Politics

SLDP leader Colum Eastwood has announced his resignation as party leader. Mr Eastwood has been leader of the Northern Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) for nearly a decade after he was elected in 2015. His resignation comes just eight weeks after retaining his Westminster seat in Foyle with a reduced majority of

Is it last orders for puffing with a pint? Almost certainly. With Labour’s massive 172-seat majority in the Commons, smoking in pub gardens and outside football stadiums, nightclubs and restaurants looks certain to be stubbed out. Politics live: Tories and Farage attack talk of outdoor smoking ban During his visit to Gauloises-loving Paris, Sir Keir

Parents and carers of children aged nine months or over will be entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week from Monday, the government has confirmed. The plans to extend free childcare provision were announced by the then Conservative government back in 2023, with the first stage – 15 hours of childcare for two-year-olds

Sir Keir Starmer has provoked outrage from senior Tories and political grandees for removing a portrait of Margaret Thatcher from inside 10 Downing Street. Just eight weeks after he moved into Number 10, it has been claimed by his biographer that he found the £100,000 painting, commissioned by former Labour premier Gordon Brown, “unsettling”. But

Smoking could be banned in pub gardens, outdoor restaurants and outside stadiums, according to reports. The measures are currently being considered by ministers according to The Sun newspaper. Smokers would also been prohibited from lighting up outside sport venues, nightclubs and in small parks, the newspaper said – citing “secret Whitehall papers”. Read more:How would

A tweet from a Tory MP about proposals to ban smoking in pub gardens has been called “repugnant” by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Sir Keir Starmer confirmed on Thursday that his government was looking at outlawing smoking in some public spaces, including on restaurant terraces, outside nightclubs and in some parks. But

Let’s start with one claim that’s been causing a bit of confusion today. Contrary to what the Home Office press release today suggests, small boat crossings to the UK have not fallen since last year – at least not in any sense that any normal person would understand it. Actually, the cumulative number of people

Almost all small boat arrivals who claimed asylum in the UK over the last year are still waiting for a decision from the Home Office, figures show. In the year ending June 2024, the Home Office said 99% of all the people arriving in small boats had an asylum claim recorded either as a main

It is “laughable” for Rachel Reeves to claim she didn’t know the full state of the public finances until she took office, Ruth Davidson has said. Speaking on Beth Rigby’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast, the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives accused the new chancellor of trying to “build a political narrative” in order to justify

A Scottish Tory leadership candidate has said he still does not support gay marriage because of his religious beliefs, 10 years after voting against it. However, Murdo Fraser told Sky News that he is now “quite relaxed” about same-sex adoption, having previously voiced opposition to it. Politics live: Rising energy costs ‘deeply worrying’ for families

Sir Keir Starmer will warn life in the UK is “going to get worse” before it improves in his first major speech as prime minister. Sir Keir will mark a week before Parliament returns after a shortened summer recess by continuing his attacks on the previous government, saying things are “worse than we ever imagined”.

The Metropolitan Police has ended its investigation into the general election betting scandal without bringing any charges. A number of Conservative politicians and officials, as well as police officers based around parliament, got into hot water over allegations they had placed bets on the timing of July’s vote before it had been publicly announced by

The August bank holiday has arrived – the cue for millions to get back to work after whatever holidays they have managed to enjoy. Over this weekend many Britons will be coming home from Europe through ports, airports and the Channel Tunnel. Their trips may have included frustrating delays and border checks but there won’t

Magistrates have been told to consider pushing back the sentencing of criminals because of concerns about overcrowding in prisons. Sky News has seen an internal direction sent to courts in England and Wales saying hearings due in the next two weeks should be reviewed if the defendant is currently on bail – and potentially postponed

Messaging is a key weapon in any government’s armoury. Back in 2010 the new coalition spent the first few months re-iterating the line that Labour had caused economic chaos, aided by the famous note “there is no money left”. It was so successful that some political analysis believe it was a big factor in helping

A Labour donor who contributed more than £500,000 to the party did have a pass to Number 10 for a short time, the government has told Sky News. The Sunday Times reported Lord Waheed Alli, a television executive who has donated to Labour over the last 20 years, had been given a pass granting him

Male Labour MPs should back a woman when the party chooses a successor to Sir Keir Starmer, Harriet Harman has said. The veteran politician, who stepped down at the general election after 40 years in parliament, said it is “embarrassing and sort of shameful” that Labour has never had a female at the helm. Speaking

Junior doctors will begin voting later this month on whether to accept the government’s pay offer. The new Labour government has offered the medics in England a 22.3% average pay rise, which the British Medical Association (BMA) union is recommending is accepted by members. If it does pass, it would signal an end to the

A former Labour councillor has been charged with encouraging violent disorder. Ricky Jones, 57, was filmed addressing a crowd at a London demonstration on Wednesday evening, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “Jones was filmed addressing a crowd… during which he appeared to make remarks and