British Politics

A senior MP has slammed the“fast track VIP lane” which allowed people in the Westminster bubble to recommend companies to receive “special treatment” by government if they were supplying masks, gloves, aprons and other PPE during the pandemic. Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Commons spending watchdog the Public Accounts Committee, said she was “appalled” by the […]

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure to keep his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn out of the parliamentary party after he was reinstated as a member three weeks after being suspended. Sir Keir has yet to decide whether to restore the whip but said the move to readmit Mr Corbyn by the party’s ruling National […]

The country’s biggest civil servants’ union said there were “serious doubts” about No 10’s coronavirus safety measures after it emerged Boris Johnson and 10 MPs were forced to self-isolate after a meeting. Johnson and six other MPs were forced to quarantine on Monday after being told they had come into contact with an infected Tory backbencher. Nottinghamshire MP Lee Anderson developed Covid-19 […]

The former head of the civil service has suggested an investigation commissioned eight months ago into allegations of bullying by home secretary Priti Patel is yet to conclude because the prime minister is yet to “make a decision” on it. Lord Sedwill told MPs that a review into what happened in the Home Office was […]

Post-Brexit trade deals with other countries are going to be implemented prior to parliamentary scrutiny, the government had announced. Trade minister Greg Hands told the Commons on Tuesday that there was not enough time for MPs to scrutinise any trade deals the UK brokes with other nations before December 31. This could come as a blow to parliamentarians […]

Rather than a reset can’t we just rewind by four years back to June 2016? With the departures of Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain there has been much discussion of this being an opportunity for the PM to ‘reset’. Personally I would prefer a ‘rewind’, specifically to that point in June 2016, before we broke […]

Scottish nationalists are acting like “little Englanders” over Boris Johnson’s leadership, a radio caller has claimed. Raymond from Falkirk made the claim as he called James O’Brien’s radio show to respond to remarks Johnson made about devolution being a “disaster north of the border”. The caller feared Scotland falling into a similar trap to Brexit, […]

A Tory minister has been cautioned after calling Labour MPs “children” during a debate in the Commons. Health and social care minister Jo Churchill was told to retract her statement by the Commons speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Responding to Labour’s questions over links between the Tory Party and companies hired to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Churchill […]

Boris Johnson has tested negative for coronavirus but will remain in self-isolation, his spokesperson has said. The prime minister took a rapid turnaround lateral flow test as part of a pilot scheme for No 10 staff. “The PM took a test yesterday and that test was negative,” the spokesman said. “But he will, in accordance […]

A Tory MP has caused controversy after he claimed Brexit had no relevance to the case for a second Scottish independence referendum. Former Welsh secretary and Vote Leave supporter John Redwood said the nation’s decision to vote in favour of staying in the EU was “irrelevant” as he shot down suggestions that Brexit was a cause for a new […]

Jeremy Corbyn has acknowledged anti-Semitism complaints in Labour were not “exaggerated” just weeks after being suspended for saying they were in a move to have the party reinstate him. The former Labour leader had the whip withdrawn and was suspended from the party over his response to a damning Equality and Human Rights Commission which found that […]

With reports of a Brexit deal “days away” and the UK’s chief negotiator claiming there could be an agreement with the European Union in the next week, all eyes turn to parliament to find out how it might vote. David Frost is reported to have told the prime minister there would be a “possible landing zone” […]

Robert Jenrick has suggested that “changes in government” – alluding the resignation of Dominic Cummings -are behind the end of the 201-day boycott of Good Morning Britain (GMB). In a veiled swipe at Dominic Cummings, Jenrick, the minister for housing and communities, said that changes within Downing Street “over the last few days” meant ministers were […]

Sky News presenter Kay Burley had the perfect response to communities secretary Robert Jenrick when he issued a warning about the impact of Scottish independence on the economy.  The minister was dispatched to the television studios to defend Boris Johnson’s remarks criticising devolution. Jenrick said those not focusing on the priorities of the people during the […]

Britain’s chief Brexit negotiator has told Boris Johnson that a trade deal with the EU could be ready as early as next week. Lord David Frost is reported to have told the prime minister there would be a “possible landing zone” for an agreement as soon as next Tuesday, the Sun has revealed. The latest round […]

A new poll has found that support for Brexit is at an all-time low, as the transition period nears the end. YouGov found that the number of people who think the Brexit decision was the “right” one has dropped by three points since the start of the month to just 38% of the nation. By comparison, those […]

