UK Politics

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorRobert Jenrick has won the first round of voting in the race to be the next Conservative leader as Dame Priti Patel was eliminated. The former immigration minister took 28 votes, beating the favourite Kemi Badenoch into second with the backing of 22 Tory MPs. The other contenders are former security minister Tom Tugendhat, ex-home secretary James Cleverly and Mel Stride.Next week the group will be whittled down again, to just four.Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick, Mel Stride, James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat and Dame Priti Patel (PA) More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorWatch as the result of the first round of voting in the Conservative leadership contest to select a successor to Rishi Sunak was held on Wednesday, 4 September.The first ballot begins the process of narrowing the list of the current six candidates – Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick, Mel Stride, James Cleverly, Tom Tugendhat and Dame Priti Patel.More voting will take place throughout September in order to select four hopefuls who will set out their positions to Tory members at the party’s conference in October.MPs will then take part in further rounds of voting to select two final candidates for party members to choose between, with the result announced on 2 November.Priti Patel was eliminated from the process on Wednesday.Several candidates have officially launched their campaigns as MPs returned to Parliament.Mrs Badenoch, widely tipped as a favourite to win, has sought to position herself as someone who will govern further to the political right, claiming that the Tories “talked right but governed left, sounding like Conservatives but acting like Labour”. More

Priti Patel eliminated from Tory leadership contest in first roundSupport trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorRobert Jenrick has won the first ballot in the race to take over from Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party.Mr Jenrick has sought to centre his campaign on immigration, with a promise to introduce a binding cap on the number of legal migrants and to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.An announcement on the result of the first round came at 3.30pm. Mr Jenrick received 28 votes and closely behind him was bookmaker’s favourite Kemi Badenoch on 22.Dame Priti Patel has been eliminated in the first voting round of the contest.After this first ballot MPs will carry out further rounds of voting to select two final candidates for party members to choose between, with the result announced on 2 November.It comes as Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Sunak clashed over Labour’s decision to cut winter fuel payments at the first Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) since MPs returned from summer recess.Mr Sunak said the prime minister has chosen to take “winter fuel allowance away from low-income pensioners” and offered train drivers a pay rise.Sir Keir responded that Labour was forced “to clear up the mess left by the party opposite.”Show latest update 1725461408Badenoch has ‘momentum’ going in second round, says shadow ministerKemi Badenoch has “momentum” after coming second in the first Tory leadership ballot, shadow minister Andrew Griffith has said.Mr Griffith, who is backing Ms Badenoch for the leadership, told Sky News: “Kemi did really well in this round, second, coming through very strongly for someone who, remember, is one of the younger members of the candidate team here.”Pointing to polls suggesting Ms Badenoch has significant support among party members, Mr Griffith added: “At this point in the cycle, you often see people come through and gather support and momentum, and it seems to me Kemi’s got that momentum.”Joe Middleton4 September 2024 15:501725460829The results of the Tory leadership first ballot in fullIn the first round of the Conservative leadership contest, the results of the ballot of MPs were as follows: Robert Jenrick won 28 votes, Kemi Badenoch 22, James Cleverly 21, Tom Tugendhat 17, Mel Stride 16 and Dame Priti Patel 14.Some 30 Conservative MPs gathered in a Parliamentary committee room for the result of the first ballot, a quarter of their total numbers.Joe Middleton4 September 2024 15:401725460565BREAKING : Patel eliminated in Tory leadership vote as Jenrick wins first ballot to replace SunakRobert Jenrick has won the first ballot in the race to take over from Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party.Joe Middleton4 September 2024 15:361725459147Result of first ballot to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Tory Party expected imminentlyThe result of first ballot to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Tory Party is expected in the next 20 minutes.The field of six is made up of ex-ministers from the previous government: James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Dame Priti Patel, Tom Tugendhat, Mel Stride and Kemi Badenoch.An announcement on the result of the first round is expected at about 3.30pm.After that, MPs will carry