Politics

Sir Keir Starmer will today launch a “root and branch” review of the UK’s Armed Forces. It comes after the prime minister promised to “make sure our hollowed out armed forces are bolstered and respected”. The review will be led by former NATO general secretary Lord Robertson – who carried out a previous strategic defence

Rishi Sunak has been urged to stay on as Conservative leader until November amid divisions within the party over how long the contest to replace him should take. Shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell said the former prime minister’s instinct “is almost certainly to go” but more time was needed for potential successors to make their

What are the lessons for UK politicians from the assassination attempt on Donald Trump? Are our ministers and MPs safe? Just hours before the Trump shooting, Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle declared that his biggest concern is the safety of MPs and their staff. “Security is the thing that keeps me awake at night,” he

The new Labour government will unveil more than 35 bills during the first King’s Speech of its tenure, Downing Street has said. Trailing the significant moment on Wednesday, which will see the King announce the party’s plans for power in a ceremony full of pomp, ministers promised to focus on economic growth and to ensure

Is Sir Keir Starmer turning into Harold Wilson with his high-profile public support for Gareth Southgate’s boys in the final of the Euros? “Have you ever noticed,” the wily Mr Wilson declared after Alf Ramsey’s heroes triumphed in 1966, “how we only win the World Cup under a Labour government?” Barely a week after becoming

Home Office minister Jess Phillips has shared the story of how she was appointed to her new role – and why it means she can no longer appear on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast. Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby and Conservative peer Ruth Davidson, it was revealed this episode would be the Labour

The last government left “a mountain of mess” that was like “a Downing Street party”, according to Sir Keir Starmer. Writing in The Guardian, the Labour prime minister attacked the Conservative government that preceded him and the state they left the economy. Sir Keir said: “Like a Downing Street party, they’ve left a mountain of

Prisoners who have served 40% of their sentence will be released to help alleviate overcrowding, the government has announced. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said failing to act now risks “the collapse of the criminal justice system and a total breakdown of law and order”, including looting and rioting in the streets. Prisoners in England and

There are fears that prison overcrowding could lead to a breakdown in law and order and even looting if further action to alleviate capacity problems in jails across England and Wales is not taken.  Justice Secretary Shabanah Mahmood will today warn the justice system is on “the brink of total collapse”, which is “putting the

The special relationship between the US and UK is forged on shared history, common values, and diplomatic ties that are far deeper and enduring that any one president or prime minister. But there was no doubt that President Joe Biden seemed particularly pleased to welcome the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the Oval

Sir Keir Starmer has met Joe Biden at the White House for formal talks after the prime minister’s debut on the world stage. The pair were pictured sitting together, and at one point laughing, as the prime minister said the “special relationship with the US is so important and stronger than ever”. To cement the

Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard are here with their guide to the day ahead in politics.  They discuss what’s on the table at the prime minister’s first NATO meeting and dinner with Joe Biden, whether the rumours are true that Labour could introduce digital ID cards, and what is really

Kemi Badenoch has twice as much support among Conservative members to be the next party leader as the next candidate, new polling suggest. A survey from the Party Members Project run out of Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Sussex University, carried out by YouGov, asked 725 members for their views. Once the “none”

Suella Braverman has attacked Rishi Sunak as she appealed to grassroots Tory members ahead of a Conservative leadership campaign. The former home secretary, who was re-elected to her Fareham and Waterlooville seat, hit out at her own party for letting MPs, not members, oust Boris Johnson and replace him with Mr Sunak. “It was members

Just days into his premiership, Sir Keir Starmer is heading to the US for a meeting with NATO leaders. We take a look at why he is taking the trip and what might happen when he is there. Why is the prime minister going to Washington? NATO – or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation –

Relations between London and Edinburgh have been severely strained for years. The messy relationship soured dramatically in the Boris Johnson era, with public spats and name-calling. Scottish officials have long held the view that some Tory prime ministers felt it was beneath them to meaningfully engage with the first ministers of the devolved nations. UK

Labour is already working to build closer ties with the European Union, Sir Keir Starmer has said as he continues his tour of the UK. The new prime minister has been on a visit to Scotland today where he has met with both the leader of Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar and First Minister John Swinney.

The new Labour government has ruled out the introduction of digital ID cards after former prime minister Sir Tony Blair called for the measure to help control migration. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds initially told Sky News that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper would look at “all sources of advice” on the issue. But sources close to

So it’s “Call me Keir”, is it? Sounds very informal. But we shouldn’t be fooled. “I’m very happy to be called Keir or prime minister,” he said at his first Downing Street news conference. “Perfectly happy to be called Keir.” How very Sir Tony Blair. At his first cabinet meeting in 1997, Sir Tony famously

The new prime minister has announced he will be visiting all four nations of the UK from tomorrow. Sir Keir Starmer confirmed he will travel to Scotland first before heading to Northern Ireland, Wales and back to England. During a news conference from Downing Street, he also said “mission delivery” boards will be established to