Politics

A visa centre being set up in northern France to assist Ukrainian refugees will not offer appointments or walk-in access, and its exact location will not be made public, the Home Office has confirmed. Earlier, a Downing Street spokesman told reporters the centre in Lille would “start accepting appointments” from Thursday, but that has been

The Ukrainian ambassador to the UK has said he does not believe a huge number of refugees fleeing the country will come to Britain as many want to stay in bordering nations “closer to their roots”. Appearing in front of the Home Affairs Commons Committee, Vadym Prystaiko told MPs that Ukrainian refugees want to get

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said he would support Poland in supplying jets to assist Ukraine if they chose to do so. Mr Wallace told Sky News he would support a decision by the fellow NATO member to supply MiG-29 jets to Ukraine – but that it would have to be their choice. It comes

A new Economic Crime Bill to bolster the government’s ability to target Russian oligarchs has been pushed through the Commons. The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill received an unopposed third reading on Monday evening and will now go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. It was rushed through the Commons in the

A government minister has defended the UK’s support for fleeing Ukrainian refugees after it was revealed by the Home Office only “around 50” visas had been granted. Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said the UK government has “made it absolutely clear we want to support Ukrainians who are seeking refuge”, adding that most of those

The world must prepare for “even darker days ahead” over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Boris Johnson has said. Writing in the New York Times, the prime minister said Western nations have “failed to learn the lessons of Russian behaviour” that led to Vladimir Putin launching his assault last month. Live updates on Russia’s invasion of

Ensuring Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine fails could take “months, if not years”, the deputy prime minister has told Sky News. Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sunday, Dominic Raab said Ukrainian forces have “proved a far tougher prospect than Putin expected”. Ukraine-Russia latest news: Powerful bombs dropped on city; China warns against ‘adding fuel to

Boris Johnson has said it appears Vladimir Putin sees no way out of the Ukraine invasion “except to continue with the destruction”. “It feels to me as though Vladimir Putin has decided to – and it’s clear from what’s happening – that he’s decided to double down,” he told European papers La Repubblica, Die Welt

A Ukrainian-born Tory donor has begged Boris Johnson to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine – as he labelled Vladimir Putin “insane”. Alexander Temerko has asked the prime minister to reconsider his objections to a no-fly zone, arguing it could save the lives of millions of people. The veteran Tory donor, who gained British citizenship

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has called for the creation of a special tribunal to punish Vladimir Putin for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The former Labour leader is urging Western countries to set up the tribunal to prosecute the Russian president and his accomplices. Live updates as nuclear plant seized by Russian troops Speaking alongside

The shelling of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine by Russian troops is “a threat to European security and stability”, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said. Speaking in Brussels, where ministers from across the West are gathering today to discuss how to respond to Russian aggression, Ms Truss told broadcasters that those responsible for the

Former education secretary Gavin Williamson has been given a knighthood, Downing Street said. The MP for South Staffordshire was sacked by Boris Johnson during his September 2021 cabinet reshuffle. Mr Williamson was education secretary during most of the pandemic, when he came under heavy criticism for his handling of exams and school closures. A Downing

Voters are going to the polls today in Birmingham Erdington in a parliamentary by-election triggered by the sudden death of Labour Party and trade union stalwart Jack Dromey. Mr Dromey, who was married to the former Labour cabinet minister and interim party leader Harriet Harman, held the seat with a majority of 3,601 in the

Boris Johnson has accused Vladimir Putin of committing “a war crime” as he spoke during a session of PMQs preceded by a standing ovation for Ukraine’s ambassador. As the Russian president’s attempt to invade Ukraine entered a seventh day, Mr Johnson condemned Mr Putin’s “abhorrent assault” on his country’s neighbour. “What we have seen already

Russia will get “harder, tougher and more indiscriminate” in its attack on Ukraine as Vladimir Putin’s invasion effort lags “considerably” behind schedule, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned. Speaking to Sky News, Mr Wallace said the Russian forces in Ukraine were “moving very slowly on its objectives” and suffering “significant casualties” as they continue their

MPs will get a pay rise of more than £2,000 this year, the parliamentary pay watchdog has announced. MPs will receive £2,212 more for the year from 1 April, increasing their pay by 2.7% from £81,932 to £84,144, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) announced. IPSA sets MPs’ pay independently of parliament and government. It

The UK “stands ready” to take Ukrainians fleeing the Russia’s invasion in “considerable numbers”, Boris Johnson has said. Speaking in Warsaw alongside Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Mr Johnson said he is “more convinced than ever” that Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine will fail. With hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, the

A further 100,000 Ukrainians will be able to seek sanctuary in the UK, the home secretary has announced, but Priti Patel has ruled out a visa waiver for those fleeing the conflict with Russia following Vladimir Putin’s invasion. Making the announcement in the Commons, Priti Patel said family members of those who are British nationals

Plans to tackle the flow of “dirty money” and stop the laundering of ill-gotten wealth in the UK property market will be fast-tracked by the government. The move, first reported on Saturday by Sky News political correspondent Tamara Cohen, comes just days after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. The Economic Crime

A “hit list” of Russian oligarchs has been drawn up by the Foreign Office as ministers prepare to slap further sanctions on those close to Vladimir Putin’s regime, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has told Sky News. The mansions and private jets of billionaires are to be targeted as the government steps up punitive measures following