Politics

Getty Images Former environment minister Zac Goldsmith has been banned from driving for a year after he was caught speeding seven times in 2023. The Conservative peer, 49, broke speed limits in his hybrid electric Volkswagen Golf on London roads in Paddington, Chelsea and Twickenham between April and November last year. He was also caught
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Reuters By Ben Schofield BBC News, East of England They are responsible for planning, potholes and policing. But our local politicians are facing unprecedented levels of abuse and harassment. The government has committed £31m to improving safety and security for all elected representatives. So, with local elections coming, what is it like on the front
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PA Media By Alex Forsyth & Phil Kemp BBC News A former Conservative councillor was repeatedly discriminated against on the basis of his Muslim faith or Pakistani background, a confidential independent report has found. Mohammed Arif, a Walsall councillor, claimed he was blocked from standing for re-election by the local party in 2015 and discriminated
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By Chris Mason Political editor, in Cardiff The First Minister of Wales has blamed drunks for the Welsh Labour government never once meeting its waiting time target in hospital accident and emergency departments. Mark Drakeford, who stands down next week, told the BBC “many, many people who wait in hospital to be treated are not
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Reuters By Kate Whannel Political reporter Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said there will not be a general election on 2 May, the date when local elections are already taking place. Earlier this year, Mr Sunak suggested the general election would happen in the second half of 2024. More recently, there had been some speculation
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PA Media By Iain Watson Political correspondent, BBC News Labour believes it has found a new dividing line with the Conservatives at the next general election – National Insurance. Both the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall road-tested it today, when they denounced the Conservatives’ long-term aim
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Getty Images Comments allegedly made about Diane Abbott by a Tory donor were “racist and wrong”, Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson has said. Frank Hester, who has donated £10m to the Tories, reportedly said the MP made him want to “hate all black women”. Mr Hester apologised for making “rude” comments but said his words “had nothing
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. By Sam Francis Political reporter, BBC News Ex-Conservative Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson has defected to Reform UK. Mr Anderson was suspended as a Conservative MP after refusing to apologise for claims Islamists had “control” of London
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Reuters By Paul Seddon Politics reporter Labour now intends to pay for its NHS and school breakfast plans through future savings to public spending if it wins power, Rachel Reeves has said. The party had planned to fund the flagship policies by replacing the UK’s current “non-dom” tax regime. But Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the
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PA Media By Lora Jones BBC Business The UK economy is getting “on the right track”, claimed Rishi Sunak ahead of what could be his government’s final Budget before the general election. The prime minister spoke as the chancellor prepared for Wednesday, when he is widely expected to announce tax cuts but has cautioned it
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Getty Images By Becky Morton Political reporter Jeremy Hunt has insisted the government is “on track” to deliver a planned expansion of free childcare in April. However, the chancellor told the BBC he could not give “an absolute guarantee” that the places needed would all be available in time. From April, the government has promised
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