Politics

PA Media By Philippa Roxby and Michelle Roberts BBC News Nurses in the Royal College of Nursing union have rejected the government’s pay offer in England and will now go on strike over the first May bank holiday. The 48-hour walkout from 20:00 BST on 30 April to 20:00 on 2 May will involve NHS

The UK economy saw no growth in February after expanding in January, official figures show. Falls in public sector services linked to strikes were offset by growth in the construction industry, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. It follows a surprise 0.4% jump in economic growth in January. Commenting on February’s figures, ONS director

Getty Images By Paul Seddon Politics reporter Matt Hancock is among three MPs facing probes by Parliament’s standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg, it has been disclosed. The ex-health secretary is being investigated for allegedly trying to influence the commissioner’s enforcement of the rules. A spokesman for Mr Hancock said he was “shocked and surprised” by the

PACEMAKER By Chris Page BBC News Ireland correspondent For a place roughly the size of Connecticut, Northern Ireland has received plenty of presidential attention. Bill Clinton visited three times during his presidency, George W Bush twice, and Barack Obama once. It had long been expected that Joe Biden – a president who speaks of his

PA Media Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has doubled down on a controversial attack on Rishi Sunak’s record on crime, saying “I stand by every word”. A Labour advert claimed Mr Sunak did not think adults convicted of child sex assaults should go to prison. Writing in the Daily Mail, Sir Keir backed his party’s

PA Media The Conservative party has rejected a suggestion from its leader in Scotland that voters could tactically back Labour to oust the SNP. Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Douglas Ross said “where there is the strongest candidate to beat the SNP, you get behind that candidate.” It would be a case of parties doing

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Nicola Sturgeon has said she wants to get on with her life and her job after a week that saw her husband arrested and her home searched by police. Scotland’s former first minister was speaking for the

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. By Pete Saull and Oliver Slow BBC News A Labour shadow minister has refused to say whether she stands by a claim in a party attack advert which said Rishi Sunak did not think adults convicted of

Getty Images Rishi Sunak is taking no action against Tory MP Mark Spencer, after an inquiry failed to determine whether he had told a colleague her Muslim faith was a factor in her sacking. Nus Ghani claimed she was told it was “raised as an issue” when she lost her ministerial job in a reshuffle

HANDOUT By Charley Adams BBC News About 500 adult male migrants will be housed in a barge on the Dorset coast “in the coming months”, the government has confirmed. The plans have been criticised by local groups, refugee charities and Conservative MP Richard Drax, who said “every action’s being looked at”. The Home Office says

PA Media By Becky Morton Political reporter The UK’s response to the plight of those taken hostage is failing British citizens, a group of MPs have warned. The Foreign Affairs Committee highlighted examples of “ministerial clumsiness” and “hurtful comments” in its communication with families. Conservative MP Alicia Kearns said families were too often “left to

PA Media By Jemma Crew & Tom Symonds BBC News Victims of grooming gangs have been ignored because of political correctness, Rishi Sunak said as he set out plans for a police taskforce. Specialist officers will be sent to help forces with their investigations, the government said. And better ethnicity data will help ensure abusers

Getty Images By Ione Wells & Laura Kuenssberg BBC News People who work with children in England will be legally required to report child sexual abuse or face prosecution under government plans. The move – which is subject to a consultation – was recommended last year by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

Getty Images By Leila Nathoo & James FitzGerald BBC News Water companies could face unlimited fines for dumping sewage under government plans due to be unveiled in the coming days. Ministers want to lift a cap of £250,000 for penalties for firms that release sewage into rivers and the sea. Releases of untreated waste are

Getty Images By Tom Espiner Business reporter, BBC News The UK has signed a deal to join a trade pact with 11 Asia and Pacific nations, three years after it officially left the European Union. Joining the group will boost UK exports by cutting tariffs on goods such as cheese, cars, chocolate, machinery, gin and

Getty Images By Esme Stallard Climate and Science Reporter, BBC News The government has unveiled a new net zero plan which has been met with intense criticism from experts and environmental groups. The document was drawn up after the High Court ruled the government’s existing plans were not sufficient to meet its climate targets. A