Tom Tugendhat has admitted foreign secretary “would be a fantastic job to do” – but insisted Tory leadership frontrunner Liz Truss has made him no promises. Mr Tugendhat, who also stood as a candidate to take over from Boris Johnson, is the latest senior Tory MP to back Ms Truss over Rishi Sunak. Mr Tugendhat
Politics
Former Tory leadership contender Tom Tugendhat has endorsed Liz Truss in the race to be prime minister, in a huge blow to Rishi Sunak. Writing in The Times, Mr Tugendhat said that the foreign secretary’s promises of tax cuts are based on “true Conservative principles” and that she can unite the party. He said: “Liz
Sky News has caught up with former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher, who was instrumental in Boris Johnson’s downfall. Last month, Mr Pincher resigned his post after he was accused of groping two men in a private members’ club. It later emerged he had already been investigated for his conduct three years ago. The PM’s
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has revealed his support for cabinet colleague Liz Truss in the Tory leadership race. Mr Wallace described Ms Truss as “authentic, honest and experienced”, and with having “integrity” for the top job. The defence secretary, who was himself widely tipped to become the next Conservative Party leader before ruling himself out
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said one of his shadow ministers was sacked yesterday for making up policy “on the hoof” as he stood on a picket line during rail strikes. Sam Tarry was dismissed from his role as a junior shadow transport minister after he disobeyed orders for frontbench Labour MPs to not
An urgent plea for blood donors to come forward has been issued by the health secretary as stocks required to carry out critical operations run low. Steve Barclay said the NHS is running on three-and-half days’ worth of blood reserves – whereas it normally aims to hold six days. If supplies drop to two days,
A Labour MP has been removed from the party’s frontbench by Sir Keir Starmer after appearing on the picket line during a rail strike. Sam Tarry, the MP for Ilford South and shadow transport minister, was this morning at Euston station along with rail workers taking industrial action over pay and conditions. He told Sky
Rishi Sunak has announced a plan to scrap VAT on energy bills – a significant U-turn on his previous pledge not to make any immediate tax cuts. The former chancellor said that if he becomes prime minister he would implement the temporary measure to save the average household £160. It marks a notable change of
Tonight’s Conservative Party leadership debate between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak has been scrapped after presenter Kate McCann fainted during the live broadcast. Ms Truss held her hands to her face and said “oh my God” after a loud crash was heard – and then the contest was taken off air. TalkTV said Ms McCann
Liz Truss castigated Rishi Sunak’s “doom and gloom” approach to the economy during another Conservative leadership debate in which the candidates appeared willing to trash the party’s own record in government. The foreign secretary, who sat alongside the former chancellor in Boris Johnson’s cabinet for more than two years, suggested the government’s raising of taxes
Sir Keir Starmer has suggested Labour would drop its pledge to renationalise the railways, despite repeated promises to do so. The Labour leader insisted he took a “pragmatic” approach when asked about whether he would place rail, energy and water companies back under public ownership. His view appears to have changed since he became leader
The Tory leadership race is in full flow as Rishi Sunak pledged to impose curbs on China, labelling it the “biggest-long term threat to Britain”, and Liz Truss promised to boost UK growth rates with “full-fat freeports”. While the pair battled over tax cuts last week, and then tried to get one up on each
By September the UK will have its fourth Conservative prime minister in a row. Of these only David Cameron was chosen by the wider British electorate by leading his party to victory in a general election. Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss will have made it to Number 10 thanks to
The two remaining Tory leadership candidates have vowed to continue the government’s controversial scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Former chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss both said they would stand by the policy, which has already cost the UK £120m. This comes despite the Commons home affairs committee saying this week
The battle to be the next leader of the Conservative Party – and prime minister of the United Kingdom – continued on Saturday. Rishi Sunak gave a speech in Margaret Thatcher’s home town of Grantham setting out his stall to Tory party members, framing himself as an “underdog”. Meanwhile, Liz Truss blamed France for issues
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are ramping up their campaigns for the Conservative leadership this weekend, announcing new policies to tackle NHS backlogs and scrap EU laws if they become prime minister. First up, the former chancellor, who will promise to make cutting NHS waiting lists his “number one public service priority” if he wins
Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby’s looking at the final two candidates for the Conservative party leadership on her last podcast before a summer break. As well as assessing the chances for Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, she sits down with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to discuss his image, being investigated for a potential
Rishi Sunak says he flew back from a government trip last December to stop the country going into a new COVID lockdown. The former chancellor and Tory leadership candidate told LBC that the UK was “hours away from a press conference” announcing the measures due to the spread of the Omicron variant. But he said
Body language expert Judi James has offered a fascinating insight into the mannerisms of Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss – and the issues they need to address in order to convince people they should be the next prime minister. She said Mr Sunak is “smart, slick, always using Tony Blair’s gesticulation, we get the thumb
The final two runners in the race to be the next prime minister will begin a summer of campaigning today in an effort to convince Conservative party members they are the right candidate for the job. Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss made it onto the ballot paper on Wednesday after their