Politics

In the wake of Angela Rayner’s departure, Number 10 has carried out a swift and drama-free reshuffle that is all about delivery, but they shouldn’t congratulate themselves too soon. While they focus on pragmatism, political forces that have been threatening to destabilise the entire Starmer project are about to be unleashed. Firstly, the Labour party…

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is reportedly set to unveil plans to move asylum seekers being housed in hotels to barracks at former military bases, as the government seeks to toughen its immigration policies. Following widespread protests this summer over the housing of asylum seekers in hotels, Ms Mahmood, who took over from Yvette Cooper as…

It’s normally Nigel Farage who seizes the megaphone, but his big Birmingham Reform UK party conference was metaphorically gatecrashed by Angela Rayner’s dramatic resignation, followed by Sir Keir Starmer’s shock reshuffle. The massive Westminster news on Friday meant Mr Farage had to move his speech to avoid a clash with the prime minister’s reshuffle, as…

Nigel Farage has confirmed he wants to deport women asylum seekers back to the Taliban in Afghanistan if he becomes prime minister. The Reform UK leader’s position on the topic has not been clear, with him previously saying he wouldn’t send women back to the fundamentalist regime that took over after western militaries withdrew, before…

It was clear from the prime minister’s very personal and handwritten letter to his fallen deputy Angela Rayner, that this was a resignation he did not want and deeply regretted. And so he should: Ms Rayner’s departure from his government is a huge loss. She is a powerhouse within the Labour Party and a figurehead…

David Lammy recently told a radio interviewer he had “a powerful sense that I’m the right guy in the right job at the right time to do this”, as foreign secretary. Those who travelled with him observed a man in his element, whether in the frozen wastes of Svalbard or the corridors of power. He…

Ministers are being urged not to meet the Israeli president during an expected visit next week, as the government continues to condemn his country’s expanded military offensive in Gaza. Isaac Herzog will be in Britain on Wednesday and Thursday, Sky News understands. Downing Street has declined to comment, only saying it would set out any…

Sir Keir Starmer could be forced into a decision over Angela Rayner’s future as early as today, as the prime minister’s ethics adviser prepares his verdict on the Labour deputy’s tax affairs. Ms Rayner, who is also the housing secretary, has been under mounting pressure since she admitted not paying the correct amount of stamp…

The backgrounds of Angela Rayner and Sir Laurie Magnus – the sleaze watchdog who holds her fate in his hands – couldn’t be more different. Labour’s “Red Queen” is a working-class council house girl who got pregnant at 16. He’s an old Etonian “quango king”, a City grandee and a pillar of the establishment. He’s…

The leader of Britain’s trade unions has urged Labour to fight Reform UK by hitting millionaires, banks and gambling with higher taxes. Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, has published an opinion poll of 5,000 adults. He says the results suggest a significant number of Labour voters are leaning to Reform. His call comes…