The Latest Breaking News from Downing Street

Key questions around Rutherglen by-election win Starmer hails as ‘seismic’

The Labour leader said the result marked a ‘big step in the right direction’ on his path to Downing Street.

The Independent UK · Oct 6, 2023

Starmer paints Labour as ‘party of change’ after Rutherglen victory

The Labour leader celebrated his party’s higher-than-expected swing from the SNP, which experts believe could open the door to Number 10.

The Independent UK · Oct 6, 2023

Labour poses ‘serious challenge’ to SNP’s dominance – Sir John Curtice

Labour’s win in the Rutherglen by-election could put the party on course for Downing Street if it is replicated across Scotland, he said.

The Independent UK · Oct 6, 2023

UK ‘to get access to EU intelligence on migrant crisis in new deal’ – report

Officials in London and Brussels have reportedly concluded the substance of an agreement which is in the ‘final stages’.

The Independent UK · Oct 5, 2023

​​Minister defends No 10 claim that HS2 decision had not yet been taken despite prerecorded announcement - as it happened

Video of Rishi Sunak announcing the axing of the HS2 Manchester leg was filmed in No 10 before he travelled to conference

The Guardian - UK · Oct 5, 2023

‘Like a boozy wake’: HS2 and infighting overshadow Tory conference

Rishi Sunak’s hope to present his leadership as a clear change from his predecessors fails to win over a flagging party faithful

The Guardian - UK · Oct 4, 2023

Tory mayor Andy Street decides not to quit despite Sunak scrapping HS2 leg

West Midlands mayor says he remains committed to high-speed rail link to Manchester after suggestion he might leave party over move

The Guardian - UK · Oct 4, 2023

Theresa May piles pressure on Sunak not to scrap HS2

She joins calls by fellow ex-PMs Boris Johnson and David Cameron over fears scrapping line into Euston will disrupt trains from her constituency

The Independent UK · Sep 30, 2023

Cabinet split over Sunak’s HS2 ‘gross act of vandalism’

Exclusive: Levelling up secretary Michael Gove and transport secretary Mark Harper ‘very unhappy’ over plan to axe northern leg – first revealed by this newspaper – as George Osborne attacks ‘economic self-harm’

The Independent UK · Sep 25, 2023

Sunak ‘to cut inheritance tax’ in boon for Britain’s wealthiest – and wants to abolish it altogether

The state of the nation’s finances mean there is little prospect of a change in the near future.

The Independent UK · Sep 25, 2023