 referrals for fines relating to the partygate scandal – not all of which have yet been issued. Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are among those that have
Rock band Queen will open the Platinum Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace on Saturday 4 June. The iconic British rock band will perform with singer Adam Lambert in a bumper show featuring stars like Alicia Keys, Andrea Bocelli and Sir Elton John. Non-musicians like Sir David Attenborough and Stephen Fry will also make appearances. The
A Conservative MP has been arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault offences spanning a seven-year period. Scotland Yard confirmed in a statement that a man aged in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office. The individual remains