Politics

Whisper it, but could the Brexit and Boris bandwagons be gradually trundling off into the distance? Let’s start with Brexit. The most politically important development of a packed Westminster Wednesday was arguably what didn’t happen. Boris Johnson, the European Research Group of Brexiteers and the DUP all objected to the government’s EU deal and yet

Former prime minister Boris Johnson has said he is going to vote against the first part of the government’s new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland. The Windsor Framework was agreed by Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 27 February to change the way the Northern Ireland Protocol operates. The first

“Substantial” government spending on energy bills support has sent public borrowing to an all-time February record, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the £16.7bn budget deficit was the highest for the month since records began in 1993. The total is up £9.7bn on February 2022 and greater than the £11.7bn

Boris Johnson’s defence against claims he lied to parliament about whether he knew about Downing Street lockdown parties could be published today. The former prime minister’s case was submitted to the privileges committee by barrister Lord Pannick KC, and allies believe his position – that he was unaware any gatherings broke the rules – will

The government will have to find money to increase public sector pay or face consequences in its services, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt outlined his spring budget on Wednesday, with promises of additional free childcare for working families and the scrapping of limits on pension pots to encourage people

High-profile figures from sport and broadcasting appear to have poked fun at the BBC over its U-turn on the Gary Lineker impartiality row. After the corporation last Friday suspended the Match of the Day presenter, 62, for his tweets criticising the government’s migration policy, it has now agreed to allow him back on air this

WhatsApp is right not to back down in its opposition to UK government proposals that could allow encrypted messages to be scanned, online privacy campaigners have said. Robin Wilton, director of internet trust for the Internet Society, told Sky News that any requirements in the upcoming Online Safety Bill that would weaken user privacy would

An estimated 200,000 teachers in England and Wales will take part in three days of industrial action as their dispute over pay continues. Today, members of the National Education Union (NEU) in the north of England will walk out, with most schools expected to restrict access to pupils or fully close. On Wednesday, union members

Former US president Donald Trump has bid “good riddance” to Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon following her shock resignation announcement. Referring to Ms Sturgeon as a “failed woke extremist”, he also accused the outgoing leader of the Scottish National Party of fighting him over his golf courses in Scotland. Criticising her government’s controversial gender reforms

Further teachers’ strikes are now “inevitable”, a union has said, after a meeting with the Department for Education did not result in a new pay offer for its members. Teachers are set to stage walkouts in England later this month and into March in a dispute over pay and working conditions. Union bosses met Education

The Chinese governor of Xinjiang has pulled out of a trip to London after senior MPs protested over the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in his province. Downing Street confirmed on Monday that Erkin Tuniyaz was set to meet officials in the Foreign Office, saying they would “make clear the UK’s abhorrence to Uyghur people’s treatment”.

As the death toll from the earthquake in Syria and Turkey continues to rise, development minister Andrew Mitchell defends the government’s cuts to the international aid budget as Conservative MP John Redwood calls for tax cuts at home. Plus, SNP MP John Nicolson and member of the DCMS select committee says Richard Sharp’s position is

The corporate vice president of Xbox has told Sky News “there’s no silver bullet” to protect women and minority groups on the internet who experience online harassment and abuse. Dave McCarthy said it takes just one toxic experience on a platform and “your trust in an online space dissipates immediately, as it should”. In an

The BBC chairman’s position is becoming “increasingly untenable” after a committee of MPs found he made “significant errors of judgement” by facilitating a loan guarantee for Boris Johnson, a frontbench Labour MP has said. Lisa Nandy made the remarks on Sky News after it emerged Richard Sharp, who helped Mr Johnson secure an £800,000 loan,

Labour have held onto their seat in West Lancashire after a by-election was triggered by the resignation of veteran MP Rosie Cooper. Ashley Dalton held the seat for the party with a majority of 8,321 over Conservative candidate Mike Prendergast. Following her victory, Ms Dalton told Sky News that problems within the NHS is one

Teachers in Wales have postponed strikes set to take place next week after a new offer on pay. Members of the National Education Union (NEU) and National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) unions will not be pushing ahead with planned strikes on Tuesday after a revised pay offer from the Welsh government. Wales’s education minister, Jeremy

Boris Johnson has declared a nearly £2.5m advance payment for speaking events, bringing his earning this parliament up to £4.8m. The former PM’s latest update to the MPs’ register of interests showed he received £2,488,387.53 as an advance for speeches arranged via the Harry Walker Agency. The Harry Walker speaking agency has other high-profile clients