Politics

This is the story of two announcements – and the bigger lessons they tell us about the state of our politics. First, there was a policy announcement by the Liberal Democrats as they gathered in Bournemouth for their annual conference. Some Lib Dems were already aggrieved they do not get coverage commensurate with their parliamentary…

Graham Linehan has told Sky News he believes satire is “dying” and that it would be “impossible” to make his hit shows Father Ted or The IT Crowd today. The comedy writer was arrested at Heathrow Airport earlier this month over social media posts sharing his views on trans rights. Appearing on Sky News’ Sunday…

Sir Keir Starmer has announced the UK has officially recognised Palestine as a state. “Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine,” the prime minister said on X, alongside a longer video statement. “In the face of…

The Liberal Democrats have vowed to tax banks to raise money that could help people lower their energy bills. Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dems’ deputy leader and Treasury spokesperson, said the party would impose a windfall tax on banks that would fund a new energy security bank that would offer loans to those wishing to…

Sir Ed Davey has branded Elon Musk a criminal and called for him to be prosecuted for “allowing online harm to children” on his social media platform X. The Lib Dem leader told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips the billionaire owner of X, formerly Twitter, is “inciting violence” and his social media platform…

Sir Ed Davey kicked off the Lib Dem conference by attacking Reform and Nigel Farage as he pushed for emergency measures to clear the asylum backlog in a “humane” way. The Lib Dem leader, on the first day of his party’s conference in Bournemouth, launched into their new tactic of criticising Reform with renewed vigour…

Sir Ed Davey has pledged to “stop the boats” as the Liberal Democrats toughen up their rhetoric on immigration. The party leader told Sky News he and his MPs will be talking about immigration during his party’s conference, which starts today, as it is a “big policy which people are concerned about”. He also claimed…

By-election counts are the FA Cup ties of British politics. Some go true to form, but many are tense, nail-biting, go deep into extra time and provide upsets and shocks by political giant killers. Publisher and broadcaster Iain Dale has published a weighty book, British By-elections: The 88 By-election Campaigns That Shaped Our Politics. Could…

The controversial assisted dying bill is still very much alive, having received a second reading in the House of Lords without a vote. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Day two of debate on the bill in the Lords was just as passionate and emotional as the first, a week earlier. And now comes…

The weeks and months ahead will determine whether Keir Starmer has been naive. We will find out just how successful the attempt to deepen a bond with this mercurial president has been. Has the prime minister actually achieved something with this state visit, or will it amount to nothing? But there is plenty to absorb…