UK went into Covid with ‘very low’ intensive care capacity compared with other rich countries, Chris Whitty tells inquiry The UK went into the Covid crisis with “very low” intensive care capacity compared with other wealthy countries, Prof Sir Chris Whitty told the Covid inquiry this morning. Whitty, the chief medica

Elon Musk has not been invited to an international investment summit organised by the government next month, the BBC is reporting. No one will be surprised. Despite being the richest person in the world, and a guest of honour at Rishi Sunak’s AI summit last year, the far-right billionaire spent much of the summer attacking Keir […]

Keir Starmer is “very interested” in the Italy-Albania migration agreement, according to the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. The UK has pledged £4 million to support Italy’s controversial efforts to combat illegal migration. As Aletha Adu reports, while the Prime Minister concurred with Meloni on the significance of their deep relatio

Russia revokes accreditation of six British diplomats it accuses of spying Russia’s FSB security service has revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow whose actions it said showed signs of spying and sabotage work. The FSB said on Friday it had documents showing that a British Foreign Office department in London was coordinating

Exclusive: End focus on deportations and use language of ‘compassion and humanity’, says Refugee Council Labour will be at real risk of failing to reform the UK’s broken asylum system unless it challenges Tory rhetoric and stops focusing on the deportation of asylum seekers, the head of the Refugee Council has said. Enver Solomon, the […]

Former PM and ministers drew criticism for the VIP flights Labour says were ‘symbol of their government’ A £40m VIP helicopter contract used extensively by the former prime minister Rishi Sunak is to be cancelled as his successor, Keir Starmer, promises to undo “14 years of rot” under the Conservatives. Starmer and his defence secretary, John

MInister says Treasury statement will show Tory government was ‘running away’ from truth about public spending Good morning. After three weeks as chancellor, Rachel Reeves will today present the most significant policy announcement of the new Labour government so far. Think of it as an inverse budget. Budgets are all about how

‘It’s going to take time’ for GB Energy to start making money, says Ed Miliband Energy secretary Ed Miliband has said “it’s going to take time” for GB Energy to start making money. Legislation to establish the state-owned energy company needs to go through the House of Commons, and the government has set aside

Labour rebel suggests she is victim of a ‘macho virility test’ after suspension over two-child benefit cap At midday, Keir Starmer faces the Commons at PMQs for the first time as prime minister. He does so after responding to the first challenge to his authority while in Downing Street by suspending seven MPs. As reactions go, it [&hellip

Experts say 5.5% pay increase for public sector not ‘consistent’ with spending plans that rule out tax rises Labour is fast approaching a moment of truth over its election pledges on tax and spending, experts have warned, after Rachel Reeves indicated the government could agree above-inflation pay rises for public sector staff. The chance