UK

Boris Johnson’s resignation has effectively fired the starting gun on the Conservative Party leadership race to replace him. It comes as questions remain over whether his desperate attempts to cling on as prime minister mean he should not be allowed to remain in office while his successor is picked. Tom Tugendhat became the first Conservative

Boris Johnson has announced his resignation as prime minister after less than three years in Number 10, saying: “No one in politics is remotely indispensable.” Speaking from Downing Street, he thanked the millions of people who voted Conservative at the last election, and said the reason he fought so long to remain in office was

Brandon Lewis has resigned as Northern Ireland secretary following Boris Johnson’s refusal to stand down, despite calls from some of his own cabinet ministers to do so. He tweeted this morning: “A decent and responsible government relies on honesty, integrity and mutual respect – it is a matter of profound personal regret that I must

Cabinet ministers – including the new chancellor Nadhim Zahawi – have sent the chief whip to Number 10 to tell Boris Johnson to resign, Sky News understands. The delegation of senior politicians, which also includes Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Welsh Secretary Simon Hart, have told Chris Heaton-Harris than the PM’s position is untenable and

Boris Johnson can expect a torrid time today as he faces both Prime Minister’s Questions and the parliamentary Liaison Committee less than 24 hours after Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid dramatically resigned as members of his cabinet. On Tuesday evening, his chancellor Mr Sunak and health secretary Mr Javid quit the government, leading to a

Boris Johnson has apologised for appointing Chris Pincher deputy chief whip, saying it “was a mistake” and “in hindsight the wrong thing to do”. The prime minister said sorry to “everybody who has been badly affected” adding, “I just want to make absolutely clear that there is no place in this government for anybody who

A Premier League footballer has been arrested on suspicion of rape. The footballer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested in north London. The Metropolitan Police confirmed an allegation of rape of a woman in her 20s was reported to police. The force said the alleged rape reportedly happened in June 2022. In

One person has died after an “inferno” at a block of flats in Bedford following a suspected gas explosion. Authorities fear more people may have lost their lives in the blaze on Redwood Grove. Earlier it was announced three people, including a firefighter, had been injured. Two of them suffered smoke inhalation and were taken

Motorists could face “serious disruption throughout the day,” police have warned, as protesters are expected to target motorways in a demonstration over high fuel prices. Roads across the country could see traffic jams as protesters call for a cut in fuel duty. They will target mostly three-lane motorways and result in slow-downs on two lanes,

Boris John made the “choice he thought was best” in appointing Chris Pincher to government and was “not aware of specific claims” about the Tory MP, a cabinet minister has insisted. Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey also rejected the idea there was a “problem with

Security tests for new airport workers are being completed in record time, ministers claim, despite travel disruption continuing to dog holiday plans. The time taken to vet new employees has been raised as one of the reasons for shortages in airport staff, contributing to thousands of flight cancellations, delays and missing luggage. Airports across the

Chris Pincher, who lost the Conservative whip after being accused of groping two men, said he is seeking “professional medical support” as he hopes to return to his duties as an MP “as soon as possible”. In a statement by the Tamworth MP, Mr Pincher said he “respected” the prime minister’s decision to suspend the

Frustrated travellers face more flight cancellations over the coming weeks, as airlines rush to re-work their schedules. The upheaval comes in response to last month’s announcement that an amnesty will allow airlines to cancel flights while still retaining take-off and landing slots next year. Airlines buy slots to operate their schedules but can lose them

The number of people in the UK with COVID has risen by 32% to almost 2.3 million, latest figures show. It is up from 1.7 million people the previous week and the highest estimate for total infections since late April. But it is still below the record high of 4.9 million which was reached at

A 14-year-old sentenced to life in prison for murdering five-year-old Logan Mwangi has been named as Craig Mulligan. It is common for children in criminal cases not to be named, but a judge at Cardiff Crown Court has decided to lift an anonymity order in this instance. Earlier, Mulligan, along with Logan’s mother and stepfather,

A mother, stepfather and teenager have been given life sentences for the murder of five-year-old Logan Mwangi. Logan’s body was discovered in the River Ogmore in Bridgend on 31 July 2021 – just 250 metres from his home. A trial at Cardiff Crown Court heard he had suffered 56 external cuts and bruises, as well

Buckingham Palace is facing questions about why it won’t reveal more about the findings of an investigation into bullying allegations made against the Duchess of Sussex. The palace has confirmed a private investigation into complaints that Meghan had bullied members of staff had concluded, claims she has always denied. It confirmed the review had looked

Dame Deborah James was “an inspirational and unfalteringly brave woman whose legacy will live on”, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have said. Paying tribute to the podcast host and cancer campaigner following her death aged 40, William and Kate said their “thoughts are with her children, her family and her loved ones”. Prince William

Nicola Sturgeon has set the date for a proposed “consultative referendum” next year on Scottish independence. To cheers and applause in the devolved parliament in Holyrood, the first minister said legislation will lay out plans for a vote to take place on 19 October 2023. It will ask the question: “Should Scotland be an independent

Britain and its allies face their “1937 moment” following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and must do everything possible to avert another world war, the new head of the Army is set to signal. The warning emerged as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce an uplift in UK defence spending this week, in line