Politics

Two giant cruise ships set to house 1,000 asylum seekers were unable to find anywhere to dock and have been returned to their owners, a senior source has told Sky News. In June, Rishi Sunak announced the government acquired two more vessels, alongside the Bibby Stockholm barge – which arrived in Dorset today – as

A controversial barge that is set to accommodate 500 asylum seekers has arrived in Dorset. The Bibby Stockholm departed Falmouth in Cornwall on Monday – one month behind schedule. It was pulled by a tugboat into Portland Port on Tuesday morning. The vessel’s arrival in Dorset – which has been opposed by the local MP

The government has managed to fight off the latest challenge from the House of Lords seeking to change its Illegal Migration Bill. In a vote in the Commons, MPs voted to reject all nine amendments peers had put forward to change the legislation. That was despite some high-profile rebels from the Tory benches supporting the

Labour’s Yvette Cooper has refused to say if she supports Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to keep the two-child benefit cap, amid growing party divisions over the issue. The shadow home secretary said that – while the party wanted to address child poverty – “we’ve got to keep saying how we will pay for things”. Sir

Union boss Mick Lynch has said Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has to show he is “on the side of the people” before the next general election. The general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union criticised Sir Keir and the Labour Party when asked about how long strikes on the railway could

The government has signed an agreement to join an Indo-Pacific trading bloc, although the estimated benefit could only be £1.8bn in GDP. In announcing the formal plans to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Rishi Sunak administration highlighted the £12trn value of the combined GDPs of all the member nations if

Defence minister Ben Wallace says he will stand down at the next election. Mr Wallace, the longest-serving Conservative defence secretary, said in an interview with The Times: “I’m not standing next time.” He added that he will not be resigning “prematurely” and forcing a by-election. Mr Wallace also confirmed he would leave the cabinet at

Ben Wallace – the longest-serving Conservative defence secretary – is considering leaving government in an anticipated autumn reshuffle, Sky News understands. It follows a failed UK bid to make Mr Wallace, 53, the next head of NATO and as the prime minister reportedly prepares to refresh his top team ahead of next year’s election. The

MPs should “focus on serving their constituency” rather than on second jobs, Rishi Sunak’s official spokesperson has said, in reaction to reports from Sky News. Research by our Westminster Accounts project today revealed MPs earned an average £233 per hour for roles outside of parliament – 17 times higher than the national average and over

MPs with second jobs have an average wage of £233 per hour, Sky News can reveal. The typical rate for MPs is 17 times the national average – and over 22 higher than the minimum hourly wage. The highest hourly rate for a current MP goes to Liz Truss, who got £15,770 per hour. Ms

The government has put the UK in an “unconscionable” position by forcing through pay rises on the back of cuts to existing budgets, according to the junior doctors’ union. Rishi Sunak has said the roughly 6% rise in salaries the government will implement is a “final” offer, upon which there will be no negotiation. “We

A powerful group of northern Tory MPs are being scrutinised by the parliamentary expenses watchdog after a Sky News investigation into the way they use public money. The investigation found nearly two dozen MPs received political donations from a private donor to help them with campaigning – weeks after they joined the Northern Research Group

On 20 July, Rishi Sunak could become the first prime minister since Harold Wilson in 1968 to lose three seats at by-elections on the same day. The Conservative Party’s implosion over MP misconduct and whether Boris Johnson lied to parliament has presented election watchers with an intriguing set of contests. Uxbridge and South Ruislip in

Rishi Sunak has hinted there will be no tax cuts on offer from the government before the next general election, as his party faces three by-elections next week. A number of Conservative backbenchers have been pushing the prime minister for reductions to a range of levies, including corporation tax, income tax and fuel duty. But

Theresa May has attacked the government’s Illegal Migration Bill, saying it would “enable more slave drivers to… make money out of human misery” and “consign more people to slavery”. The former prime minister, who has long campaigned on tackling modern slavery in the UK, said ministers wanted to use the new legislation to “stop the

Rishi Sunak will call on the UK’s NATO allies to commit to spending a minimum of 2% of their GDP on defence as he attends an alliance summit in Lithuania. The prime minister will argue the commitment will be crucial to NATO’s ability to deter and defend against the kind of tactics Russian President Vladimir

MPs have approved a report criticising the conduct of Boris Johnson’s allies after he was found to have lied to parliament over partygate. The motion was approved on the nod and without the need for a formal vote. Commons leader Penny Mordaunt earlier said she hoped it would bring an end to the “sorry affair”.

A Cabinet minister has suggested the BBC presenter who has been suspended for allegedly paying for sexually explicit images of a teenager should only be named once a “full” investigation has taken place. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk agreed there was a “public interest” in the broadcaster being named but said it would not be appropriate

Monday will mark the sixth meeting between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden – and their seventh encounter in all as both were at official functions for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II last September during the Liz Truss interregnum. The president did not attend the King’s Coronation – that is normal

US President Joe Biden will fly into the UK on Sunday amid tensions over his decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine. Air Force One is expected to touch down at Stansted Airport this evening before Mr Biden meets with both Rishi Sunak in Downing Street and the King at Windsor Castle on Monday. Mr