What the world craves now is some slightly more ‘precedented’ politics, says MITCH BENN. I don’t know about you, but I could really use some boredom right now. It’s pretty exhausting living in ‘unprecedented’ times, isn’t it? Every day something else unprecedented befalls us, whether it’s an unprecedented pandemic, an unprecedented level of chaos in the response […]

The UK has scrambled to buy US firm’s Moderna jab after early data showed it was almost 95% effective in protecting against Covid-19. Britain chose not to buy the vaccine because it did not believe the company would do a deal “with anyone outside the US”, and had concerns about a lack of dependable European […]

The foreign aid budget could reportedly be cut temporarily after the UK’s public finances took a hit dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, despite foreign secretary Dominic Raab insisting the government was “absolutely” committed to the 0.7% target. The Times reported plans had been drawn up to pare back the commitment to spend at least 0.7% of […]

Boris Johnson has “never been more committed” to his work, his spokesperson has insisted, after the resignation of two of his top officials. Number 10 insist Dominic Cummings and the prime minister’s top spin doctor Lee Cain will continue to work on specific projects until the middle of December but have left No 10 following […]

A Labour MP has accused Jacob Rees-Mogg of “gaslighting” both MPs and the country with his responses over arrangements for the virtual parliament in the Commons. Up to 50 MPs can attend the Commons chamber due to social distancing requirements, while Zoom contributions are currently allowed for questions sessions, urgent questions and ministerial statements. The […]

A former Tory minister has challenged claims Boris Johnson will be ‘different’ without Dominic Cummings.  Stephen Dorrell, who served as a health secretary under John Major’s government, said it was unlikely that the prime minister would change tact now that his most senior and controversial adviser has resigned. Speaking with the LBC’s Nick Ferrari, the former cabinet […]

Having finally had a minister appear on Good Morning Britain for the first time in more than 200 days, presenter Piers Morgan launched a tirade at health secretary Matt Hancock for his handling of coronavirus. Morgan played back a clip of the MP in the House of Commons where he downplayed the impact of coronavirus as it arrived […]

Britain’s decision to leave the EU has seriously undermined the peace efforts in Europe, a former Tory politician has claimed. Lord Michael Heseltine, a former Tory deputy prime minister under John Major, said he was saddened by his country’s decision to vote for Brexit. Speaking with Sky News’ Kay Burley on the prospect of a no-deal […]

The UK has called for the European Union to show more “realism” in the negotiations on a post-Brexit trade deal as time runs out for a deal to be reached. The comments come as the EU’s chief negotiator and his British counterpart Lord David Frost are continuing negotiations with just over six weeks to go […]

The grandson of Winston Churchill has criticised his former boss over his choice of ministers to serve in cabinet. Former Tory MP Nichola Soames is no stranger to criticism of Boris Johnson and in his latest media appearance criticised his “mediocre” cabinet for being chosen for their views on Brexit. He said:  “When this government was […]

Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson has insisted that Number 10 observes social-distancing rules, despite all attendees of a recent meeting between the prime minister and MPs having to self-isolate. They said: “Social distancing was observed at the meeting. It is also the case that Number 10 is a Covid-secure workplace. “We take every possible step to […]

Boris Johnson will launch a “charm offensive” aimed at Tory MPs after being warned he faced a concerted backbench effort to undermine his leadership.  Johnson will this week seek to mend ties with disgruntled Tory backbenchers who have threatened to undermine his position as prime minister now that Dominic Cummings has left Downing Street. In a bid […]

Caroline Lucas has topped a list of powerful women. The Green Party MP took first place in the Woman’s Hour Power List, marking positive contributions women make to the environment and sustainability. Lucas is followed by environmental lawyer Farhana Yamin, described by judges as a “powerhouse for climate justice”. Clean air campaigner Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, whose […]

Boris Johnson will miss a second Downing Street press conference on Monday as Matt Hancock covers for the prime minister as he self-isolates. Downing Street had previously decided to hold press conferences on Monday and Thursday evenings until December 2. Last Thursday’s briefing was reportedly due to be cancelled last week following the resignation of […]

Dominic Cummings’ departure marks the “beginning of the end” for Boris Johnson, an ally of the prime minister has warned. According to the Mail on Sunday, supporters of Johnson now fear that the former senior aide will lead to a “guerilla operation” from Cummings causing Brexiteers to destabilise the prime minister to make the way for […]

A lobbyist who secretly advised a health minister for six months was given unfettered access to private coronavirus meetings and later leaked sensitive information to clients. George Pascoe-Watson, who chairs the PR firm Portland Communications, advised Lord Bethell on Test and Trace strategy while still a Westminster lobbyist, a Sunday Times investigation has revealed. Portland Communications represents pharmaceutical companies, weapons […]