Politics

Labour has held Birmingham Erdington in the by-election triggered by the sudden death of frontbencher Jack Dromey. Former nurse and mother-of-five Paulette Hamilton, 59, won with a majority of 3,266 but the by-election failed to inspire voters, with a turnout of just 27%. She picked up 9,413 votes, ahead of Conservative candidate Robert Alden with 6,147.

Ministers are considering emergency legislation to push through sanctions on Russian oligarchs linked to President Putin. Government sources have told Sky News that experts are looking at whether current laws could be tweaked or new ones brought in to speed up the process, which has stalled over recent days. Ukraine-Russia news live: Dire warning from

Voters are going to the polls today in Birmingham Erdington in a parliamentary by-election triggered by the sudden death of Labour Party and trade union stalwart Jack Dromey. Mr Dromey, who was married to the former Labour cabinet minister and interim party leader Harriet Harman, held the seat with a majority of 3,601 in the

Boris Johnson has accused Vladimir Putin of committing “a war crime” as he spoke during a session of PMQs preceded by a standing ovation for Ukraine’s ambassador. As the Russian president’s attempt to invade Ukraine entered a seventh day, Mr Johnson condemned Mr Putin’s “abhorrent assault” on his country’s neighbour. “What we have seen already

Sir Keir Starmer should kick out Labour MPs who back the Stop the War campaign or face losing the next election, according to shadow cabinet ministers. Diane Abbott and John McDonnell are among 11 left-wing MPs who have signed a letter organised by the group last week which was critical of NATO expansion and UK

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is turning into a “much more perilous misadventure” than the Russian president imagined, the deputy prime minister has told Sky News. Dominic Raab said action taken by the UK so far, including sanctions against individuals close to the Russian president as well as Russian banks, is having an impact. Ukraine-Russia

A further 100,000 Ukrainians will be able to seek sanctuary in the UK, the home secretary has announced, but Priti Patel has ruled out a visa waiver for those fleeing the conflict with Russia following Vladimir Putin’s invasion. Making the announcement in the Commons, Priti Patel said family members of those who are British nationals

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is “not on schedule” and Vladimir Putin’s forces “are in some significant areas of disarray”, the defence secretary has told Sky News. Ben Wallace said the invasion launched last week is not having the “strategic impact” that Moscow believed it would. His comments come after the Ministry of Defence shared an

Plans to tackle the flow of “dirty money” and stop the laundering of ill-gotten wealth in the UK property market will be fast-tracked by the government. The move, first reported on Saturday by Sky News political correspondent Tamara Cohen, comes just days after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. The Economic Crime

Labour is calling for much tougher sanctions on Russia following the Ukrainian invasion it condemns as a “heinous violation of international law”. In a joint letter, three of the party’s senior MPs are calling on the government to widen already imposed sanctions on Russia and President Vladimir Putin, including a ban on the export of

Measures to expose dirty money stashed in UK property are being fast-tracked in order to target Russian oligarchs, Sky News understands. Boris Johnson has repeatedly promised to “open up the Matryoshka doll of Russian-owned companies” which are often set up offshore so the true owners are not identified. These companies are used to buy vast

A Labour MP has told of receiving a death threat describing her as “Putin’s w***e” amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. Zarah Sultana the comment was contained in an email she received which was “filled with racist abuse”. “I am in no doubt that this horrific and absurd attack is the direct

Boris Johnson has directly addressed the people of Russia telling them in their own language: “I do not believe this war is in your name.” In a video message released on Friday night, the prime minister also spoke Ukrainian urging an end to the conflict. Mr Johnson’s latest comments after Kyiv was hit by air

Boris Johnson has hit Russia with what he called the “largest set of sanctions ever imposed anywhere by the UK government” – targeting individuals including President Vladimir Putin’s former son-in-law. Downing Street confirmed a range of further oligarchs who are particularly close to the Kremlin will be sanctioned, including Russia’s youngest billionaire and former husband

The prime minister rarely addresses the nation, but Russia’s decision to conduct a full scale invasion into Ukraine has made this a moment that will be marked in history – the start of the largest conflict in Europe since the Second World War. “Our worst fears have now come true and all the warnings have

Boris Johnson has described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “catastrophe for our continent” as he prepares to unveil fresh sanctions against Moscow. The prime minister will make an address to the nation this morning after explosions were heard in Ukrainian cities as Russia launched a military offensive. He will also speak to fellow G7

Home Secretary Priti Patel has received a demand to review the events around the resignation of Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick. Scotland Yard’s deputy commissioner Sir Stephen House revealed he has written to Ms Patel about the controversial circumstances of his boss’s departure. He claimed that “due process” was not followed over Dame Cressida’s

Vladimir Putin is “highly likely” to be planning a move on Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has told Sky News – as she warned Russia that “nothing is off the table” when considering further Western sanctions. The UK, US and EU have announced a raft of fresh sanctions on Russia following Mr Putin’s

No taxpayers’ money was spent on food or drink consumed at Downing Street events being probed by the Metropolitan Police as part of its “partygate” inquiry, the government has insisted. The denials came from Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis as it was revealed the police questionnaire sent to Boris Johnson and Number 10 staff asks

The UK is sanctioning five Russian banks and three oligarchs, freezing their UK assets and banning travel to Britain, Boris Johnson has announced. The prime minister told the House of Commons it was the “first tranche” and “first barrage” of measures, in response to Russian troops moving into two separatist regions of Ukraine. “We hold