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Dominic Cummings Says Cabinet Office Was A 'Bombsite' During Covid Response
Coronavirus
Dominic Cummings Says Cabinet Office Was A "Bombsite" During Covid Response
Dominic Cummings, former top advisor to Boris Johnson during the Covid-19 pandemic, has told the Covid Inquiry that the Cabinet Office was a "bombsite" that operated with "inconsistent data and facts".
Government Ignored Scientists And Businesses With 'Eat Out To Help Out' Scheme
Coronavirus
Government Ignored Scientists And Businesses With 'Eat Out To Help Out' Scheme
Lee Cain, the former Director of Communications at No.10 between 2019 and 2020, has told the Covid Inquiry that the government ignored advice from scientists and businesses to implement the Eat Out to Help Out scheme after the first lockdown period, when it was "incredibly clear" the UK would have to enter lockdown again after that point.
Keir Starmer Continues To Rule Out Israel-Gaza Ceasefire Arguing It Would Enable Hamas
Defence
Keir Starmer Continues To Rule Out Israel-Gaza Ceasefire Arguing It Would Enable Hamas
Labour leader Keir Starmer has continued to insist a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is not the "correct position now" arguing that doing so would benefit Hamas and impact efforts to push for a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Key Players Remain Unconvinced About The Government’s AI Safety Summit
Foreign affairs
Key Players Remain Unconvinced About The Government’s AI Safety Summit
Figures across the technology and political landscape are still having doubts over whether the landmark AI Safety Summit, kicking off this week at Bletchley Park, has the right focus to steer the development of artificial intelligence in the UK and the rest of the world.
Public Supports AI Safety Summit But Thinks Big Tech Has Too Much Influence
Technology
Public Supports AI Safety Summit But Thinks Big Tech Has Too Much Influence
A majority of the public think it is important that the UK hosts the AI Safety Summit, but more than half believe large technology firms hold too much influence over developing AI policy, according to a new poll.
Top Civil Servant 'Cannot Recall' Why He Turned On WhatsApp Disappearing Messages During Covid
Coronavirus
Top Civil Servant "Cannot Recall" Why He Turned On WhatsApp Disappearing Messages During Covid
Martin Reynolds, the Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister during the key stages of the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, told the Covid Inquiry that he could "not recall" why he had turned on a function to make an important WhatsApp group's messages disappear.
Football Campaigners Want New Independent Regulator To Be Given 'Teeth'
Culture
Football Campaigners Want New Independent Regulator To Be Given "Teeth"
Grassroots campaigners have argued a new football regulator must be given “teeth” to hold clubs to account, following reports that a new independent body could be included in the King's Speech.
Former Tech Secretary Hopes AI Safety Summit Sparks 'National Conversation' On Regulation
Technology
Former Tech Secretary Hopes AI Safety Summit Sparks "National Conversation" On Regulation
Former secretary of state Chloe Smith has said that after this week’s AI Safety Summit, a “national conversation” will be needed to ensure UK regulators have the ability to respond to the huge risks presented by AI.
Labour Tensions Over Gaza Could Last Longer Than Ceasefire Row
Foreign affairs
Labour Tensions Over Gaza Could Last Longer Than Ceasefire Row
Labour figures are hopeful that Keir Starmer is over the worst of the Israel-Gaza row that has engulfed his leadership this week.
MPs Call For Mandatory Security Training In Parliament Over Fears Of Foreign Interference
Foreign affairs
MPs Call For Mandatory Security Training In Parliament Over Fears Of Foreign Interference
A group of parliamentarians has written to parliamentary authorities to call for tightened security in the Houses of Parliament following heightened fears of foreign interference.
AI Minister Warns Regulation Must Move Faster Than Online Safety Bill
Technology
AI Minister Warns Regulation Must Move Faster Than Online Safety Bill
The minister for AI has insisted the government must move more quickly to draw up AI safety regulation than it did to pass online safety legislation or there is a risk the technology will have “moved on”.
Tory MP Arrested On Suspicion Of Rape And Possession Of Controlled Substances
Parliament
Tory MP Arrested On Suspicion Of Rape And Possession Of Controlled Substances
A Conservative MP has been arrested on suspicion of rape and the possession of controlled substances.
