[ad_1] There will be a prominent new face at Prime Minister’s Questions this week – the Conservative frontbencher Alex Burghart.The shadow Northern Ireland Secretary will deputise for the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch at the weekly question session.With the prime minister at the G20 Summit in Rio De Janeiro, the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will answer questions for the government.Convention dictates that when the prime minister is away, the Conservatives
[ad_1] PA MediaFor years, the UK’s relationship with China has been poor, dominated by rows about democracy in Hong Kong, human rights in Xinjiang and cyber threats against UK bodies.Much of this has been fuelled by a cross-party alliance of MPs pushing hard for a more hawkish approach.But Sir Keir Starmer is determined to improve relations - still challenging Beijing over disagreements but also looking for cooperation where possible.So at
[ad_1] Getty ImagesCatherine Mayer and Sandi Toksvig at the launch of the party in 2015 It is the "end of the party but not the movement", Women's Equality Party co-founder Catherine Mayer has said, after members voted to shut down the organisation.Speaking to the BBC's Woman's Hour, Mayer said the party was closing partly due to financial pressures but also because the party's approach "was not working in a polarised
[ad_1] The prime minister has said he will not put pressure on Labour MPs over their votes on whether to legalise assisted dying.Cabinet ministers are increasingly divided in public over the issue, which will be voted on in the House of Commons at the end of next week.MPs are being granted a free vote, which means their parties are not telling them how to vote.Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is the
[ad_1] PAThe SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said party infighting over his bid to stand at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election has been unedifying. Flynn currently represents the constituency of Aberdeen South in the House of Commons. But last week the MP announced he intends to stand for the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat at Holyrood, currently held by the SNP's Audrey Nicoll.Flynn confirmed he would aim to hold
[ad_1] Getty ImagesReforming the social care system in England is "urgent", cabinet minister Louise Haigh has said, after sources told the BBC there was a "genuine impasse" at the top of government over the issue.The transport secretary said the government had already taken steps to improve pay and tackle vacancies in the sector, as well as giving councils an extra £600m in funding for adult and children's social care. In
[ad_1] The leader of the Liberal Democrats has said his party's Welsh leader should reflect on her position over her handling of a sexual abuse case when she worked for the Church of England.A 2021 report found Jane Dodds, who is in charge of the Welsh Lib Dems, made a "grave error of judgement" by not organising a meeting to discuss a particular case of abuse by the former Bishop
[ad_1] Bus services in every part of England will be boosted by nearly £1bn of new funding, the government is pledging.The Department for Transport last month announced the investment for 2025. Confirming details of its plans, the government said the money will be allocated based on need, population and levels of deprivation - instead of making areas compete for investment as in previous years. In total, there will be £712m
[ad_1] BBCSir Keir Starmer’s first five months have produced little sign of a plan for Labour’s promised National Care Service – and now I’m told there is a “genuine impasse” at the top of government over what to do about social care.Health Secretary Wes Streeting publicly acknowledges “we can’t solve the NHS crisis” without improving what a government source describes as an “appalling” situation, in a system that’s meant to
[ad_1] GoogleThe Dragonfly Hotel in Peterborough is due to accommodate 146 asylum seekersTwo MPs have labelled the government's decision to house asylum seekers at a lakeside hotel as "inappropriate" and "disappointing".The Home Office will house 146 asylum seekers at the Dragonfly Hotel in Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough, as first reported by the Peterborough Telegraph.The two Labour MPs covering Peterborough, Andrew Pakes and Sam Carling, said they would keep "fighting" for clear
