Politics

Sadiq Khan’s deputy and a scientist the mayor’s office helps to fund have been accused of working together in an attempt to criticise research that questioned the effectiveness of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Emails obtained by the Conservative Party under the Freedom of Information Act showed Professor Frank Kelly of Imperial College London

The banking sector is being warned it faces penalties if it does not secure free access to cash for the UK population, including businesses, following waves of branch closures over more than a decade. Hours after Sky News revealed the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) was to be given powers to fine banks that fail to

Suella Braverman has been urged to “stand up” to France as reports emerged the country is intercepting fewer migrants in the Channel despite a £480m funding deal. The call from Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis came as The Telegraph claimed just 45.2% of migrants have been stopped by French patrols since January, down from 45.8% in

Calls from pubs and the Liberal Democrats for alcohol licensing laws to be relaxed for Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final have been rejected by ministers. Pubs can choose when they open on Sundays, but the time from which they can start selling alcohol varies depending on each pub’s individual licence. The British Beer and Pub

A Tory MP has written to his local police force asking officers to “turn a blind eye” to pubs opening an hour early for the Women’s World Cup final this weekend. Pubs can choose when they open on Sundays, but the time from which they can start selling alcohol varies depending on each pub’s individual

A Labour frontbencher has failed to deny claims the party has watered down its key commitment to strengthen workers’ rights. The Financial Times alleged leader Sir Keir Starmer has scaled back this commitment in an attempt to appease corporate backers, including by diluting his pledge to bolster the rights of gig workers. This would mean

There have been over 100 sewage leaks in government buildings across the UK in the past 12 months, data obtained by the Liberal Democrats reveals. Legionella was also discovered in water outlets in HMRC’s Liverpool offices, leading civil service unions to criticise the “unsafe and unsanitary environments” for civil servants. But the government says it

The government has confirmed that two-thirds of NHS England cancer targets will be scrapped by the autumn as it aims to bring cancer care “into the modern era”. The new guidelines will see the 10 targets currently in place reduced to three – and the two-week wait target will be scrapped in favour of the

The Scottish government will go to court next month to challenge Westminster’s decision to block its much-debated gender reform bill. The hearing has been locked in to begin on 19 September after both parties told Scotland’s highest civil court they are ready to present their arguments. A procedural hearing was held at the Court of

The government will have left households in Britain “worse off”, even if official data on Wednesday shows a slowdown in the rate of inflation, Labour has said. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is expected to reveal the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation was down to 6.7% in July, from 7.9% the previous

Rishi Sunak has refused to say whether he was personally warned about potential health risks for asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm after bacteria was discovered on the barge. All 39 asylum seekers were removed from the vessel, which is currently docked in Portland, Dorset, on Friday after Legionella bacteria was found in the vessel’s

Ministers are injecting £250m into the NHS ahead of winter as they try to get a grip on record waiting times for treatment. The funding for 30 NHS organisations across England will create 900 new beds in urgent and emergency care services to avoid patients needing to be admitted and occupying hospital spaces. However, a

Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel has accused her former department of being “evasive” and “secretive” over how long it plans to use a former RAF base to house asylum seekers. In a letter to her successor Suella Braverman and the immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, earlier on Monday, Dame Priti wrote that the “lack of

Asylum seekers should still be put back on the Bibby Stockholm barge despite the row caused by the discovery of Legionella, the health secretary has said. Legionella bacteria can cause a potentially deadly lung infection known as Legionnaires’ disease. It is contracted by people breathing in droplets of water containing the bacteria. None of the

The government has defended its immigration strategy after deaths in the English Channel prompted renewed criticism of the “stop the boats” pledge – including from Tory MPs. At least six people died after a small boat crossing from France to the UK capsized and sank, in what has been described as an “appalling and preventable”

The deaths of six people after a migrant boat capsized in the English Channel has been described as an “appalling and preventable tragedy”. Campaigners are urging the government to create more safe routes to the UK, with the Refugee Council warning “more people will die” unless urgent action is taken. Meanwhile, MPs from across the

Asylum seekers on board the Bibby Stockholm were not told to stop showering or drinking water during their stay despite Legionella bacteria being discovered in the water supply, a source told Sky News. Stand Up to Racism, who have been in contact with migrants who have been moved from the barge, heard reports that the

The discovery of Legionella on board the Bibby Stockholm is the latest embarrassing setback in a plan beset with controversy and delay from the very start. Thankfully, no one on board has developed any symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially serious form of pneumonia spread by infected water droplets. The Home Office insist the 39

The home secretary is facing fresh pressure to scrap plans to house asylum seekers on barges after Legionella bacteria was discovered in the water supply of the Bibby Stockholm. The Home Office removed all 39 migrants from the vessel in Dorset on Friday, in the latest embarrassing setback to a policy which has been beset