Politics

Rachel Reeves will tell Cabinet colleagues she is considering measures to reduce household energy bills as part of her budget response to rising inflation, expected to reach 4% when official figures are announced on Wednesday. Economists forecast that consumer price inflation (CPI) will have reached double the Bank of England’s target in September, driven up…

The government will allow thousands of rapists, child sex offenders and other violent criminals to be released early from prison, the Conservatives claimed as a row over sentencing law reforms erupted. Ahead of MPs debating the Sentencing Bill, introduced to tackle the growing prison population, on Tuesday, the Tories accused Labour of favouring criminals over…

The government is facing increasing pressure to formally strip Prince Andrew of his dukedom. Andrew voluntarily gave up his titles last week but will technically continue to hold them unless they are removed by an Act of Parliament. Rachael Maskell – the independent MP for York Central – told Sky News that 88% of her…

The UK is ready to spend “well over” £100m on a possible deployment of British forces to Ukraine if Donald Trump secures a peace deal with Russia, the defence secretary has said. John Healey also said Vladimir Putin views Britain as his “number one enemy” because of the country’s support for Ukraine. The defence secretary’s…

The armed forces will receive new powers to shoot down drones that threaten military bases in the UK, the defence secretary will reveal. John Healey will use a speech on Monday evening to warn of the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles following an incursion into Polish airspace of 19 Russian drones in September…

The government is announcing the creation of new V Levels qualifications for students age 16-19 in what is being billed as a major overhaul of the education system. The Department for Education says the aim is to give young people “new vocational qualifications tied to rigorous and real-world job standards”. Vocational education has been “an afterthought…

Government ministers have been outspoken and unequivocal in their outrage at the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Aston Villa. The prime minister immediately described it as “wrong”, his spokesperson later describing Sir Keir Starmer as “angered”. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Communities Secretary Steve Reed were all involved…

Brexit will have a negative impact on the UK’s economic growth “for the foreseeable future”, the UK’s most senior banker has warned. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said a decline in the UK’s potential growth rate from 2.5% to 1.5% over the past 15 years was linked to lower productivity growth, an ageing population,…

Crowds of protesters have marched through London streets rallying against government plans for digital IDs. Thousands of demonstrators – controlled by strict police conditions – chanted and waved banners along the route on Saturday, which ended at the heart of government – Whitehall. The prime minister announced in September that a digital ID system would…

Lucy Powell has accused Bridget Phillipson’s team of “throwing mud” and briefing against her in the Labour deputy leadership race in a special episode of Sky’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast. With just days to go until the race is decided, Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby spoke to the two leadership rivals about allegations of leaks,…