Politics

A limited version of the report into Downing Street lockdown parties has criticised a “serious failure” to observe the high standards expected of those working at the heart of government. The findings from senior civil servant Sue Gray have been published in a 12-page document. Sky’s deputy political editor Sam Coates has been going through

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a week of reckoning as a report into Downing Street parties during lockdown is due to be released. The partygate inquiry, which is being carried out by civil servant Sue Gray, could determine Mr Johnson’s fate as the country’s prime minister. Many Tory MPs have said they will wait

Nusrat Ghani made history in 2018. Standing at the famous Commons spot that has been occupied by generations of politicians, she became the first Muslim woman to speak as a minister from the despatch box. Colleagues cheered as the Kashmir-born MP got to her feet. For many, this was the most visual sign of a

Labour MP Liz Kendall has said she is “bursting with love and happiness” after welcoming a baby boy via surrogate. The former shadow minister for social care, 50, announced in November she would be temporarily stepping back from the front benches to become a mum. The Leicester West MP shared a picture of the new-born

Wales’ first minister has claimed that Boris Johnson’s “history” is “catching up with him”. In a highly-charged intervention in the partygate row, Mark Drakeford said he is not surprised the prime minister has become embroiled in controversy over Downing Street parties during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021. “If I’m truthful about it, the prime

Two-thirds of anti-vaccination propaganda posted online is created by just 12 so-called influencers, research has found. Different to those who describe themselves vaccine hesitant, anti-vaxxers tend to employ aggressive methods to persuade others not to get injections designed to help prevent disease. The list was compiled by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) and

Fears are growing inside 10 Downing Street that former pub landlady Sue Gray could call time on Boris Johnson in her Whitehall report on partygate. Sky News understands there is nervousness in Number 10 over what the top civil servant’s report on the Downing Street Parties – which some MPs believe could be published as

For all of the turbulence and the tempestuous events of the last 48 hours, the key drivers which will determine the prime minister’s future remain broadly the same. A large number of MPs, possibly a majority, are unhappy with Boris Johnson‘s premiership. However they are unsure when to defenestrate him, how to do so, and

A former Conservative MP who defected and joined Labour has claimed he was threatened with the loss of a school in his constituency if he did not vote the way party bosses wanted him to. Christian Wakeford, who represents Bury South, switched parties on Wednesday. Live updates as Downing Street denies blackmail claims Please use

Conservative MPs are considering a rule change that would mean Boris Johnson could face a second confidence vote later this year, Sky News has learnt. Under the current rules, the prime minister would be immune from another challenge for a year if he wins such a vote. Follow live updates as confidence vote speculation continues

The threat to Boris Johnson’s leadership has ramped up today as more Conservative MPs said they have submitted letters of no confidence in the PM. Around 12 letters were handed in this morning, according to Sky News political correspondents Sam Coates and Joe Pike. They were from MPs who were part of a group of

Boris Johnson is preparing to face MPs in the Commons amid claims that support among Tory MPs is “haemorrhaging away” and he is on the brink of being removed from office. After a potentially brutal Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson will attempt to launch a fightback by announcing he is ripping up Plan B COVID

At Prime Minister’s Questions tomorrow, Labour’s grenade has already been prepared by Dominic Cummings. Who is telling the truth about the “socially distanced drinks” in May 2020, to which dozens of people were invited by Boris Johnson’s aide Martin Reynolds in an email? This is now shaping up as the key question in the “Partygate”

No 10 policy bosses have explored the use of powerful sonic weapons to force migrants to turn around in the English Channel, amid a growing row over how to handle the situation. The Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) are already installed on two Border Force vessels but are used to issue voice commands. They were purchased

The education secretary has defended the prime minister as he said Boris Johnson did not know a Downing Street lockdown event was a party. Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News’ Kay Burley: “It’s not true that the prime minister knew about this. He implicitly thought this was a work event.” He said senior civil servant Sue

Lord Myners, a Treasury minister under former prime minister Gordon Brown, has died aged 73. He advised Mr Brown on the historic bailout of the British banking system following the 2008 financial crash. Lord Myners died in the early hours of Sunday morning and is survived by his five children and five grandchildren A statement

A sixth Conservative MP is calling for the prime minister to quit over the ever-growing list of alleged lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street, as Boris Johnson is reportedly preparing to strike back by ousting members of his inner circle. Tim Loughton, former children’s minister and East Worthing and Shoreham MP, said Mr Johnson’s position had become “untenable”

One of five Conservative MPs calling for Boris Johnson to step down has told Sky News he has “lost his moral authority to lead” amid allegations of numerous Downing Street parties during lockdown. Andrew Bridgen, who represents North West Leicestershire, said the wave of accusations against the PM and his Number 10 staff have “made

Sir Keir Starmer is turning up the heat on Boris Johnson on Downing Street drinking after new allegations of “wine time Fridays” in Number 10. In a major speech, the Labour leader will claim the partying allegations of the past few days reveal that the prime minister is guilty of “deceit and deception” and unable

The head of the taskforce responsible for leading the government’s COVID-19 response held an office leaving bash at a time when indoor socialising was banned, it has been revealed. Kate Josephs, the former director general of the Cabinet Office’s COVID taskforce, said she was “truly sorry” for the gathering on 17 December 2020. She also