Labour 'Left In The Dark' On Global AI Safety Summit
Technology
Labour "Left In The Dark" On Global AI Safety Summit
The Shadow Minister for Tech and Digital Economy, Alex Davies-Jones, has accused the government of keeping Labour “in the dark” over plans for the landmark AI Safety Summit, hosted next week at Bletchley Park.
Hundreds Of Children's Homes Deemed Substandard By Ofsted
Education
Hundreds Of Children's Homes Deemed Substandard By Ofsted
More than one in six children’s homes has been identified by regulators as having serious flaws in the care they offer, according to analysis by PoliticsHome.
Tories Could Face By-Election After Parliament Votes To Suspend MP For Bullying And Sexual Misconduct
Political parties
Tories Could Face By-Election After Parliament Votes To Suspend MP For Bullying And Sexual Misconduct
MPs have voted in Parliament to uphold sanctions against MP Peter Bone, who was found by the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) to have committed "many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct” against a staff member.
Keir Starmer Is Scrambling To Contain Labour Row On Gaza Support
Foreign affairs
Keir Starmer Is Scrambling To Contain Labour Row On Gaza Support
Labour is embroiled by an internal battle over messaging on Gaza as Keir Starmer resists pressure to call for a ceasefire in the region, instead aligning with UK and other international governments on addressing the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.

Conservative MP Robert Courts Elected As Chair Of Defence Committee
Defence
Conservative MP Robert Courts Elected As Chair Of Defence Committee
Conservative MP Robert Courts has been elected as Chair of the Defence Select Committee after Tobias Ellwood resigned over praising the Taliban.
Levelling Up Director Hopefuls Waited A Year Before Being Formally Told Jobs Scrapped
Communities
Levelling Up Director Hopefuls Waited A Year Before Being Formally Told Jobs Scrapped
Applicants hoping to secure six-figure salary jobs as part of the government’s proposed levelling up director scheme had to wait almost a year between final interview and being formally told that the scheme had been scrapped, PoliticsHome understands.
Defence Secretary Agrees To Let Serving Personnel Give Evidence On Poor Housing
Defence
Defence Secretary Agrees To Let Serving Personnel Give Evidence On Poor Housing
The Conservative chair of the defence sub-committee has welcomed Defence Secretary Grant Shapps’s decision to allow serving personnel to give evidence about living in poor quality accommodation.
'Unprecedented' Rates Of Prison Building Still Failing To Keep Up With Rising Demand
Home affairs
"Unprecedented" Rates Of Prison Building Still Failing To Keep Up With Rising Demand
Prison capacity has been failing to meet rising demand and government policy has not been “joined up” despite an “unprecedented” level of prison building, according to the Minister for Prisons.
Tory MPs Are Wondering If Rishi Sunak Will Reshuffle Jeremy Hunt Out Of Treasury
Political parties
Tory MPs Are Wondering If Rishi Sunak Will Reshuffle Jeremy Hunt Out Of Treasury
With Rishi Sunak looking for ways of sparking a major Tory turnaround, the Prime Minister is broadly expected to announce a significant Cabinet reshuffle in the coming weeks – and MPs are increasingly vocal about their suspicion that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt could be at risk.
More Tories Refuse To Support Autumn Statement If Chancellor Raises Tax
Economy
More Tories Refuse To Support Autumn Statement If Chancellor Raises Tax
Three more Conservative parliamentarians, two MPs and a senior peer, have signed a pledge to withhold support for the government's upcoming Autumn Statement if it proposes raising tax overall.
Rishi Sunak Says UK Intelligence Concludes Hospital Blast Fired From Within Gaza
Foreign affairs
Rishi Sunak Says UK Intelligence Concludes Hospital Blast Fired From Within Gaza
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has told MPs in parliament that British intelligence has found the explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza last week was caused by a missile fired from within Gaza.
Government To Push Ahead With Rental Reforms Despite Backlash From Tory MPs
Political parties
Government To Push Ahead With Rental Reforms Despite Backlash From Tory MPs
The Renters' Reform Bill passed its second reading on Monday, despite mounting opposition from Conservative MPs against the reforms and Levelling-up Secretary Michael Gove.
