Politics

All survivors who have resigned from the government’s grooming gangs inquiry panel will consider returning if safeguarding minister Jess Phillips resigns. The four women who have resigned this week have written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, calling for Ms Phillips to step down and all survivors to be consulted on appointing a senior judge as…

A migrant who was deported back to France under the government’s flagship “one in, one out” scheme has returned to the UK on a small boat. The Iranian national was initially detained when he entered the UK on a small boat on 6 August. He was removed under the government’s deal with France on 19…

Caerphilly is famous for three Cs: coal, cheese and its mighty castle. It’s also the birthplace of the legendary comedian Tommy Cooper. And after Thursday’s Senedd by-election, in what was once a Labour stronghold as impregnable as the castle, it’s Plaid Cymru or Reform UK that will have the last laugh. It may not be…

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…