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Sophie Church

Sophie Church

@sophiealichurch

Sophie Church is a Reporter at The House magazine.

Lib Dem Leader Meets BBC Boss To Complain About Level Of Reform Coverage
Political parties
Lib Dem Leader Meets BBC Boss To Complain About Level Of Reform Coverage
Exclusive: Ed Davey has met with BBC boss Tim Davie to complain about the broadcaster’s coverage, which the Liberal Democrats claim is weighted too heavily in Reform UK’s favour.
Asylum Seekers Using Taxpayer-Funded Payment Cards To Gamble
Home affairs
Asylum Seekers Using Taxpayer-Funded Payment Cards To Gamble
The Home Office has launched an investigation after PoliticsHome revealed that asylum seekers across the UK have been using taxpayer-funded payment cards for gambling.
Campaigners Fear Government Backtracking On Care Supporter Bill
Health
By Sophie Church
Campaigners Fear Government Backtracking On Care Supporter Bill
Labour pledged in its manifesto to introduce a right for those in care to see their loved ones – but campaigners fear the government is backtracking. Sophie Church reports
Lib Dem Fury Over Treatment Of Senior MP By Party Leadership
Political parties
Lib Dem Fury Over Treatment Of Senior MP By Party Leadership
There is anger within the Liberal Democrats over the party’s treatment of Christine Jardine, who was sacked from her front bench position last week for defying the whip on the welfare vote.
Calvin Bailey: 'Stephen’s Murder Was Hatred – Now Knife Crime Is Almost Senseless'
Political parties
Calvin Bailey: 'Stephen’s Murder Was Hatred – Now Knife Crime Is Almost Senseless'
Calvin Bailey, Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead, tells Sophie Church about his 25 years in the RAF, friendship with Stephen Lawrence’s brother and carrying a knife as a teenager
UK Space Commander: 'Highly Likely' First Assault On UK Will Be In Space
Defence
UK Space Commander: "Highly Likely" First Assault On UK Will Be In Space
With Europe preparing for war, the UK space commander, Major General Paul Tedman tells Sophie Church it is ‘highly likely’ the first assault on Britain will be in space
Resident Doctor Strikes Could Derail Government's Waiting List Pledge, Experts Warn
Health
Resident Doctor Strikes Could Derail Government's Waiting List Pledge, Experts Warn
Government risks missing its waiting list target if resident doctor strike action goes ahead, health experts have warned.
House of Lords To Move To QEII Centre While Parliament Restored
Parliament
House of Lords To Move To QEII Centre While Parliament Restored
The House of Lords is set to move to the QEII Centre while Parliament is restored, no matter which option for the estate’s restoration is eventually voted for by MPs, PoliticsHome can reveal.
Councils Fail To Implement Government Policy On Housing Veterans
Defence
By Sophie Church
Councils Fail To Implement Government Policy On Housing Veterans
Councils including those run by Labour have failed to implement the government’s policy to help house all UK armed forces veterans despite Keir Starmer promising to give them all a “guaranteed roof over their head”, PoliticsHome has learned.
Nato Commander Pierre Vandier: UK Can Take Lead In Nato's Spying Operations
Defence
By Sophie Church
Nato Commander Pierre Vandier: UK Can Take Lead In Nato's Spying Operations
With European security standing on a knife-edge, Nato Commander Admiral Pierre Vandier tells Sophie Church the UK can lead Nato’s intelligence and surveillance operations
'We Had The World To Ourselves': Al Carns' Everest Climb
Parliament
By Sophie Church
"We Had The World To Ourselves": Al Carns' Everest Climb
In May, a group of British veterans – including Al Carns – set a record with their fast ascent of Everest. The veterans minister tells Sophie Church how the team completed the challenge in seven days to be ‘back in time for Sunday lunch’
Green Party Accused Of Keeping “Unlawful” Gender Rules For Leadership Contest
Communities
Green Party Accused Of Keeping “Unlawful” Gender Rules For Leadership Contest
There is a legal row over whether the Green Party's leadership contest rules are compliant with the recent Supreme Court gender ruling, PoliticsHome can reveal.
