Politics

After a shaky  start to the Conservative Party Conference (at least on the technological front), Monday will see Rishi Sunak speaking from the virtual podium. Right now the chancellor can do no wrong, but he knows difficult decisions are coming, not least the problem of how to come back from the largest recession on record.

The White House has not been “open at all” about Donald Trump’s condition as he is treated for coronavirus, a former UK ambassador to the US has told Sky News. Speaking on the Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, Sir Christopher Meyer said there had been “conflicting messages” about the president’s health as he battles COVID-19.

The home secretary will promise an asylum system that is “firm and fair” when she speaks at the Conservative Party conference later. Priti Patel will present a system that would see the government routinely denying asylum to migrants who cross the English Channel on boats or via other “illegal routes”. This would include migrants who

One in four of us is now living under some form of tighter COVID-19 restrictions. The prime minister may say that a national lockdown is the nuclear option that he doesn’t want to resort to – but for millions of people who can’t meet other households indoors, the red button has already been pressed. But

Ordinarily, conference season is an opportunity for political parties to push the reset button. The three-day gathering can help leaders heal rifts with tetchy MPs – a relaxed dinner here, a drink with a group of backbenchers there. Put plainly, party conferences are the perfect place for leaders to score political brownie points with MPs

Pressure is mounting on an MP who broke coronavirus rules to quit, after she was accused of making “a huge error of judgement”. Margaret Ferrier has already been kicked out of the SNP parliamentary party but is facing calls to leave the Commons completely over her actions. She travelled from Scotland to London on Monday

An MP has apologised for travelling on public transport after testing positive for coronavirus. The SNP’s Margaret Ferrier said in a statement there was “no excuse for my actions” and “I apologise unreservedly for breaching COVID-19 restrictions by travelling this week when I shouldn’t have”. “On Saturday afternoon, after experiencing mild symptoms, I requested a

The EU Commission says it will start legal action against Boris Johnson’s bid to potentially override parts of the Brexit deal. Brussels claims the prime minister is breaching the “good faith” promise both sides signed up to in the withdrawal agreement struck and passed by parliament last year. President Ursula von der Leyen said given

Boris Johnson is bidding to head off a Tory rebellion over emergency coronavirus legislation as he prepares to give his latest update on the COVID-19 crisis from Downing Street. The prime minister – fresh being forced to apologise for getting confused by his own coronavirus regulations – is facing the prospect of a Conservative revolt

The home secretary asked officials to look into sending asylum seekers to isolated islands 4,000 miles from the UK, according to reports. It’s understood civil servants were asked to investigate how other countries manage their immigration systems. Australia is one model, which holds asylum seekers offshore while their applications are processed. The Financial Times reports

Boris Johnson has seen MPs approve his controversial Brexit legislation, which ministers have admitted could lead to the UK breaching international law. The UK Internal Market Bill, which has provoked a furious row with the European Union, had its third ready passed by the House of Commons in a vote on Tuesday night with a

Boris Johnson has apologised for muddling up his own coronavirus rules on social gatherings. The prime minister was questioned about the latest COVID-19 restrictions coming into force for northeast England from midnight on Wednesday. At first, he said people could meet indoors and outdoors in groups of six in areas where no additional coronavirus restrictions

The prime minister and government officials have been accused of trying to “terrify” the British public over coronavirus. Conservative MPs voiced their disquiet with aspects of Boris Johnson’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in a lengthy Commons debate. It comes ahead of a looming showdown over the government’s powers to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. PM:

Tighter social restrictions could be imposed if coronavirus infections continue to rise, a minister has suggested. Helen Whately said “we don’t want to” bring in measures taking the UK back towards a second national lockdown but cautioned the government is keeping a “constant eye” on COVID-19 cases. Asked on Sky News’ Kay Burley show what

Sir Ed Davey will speak of being a carer as a son, grandson and father in a highly personal first party conference speech as Liberal Democrat leader. In his address to the Lib Dems‘ autumn conference on Monday, Sir Ed will promise to be “the voice of the nine million carers in our country”. Drawing

A Conservative rebel ringleader is “certain” his group have enough votes to compel the government to give MPs a greater say over coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Steve Baker, a former Brexit minister, is among a group of around 40 Tory MPs bidding to alter legislation so as to allow the House of Commons to be able