Tory MPs have put down a marker
Is the omicron variant of Covid more benign than the strains to which we have hitherto been exposed? All the evidence so far suggests the effects are…
The National Cyber Strategy will keep UK safe and prosperous
The UK is one of the world’s digital pioneers, a leader in reimagining and developing a future enabled by technology. During the pandemic, we have seen this…
Britain doesn’t need a foreign court to uphold its ancient liberties
You’ve got to give ministers top marks for irony for opening a debate about freedom just as our personal liberties are being curtailed. In a foreword to…
Tory rebellion makes clear that the real epidemic is one of fear
“Wow” — that’s what one MP exclaimed when the vote on vaccine passports was declared. I said something more Anglo-Saxon. The Government threw everything at winning Tuesday’s…
The Tory grassroots will never forgive Boris
The other day, Theresa May slunk into the Commons slightly late. I watched as a female MP, who’d made the mistake of sitting in her usual seat,…
Tuesday evening UK news briefing: The Tory Covid rebels
In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has urged people to limit their socialising to three households before and after Christmas to help combat the omicron variant. In a statement…
Boris Johnson stays away from North Shropshire by-election amid fears of deeply embarrassing defeat
Boris Johnson has avoided campaigning in North Shropshire for a fortnight ahead of Thursday’s by-election, amid fears the Conservatives could face a deeply embarrassing defeat. The Prime…
I’ll shield our soldiers against human rights claims on battlefield, says Dominic Raab
Dominic Raab has pledged to protect UK Armed Forces from human rights claims over campaigns they mount abroad. In a consultation document on his new British bill…
First glimpse inside UK’s new White House-style crisis Situation Centre
The American Situation Room, located in the basement of the West Wing, is a 5,543 sq ft conference room run by security officials that monitors and deals…
UK demands changes to Northern Ireland Protocol so businesses can get Covid support
British negotiators will demand on Wednesday that the EU changes Northern Ireland Protocol subsidy rules so businesses can benefit from coronavirus state support. The UK has to…
How almost 100 Tory MPs dealt Boris Johnson the most bruising rebellion of his premiership
Meanwhile, Mark Harper, a former chief whip, accused ministers of “scaring people witless”, while Sir Desmond Swayne accused the Government of creating a “ministry of fear” and…
Shaun Bailey quits London Assembly role after he was photographed at a party last December
It comes as a senior official was found to have told staff to leave No 10 through the back door on the night Boris Johnson hosted a…
French tycoon’s BT stake-building triggers national security alert
The Government has previously stepped in to ban Chinese tech giant Huawei from building the UK’s 5G networks, while ministers are reviewing Nvidia’s $40bn takeover of British…
Dominic Raab rattled after claiming 250 people in hospital with omicron, then admitting it’s just 10
Dominic Raab has caused confusion by wrongly saying there were 250 people in hospital with omicron when the latest figure was just 10. The Deputy Prime Minister appeared…
Full list of Tory rebels who opposed No 10’s Covid pass plan
Some Tory MPs opposed all of the measures, including work-from-home measures and the use of face coverings in most indoor venues. Ben Bradley, the MP for the Red…
Why living near a royal property could increase your house price value by 63pc
Becky Fatemi, of estate agency Rokstone, said royal neighbourhoods were not only steeped in history, but were also aesthetically pleasing, which usually pushed up price tags. “The…
‘I can’t get a refund on my cancelled Elton John concert ticket’
Since Lloyds Bank was the issuer of the card, I felt it should be the organisation charged with untangling your problem. On my instigation, it went back…
Questor: is BAT a massive value trap or an absolute steal?
The formidable hedge fund and activist investor Elliott, which has a stake of more than 10pc, has yet to say anything, at least publicly. Those of a…
‘One simple mistake with my pension cost me £117k’
Billions of pounds are lost to poor pension transfer advice each year, as savers are given unsuitable guidance or lured into overly risky investments. In many cases,…
‘I turned a crumbling £98k cottage into a £325k dream home’
Luke Thomas transformed a dark, dilapidated and unloved cottage in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, into a light-filled home with the help of a £65,000 loan – and a lot of creative…
‘I have a final salary pension and £100k in savings – how can I reduce my tax liability?’
Dear Kate, I’m lucky enough to have a final salary scheme with a previous employer. I’m expecting this to pay out a guaranteed pension of around £35,000…
Government’s landmark fix to free homeowners from cladding scandal proved pointless
A spokesman for End Our Cladding Scandal, a campaign group for affected leaseholders, said: “There remains insufficient independent evidence that buildings under 18m are inherently safe… the…
The best places to live with good secondary schools – and where teenagers won’t get bored
“There is a massive supply problem. I have worked here for 16 years and it is the lowest I have ever known,” said Ms Hauton. Back in…
Electric car revolution will stay stuck in the slow lane without more charging competition
Last year the Government said it wanted there to be at least six ultra-rapid charging points at every motorway service area in the UK by 2023 (with…
‘We’ve accidentally become a nuclear family – and I hate it’
They say there’s no use crying over spilt milk, but there is when you’re clearing away upturned cereal bowls so the kitchen table can be transformed into…