13 h. ago MPs face new expenses clampdown after Labour politician billed taxpayers £900 to cover 'pet rent' for her cockapoo to live in second home

Taiwo Owatemi had her claim for 'pet rent' approved so she could keep Bella with her in the capital instead of in her Coventry North West constituency.

Economics

18 h. ago Labour MP expensed £900 ‘pet rent’ so dog could stay at second home

Taiwo Owatemi, a Government whip and the MP for Coventry North West, made the expenses claim in August last year.

Society

26 h. ago More than 20 Labour MPs now facing criminal action over failing to declare visits by Angela Rayner's battlebus as Election expenses

A dossier identifying 24 MPs who were visited by the bus but did not itemise it as an expense has been sent by the Conservatives to the Electoral Commission.

Events

42 h. ago ‘Cabinet no longer feels safe’: Labour MPs criticise briefings against female ministers

Female MPs say they are unnerved by how women seem to be taking brunt of anger over government decisionsAs Keir Starmer’s cabinet gathered last week, a female minister spoke directly to the prime minister to complain about the leaks and briefings she saw directed against other women around the table.The women were listed by name, including the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson; the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, and the home secretary, Yvette Cooper. Starmer was furious and said he would no longer tolerate malicious briefings, and that there would be consequences if it did not stop. Continue reading...

Politics

61 h. ago Starmer ‘disappointed’ Sentencing Council won’t change guidelines that have prompted fears of two tier justice – UK politics live

Justice secretary says ‘all options are on the table’ and threatens to change law Keir Starmer has said that he is “disappointed” at the Sentencing Council’s refusal to agree to the government’s request to withdraw the guidelines that have led to claims it is promoting “two-tier” justice. (See 11.44am.) Asked about the Sentencing Council’s letter this morning, he said:Look, I’m disappointed in this response, and the lord chancellor is obviously continuing to engage on this, and we’re considering our response.All options are on the table. I’m disappointed at this outcome, and now we will have to consider what we do as a result.Farage wants you to eat chlorinated chicken just so he can keep licking the boots of his idol Donald Trump. It’s so pathetic and unpatriotic. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Good Morning Britain's Laura Tobin breaks silence after she snapped at Richard Madeley during awkward on

Good Morning Britain star Laura Tobin broke her silence on Thursday after she snapped at Richard Madeley in an awkward on-air moment. 

Events

3 d. ago Labour has history of difficult debates over welfare, says McFadden

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said people should not be content with allowing the number of benefits claimants to grow.

Politics

3 d. ago All the Labour MPs who have said they are opposing Rachel Reeves's welfare cuts

Government faces challenge from its own benches amid controversy surrounding benefits cuts

Politics

3 d. ago Labour MPs threaten 'the mother of all rebellions' over benefit cuts with 'dozens' ready to revolt as child poverty hits record level

More than 30 backbenchers are said to be ready to vote against plans to make it harder to claim incapacity benefits and personal independence payments (Pip).

Events

3 d. ago Andy Burnham slams Rachel Reeves' DWP benefits cuts as 'the wrong choice'

The mayor has joined Labour MPs worried about the move, but says welfare reform is needed

Events

3 d. ago Labour MPs threaten 'the mother of all rebellions' over benefit cuts with 'dozens' ready to revolt over Reeves' cut to cash for the disabled

More than 30 backbenchers are said to be ready to vote against plans to make it harder to claim incapacity benefits and personal independence payments (Pip).

Events

4 d. ago Labour MP’s awkwardly long silence when asked if government has been a disappointment

A Labour MP remained awkwardly silent when asked if his party’s government has been a disappointment.

Politics

4 d. ago MP quit smoking after voting to ban cigarette sales to young people

Labour MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter backed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and gave up smoking herself.

Politics

4 d. ago Reeves announces plans to make state ‘leaner’ and ‘more productive’

Overall, day-to-day spending will drop by £6.1 billion by 2029/30 and will now grow by an average of 1.2% a year above inflation, the Chancellor said.

Politics

4 d. ago Labour MPs urge Rachel Reeves to rethink cuts to health and disability benefits

Debbie Abrahams, who chairs the Work and Pensions Committee, questioned how ‘making people sicker and poorer’ would help the economy.

Politics

4 d. ago Assisted dying law would be implemented in ‘safe and practicable’ way, says PM

A committee of MPs has finished scrutinising the Bill, which will return to the Commons for a further debate and vote.

Events

4 d. ago Assisted dying bill is ‘flawed and dangerous’ after changes, says group of Labour MPs

Bill, which passed committee scrutiny on Tuesday, has ‘insufficient protections’ for most vulnerableUK politics live – latest updatesLabour MPs opposed to assisted dying have called the bill “irredeemably flawed and not fit to become law” in a letter to their parliamentary colleagues, saying “significant new risks” emerged during the scrutiny process.The letter from six critics, circulated to all Labour MPs, including two select committee chairs, came as the scrutiny committee finalised changes to the bill, which will now return to the Commons in April for its final stages. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago STEPHEN GLOVER: Why Miliband's despicable choice says EVERYTHING about the Left

Ed Miliband has set himself up as the champion of net zero. But is he still after Labour whipped MPs to allow the import of Chinese solar panels allegedly made with slave labour?

Politics

5 d. ago Labour architect of assisted dying laws at centre of another row after 'misleading MPs' over depth of public support for her Bill

Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to Parliament last year, recently sent an email to MPs to update on her Bill's progress.

Events

5 d. ago BoE heaps woe on Rachel Reeves with bleak warning over UK growth prospects as she tries to appease Labour MPs with affordable housing plan ahead of '£15bn' cuts in brutal Spring Statement

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is bracing to wield the axe on spending at the fiscal event tomorrow - with £15billion of cuts expected as she desperately tries to balance the books.

Events