Politics

Getty Images By David Wallace Lockhart & Joshua Nevett BBC Politics Liz Truss is contesting a government bill relating to her use of the grace-and-favour country house she had access to as foreign secretary. The former Conservative prime minister has been asked to foot a bill of about £12,000 for costs incurred at Chevening House

By Laura Kuenssberg Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg With the elections for thousands of councillors in England on Thursday MPs, councillors and their hardy activists have been knocking on voters’ doors over the last few weeks. Forget about the politics for a second – I’ve heard some pretty hair-raising stories about what can go wrong

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. By Sean Seddon BBC News BBC chairman Richard Sharp has resigned after a report found he did not disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest during his appointment. It looked at whether he was transparent about his role

PA Media By Nick Eardley BBC chief political correspondent A report examining the appointment of the BBC’s chairman Richard Sharp is expected imminently. It looks at whether Mr Sharp properly disclosed details of any involvement in the facilitation of a £800,000 loan guarantee to the then PM Boris Johnson. Mr Sharp has denied any involvement

Getty Images By Paul Seddon Politics reporter The government has pledged to limit the new child detention powers in its migration bill to defuse a backbench rebellion. Around 20 Tory MPs wanted to require court approval to detain unaccompanied children longer than three days. But they agreed not to push their amendment to a vote,

Reuters By Nick Eardley BBC chief political correspondent Senior SNP MPs are at loggerheads after the party’s former Westminster leader accused his successor of giving him false assurances about the group’s auditors. Ian Blackford told the BBC he had been given an assurance by Stephen Flynn earlier this month that the Westminster group had a

Getty Images Comments made by former shadow minister Diane Abbott in a letter were antisemitic, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said. Ms Abbott was suspended as a Labour MP after suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people were not subject to racism “all their lives”. She later apologised and withdrew the remarks, written in a

PA Media By Jemma Crew & Laura Kuenssberg BBC News The sister of a head teacher who took her own life after an Ofsted inspection has criticised the watchdog’s boss for defending it. Amanda Spielman told the BBC she had no reason to doubt the report into Caversham Primary in Reading. Head teacher Ruth Perry

James Manning/PA Wire By Chris Mason Political editor, BBC News Dominic Raab arrived to meet me in his constituency in Surrey, the trappings of office gone. No ministerial car, no aides, no title, beyond backbench Conservative MP. There was little in the way of contrition, although he did say he would apologise to anyone who

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. By Becky Morton & Chris Mason BBC Politics Former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has accused “activist civil servants” of trying to block the work of government, after his dramatic resignation over bullying claims. An inquiry found

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The SNP still owes money to its former chief executive Peter Murrell, First Minister Humza Yousaf has confirmed. Mr Murrell, who is married to Nicola Sturgeon, gave the party a loan of £107,620 in June 2021. The

Reuters By Paul Seddon Politics reporter Rishi Sunak has referenced his wife’s shares in a childcare firm in his published list of financial interests, after a conflict-of-interests row. The PM has faced questions over Akshata Murty’s shares in Koru Kids, a childcare agency which could benefit from a policy in last month’s Budget. He faces

Reuters By Paul Seddon Politics reporter Downing Street is resisting calls for Rishi Sunak to publish his financial interests today, after a row over his wife’s shares in a childcare firm. It emerged on Monday the PM faces a probe under the parliamentary rulebook after not mentioning the shares during a hearing in Parliament. Labour

Reuters By Vicki Young & Joshua Nevett BBC News Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is being investigated by Parliament’s standards watchdog over a possible failure to declare an interest. Mr Sunak is being investigated over whether a declaration of interest was “open and frank”, under rules set out by the commissioner for standards. The BBC understands

By Oliver Slow BBC News Further details have been released about the alert that will be sent to smartphones across the UK next week, to test a new public warning system. A message with a siren at 15:00 BST on 23 April will say “in a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to

By Laura Kuenssberg Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg “There is no sense of an actual strategy”, complains one union leader, fresh from talks with government ministers. Whether you’re waiting for a hip operation, a new passport, wondering what you’re going to do with your kids when their teachers leave the classroom for the picket line,