UK

Boris Johnson “should be long gone”, a senior Tory backbencher has declared during a key parliamentary debate on partygate. Steve Baker had only two days ago offered the prime minister his backing after he apologised in the Commons following his fine for breaking lockdown rules. Mr Baker revealed his change of heart as MPs discussed

Boris Johnson has said he intends to fight the next general election as Conservative Party leader as he faces persistent pressure over his leadership due to the ongoing partygate row. Speaking to reporters on the plane as he embarks on a two-day trip to India, the prime minister said that he does not intend to

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of choosing to “slander decent people” in private but lacking the “backbone to repeat it in public”. The Labour leader claimed that Mr Johnson showed a different attitude “once the cameras were off” – during bad-tempered exchanges at Prime Minister’s Questions. Sir Keir accused the PM of going

Boris Johnson has hit back at Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby over his criticism of sending illegal migrants to Rwanda, claiming the top clergy should be condemning Vladimir Putin instead. In an upbeat speech to Tory MPs after his partygate apology in the Commons, the prime minister said that while bishops attacked the Rwanda deal

Theresa May has criticised plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda on the grounds of “legality, practicality and efficacy”. The former Conservative prime minister told the Commons she also fears that the new asylum policy – that will see refugees who reach the UK through illegal routes deported to Rwanda – could split families up

Parliament comes back on Tuesday to a first: A sitting prime minister fined by the police for breaking the laws he himself set will appear in the Commons to try to defy political gravity yet again by trying to explain away his lawbreaking.  Something we’ve never seen before in this parliament, it will be a

UK motorists are braced for travel disruption as millions of people return from Easter getaways. Nearly four million drivers are predicted to make their journeys on Monday causing delays on many major routes, the RAC has said. The roadside assistance company has issued the warning as rail and air passengers experienced long queues, while P&O

Home Secretary Priti Patel has defended the government’s plan to send migrants to Rwanda, telling critics to come up with a better idea. Writing a joint article in The Times with Rwanda’s foreign minister Vincent Biruta, Ms Patel described her controversial plans as “bold and innovative”. Under the new scheme, approved refugees will have to

Victims of domestic violence are being forced to live in “traumatising” accommodation that may not even have a working kitchen or toilet, Sky News has found. Our investigation has documented the state of social accommodation given to tens of thousands of survivors across the UK. Testimonies have been gathered from women and children who have

The government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is “opposite the nature of God”, the Archbishop of Canterbury will say. Reverend Justin Welby will use his Easter Sunday sermon to criticise the government scheme that will see refugees who reach the UK through illegal routes deported to Rwanda. He is expected to say that

The former housing secretary Robert Jenrick has taken in a Ukrainian refugee family under a government scheme, but claims that the process has been “overly bureaucratic”. The Tory MP for Newark took in 40-year-old Maria and her two children Christina, 11, and Boden, 15, earlier this week and is understood to be the first MP

More than a month after the UK’s Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme was launched, thousands of sponsors are still waiting to welcome Ukrainian nationals, amid reports of red tape and bureaucracy in the process. Lynette Protheroe, from Derbyshire, was matched with sisters Yana and Inna and their three children on 20 March but weeks after submitting an

The government hopes it can start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda in a matter of “weeks”, according to Boris Johnson’s policy chief. The UK government is attempting to crack down on Channel crossings by small boats and as part of the plans, the Home Office has signed a “world first” deal with Rwanda to send

Prince Harry and Meghan have flown to the UK to visit the Queen on their way to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had not been in the UK together since they quit as senior working royals more than two years ago, are also believed to have met

The Royal Navy will take over responsibility for tackling people crossing the English Channel from today, Boris Johnson has said as he announced plans plans to fly some migrants to Rwanda. Speaking at an airport in Kent, the prime minister said: “We must ensure that the only route to asylum in the UK is asafe

The government plans to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing in an attempt to tackle small boat crossings in the Channel. Boris Johnson is set to argue action is needed to combat the “vile people smugglers” turning the ocean into a “watery graveyard” in a speech on Thursday. After the prime minister’s speech, Home

The terrorist who murdered veteran MP Sir David Amess is to die behind bars after he was sentenced to a whole-life prison term. Islamic State fanatic Ali Harbi Ali appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday after he was convicted of murder and preparing terrorist acts. Sir David was stabbed more than 20 times during

Boris Johnson has apologised after being fined by the Met Police for breaking lockdown rules but said he would not resign. The prime minister said: “I have paid the fine and I once again offer a full apology.” Asked if he would quit over the fine, Mr Johnson said: “I want to be able to

Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, and chancellor Rishi Sunak, have been notified that they will be issued with fines for breaking lockdown rules. The fixed penalty notices are the result of a Metropolitan Police investigation into parties in Downing Street and Whitehall in 2020 and 2021. Labour immediately called for both to the PM

The government needs “much more ambition and focus” to tackle the “shocking collapse” in rape prosecutions, a group of MPs has said. Police forces in England and Wales recorded the highest number of rapes and sexual offences in a 12-month period in the year to September. However, at the same time, the proportion of suspects