out further rounds of voting to select two final candidates for party members to choose between, with the result announced on 2 November.Joe Middleton4 September 2024 15:121725458446The tragic stories behind the night Grenfell Tower fire claimed 72 victimsThe long-awaited report into the deadly fire claimed the lives of 72 people at Grenfell Tower has been published seven years after the blaze.Inquiry chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, told bereaved and survivors on Wednesday the “simple truth” is that all the deaths were avoidable and that those who lived in the tower were “badly failed” by authorities.Each of the 72 victims – ranging in age from an unborn baby to an 84-year-old woman – was somebody’s father, mother, brother, sister, relative, friend or neighbour. These are their stories from that night.Joe Middleton4 September 2024 15:001725456646RECAP: Fraud and scam complaints reach record highScam-related complaints have reached their highest level since at least early 2018, according to a service that resolves disputes between consumers and financial firms.In the first quarter of this financial year (April 1 to June 30), consumers lodged 8,734 gripes about fraud and scams, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) said.More than half were in relation to customer-approved online bank transfers, also known as authorised push payment (APP) scams.By comparison, in the same period in the first quarter of the 2023-24 financial year, 6,094 scam complaints were recorded.The service said the rise in cases is due to several factors, including cases where consumers are putting in multiple claims due to more than one firm being involved.Abby Thomas, chief executive and chief ombudsman of the FOS, said: “Being a victim of a fraud and scam is a horrendous experience – not just financially, but emotionally too. That’s why it’s disappointing to see complaint levels rising to even higher levels.“We often hear from people embarrassed to have fallen victim to a fraud, but these crimes can be complex and incredibly convincing, and nobody should be afraid to come forward.“In recent years, we have investigated thousands of cases, returning more than £150 million to those who have fallen victim to these crimes.“No matter how complex a case is, people can come with confidence to our free, independent service and we’ll investigate their complaint.”Joe Middleton4 September 2024 14:301725455437Watch: Starmer defends Israel arms withdrawalStarmer defends Israel arms withdrawalJoe Middleton4 September 2024 14:101725453303Grenfell: Muslim survivors denied halal food while being rehoused, inquiry findsMuslim survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire were badly failed by the local council and denied their right to halal food while being temporarily rehoused at hotels, a damning inquiry has revealed.The inquiry’s final report found the fire that killed 72 people in 2017 was the result of “decades of failure” by central government and the construction industry to act on the dangers of flammable cladding.It concluded that Kensington and Chelsea Council should have done more to cater to people from diverse backgrounds. Many of those who lived in the tower had been observing Ramadan, but halal food was not available at all hotels, nor was it possible to observe the requirement to eat at set times.Our race correspondent Nadine White reportsJoe Middleton4 September 2024 13:351725452432Sunak pays tribute to ‘strength and patience’ of Grenfell Tower survivorsLeader of the opposition Rishi Sunak paid tribute to the “strength and patience” of Grenfell Tower survivors, some of whom were in the House of Commons public gallery.Responding to the Prime Minister’s statement, the Tory leader said: “It is not hyperbole to say that we would not be here today without them.“It was their tenacity and strength that brought the truth to light and for that, they deserve our thanks.“Their search for truth and justice is a noble one, and for that, they have our full support.”Joe Middleton4 September 2024 13:201725451208‘Great that Oasis are back’ says Keir Starmer amid ‘depressing’ ticket price hikeSir Keir Starmer suggested it was “great” that Oasis are back together, but criticised the “depressing” ticket price hike for their reunion tour.Fans were left shocked by standard tickets more than doubling from £148 to £355 on Ticketmaster over the weekend, prompting the government to pledge to look into the use of dynamic pricing in its forthcoming review of the secondary gig sales market.“It’s great that Oasis are back together, from what I’ve determined, about half of the country were queuing for tickets over the weekend,” Sir Keir said.“But it is depressing to hear of price hikes, I’m committed to putting fans at the heart of music.”