Politics

Michael Gove and Rishi Sunak have pledged to see off Conservative rebellions over housebuilding as they lay out their plans to increase homes in the UK. Mr Gove, the housing secretary, was delivering a speech on his plans to increase the number of homes being built in the UK, with the government having previously missed

Developers have accused the government of not doing enough to tackle falling levels of house building, as Michael Gove prepares to unveil plans that he says will boost construction – without spoiling the countryside. In a speech expected on Monday, the levelling up and housing secretary will set out measures aimed at “unblocking the planning

Sadiq Khan is still committed to expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) but is happy to look at new ideas for ways to mitigate the financial impact on Londoners, Sky News understands. The London mayor is understood to be willing to consider measures as long as they do not reduce the policy’s effectiveness at

Michael Gove has warned against “treating the cause of the environment as a religious crusade” and called for a relaxation of some net zero measures. The housing secretary told The Sunday Telegraph he wants to “relax” the deadline for landlords in the private rented sector to make energy improvements to their properties. He said the

Labour’s failure to take Boris Johnson’s former seat is a reminder that “policy matters”, Sir Keir Starmer has said – after the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) by London mayor Sadiq Khan was blamed for the narrow loss. The opposition leader told activists that the Conservatives hanging on to Uxbridge and South

The Conservatives have suffered two by-election defeats in what had been seen as safe seats. Labour won in the constituency of Selby and Ainsty, while the Liberal Democrats triumphed in Somerton and Frome. The opposition parties both overturned Tory majorities of about 20,000 – as polling experts said the results meant “deep electoral trouble” for

All three leading political parties are turning their attention to next year’s general election after a mixed bag of results from Thursday’s ballot box contests. The Conservatives managed to hold former prime minister Boris Johnson’s seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip overnight, with Rishi Sunak saying the victory showed the next national vote was “not

Two by-elections lost, one held by the Tories, but the biggest lesson of the last extraordinary few hours is apparent by looking at the swings against Rishi Sunak’s party: that they suggest the Conservative Party is on course to lose Number 10 at the next election. This does not mean the situation isn’t salvageable. But

Nigel Farage has called on MPs to hold an inquiry into NatWest after one of the group’s banks, Coutts, closed his account. The former UKIP and Brexit Party leader has claimed the elite bank took the action because his views did not align with the firm’s “values”. But other media reports suggested it was down

Polls will open today at 7am for three by-elections across the country, as voters decide who they want to represent them in parliament. The seats of Uxbridge and South Ruislip in west London, Selby and Ainsty in North Yorkshire, and Somerton and Frome in Somerset, will all be up for grabs, with polls closing at

The government has delayed publishing its long-awaited transgender guidance for schools after its own legal advisors concluded some of the suggested elements would be unlawful, Sky News understands. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had promised to bring out the advice during the summer term, which comes to an end this week for most state schools. But

The owner of Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled plans to build an electric car battery factory in the UK. Tata Motors says it’s planning to invest more than £4bn, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declaring that the new plant will create thousands of skilled jobs for Britons across the country. The deal is the culmination

Two giant cruise ships set to house 1,000 asylum seekers were unable to find anywhere to dock and have been returned to their owners, a senior source has told Sky News. In June, Rishi Sunak announced the government acquired two more vessels, alongside the Bibby Stockholm barge – which arrived in Dorset today – as

A controversial barge that is set to accommodate 500 asylum seekers has arrived in Dorset. The Bibby Stockholm departed Falmouth in Cornwall on Monday – one month behind schedule. It was pulled by a tugboat into Portland Port on Tuesday morning. The vessel’s arrival in Dorset – which has been opposed by the local MP

A barge which will house 500 asylum seekers is on the move, with the first residents expected to board later this month. The barge – named the Bibby Stockholm – departed from Falmouth, Cornwall, to head to Portland Port in Dorset on Monday morning as Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman faced fresh criticism

Boris Johnson has been criticised for the swelling size of the House of Lords and an imbalance in the political make-up of the upper chamber. A report from the Lord Speaker’s committee on the size of the house highlighted Mr Johnson as showing “no interest” in trying to reduce the number of peers. This follows