Politics

Labour have moved ahead of the Conservative Party for the first time since Boris Johnson became prime minister, an opinion poll has indicated. The survey by Opinium for The Observer newspaper gave Labour a three-point-lead over the Tories, with 42%, compared to 39%. It suggested Labour was ahead for the first time since July 2019

The government has said MPs will get to vote on the “rule of six” as it attempts to see off a rebellion by Conservatives who want more scrutiny of coronavirus regulations. Senior Tory Sir Graham Brady told Sky News he would be “pressing on” with his attempt to change the law as “we need debates

The search to find the prime minister’s new spokesperson is reaching its final stages, with interviews for the £100,000-a-year role due to conclude in the coming days. Allegra Stratton, the mastermind behind Rishi Sunak’s press operation, remains the favourite, with other contenders including Angus Walker, the media adviser who helped education secretary Gavin Williamson through

A minister has denied that the chancellor’s message to “live without fear” during the pandemic was a suggestion people do not have to follow the coronavirus rules. Rishi Sunak made the remark in the Commons as he set out his “Winter Economy Plan” designed to avert a jobs crisis amid continuing COVID-19 restrictions. Live updates

A group of more than 40 Conservative MPs are bidding to force the government to give parliament a vote before the renewal of ministers’ coronavirus powers. Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, is leading the cross-party effort to amend emergency COVID-19 legislation. Powers under the Coronavirus Act, which

The chancellor has unveiled his “Winter Economy Plan” to protect jobs as the UK continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic. With Britons warned the latest COVID-19 restrictions could last as long as six months – and the looming end of the furlough scheme – Rishi Sunak has set out a raft of new measures. These

Europe’s plans to tackle the arrival of migrants and refugees risks being undermined by the economic effects of COVID-19, according to one of the nations most profoundly affected by migration. The European Commission launched plans on Wednesday intended to share the burden of migration, with member states either agreeing to resettle those granted asylum or

Sir Keir Starmer has called for new support for businesses and workers following the introduction of fresh coronavirus restrictions – as he condemned the government’s “serial incompetence” in dealing with the crisis. The Labour leader, in an interview with Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby, reiterated his party’s support for the measures introduced by Prime

Boris Johnson is facing demands from Labour to explain his proposal to use the Army to help support police amid the new coronavirus lockdown rules. He faces Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions just hours after his TV broadcast in which he warned of a tough crackdown if people continue to break the rules.

The government has abandoned plans to let people officially change gender without medical checks – but ministers have promised to make the process cheaper and “more straightforward”. In its response to a consultation on the 2004 Gender Recognition Act, the government concluded that “the balance struck in this legislation is correct”. “There are proper checks

Boris Johnson is set to make a statement on the next steps the country will take to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. The prime minister will speak a day after Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, warned the UK could soon see 49,000 new cases of COVID-19 every day unless action is taken. Mr

Boris Johnson will chair an emergency COBRA meeting on Tuesday ahead of a statement on the next steps in tackling the coronavirus pandemic. It comes on a day when the prime minister will also chair cabinet – and it is expected he will announce new measures designed to curb the number of COVID-19 infections. Live

England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has warned the rate of COVID-19 infections in the UK is “heading in the wrong direction”. On Monday, Professor Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance will deliver a televised briefing on the latest coronavirus data. According to Downing Street, they will explain how the coronavirus is

The government is changing the rules around self-isolation in a move to force more people to stay at home if they have coronavirus. The new rules apply in England, but the government says it is “engaging” with devolved authorities to develop a system which is aligned across the UK. New Fines From 28 September, people

People who may have coronavirus will be required to self-isolate by law – with those who refuse facing fines of up to £10,000 in England. Ministers are toughening up their stance by making the current guidance a legal requirement in a bid to try and prevent a second spike of COVID-19 ballooning across the UK

A police protection officer travelling with the foreign secretary has been suspended from duties after leaving his gun on a plane. The weapon was reportedly found by a cleaner on a plane at Heathrow Airport. Dominic Raab had been on a visit to the US and the officer had been travelling with him. A Met