Boris Johnson was ‘told to stop seeking Richard Sharp’s advice on finances’

Leaked memo shows then cabinet secretary Simon Case warned PM on issue days before Sharp’s BBC appointmentBoris Johnson was formally asked by his then cabinet secretary to stop seeking “advice” about his financial affairs from Richard Sharp just days before he was announced as the BBC chair, according to reports.A leaked Cabinet Office memo shows Johnson,...

9h

Forget Andrew Tate – what about the host of misogynists in Labour’s ranks? | Catherine Bennett

The transgender debate seems to offer many proudly progressive men a licence to insult women who disagree with themThe continued detention of the professional misogynist Andrew Tate deprives fans of a treasured role model. Even if Tate is soon free to resume his life’s work – essentially, telling women to “shut up, bitch” – it could be a while before...

11h

Revealed: child migrants racially abused and threatened with violence at Home Office hotel

Whistleblower tells of threats and illegal detention in fresh revelations about failures that drove children into hands of criminalsChildren seeking asylum in the UK were threatened and subjected to racist abuse by staff at a Home Office-run hotel, a whistleblower has claimed as pressure grows on the government to act over the growing crisis in the...

12h

Rishi Sunak and his demons – cartoon

Inquiries into Partygate, Nadhim Zahawi, Dominic Raab and the BBC chairman… how does the prime minister sleep at night?• You can order your own copy of this cartoon Continue reading...

12h

Zahawi should quit as party chair until tax inquiry ends, top Tory peer implies

Lord Young suggests ministers should feel able to step aside for the duration of any investigation Nadhim Zahawi should step away from his Conservative party role while the inquiry into his tax affairs continues, a senior Tory peer and former Commons standards chair has appeared to suggest.Lord Young, who served in several Conservative administrations...

12h

Zahawi should quit as party chair until tax inquiry ends, top Tory peer infers

Lord Young suggests ministers should feel able to step aside for the duration of any investigation Nadhim Zahawi should step away from his Conservative party role while the inquiry into his tax affairs continues, a senior Tory peer and former Commons standards chair has appeared to suggest.Lord Young, who served in several Conservative administrations...

13h

Four problems that Britain’s crisis-hit railway must solve to survive

Staff relations are at rock bottom, investment is shrinking and franchising has failed. But even so, passengers are trickling back. Can the network be revived?What do Britain’s railways need to do to get back on track? In a brief interval between strikes, the RMT’s Mick Lynch was asked by MPs whether industrial action was damaging rail. The union leader...

13h

Sunak was warned of Zahawi reputational risk in October, say sources

PM allegedly given advice about inquiry into minister’s taxes when he appointed him Tory party chairRishi Sunak was told there could be a reputational risk to the government from Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs when he appointed him as Conservative party chair in October, sources have told the Observer.During the period when the prime minister was drawing...

14h

Starmer pledges Labour is party of ‘sound money’ and public service

‘Never again will Labour allow hate to spread unchallenged,’ Labour leader says at annual conference in LondonNever again will Labour be the party of protest not public service, and never again will it allow hate to spread unchallenged, Keir Starmer has said, as he reiterated his promise to make it the party of “sound money”.The Labour leader addressed...

18h

Keith Vaz denies claims he plans to stand again as MP for Leicester East

‘That ship has sailed,’ says disgraced former minister in wake of conviction of sitting MP Claudia WebbeThe disgraced former minister Keith Vaz has denied claims he plans to stand again as the MP for Leicester East after Labour officials imposed new controls upon candidate selection procedures in the city.Amid growing speculation that the former head...

23h