Drone Manufacturer Anduril's Richard Drake: “I Got Tired Giving Soldiers Yesterday's Tech Tomorrow”
Defence
Drone Manufacturer Anduril's Richard Drake: “I Got Tired Giving Soldiers Yesterday's Tech Tomorrow”
As the UK ramps up defence spending, head of drone manufacturer Anduril Richard Drake tells Sophie Church the company is offering an alternative to how we fight wars and pay for them. Photography by Dinendra Haria
Parents Waiting Weeks For Post-Mortems On Babies Due To Lack Of Paediatric Pathologists
Social affairs
Parents Waiting Weeks For Post-Mortems On Babies Due To Lack Of Paediatric Pathologists
A severe shortage of paediatric pathologists means bereaved parents are being forced to wait for weeks for post-mortems on their babies.
Is The Port of London Authority Seeking Unchecked Powers?
Home affairs
Is The Port of London Authority Seeking Unchecked Powers?
The Port of London Authority manages the Thames, but residents along the river say it is seeking further, unchecked powers. Sophie Church reports on the ongoing fight
British Property Management Firms Helping Russians Avoid Sanctions
Home affairs
British Property Management Firms Helping Russians Avoid Sanctions
British property management firms are almost certainly helping Russians who own property in the UK to sidestep sanctions, a report has found.
Michael Ellam: The EU Sherpa Resetting The UK-EU Relationship
Foreign affairs
By Sophie Church
Michael Ellam: The EU Sherpa Resetting The UK-EU Relationship
Having served under Gordon Brown and George Osborne, Michael Ellam is now Keir Starmer’s ‘EU sherpa’, tasked with resetting the UK’s relationship with the EU. As the UK-EU summit approaches, Sophie Church explores why Ellam has been picked for the job. Illustration by Tracy Worrall
Jonathan Reynolds: US Criticism Of Beijing’s Economic Policy Is “Reasonable”
Economy
Jonathan Reynolds: US Criticism Of Beijing’s Economic Policy Is “Reasonable”
As Labour looks for a carve-out from Trump’s tariffs, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds tells Sophie Church why the UK should help the US address China’s imbalanced trading position
“It’s A Language, A Culture': Labour MP Jen Craft On Using Sign Language In Parliament
Parliament
By Sophie Church
“It’s A Language, A Culture": Labour MP Jen Craft On Using Sign Language In Parliament
Jen Craft, the Labour MP for Thurrock, tells Sophie Church about campaigning alongside Morgan McSweeney and her fight to improve the lives of disabled people
British Defence Firms Leading Push To Repair Equipment For Ukraine
Defence
British Defence Firms Leading Push To Repair Equipment For Ukraine
British firms are set to lead an international push to repair armoured vehicles and other vital equipment for use back on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Space Is A Growing Battlefield. Can The UK Lead The Way?
Defence
Space Is A Growing Battlefield. Can The UK Lead The Way?
To the anguish of the space industry, the UK is the only country to have successfully developed, and then abandoned, a satellite launch capability. That was over 50 years ago. But with the nature of conflict evolving, nowadays government is taking space much more seriously, reports Sophie Church
Kensington and Bayswater MP Joe Powell: 'We Are At A Record-Low For Trust in Government'
Communities
By Sophie Church
Kensington and Bayswater MP Joe Powell: "We Are At A Record-Low For Trust in Government"
Labour’s Kensington and Bayswater MP Joe Powell tells Sophie Church the UK must get its house in order to fight corruption
Close The Loophole Letting Elon Musk Donate To Reform, Says Labour MP
Foreign affairs
By Sophie Church
Close The Loophole Letting Elon Musk Donate To Reform, Says Labour MP
Elon Musk could give money to political candidates to bypass government’s clampdown on donating to UK parties, a Labour MP has warned.
