Politics

The government has called on “disruptors, innovators and creative thinkers” to help make the civil service more productive. Senior minister Pat McFadden said he wants Whitehall to have more of a “start-up” mentality as he cited Airbnb, Whatsapp and Spotify as examples of the mindset the civil service should take on to be more productive

The UK government could remove the group that led the Syrian rebellion from its list of banned terror organisations, a senior minister has told Sky News. Pat McFadden told Sky News’ Breakfast with Kay Burley a decision would be made “quickly” about whether to take Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) off the proscribed terror list. Syria

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

The government has announced plans to review the way killers are sentenced in the wake of the Nottingham attacks. Valdo Calocane stabbed Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates in June 2023 and was convicted of manslaughter, rather than murder, due to his paranoid schizophrenia. In a written ministerial statement, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said

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

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

Driving test managers are “bullying” examiners into being lenient with learners to reduce the COVID driving test backlog, Sky News has been told. They have claimed bosses at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) are encouraging examiners to carry out driving tests in unroadworthy cars, sometimes without valid MOTs, owned by those taking tests,

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.

Bereaved families and MPs are urging the government to take tougher steps to protect younger teenagers from “horrific” content on social media.  The Australian government’s decision to legislate for a smartphone ban for under 16s has reignited the debate in the UK about further restrictions, and a Labour MP is hoping to get government support

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

Officers investigating Louise Haigh’s “stolen” phone believed a photo she submitted of the handset had been taken after the alleged theft, Sky News has been told. Two sources said after looking at metadata attached to the photo – information that often details when photos were captured – officers believed it had been taken after the

I have watched hundreds of hours of parliamentary debates in my long time covering Westminster and I can honestly say that the five hours of discussion I witnessed in the Commons on Friday were some of the most memorable, moving and humane exchanges I have ever seen.  Because this bear pit of a debating chamber

The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office after the names of the alleged victims of the Westminster honeytrap scandal were revealed to each other. The force has said it apologises “sincerely for any distress” after an email was “sent in error”. According to reports, the Met sent an email to all

Louise Haigh’s shock resignation as transport secretary has provoked a blame game within Labour that is already proving unedifying. The speed at which Ms Haigh was dispensed from her cabinet role suggests some within government were only too happy to see her out. Ms Haigh’s resignation came after she admitted to Sky News that she

Heidi Alexander has been appointed the new transport secretary after Louise Haigh stepped down over a criminal conviction. The Swindon South MP had been serving as a justice minister until her promotion today, and worked as Sadiq Khan’s deputy transport mayor between 2018-2021. Politics Live: Landmark assisted dying debate under way Ms Haigh resigned after

“Just the man I want to talk to!” We are out in Dover with Mike Tapp, the first elected Labour MP here for 20 years. “When are you going to do something about these boats?” constituent Carol puts down her shopping to ask him. Politics latest: Starmer rejects calls for election Image: Dover MP Mike

It was unfortunate for Liz Kendall that as she unveiled a cure for sicknote Britain her voice was hoarse and became increasingly croaky during more than an hour of questions from MPs. But brave Liz, who was at Watford Grammar School for Girls with Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, runs five mornings a week and had

Council services such as leisure centres and waste collection could suffer due to the cost of social care if the government goes ahead with plans to scrap district councils in favour of “super councils”, local government sources have claimed. They told Sky News the government is considering getting rid of district councils, which are responsible