Press Association • 31st March 2022

Tory MP coming out as trans should prompt more ‘respectful’ conversations

The outpouring of love for Tory MP Jamie Wallis after he came out as transgender should prompt a “respectful” conversation among Conservatives over the issue, one of the party’s LGBT leaders has said.

ITV News • 30th March 2022

Ministers told to 'get a grip' over PPE - two years into Covid pandemic

“Get a grip” of personal protective equipment (PPE) stocks and contracts, the government has been told, as procurement issues are laid bare once again.

Press Association • 23rd March 2022

‘Tory feminist’ who was ‘once, twice, three times a lady’ dies aged 90

Baroness Elspeth Howe of Idlicote died late on Tuesday at her home in Warwickshire, her family said in a statement.

Press Association • 21st March 2022

Second whistleblower says decision to evacuate Afghan animals came from Johnson

The evacuation of animals from the Nowzad charity sparked controversy last year as thousands of people trying to flee the Taliban after the fall of Kabul were left behind.

Press Association • 18th March 2022

Schools must teach children ‘how to think, not what to think’ – Zahawi

Nadhim Zahawi said young people “aren’t snowflakes” and schools must teach children “how to think, not what to think”.

Press Association • 17th March 2022

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe hugs and kisses daughter in emotional reunion

Tears of joy were shed as the families of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were reunited with their loved ones in the early hours of Thursday morning after years of a “long and cruel separation” caused by their detention in Iran. The pair touched down on British soil at RAF Brize Norton at just after 1am, and a video shared on social media showed the emotional homecoming as Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe hugged and kissed her young daughter and Mr Ashoori’s family sobbed. Mrs Zaghari-Ratc

Press Association • 5th March 2022

Starmer urges action on oligarchs able to ‘sue critics into silence’

Sir Keir is looking to prevent the use of so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation (Slapp) – a kind of legal challenge where the intention is to drain resources or intimidate opponents using the courts.

Press Association • 4th March 2022

Senior judge recommends scaling back of Commons standards tsar’s dual role

Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone should have her decision-making powers stripped back and the Commons be banned from amending reports into MPs’ rule breaches, a review of the standards system has recommended.

Press Association • 25th February 2022

It is Johnson, not Putin, who has gone ‘full tonto’, Russian official suggests

The Defence Secretary could have used “similar adjectives” to describe Boris Johnson when he told troops that Vladimir Putin had gone “full tonto”, Russia has said.

Press Association • 7th February 2022

Carrie Johnson says PM’s enemies are targeting her in ‘brutal campaign’

Carrie Johnson has insisted she “plays no role in Government” and has been targeted by “enemies” of the Prime Minister in a “brutal briefing campaign”.

Press Association • 6th February 2022

Can the new Number 10 chief of staff tackle three jobs at once?

Questions have been asked about how the Prime Minister’s new chief of staff will balance the “24/7” role - alongside being a Cabinet minister and an MP.

Press Association • 5th February 2022

Messages show how disgraced MP Owen Paterson lobbied health secretary for Randox

Whatsapp messages between Owen Paterson and then health secretary Matt Hancock have been released showing how the disgraced former MP lobbied for a firm that was paying him more than £8,000 a month.

Press Association • 1st February 2022

PM urges Putin to avoid ‘bloodshed’ as Kyiv visit bolsters support for Ukraine

The UK is set to provide tens of millions of pounds in an attempt to shore up democracy in Ukraine and reduce the country’s reliance on Russian energy as Boris Johnson held out hope he could defuse tensions on the country’s border.

Press Association • 14th January 2022

No 10 apologises to Palace over parties on eve of Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral

Downing Street has apologised to Buckingham Palace after it emerged parties were held in Number 10 the day before the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral last year.

Press Association • 6th January 2022

PM offers ‘humble and sincere’ apology over missing Tory donor texts

Boris Johnson has offered a “humble and sincere apology” to his standards adviser for not disclosing an exchange of messages with a Tory peer where he discussed the funding of the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat.

Press Association • 6th January 2022

‘PM did not disclose message about flat revamp because it was on old phone’

Boris Johnson is reported to have told his ministerial standards adviser that he did not disclose messages exchanged with a Tory donor about his flat refurbishment because they were on an old phone.

Press Association • 18th December 2021

Frost resigns immediately amid concerns about Government’s ‘direction of travel’

Brexit minister Lord Frost has resigned “with immediate effect” as he told Boris Johnson that building a new relationship with the EU would be a “long-term task”.

Press Association • 18th December 2021

‘Formidable’ civil servant takes over Whitehall lockdown parties probe

A top civil servant once described as “deputy God” has been tasked with rooting out the truth over “endemic” parties across Whitehall during coronavirus restrictions.

Press Association • 13th December 2021

Boris Johnson faces most difficult week in office since becoming PM

As dissatisfaction on the Conservative backbenches has grown, the Prime Minister heads into the next few days against a backdrop of rebellion.

Press Association • 10th December 2021

Former spy chiefs should not become media ‘talking heads’ – report

Former spy chiefs should not be able to foster lucrative second careers as “talking heads” and divulge secrets without sanctions, Parliament’s intelligence watchdog has said.