Liz Bates , Political Correspondent

Children aged under 16 with gender dysphoria should be able to take puberty-blocking drugs, even without their parents’ consent, according to a new ruling by the court of appeal.

MPs voted this evening to back a Labour motion to cancel the £20 a week cut in universal credit, but it was something of a hollow victory, as the motion is non-binding. The uplift, which was brought in to support families during the pandemic, will be phased out from September. The Department for Work and…

One person has been reported missing in Leamington Spa, after a large fire at an industrial estate and reports of explosions. 

Boris Johnson has said British evacuations would continue despite what he called the “barbaric” airport attack.

The Unite union has elected its first female general secretary, with Sharon Graham beating two male candidates to the top spot. 

Boris Johnson’s efforts to use the UK’s G7 presidency to persuade the US to extend its deadline in Afghanistan has failed.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has rejected calls for him to resign after being accused of failing to interrupt his holiday to make a telephone call to help translators trying to flee from Afghanistan.

Boris Johnson faced angry criticism from his own backbenchers, as parliament met for an emergency debate on Afghanistan. In the Commons, which was packed for the first time since the start of the pandemic, he denied the government had not been prepared for the sheer speed of the Taliban takeover, while Labour accused him of…

As British troops continue with the evacuation of the remaining British nationals in Kabul, MPs will be called back tomorrow to parliament for five hours of debate. 

The loss of Afghanistan to the Taliban is prompting a political crisis in Westminster, with MPs called back to parliament later this week. 

Sicilian meteorologists have recorded the highest temperature in Europe’s history today at 48.8 degrees Celsius in Siracusa.  Here, infighting has broken out among Tories in Red Wall Conservative seats, reportedly turning their ire on ministers pushing for a move away from petrol and diesel engines to meet net zero climate targets.

Scotland has lifted most of its Covid restrictions from today, allowing nightclubs to open and increasing the limit on crowds allowed at sporting events, although wearing face masks in places like shops and public transport remains compulsory. 

The NHS has been asked to offer all 16 and 17-year-olds Covid jabs as soon as possible, the health secretary said today.

For the first time since she was acquitted of housing benefit fraud last week, Labour MP Apsana Begum has spoken exclusively to Channel 4 News about the 18 month legal battle which laid bare her life story, the loss of her father, and alleged domestic abuse.

The government is trying everything from discounted taxi rides to fast food vouchers to encourage young adults to vaccine centres.