Politics

Kemi Badenoch has said the Conservatives have “values of the right” but that “will appeal to the majority”. The Tory leader listed policies including lower taxes on business and improving education standards as ones that define her party. Politics live: Follow the latest updates Speaking to Sky’s political correspondent Mhari Aurora, Ms Badenoch said: “Delivering…

Be it Andy Burnham or Chinese President Xi Jinping, the prime minister was being extremely careful with his language on both the home and international front as he made his way over to Beijing for a five-day tour of China and Japan. When it came to the Chinese president, Sir Keir Starmer was a leader…

Keir Starmer’s January has been the stuff of nightmares. It kicked off with the crisis over Greenland and rift with Donald Trump – and was followed by a dose of psychodrama over the Labour leadership courtesy of Andy Burnham and that unwanted by-election. This week will be another high-stakes one for the prime minister as…

Ground rents for leaseholders will be capped at £250 a year before dropping to a peppercorn rent after 40 years, Steve Reed has announced. The housing secretary confirmed the move on Tuesday morning, hitting out at ground rents as a “a bit of a scam”, “a racket” and “paying money for nothing”. Ground rents are…

The number of people living in “very deep poverty” in the UK is at the highest level in more than 30 years, a charity has warned. In its latest report, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) said data up to the end of the 2023/24 financial year shows more than one in five people in the…

Andy Burnham is not “entitled” to a seat in parliament, Harriet Harman has said. Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, the Labour peer criticised Mr Burnham’s reaction to being blocked from standing in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election. Politics Live: Ex-home secretary Suella Braverman defects from Tories…

The prime minister has insisted his party’s decision to not allow Andy Burnham to run in an upcoming by-election is correct, because doing so would “divert our resources”. An election is set to be held in the Greater Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton, after Andrew Gwynne made a deal to allow him to stand…

It has been a frenzied 48 hours of Labour leadership speculation after Andy Burnham tried to throw his hat in the ring for a return to parliament. On Sunday, Starmer’s allies emphatically tried to shut that down, as the NEC’s panel voted 8-1 to block the Manchester mayor’s bid. Only the deputy Labour leader and…

Andy Burnham has been blocked from standing as an MP at the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election by Labour’s governing body. Mr Burnham formally requested permission to stand for the contest on Saturday. As mayor of Manchester, he needed permission to contest a different political election. Mr Burnham’s return to Westminster was seen by many…

A “British FBI” will be created to fight the most serious crime and help local police forces focus on tackling everyday offences. The National Police Service (NPS) will be established in England and Wales to tackle crimes such as terrorism, fraud and organised crime that are not constrained by areas, the home secretary will announce…