‘Great that Oasis are back’ says Keir Starmer amid ‘depressing’ ticket price hikeSir Keir Starmer suggested it was “great” that Oasis are back together, but criticised the “depressing” ticket price hike for their reunion tour. Fans were left shocked by standard tickets more than doubling from £148 to £355 on Ticketmaster over the weekend, prompting the government to pledge to look into the use of dynamic pricing in its forthcoming review of the secondary gig sales market. “It’s great that Oasis are back together, from what I’ve determined, about half of the country were queuing for tickets over the weekend,” Sir Keir said. “But it is depressing to hear of price hikes, I’m committed to putting fans at the heart of music.”Joe Middleton4 September 2024 13:00 More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorIt’s now been two months since Labour won their landslide victory at the 2024 general election, bringing to an end 14 years of Conservative rule.Running on a central message of change, Sir Keir has looked to set his party apart from the previous Conservative administration. Standing on the steps of Downing Street on 5 July, the new prime minister said people had voted “for national renewal” and “a return of politics to public service.”“You have given us a clear mandate,” he added, “and we will use it to deliver change, to restore service and respect to politics, end the era of noisy performance, tread more lightly on your lives, and unite our country.”As the new Labour government begins to roll out some of it’s promised reforms, the new leader now warns that things may get worse before they get better. Sir Keir has made no secret of the challenges to come during his sixty days in power, as his first two months have seens controversial policy decisions, political disagreements, and civil disorder.Sir Keir Starmer makes his first speech as prime minister outside No 10, July 5 More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorNadhim Zahawi is facing a growing backlash after sharing a photograph on X of a homeless person sleeping on the pavement in Mayfair.The former Tory chairman, who was sacked over an HMRC probe into his tax affairs, posted the picture alongside the caption: “This is now in Mayfair, just walked passed [sic]. what is going on?“Mayor of London, this can’t be right.”Mr Zahawi, who stood down as a Conservative MP at the general election, also shared a broken heart emoji alongside the post.But his decision to share the picture sparked a backlash on the social media platform, with users pointing out that rough sleeping rose significantly after the Conservatives came to power in 2010.The estimated number of people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn rose from 1,768 in 2010 to 3,896 under the Tories in 2023, government figures show.Nadhim Zahawi said he would have tweeted the same picture if he was walking through Victoria More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorTheresa May, who was prime minister at the time of the Grenfell Tower fire, has warned that all those in authority needed to accept their responsibility for the tragedy.With prime minister Sir Keir Starmer apologising on behalf of the British state for the events which led to the deaths of 54 adults and 18 children, Baroness May added her voice to those calling for justice.She said: “Government, national and local, regulators and the corporate industry must all acknowledge their part in the history and series of events that led to this tragedy – a tragedy that, in the words of Sir Martin Moore-Bick, did not ‘come out of the blue’.” Rishi Sunak added that the report was “a damning indictment” of 30 years of failure.The review was commissioned by former prime minister Theresa May (Hannah McKay/PA) More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorSir Keir Starmer has repeatedly referred to Rishi Sunak as prime minister at PMQs, in a sign the Labour leader is yet to fully embrace life on the other side of the Commons.In a sombre session of prime minister’s questions, following the publication of the damning Grenfell report, Sir Keir appeared to forget on multiple occasions that the tables were turned in July’s general election.Pressed by leader of the opposition Mr Sunak over the government’s decision to suspend some arms export licences to Israel, Sir Keir called his opposite number “prime minister” three times.( More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorWatch as Sir Keir Starmer faces Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday 4 September, before delivering a statement on the damning Grenfell report.The devastating blaze which killed 72 people was the result of “decades of failure” by government and the construction industry to act on the dangers of flammable materials on high-rise buildings, the long-awaited report has found.The west London tower block was covered in combustible products because of the “systematic dishonesty” of firms who made and sold the cladding and insulation, inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said.He called out “deliberate and sustained” manipulation of fire-safety testing, misrepresentation of test data and misleading of the market.The prime minister said the report identified “substantial and widespread failings”, adding that the government will carefully consider its recommendations “to ensure that such a tragedy cannot occur again”.Sir Keir delivered his statement in the House of Commons following the publication of the report. More