Politics

Some 882 people crossed the English Channel on Tuesday, the Home Office has said, which is the highest number on a single day so far this year. The total number of arrivals by small boats in 2024 now stands at a provisional total of 12,313, which is 18% higher than the total at the equivalent

Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard with their guide to the election day ahead. 👉 Tap here to follow Politics at Jack and Sam’s wherever you get your podcasts 👈 This is day 28 of the campaign. Jack and Sam discuss inflation, the SNP manifesto launch, and how Labour’s transition

Six out of 10 Britons back more NHS spending even if it means their personal taxes would increase, a poll has found. Ipsos found 61% of people were willing to accept higher personal taxes if it meant more money being put into the health service. Only 16% said they wanted tax cuts even if it

They may not be as numerous as Muslim voters, and there are no rebel candidates stealing them away from Labour over conflicts abroad, but Punjabis are a specific electorate with their own concerns, and some of their communities happen to be highly concentrated in key target seats for Sir Keir Starmer’s party. The Sikh Federation

This week the leaders were selling their visions to voters as they launched their manifestos, and Sunak and Starmer went head to head in Grimbsy at the Sky News live election special The Battle For Number 10. Watch their journeys in the latest week in our animated map below. This campaign is being fought on

People are “really annoyed” the government has not always kept its promises, a Tory minister has said as he acknowledged the election was “tough” after 14 years in power. Speaking to Sky News Johnny Mercer admitted the campaign had been “up and down”, but insisted the polls showing the party lagging behind were not reflected

Even a poll-obsessive like me would have to admit that during election campaigns we often spend too much time focusing on the election ‘horse race’ – who is up and who is down in the polls – on an almost hourly basis. Even in this election, where Labour has been well ahead of the Conservatives

While the Conservatives and Labour battle it out for Number 10, recent polling reflects a changing mood from the electorate towards the smaller parties. The latest YouGov poll suggests Reform UK have climbed within one point of the Conservatives, the Lib Dems are up four points, and Labour are dropping below 40%. In 2017, the

A Tory social media campaign suggests the party fears a Labour landslide in the upcoming general election, as minister Grant Shapps says they are fighting to avoid a Labour “supermajority”. The Conservatives’ latest advertising campaign appears to target potential Reform voters, warning them that the Tories could be reduced to just 57 seats in the

New legislation to introduce buffer zones outside abortion clinics has been backed by MSPs. The law will prevent anti-abortion protesters from gathering within 200 metres of hospitals and medical facilities where terminations are carried out. The legislation will now move forward to receive royal assent. The final stage of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones)

“It’s a nightmare for everybody involved.” That’s how former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika describes TV election debates. “The amount of prep is phenomenal,” she told Sky’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast, adding that when she was working with former leader Ed Miliband on the 2015 campaign, preparation for the TV debates took “months and months”. Former Scottish

Regulations to allow the emergency early release of prisoners will come into force after MSPs backed the Scottish government’s plan to ease pressure on the country’s jails. Around 514 prisoners will be released in four waves, starting at the end of this month. Only inmates serving short sentences of under four years who have 180

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will be interrogated by Sky’s political editor Beth Rigby and members of the public tonight. During The Battle For Number 10, they will talk and be questioned at length about their ambitions, so viewers can understand in detail what their plans are. Mr Sunak

It was a question you don’t expect to hear being asked of a senior cabinet minister during an election campaign. In fact, the last time doubts were raised mid-campaign about whether a beleaguered party leader would make it to polling day was more than 40 years ago. This time, discussing Rishi Sunak’s D-Day fiasco on

Labour will reportedly promise not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT for five years if the party wins the general election. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves already said this week they will not put up the taxes, ahead of Labour’s manifesto launch expected on Thursday. But a report in The Sunday Times claims Labour

The Conservative Party will pledge to cut stamp duty for first-time buyers as part of its manifesto. The levy is currently paid on property purchases worth more than £250,000 – with the rate ranging from 5% to 12% of the ticket price, increasing as the price rises. For people purchasing their first home, stamp duty

The prime minister was “completely wrong” to leave D-Day commemorations early, a senior cabinet member has said. Rishi Sunak apologised on Friday after it was revealed he skipped an international event the day before on Omaha Beach in France – attended by leaders of the US, France and Germany – to come back to the

Rishi Sunak has said it was a “mistake” to return from D-Day commemorations in Normandy early. The prime minister was heavily criticised for not being at the final moments of the 80th anniversary D-Day ceremony on Thursday as he travelled back from France to the UK to record a TV interview. On Friday morning, he

Keir Starmer’s election manifesto is expected to pledge recognition of a Palestinian state before the end of a peace process, Sky News understands. According to people familiar with a draft, it will say a Palestinian state should be recognised as “part of a peace process” and not vetoed by other states in the region. The