Politics

Mel Stride has become the latest Tory leadership hopeful to be knocked out of the race to replace Rishi Sunak. Conservative MPs held their second round of voting on Tuesday as they narrowed down the candidates to lead the party. And the former work and pensions secretary came in last place with just 16 MPs

MPs will vote later on a controversial plan by the new government to remove the winter fuel payment from the majority of pensioners. The move – which will see around 10 million people lose the payment of up to £300 to help with energy costs – has been defended by Labour, who said “tough decisions”

Ministers are not looking to soften the blow for 10 million pensioners who will no longer receive winter fuel payments, the prime minister’s spokesman has said. Ahead of a vote on Tuesday on the controversial decision to limit winter fuel payments to those on pension credit, the government is remaining steadfast despite growing opposition from

Labour’s post-election honeymoon looks to be over as it faces pressure this week over winter fuel payments, releasing prisoners early, and the state of the NHS. Two months after winning a historic majority, Sir Keir Starmer and his ministers have a busy week as they face pressure not just from other parties, but their own

The health secretary has said NHS waiting lists need to be “millions lower” by the next general election in 2029. Wes Streeting told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips he is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure waiting lists are brought down, including using the private sector. He said the “NHS waiting

Children’s health is facing a deadly crisis, with life-threatening illnesses, obesity, eating disorders, and infectious diseases soaring, a shock new government report reveals. Sir Keir Starmer is blaming the Conservatives for a “broken NHS” and claims the Tories’ NHS reforms are “unforgivable and “hopelessly misconceived”. The shocking findings on the deteriorating health of the nation’s

Sir Keir Starmer is visiting the Republic of Ireland as part of a “reset” of relations following the change of government. The prime minister will meet with his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris, as part of the visit to Dublin. At the same time, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn will be committing the UK government to

As cabinet ministers and law enforcement teams were meeting to discuss ways to enact the prime minister’s pledge to “smash the gangs”, in a flat in Manchester Hassan was bathing a kitten he’s adopted since being granted asylum in Britain. The 26-year-old knows all about the smuggling gangs that bring people over in small boats

The Green Party will demand the government introduces a wealth tax when Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her first budget next month. Giving a speech at his party’s annual conference in Manchester, co-leader Adrian Ramsay said the UK “needs to invest in defending public services and protecting our environment – and we can do that with

The home secretary will meet with ministers and members of law enforcement for an operational summit that will set out the government’s plan to tackle small boats in the Channel. Yvette Cooper will be joined by at the headquarters of the National Crime Agency in London by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood,

The deputy prime minister has said she is unhappy with how long it is taking to remove unsafe cladding from buildings following the Grenfell Tower fire. Angela Rayner, who is also the housing secretary, said the government “has got to make sure that we accelerate remediation” after the final phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry

Tory leadership candidate Dame Priti Patel has been kicked out of the race after the first vote by party MPs. The former home secretary was running to replace Rishi Sunak against five other candidates, but fell at the first hurdle by coming in last place in the ballot. Politics live: Starmer accused of ‘choosing train

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “deeply sorry” for the actions of the British government after a damning report into the Grenfell Tower blaze said ministers “failed to act”, despite knowing the risk of building materials. A landmark report into the disaster that claimed 72 lives in June 2017 was published earlier on Wednesday,

The East Midlands market town of Kettering is famous for its trusty boots, Weetabix and at one stage John Profumo. It is also a proper bellwether seat having swung between Labour and the Conservatives over the past 30 years. In July it helped form part of Labour’s majority of 158. The Conservatives’ worst defeat since

Former minister Tom Tugendhat has apologised for the “disrespect and double standards” of previous Conservative governments as he made his appeal to become the next party leader. Speaking from Westminster at his campaign launch, Mr Tugendhat said he had “witnessed the recent political trauma” within the Tory ranks “with a combination of depression and anger”,

A new political term, and a new reality for the Conservatives, as what’s left of the party regroups in Westminster and gets down to the business of picking a new leader. On Monday, it was the turn of Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly to officially launch their campaigns ahead of the first knock-out round on

Sir Keir Starmer has defended cutting the winter fuel allowance for 10 million pensioners as he faces pressure to rethink the move. The government announced last month the universal payment to pensioners, worth between £100 and £300 a year, would be restricted to just those who receive pension credit. Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves

The Tories will not win back trust of the British people by simply “pointing out how terrible Labour are”, Kemi Badenoch will say. Speaking at the launch of her Conservative leadership campaign on Monday, the former Business Secretary will attack the new government as failing to offer “something better”. But despite reeling off a list

The government is “not attacking the hospitality industry” with proposed plans to ban smoking in pub gardens, a cabinet minister has insisted. Lucy Powell told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that Labour wants to create a “smoke-free country” and measures to achieve this will be done “in consultation” with businesses that could be

Bills on renters’ reform and water company regulation are set to be among a “packed legislative agenda” for parliament when MPs return from their summer break, says Commons leader Lucy Powell. The House of Commons sits again on Monday and two “historic” bills are expected to be laid before politicians in the first week. One