Politics

Anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown protesters are organising themselves online to confront MPs in person, Sky News has found. One online group is going after politicians because of their “evil actions” – and shares tips on how to find constituency offices and MP’s homes. Photos and videos of members and other like-minded protesters approaching politicians or their

A health minister has denied there is a “plan C” to control COVID-19 by restricting household gatherings in England at Christmas if hospital admissions get worse. Edward Argar told Sky News it is “not something I’m aware of” after reports claimed Whitehall officials are considering not allowing members of different households to meet in each

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has hailed two possible new additions to the UK’s “armoury of life-saving measures” to tackle COVID-19. The government’s antivirals taskforce has struck deals for two new coronavirus treatments, which – if they are approved by the medicines regulator – are expected to be given to those most vulnerable to COVID-19. The

“Plan B” coronavirus restrictions must be enforced immediately to prevent the UK “stumbling to a winter crisis”, an NHS leader has warned. NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor has urged the government to bring back certain measures, including mandatory face coverings in public places. His remarks came as the UK recorded 223 COVID-related deaths on

The government has announced its strategy to meet its promise to cut emissions to net zero by 2050. In the 368-page document, Boris Johnson said the aim is to “meet the global climate emergency but not with panicked, short-term or self-destructive measures”. The prime minister added the plan will be driven forward by the “unique

Households will be able to apply for a £5,000 grant to swap their gas boiler for a low-carbon heat pump, as part of government plans to cut emissions. The government announced that the £450m Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which is part of the more than £3.9bn funding to cut carbon from heating and buildings, will be

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told MPs that Southend-on-Sea will be given city status – a long-running campaign of Sir David Amess – as he led tributes to the murdered MP. Mr Johnson described Sir David as a “steadfast servant” of the House of Commons, a “prodigious campaigner” for his chosen causes, and a “dear

Instances of abuse reported to the police by politicians are not always followed up by forces, an MP has told Sky News, as he recalled having his car vandalised and office subject to an arson attack. Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for Romford, said there are “a lot more nasty people around than ever before”. Killing

MPs could be given police protection while they carry out constituency surgeries, the Home Secretary has told Sky News. Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sunday, Priti Patel said the measure was under consideration in the wake of the killing of Conservative MP Sir David Amess. Watch special Trevor Phillips on Sunday on killing of Sir

Boris Johnson has laid flowers at the scene of the fatal stabbing of Conservative MP Sir David Amess in Essex – an attack which police believe could be linked to Islamist extremism. The prime minister along with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Home Secretary Priti Patel visited Belfairs Methodist

Priti Patel says it is “right and proper” that MPs are accessible to members of the public following Sir David Amess’ killing – and stressed that politicians’ safety and an open democracy “can absolutely be balanced”. The home secretary’s comments came as a spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) confirmed every parliamentarian will

Murdered MP Sir David Amess had recently written about the risk of attacks on parliamentarians, admitting “it could happen to any of us”. His book, Ayes & Ears: A Survivor’s Guide to Westminster, was published in November and was nominated for the Parliamentary Book Awards. The fatal stabbing of Sir David on Friday afternoon during

The government claims it has kickstarted a green investment “boom”, but campaigners say much more could be done to reach its climate goals. New data from the Department for International Trade (DIT) shows more than £5.8bn of foreign investment in green projects has been secured since Boris Johnson announced the “ten-point plan for a green

The chancellor has appeared to rule out helping businesses with soaring gas prices, saying “it’s not the government’s job” to manage the costs of individual products. Asked if he would accept some companies going out of business, Rishi Sunak said he “believes in a market economy”. He said the government has been working “very constructively”

We could be back in 2018 again – Brexit and the will-there-won’t-there-be-a-deal questions are back on the agenda. Brexit minister Lord Frost gave a headline-grabbing speech in Lisbon yesterday in which he savaged the very same Northern Ireland Protocol he was responsible for negotiating with the EU two years ago. You may remember Boris Johnson

The EU is expected to outline its response to UK demands to alter post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland following this summer’s tense “sausage war” between the two sides. European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic is set to hold a news conference on Wednesday afternoon in which he will deliver Brussels’ verdict on UK proposals for the

Brexit minister Lord Frost has accused the EU of being an organisation “that doesn’t always look like” it wants the UK to succeed as he demanded changes to post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland. In a speech in Lisbon, the cabinet minister called on Brussels to help “tackle the fundamental issues” with the Northern Ireland Protocol

A minister has refused to apologise for the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, after a highly-critical report by MPs said thousands of lives were lost due to delays and mistakes by both ministers and their scientific advisers. “We followed, throughout, the scientific advice. We got the vaccine deployed extremely quickly, we protected our NHS

A minister has denied that the business secretary lied when he said there were talks ongoing in government about help for manufacturers and energy firms. Appearing on Sky News, Home Office minister Damian Hinds was asked if Kwasi Kwarteng had lied when he made the claim about his team being in discussions with the Treasury,

As energy companies fold and businesses cry out for government help over rising gas prices, there is an altogether different row going on inside Whitehall.  In an unprecedented public slap down today, Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, was accused of lying on TV, before the same Treasury source revealed the meetings he said he was