16 h. ago Angela Rayner praises ‘amazing’ Independent Brick by Brick campaign as family fleeing abuse get safe haven

Exclusive: The deputy prime minister and housing secretary said helping vulnerable families and children into safe and secure housing ‘is a matter that I hold close to my heart’

Events

20 h. ago If you went to state school, do you ever feel British life is rigged against you? Welcome to the 93% Club | Alastair Campbell

The civil service, judiciary and media are still dominated by the privately educated 7%. Lasting change is not a pipe dream – but it’s up to usFor the first time in our history, we have a cabinet made up entirely of people who went to state schools. Several, including prime minister Keir Starmer, come from working-class backgrounds; some, such as deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, were raised in conditions of poverty that feel as if they ought to belong to another age.So far so good. What better signs could one ask for to show that Britain is a meritocracy, social mobility is real and anyone can rise to the top provided they have talent, commitment and determination?Alastair Campbell is a former journalist turned strategist and spokesperson for the Labour party. He is now a writer, podcaster, consultant strategist and mental health campaigner Continue reading...

Society

30 h. ago Mrs Rayner's tone was markedly less fiery. A tigress tamed. A curry taken down from vindaloo to korma: QUENTIN LETTS on Prime Minister's Questions

With Sir Keir Starmer still not back from foreign jaunts - for so unexciting a man to have such wanderlust is psychologically intriguing - it fell to Angela Rayner to do the honours at PMQs.

Politics

31 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Russia can defend itself, says Putin, as North Korea sends more soldiers

Death toll rises to 28 after Russian attack on Kyiv apartments; Zelenskyy planning to attend Nato summit in The Hague. What we know on day 1,212Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he was ready to meet with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy but only during a “final phase” of negotiations “so as not to sit there and divide things up endlessly, but to put an end to it”. Putin made his customary false accusation that Zelenskyy is not Ukraine’s legitimate president.In a round-table interview in St Petersburg with international news agencies, Putin said on Nato: “We do not consider any Nato rearmament to be a threat to the Russian Federation, because we are self-sufficient in terms of ensuring our security.” Russia has brought in thousands of North Korean soldiers to help defend Kursk; and has relied on a flood of arms and ammunition from North Korea as well as Iranian drones and missiles to wage war on Ukraine; while also receiving suspected help from China to continue arming a “spec...

Events

34 h. ago Domestic abuse victims and care leavers given social housing help under rules change

Deputy PM Angela Rayner said vulnerable groups must not face 'unfair barriers' to social housing as she confirmed plans to scrap the need for local links from next month

Events

41 h. ago Horny cheats name Nigel Farage 'UK's sexiest' MP with Angela Rayner

Nigel Farage and Angela Rayner are the UK's sexiest politicians, according to a poll. Tory heartthrobs beat Labour as the sexiest party overall, with Reform UK coming third

Politics

41 h. ago DWP says transitional payments scheme for those losing Pip ‘one of most generous ever’ – UK politics live

Department for Work and Pensions publishes text of bill cutting benefits and claims three-month transitional period is ‘one of most generous ever’Angela Rayner, the deputy PM, will be taking PMQs shortly. And she will be up against Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary.When Kemi Badenoch became Tory leader, she did not appoint a deputy (or even a “de factor deputy”, a post that has existed in Tory politics in recent years) and she said she would decide who would stand in for her at PMQs on a case by case basis. Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, got the gig the first time Starmer was away.Chris Philp follows Alex Burghart in rotating for Kemi Badenoch at PMQs. One Westminster wag asks “When is it going to be Robert Jenrick’s turn?”We have this profound challenge of the number of people joining the armed forces being outweighed by the outflow the people leaving. So ultimately its about retention.And the number one issue reason cited in last month’s attitude survey fo...

Politics

42 h. ago Watch in full: Angela Rayner faces Chris Philp in PMQs as Starmer returns from G7 summit

Watch as Angela Rayner faced Chris Philp at PMQs on Wednesday (18 June), filling in for Sir Keir Starmer as he travels back from the G7 summit in Canada.

Politics

43 h. ago Watch Angela Rayner and Chris Philp’s furious clash over immigration and housing in full

Angela Rayner and Chris Philp got into a fiery clash over immigration and housing during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (18 June).

