Politics

Arlene Foster has told Sky News she will step down as DUP leader and Northern Ireland’s first minister, following calls within the party for a leadership contest. In a statement, Mrs Foster said: “It is important to give space over the next few weeks for the Party Officers to make arrangements for the election of

Unions are adding their voices to the call for a start date to be set for an inquiry into COVID-19. The TUC say a public consultation should also contribute to what an inquiry will cover, as workers and the families of those who caught the virus at work will be key to what went wrong.

Arlene Foster is facing a battle to remain leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. Sky News understands 75% of the Democratic Unionist Party’s Northern Ireland Assembly members have signed a letter demanding a leadership contest. The challenge, first reported by the Belfast News Letter, could signal the end of Arlene’s Foster’s tenure as Northern Ireland’s

The refurbishment of Boris Johnson’s Downing Street flat will be reviewed by the UK’s top civil servant as suggestions the Conservative Party made an initial payment for the extensive work come under scrutiny. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case said the prime minister asked him to look into the matter, after former aide Dominic Cummings claimed Mr

The UK’s top civil servant has denied a “chatty rat” inquiry into government leaking has been de-prioritised – despite the probe lasting more than five months – but admitted the culprit may never be found. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case left MPs frustrated about the progress of the investigation, which has been ongoing since the end

Labour is calling on Boris Johnson’s government to publish all communications between ministers and their contacts in business who won contracts during the coronavirus pandemic. The opposition wants messages made in connection to emergency procurement measures which led to deals being struck to be put into the public domain, following concerns over lobbying and unequal

Ventilators are among 600 pieces of life-saving medical equipment being sent from the UK to India as the country battles a surge in COVID-19 cases. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to “stand side by side” with India as it struggles with its highest numbers of new daily coronavirus cases to date since the pandemic

There are less then two weeks until Wales chooses its new parliament on 6 May. The last time voters elected the Senedd, politics was very different. Brexit was yet to come and David Cameron was prime minister. But with the EU referendum just weeks away, people made their antipathy towards Brussels and the Westminster establishment

An investigation is being demanded into how Boris Johnson funded the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat following incendiary claims by his former chief adviser Dominic Cummings. In a bombshell blog post, Mr Cummings accused his former boss of plotting an “unethical, foolish, possibly illegal” plan to get Tory donors to secretly bankroll the work.

Boris Johnson did not need to pick today’s fight with his mercurial former advisor. He is at least 10 points ahead of Labour in the polls, likely to score successes in the May elections and for once there is no pressing crisis at the top of his government’s agenda. That was before the prime minister

Boris Johnson’s former aide Dominic Cummings has denied being the source of the prime minister’s leaked text communications with businessman Sir James Dyson. Several newspapers quoted unnamed Downing Street sources as claiming Mr Cummings had leaked the text messages, first reported by the BBC. In a blog post, Mr Cummings said: “I do have some

Labour has urged Downing Street to release details of a meeting with Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman a few days before the European Super League announcement. It is understood the prime minister was not in the meeting with Ed Woodward and that the controversial competition was not discussed.. Mr Woodward talked about COVID restrictions and “the

David Cameron lobbied the Treasury’s top civil servant on behalf of a financial services firm that later collapsed. Sir Tom Scholar told a committee of MPs that the former prime minister called him on his work mobile and sent him text messages in March and April 2020 in a bid to get Greensill Capital involved

MPs have accused the government of a “missed opportunity” in failing to give more detailed plans on how Britons might be able to enjoy foreign holidays this summer. Under Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions, international travel won’t be allowed any earlier than 17 May. In a report earlier this month, the

Sir James Dyson has said it is “absurd to suggest” his company was doing anything other than trying to follow the rules, after it was reported that the prime minister personally promised him he would “fix” an issue over the tax status of his employees. The BBC reported that it had seen a series of

The government has abandoned plans to hold White House-style televised briefings – despite spending £2.6m on a new studio. Boris Johnson’s press secretary, Allegra Stratton, who had been expected to front the new media briefings, will now become spokeswoman for the COP26 climate change summit. Ms Stratton said: “I am delighted to be starting this

A firm linked to the lawyer tasked by the prime minister with looking into the Greensill Capital lobbying scandal has been given £7m in government contracts over the last year. Boris Johnson has asked top lawyer Nigel Boardman to lead an investigation into the now-collapsed finance firm’s activities in government and the role its founder,

Former prime minister David Cameron and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are set to be hauled before MPs to answer questions over the Greensill Capital lobbying controversy. As one of seven inquiries at Westminster into the controversy, the House of Commons’ Treasury committee has announced it will seek to take oral evidence from both Mr Cameron and

Travel from India to the UK is being banned for non-UK and Irish citizens from 4am on Friday after the country was added to the travel “red list”. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the “vital but difficult” decision was made due to a new COVID variant first identified in India, of which 103 cases have

Ministers are urgently seeking advice on how they might prevent top English football clubs joining the new European Super League, sources have confirmed. The possible rupture has provoked condemnation from across the political spectrum, with both Sir Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson accusing the participating clubs of letting down fans. It is understood government efforts