Palantir Boss Louis Mosley: Keir Starmer 'Gets' AI, 'You Could See In His Eyes'
Technology
By Sophie Church
Palantir Boss Louis Mosley: Keir Starmer "Gets" AI, "You Could See In His Eyes"
In a bid to boost growth, Labour has thrown open government’s doors to controversial US tech firm Palantir. In his first ever sit-down interview, Palantir’s UK chief Louis Mosley tells Sophie Church how it is revolutionising the work of government departments. Photography By Dinendra Haria
Duty of Candour In NHS 'Not Working', Says Inquiry Chair
Health
By Sophie Church
Duty of Candour In NHS "Not Working", Says Inquiry Chair
The NHS is failing to be honest with patients when things go wrong, according to a former chair of investigations into preventable deaths on maternity wards.
“There Are Very Significant Skills Challenges': Sir John Armitt
Economy
“There Are Very Significant Skills Challenges": Sir John Armitt
As the government unveils 150 infrastructure projects, National Infrastructure Commission chair Sir John Armitt tells Sophie Church the UK needs to be realistic about how it will deliver them
Ministers Poised To Demand Inquiry Recommendations Are Enforced
Communities
By Sophie Church
Ministers Poised To Demand Inquiry Recommendations Are Enforced
The government is considering introducing a new oversight body to ensure the recommendations of public inquiries are implemented, PoliticsHome understands.
Boost Defence Spending Using Private Finance, Says Arms Industry
Defence
Boost Defence Spending Using Private Finance, Says Arms Industry
Defence manufacturers are urging the government to use private finance models to fill capability gaps as Britain looks to rearm rapidly.
Lib Dems At Odds With Party Members Over Gender Self-ID, Poll Suggests
Communities
By Sophie Church
Lib Dems At Odds With Party Members Over Gender Self-ID, Poll Suggests
A new poll suggests a split between the Liberal Democrat leadership and party members as they prepare to vote on changing gender self-identification policy.
MPs Urge Government To Act Faster On Cross-Party Social Care Talks
Health
By Sophie Church
MPs Urge Government To Act Faster On Cross-Party Social Care Talks
For three decades, ministers have failed to fix a broken social care system. Sophie Church asks whether, finally, a solution can survive electioneering
Government Says It's Not 'Appropriate' For Committee To Scrutinise Security Adviser
Defence
By Sophie Church
Government Says It's Not "Appropriate" For Committee To Scrutinise Security Adviser
The government has backed national security adviser Jonathan Powell in his refusal to appear before the parliamentary committee responsible for directly scrutinising his role.
Inside the Lib Dems' swivel to small business
Political parties
By Sophie Church
Inside the Lib Dems' swivel to small business
With many asking what the Liberal Democrats will do next, Sophie Church explores the party’s pivot to small business
Growing Frustration Within Team Restoring Parliament Over Slow Progress
Parliament
By Sophie Church
Growing Frustration Within Team Restoring Parliament Over Slow Progress
There is an increasing sense of frustration at the highest levels of the Restoration and Renewal (R&R) programme leadership, as the project faces yet further delays.
'I Genuinely Don't Know What The Role Of Prevent Is Anymore', Says Former Counter-Extremism Tsar
Home affairs
By Sophie Church
"I Genuinely Don't Know What The Role Of Prevent Is Anymore", Says Former Counter-Extremism Tsar
Britain’s counter-radicalisation programme Prevent is mired in confusion, a former government adviser who was once among its most prominent supporters has said.
''Employment Rights Bill Lite' won't cut it': TUC's Paul Nowak
Social affairs
By Sophie Church
'"Employment Rights Bill Lite" won't cut it': TUC's Paul Nowak
The Employment Rights Bill is facing further delays, yet TUC general secretary Paul Nowak tells Sophie Church he expects it to be delivered in full. Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer
CCTV Installed In Westminster Bar After Alleged Spiking
Parliament
By Sophie Church
CCTV Installed In Westminster Bar After Alleged Spiking
The decision comes after Labour’s Westminster MP led calls for CCTV to be installed in Parliament’s bars, after a woman’s drink was allegedly spiked on the parliamentary estate.