Politics

43 h. ago UK transport secretary calls HS2 an ‘appalling mess’ as she confirms delay

Heidi Alexander vows to ‘sort out’ HS2 project; UK inflation dips to 3.4% as transport costs ease while food prices jumpUK inflation eases to 3.4% amid falling fuel and air fare pricesInflation pressures remain sticky in the UK, according to Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.Looking ahead, we continue to expect CPI inflation to average 3.4% for the rest of the year as strong wage growth, minimum wage hikes and tax increases pass through to retail prices. We think headline inflation will struggle to dip below 3% before April 2026. By that point, inflation will have been above target almost continuously for five years, risking further deanchoring of inflation expectations and persistent wage pressure.Granted, US president Trump’s trade war could lead to some diversion of Chinese exports previously bound to the US, which could cut UK inflation. But war in the Middle-East has boosted oil and natural gas prices, adding 10bp to our forecast inflation peak and risks p...

Politics

43 h. ago Rayner brands Philp ‘Johnny Come Lately’ as he presses her on immigration

In a back and forth, Mr Philp claimed landlords are being offered ‘above market deals’ to secure properties for ‘illegal immigrants’.

Politics

44 h. ago Angela Rayner fends off demands for apology over Keir Starmer's 'far

Angela Rayner was filling in at PMQs in the absence of Keir Starmer - who has been accused of delaying his departure from the G7 summit in Canada to dodge the grilling .

Politics

44 h. ago PMQs: Angela Rayner and Chris Philp clash over migration – UK politics live

Deputy prime minister and shadow home secretary clash over Conservatives’ Rwanda scheme and small boat arrivalsAngela Rayner, the deputy PM, will be taking PMQs shortly. And she will be up against Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary.When Kemi Badenoch became Tory leader, she did not appoint a deputy (or even a “de factor deputy”, a post that has existed in Tory politics in recent years) and she said she would decide who would stand in for her at PMQs on a case by case basis. Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, got the gig the first time Starmer was away.Chris Philp follows Alex Burghart in rotating for Kemi Badenoch at PMQs. One Westminster wag asks “When is it going to be Robert Jenrick’s turn?”We have this profound challenge of the number of people joining the armed forces being outweighed by the outflow the people leaving. So ultimately its about retention.And the number one issue reason cited in last month’s attitude survey for the armed forces for leaving was ...

Politics

44 h. ago Watch live: Angela Rayner faces Chris Philp in PMQs as Starmer returns from G7 summit

Watch live as Angela Rayner faces Chris Philp at PMQs on Wednesday (18 June), filling in for Sir Keir Starmer as he travels back from the G7 summit in Canada.

Politics

44 h. ago PMQs watch LIVE: Angela Rayner slaps down top Tory for doing 'absolutely nothing' on grooming gangs

Angela Rayner rebuffed Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp's call for an apology for the PM hitting out at far-right 'poison' earlier this year

Events

45 h. ago UK politics live: Angela Rayner to face Chris Philp in PMQs clash after Labour attacks Tories over HS2 failings

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander will accuse the Tories of an ‘appalling mess’ over the delayed rail project

Events

47 h. ago Keir Starmer accused of delaying return from G7 in Canada to dodge grooming gangs grilling at PMQs today as Rayner fills in

The G7 gathering of world leaders in Canada wrapped up last night, but Angela Rayner will be standing in at the weekly PMQs session this lunchtime.

Events

68 h. ago While the cat's away Deputy PM Angela Rayner chairs Cabinet for the first time with Keir Starmer in Canada for G7 summit

With Sir Keir Starmer at the G7 in Canada it was left to his number two to host the regular gathering of ministers in Downing Street .

Politics

3 d. ago Angela Rayner backing Sir Sadiq Khan's plans to pedestrianise London's Oxford Street

Angela Rayner backing Sir Sadiq Khan's plans to pedestrianise London's Oxford Street  Sky News

Politics

3 d. ago Israel declares it has 'full aerial superiority' over Tehran as US aircraft carrier steams towards Middle East after Trump issued warning to Iran

Iran is looking to form an 'Islamic Army' with several other countries in the Middle East as it continues to wage war with Israel.

Events