Politics

The former Chancellor and Health Secretary Sajid Javid has added his name to the list of Conservative MPs who will not be standing at the next election – he did not explain why, but hinted it would “not mark the end of my Parliamentary activity”.

The former Chancellor and Health Secretary Sajid Javid has added his name to the list of Conservative MPs who will not be standing at the next election – he did not explain why, but hinted it would “not mark the end of my Parliamentary activity”.

In the first state visit of his presidency, Joe Biden has welcomed his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to the White House. The two men have pledged to work together to support the people of Ukraine.

Scientists have previously warned the cost of living crisis could exacerbate waves of winter viruses and new figures out today show the number of people in hospital in England with flu has risen 40 per cent in the last week. It’s adding pressure to an already struggling NHS, whose medical director said is “facing a…

A ban on strip clubs has been announced by Edinburgh Council, which says the venues disempower women. But today the United Sex Workers union began a legal challenge of the decision. The union says it would force over 100 women out of work and potentially into more dangerous situations. We spoke to Labour MP Nadia…

The cost of living crisis is causing a significant rise in the number of women returning to sex work, according to the English Collective of Prostitutes. And the organisation says women are putting themselves in much more dangerous situations as they struggle to pay their energy bills and feed their families. The numbers asking for…

Mayors from across northern England say they’ve had positive talks with the Transport Secretary over the chaos in the region’s rail services, but they’re now calling for concrete action to improve things. The mayors said the ‘absolute bare minimum’ of levelling up was being able to get to work and college on time but the…

Gary Gibbon looks at the first few weeks of the reign of Rishi and the fallout from his Autumn statement.

We were joined by the shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper.

We spoke to business minister Kevin Hollinrake about immigration and the economy, and began by asking him for his reaction to the prospect of rail strikes around Christmas time.

It’s likely that the problems plaguing the British economy will stick around for the next couple of years, and therefore past the next general election. 

Rishi Sunak has firmly rejected the idea of any Swiss style deal on Brexit which would see the UK aligning with EU rules – insisting Brexit was “already delivering enormous benefits and opportunities”. Mr Sunak told the  country’s biggest business group, the CBI – that he wanted to tackle illegal immigration.

That’s the claim in the Sunday Times which has prompted a denial from a cabinet minister.

We’re joined by Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Economist at the Confederation of British Industry, and Miatta Fahnbulleh – also an economist. She’s seeking selection as Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Camberwell and Peckham.

Not all of the spending decisions made today by the UK Government apply to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland because areas like education and health are devolved.