The Latest Breaking News from Starmer

The “Labour for Liz” campaign is braced for a Tory bounce in the polls if the front-runner is declared Tory leader on 5 September and replaces Boris Johnson in Downing Street the following day

BORIS Johnson was told he “paved the way for the end of the Union” during his final appearance at PMQs.

There is a clammy, sticky feeling of shame I can’t shake when I consider Westminster now. Cowardice, bullying, lying and ambition oozes out of every antiquated orifice. Sexual aggression, an out-of-control drinking culture, ministers who are free to throw things at the staff and get away with it. Rules that…

The sad death of Minder star Dennis almost provided me with some material for this column, but the education secretary scuppered it

Keir Mudie says if Keir Starmer gets a fine he is going to go, which would – in normal circumstances – mean Boris Johnson would have to go as well. After all, the PM has been fined for parties

It is not quite true to suggest that the State Opening of Parliament is all style over substance. No doubt, there’s quite a lot of pomp and ceremony on display. Horse-drawn, gold-plated carriages, doors theatrically slammed in Black Rod’s face and ermine as far as the eye can bear.

Body language expert Judi James has run the rule over the Prime Minister’s apology for a Partygate fine - and says his solemn pauses sped up like a train to suggest he’d finished and moved onto bigger things

Brief letters: Keir Starmer’s rebuke to Jeremy Corbyn | Ukraine’s white storks | Coronation Street’s silent character | Vladimir Putin and Gellert Grindelwald | Rugby league coverage

Kezia Dugdale suggested Labour's attacks on centralisation could be blunted if they disempower their own councillors.