Politics

Boris Johnson’s right-hand man Dominic Cummings has left Downing Street after a power struggle that has rocked the prime minister’s administration. Mr Johnson‘s senior advisor exited Number 10 carrying a large box on Friday evening following a bitter dispute which also led to the resignation of Mr Cummings’ fellow Vote Leave veteran Lee Cain as

Politics is a brutal business, but the last week has surpassed even Westminster’s savage standards. I understand it was Boris Johnson himself who asked Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain to leave Downing Street. Not at Christmas. Not in the New Year – but right now. Remember, just two days earlier the prime minister put out

When the UK fully leaves the European Union on 31 December – the shape of that trade deal or no deal to be decided in the coming days – the man who was so instrumental in making Brexit happen will be leaving too. Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s chief adviser, was the architect of the

Dominic Cummings is to leave his role as the prime minister’s chief adviser by the end of the year, Sky News understands. A Downing Street source told Sky’s political editor Beth Rigby the controversial aide will leave Number 10, having been one of Boris Johnson‘s first appointments when he became prime minister in July last

The government has been told to “focus on the job in hand” rather than “squabbling” in Downing Street following the dramatic resignation of the prime minister’s spin chief. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called on Number 10 to “pull yourselves together” amid signs of a bitter power struggle at the top of Boris Johnson‘s administration.

A Brexit deal is “unlikely this week” and trade talks are “likely to move into next week”, according to Ireland’s foreign minister. Simon Coveney said he was hopeful he would be “proven wrong” but played down the prospects of a breakthrough in the next few days. He also warned of “real problems” if a deal

England’s deputy chief medical officer has said he will be encouraging his own mother to get a COVID-19 vaccine as he assured Britons that safety standards will not be compromised in the face of the public health emergency. Professor Jonathan Van Tam, speaking at a Downing Street news conference, outlined how the regular development and

Boris Johnson says he has spoken with president-elect Joe Biden and congratulated him on his election victory. The prime minister said in a tweet: “I look forward to strengthening the partnership between our countries and to working with him on our shared priorities – from tackling climate change, to promoting democracy and building back better

The NHS has been asked to be ready to deploy a coronavirus vaccine from the start of December, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told Sky News. It was announced on Monday that a COVID-19 vaccine, being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, has been found to be 90% effective in preventing people from getting the virus.

The House of Lords has voted to remove parts of the government’s Brexit legislation that ministers have admitted will allow them to break international law. In two votes, peers voted overwhelmingly (433 votes to 165, majority 268, and 407 votes to 148, majority 259) to strip out the controversial clauses in the UK Internal Market

The government will reinstate any parts of its international law-breaking Brexit legislation that are removed by the House of Lords, a cabinet minister has vowed. The UK Internal Market Bill, which has been condemned by critics both in Westminster and abroad, seeks to allow ministers to override the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the EU. But

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has told Sky News there will “always be points of tension” in any relationship but that the UK is looking forward to working with Joe Biden. Speaking on Sophy Ridge On Sunday, Mr Raab said America would have “no greater ally and no more dependable friend” than the UK and that

Boris Johnson has said America is the UK’s “closest and most important ally” – and that “won’t change” under a new president. Congratulating both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their US election victory, the prime minister said the two countries would work together to support democracy and combat issues such as tackling climate change.

Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen have agreed their negotiating teams will continue talks next week as both acknowledged “significant differences” remain. Downing Street said it would enable the two sides to “redouble efforts” to reach a deal as the end of the transition period looms. The talks will resume in London

Boris Johnson has said he has “every confidence in the checks and balances of the US constitution” as Donald Trump makes unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in the country’s election. The US president has been an ally of Mr Johnson after backing him to become prime minister and supporting his position on Brexit. Asked if

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is self-isolating after recently being in “close contact” with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. The cabinet minister will have to self-isolate for a period of 14 days, in line with government and NHS rules. Mr Raab will continue to work remotely, a spokesman said, during a time when the result