UK

PA Media The organisers of Britain’s biggest ever survey of household plastic waste have called for immediate action to tackle what they say are “jaw-dropping” findings. The Big Plastic Count was run across a week in May and its results show that the average participating household threw away 66 pieces of plastic in a week.

Leaked files reveal how Uber lobbied top ministers at undeclared meetings while fighting restrictions to its ride-hailing service in the UK. Documents show then-London mayor Boris Johnson was “the ultimate target” of the lobbying strategy. Undeclared meetings with lobbyists expose loopholes in ministerial code, campaigners say. The politicians say that lobbying rules were followed and

PETER NICHOLLS Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has become the 10th senior Conservative MP to launch a bid to succeed Boris Johnson as party leader and prime minister. The race widened significantly over the weekend, with many leadership hopefuls setting out competing tax plans as a core element of their pitches. But there are divisions over

Ministry of Defence via PA Media Six Royal Air Force fighter jets have flown to Finland and Sweden for joint training exercises, the MoD has said. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the deployment, which came at the request of both nations, underlined the UK’s commitment to strengthening collective defence capabilities. The exercise also follows the

Reuters Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps have announced they are standing for the Conservative Party leadership. Mr Shapps told the Sunday Times he was ruling out a general election if he was successful in becoming prime minister. Mr Zahawi has said he will lower taxes, boost defence spending, and continue with education

UK Parliament Former equalities minister Kemi Badenoch has become the latest Conservative MP to enter the race to become the next party leader and PM. Confirming her candidacy in The Times, Ms Badenoch said she wants a limited government and to “tell the truth”. The most high profile candidate so far is former chancellor Rishi

PA Media Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Angela Rayner have been cleared by Durham Police of breaking lockdown rules. It follows an inquiry into an event at a Labour MP’s office in April 2021. In a statement, the police said there was “no case to answer” citing an exemption to lockdown rules for

Getty Images Boris Johnson has promised his cabinet he will not use his remaining time as prime minister to make “major changes of direction”. The PM has caved in to pressure from ministers to quit as Tory leader but wants to stay in No 10 until the party chooses who should replace him. His collapse

Getty Images Boris Johnson is to stand down as Conservative Party leader after losing the support of his ministers and MPs. A Conservative leadership contest will take place this summer and a new prime minister will be in place in time for the party conference in October. In the meantime, Mr Johnson will continue as

PA Media Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told Scotland’s first minister that now is not the time to hold a second independence referendum. His letter to Nicola Sturgeon came on the day dozens of his own ministers and aides called for him to quit. Last week the FM wrote to Mr Johnson saying she was

Reuters Boris Johnson is fighting for political survival after two of his top ministers attacked his leadership and resigned. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid quit within 10 minutes of each other, followed by a flurry of junior ministers and aides. Critics said it was “over” for the prime minister, while Labour said

PA Media This is all about one thing: truth. Stand back from the swirl of detail and allegations, and it boils down to whether people can believe what No 10 is saying. And when I say people, of course, firstly that means the electorate. But it also means the very ministers, members of the government,

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The UK “will not go back into the EU” under a Labour government, Sir Keir Starmer has said, in a speech attacking the government’s record on Brexit. The Labour leader vowed to “move on arguments of the

Protesters have begun to target motorways in Wales, Essex and Devon, in a demonstration over high fuel prices. Police have warned there could be “serious disruption throughout the day” as protesters call for a cut to fuel duty. The action is mainly targeting three-lane motorways and is seeing convoys of vehicles driving slowly in two

Getty Images Boris Johnson was not aware of “specific allegations” against Chris Pincher when he was promoted to deputy chief whip, a Cabinet minister says. Mr Pincher was suspended as a Conservative Party MP earlier this week over allegations he had groped two men. He now faces six new claims of inappropriate behaviour stretching back

PA Media Six new claims of inappropriate behaviour by former Conservative deputy chief whip Chris Pincher have emerged, days after he was suspended from the party for allegedly groping two men. The allegations stretch back more than a decade. Mr Pincher – who represents Tamworth in Staffordshire – says he is seeking professional medical support