Jewish Labour MP Calls For Extra Local Funding To Calm Community Tensions
Foreign affairs
Jewish Labour MP Calls For Extra Local Funding To Calm Community Tensions
Labour MP Charlotte Nichols has called on the government to provide additional funding for local communities and policing to help tackle tensions in the fallout of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Tory MPs Are Rattled After Their Double By-Election Disaster
Political parties
Tory MPs Are Rattled After Their Double By-Election Disaster
The scale of the Tory by-election defeats on Thursday night was a wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee moment for some Conservative MPs, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is not planning to deviate from his existing plan for turn around the party's fortunes.
Did Protest 'Non-Vote' Cost The Tories Two By-Elections?
Political parties
Did Protest "Non-Vote" Cost The Tories Two By-Elections?
Conservative peer and polling expert Lord Robert Hayward has said he believes a “protest non-vote” for the Conservatives in the Tamworth and Mid-Bedfordshire by-elections aided their defeat, but some data suggests plenty of 2019 Tories would have turned out.
Liberal Democrats Could Focus On Fewer Seats After Stalled By-Election Winning Streak
Political parties
Liberal Democrats Could Focus On Fewer Seats After Stalled By-Election Winning Streak
The Liberal Democrats may have to “concentrate their efforts” and target fewer seats at the next election, after the party failed to win in Mid-Bedfordshire and came a distant third in Tamworth.
Labour Hopes Huge Double By-Election Victory Will Win Over Undecided Voters
Political parties
Labour Hopes Huge Double By-Election Victory Will Win Over Undecided Voters
Celebrating a seismic win for Labour in two by-elections in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth, Labour leader Keir Starmer said he hoped it would persuade undecided voters across the country to elect them as the "party of the future" at the next general election.
Labour Secures Historic Win In Mid Bedfordshire By-Election Overturning Huge Tory Majority
Political parties
Labour Secures Historic Win In Mid Bedfordshire By-Election Overturning Huge Tory Majority
The Labour Party has overturned a Conservative majority of more than 24,000 in the Mid Bedfordshire by-election, delivering the constituency its first ever Labour MP in a huge blow for the Conservative government.
Labour Wins Tamworth By-Election With Second Biggest Swing In Decades
Political parties
Labour Wins Tamworth By-Election With Second Biggest Swing In Decades
Labour has overturned a Conservative majority of almost 20,000 to win the Tamworth by-election, in a further boost for the party's hopes of forming a government at the next general election.
Senior Labour Is Working Closely With Local Leaders To Navigate Israel-Palestine Tensions
Political parties
Senior Labour Is Working Closely With Local Leaders To Navigate Israel-Palestine Tensions
Senior Labour figures are engaged in an ongoing dialogue with local councillors over community tensions over the Israel-Palestine conflict, with a leading representative for party councillors insisting that “Jewish and Muslim communities must feel the Labour Party stands with them”.
MP Says UK Opening Israel-Gaza Refugee Programme Would Show West Had 'Failed'
Foreign affairs
MP Says UK Opening Israel-Gaza Refugee Programme Would Show West Had "Failed"
Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Alicia Kearns has said that a new Israel-Palestine refugee programme would show the West had "failed" in preventing people being displaced by conflict in the region.

Government's Counter Disinformation Unit Falls Short On Curbing False Israel-Palestine Posts
Foreign affairs
Government's Counter Disinformation Unit Falls Short On Curbing False Israel-Palestine Posts
Online disinformation surrounding the war between Israel and Hamas continues to spread far and wide across social media, raising serious questions over whether the UK government’s Counter Disinformation Unit is “fit for purpose".
All The New Commons Select Committee Chairs
Parliament
All The New Commons Select Committee Chairs
Labour MPs Liam Byrne, Harriet Harman, and Cat Smith have all secured roles as Commons select committee chairs after all three previous holders were promoted to Labour's shadow ministerial team.
Nigel Farage Teases Tories That He Could Lead The Party In Three Years
Political parties
Nigel Farage Teases Tories That He Could Lead The Party In Three Years
Former UKIP and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has dangled the prospect of becoming leader of the Conservatives within three years – if the party would readmit him.