Politics

The “vast majority” of households will receive £350 of help to take the “sting” out of rising energy bills, the chancellor has announced. Rishi Sunak said 80% of all homes in England will get a £150 discount on their council tax bill in April, while all domestic electricity customers will get £200 in October off

Two more Tory MPs are submitting letters of no confidence in the prime minister over his handling of partygate allegations. Senior backbencher Tobias Ellwood, who is chair of the Defence Select Committee, said it was “time to resolve this” as the Conservative Party is “slipping into a very ugly place”. And Anthony Mangnall, MP for

Boris Johnson has told Vladimir Putin of his “deep concern about Russia’s current hostile activity” on the Ukrainian border amid fears Moscow is planning to invade its neighbour. More than 100,000 Russian troops have amassed near the border in a major military build-up. The prime minister spoke to the Russian president in a phone call

Downing Street has refused to comment on reports that reveal details of lockdown parties Boris Johnson is alleged to have attended. In new allegations this evening, two newspapers detail claims the PM attended a party in his flat and also went to two separate leaving dos. In the pared-back report released by Sue Gray on

Twelve alleged lockdown-busting gatherings are being investigated by the Metropolitan Police as part of the Downing Street partygate row, it has been revealed. The Scotland Yard investigation is the second inquiry to take place into claims Number 10 officials – including Prime Minister Boris Johnson himself – were partying in 2020 and 2021 in breach

Boris Johnson is heading off to Ukraine, but he doesn’t leave his troubles entirely behind him.  Tory MPs are, for now, rallying around the PM who – after weeks of insisting he did nothing wrong – apologised yesterday after Sue Gray documented “failures of leadership” in No10. “He survives another day”, said one of his

People who followed COVID rules “will feel like they’ve been taken for mugs” by the prime minster, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has told Sky News. Speaking to Kay Burley, Sir Keir said many members of the public will have felt “anger, grief and guilt” when looking back at how they obeyed COVID-19 restrictions over

For weeks we’ve been told to “wait for Sue Gray” but as soon as her report landed it was clear that judgment day was delayed. The 12-page “update” noted failings in leadership and concluded “some events should not have happened”. But it has nowhere near settled this whole sorry saga. As Ms Gray put it

Boris Johnson is heading to Ukraine where over the border more than 100,000 Russian troops are gathering – as he fights for his premiership after the publication of the Sue Gray report. The prime minister will hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv in a show of support for Ukraine as tensions on the

Health secretary Sajid Javid has announced a review will be launched over plans to make COVID vaccinations mandatory for NHS staff. Health workers in England are meant to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by April, but Mr Javid has been under growing pressure to get rid of the rule. The health secretary told MPs it

Labour MP Rosie Duffield has said she is considering leaving the party due to “obsessive harassment” from current and former members. Ms Duffield, who has represented the seat of Canterbury in Kent since 2017, said the party under both Jeremy Corbyn and successor Sir Keir Starmer has “offered me no support at all since I

Boris Johnson has apologised after a version of the Sue Gray report criticised Downing Street for a “serious failure” over a number of gatherings during COVID restrictions, as he declared: “I get it and I will fix it.” A limited version of the Cabinet Office inquiry by Ms Gray has been made public, a document

The Foreign Office has pledged to release nearly £100m in emergency funds to Afghanistan after a former UN chief warned “a million children will die” if unspent aid isn’t released quickly. On Thursday afternoon, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss described a Sky News report showing how Afghans are resorting to desperate measures to feed themselves after

Boris Johnson has said he is “absolutely not” delaying the release of a much-anticipated report into lockdown parties at Downing Street and Whitehall – and promised it would be released in full. The report, which is being compiled by senior civil servant Sue Gray, has yet to be received by Number 10 Asked during a

Boris Johnson’s parliamentary assistant contacted a private charter company in the hope of securing a plane to transport animals and staff during the evacuation of Afghanistan, telling them that her boss was keen, Sky News understands. Trudy Harrison, the prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary (PPS), contacted the firm on 25 August – a few days

The wait for Sue Gray’s report into lockdown parties in Downing Street and Whitehall to be published looks almost certain to roll into tomorrow as the House of Commons has concluded its business – with Boris Johnson still yet to receive the findings. Sky News understands from three government sources that, as of Wednesday afternoon,

Boris Johnson has still not received a report by Sue Gray into lockdown parties in Downing Street and across Whitehall despite expectations being raised last night that he would address its findings in the commons this lunchtime. On Tuesday afternoon, it was understood that Number 10 would publish the report compiled by the senior civil

A celebration in Downing Street on Boris Johnson’s birthday involved people who were already working together, the transport secretary has told Sky News. Speaking to Kay Burley, Grant Shapps said he did not “seek to defend” the gathering on 19 June 2020, the PM’s 56th birthday. Latest reaction as new claims of Downing Street parties

Downing Street has disputed a report suggesting Boris Johnson held a birthday party inside Number 10 attended by up to 30 people during the first lockdown. ITV News understands the prime minister’s wife, Carrie Johnson, helped to arrange the event which was held just after 2pm the afternoon of 19 June – Mr Johnson’s birthday.

A minister has resigned at the despatch box after criticising the government’s record on tackling fraud in the coronavirus business schemes. Lord Agnew, who was both a Treasury and Cabinet Office minister, dramatically quit his role in Boris Johnson’s government in the House of Lords on Monday afternoon, saying the Department for Business, Energy and