The Latest Breaking News from Whitehall

The government’s levelling up strategy to tackle regional inequality promises a “revolution in local democracy”. It seeks to do this largely through regional devolution – setting up more localised governments with their own mayors to give greater autonomy and power to the “left behind” regions.

Adding more mayors to English regions is central to the UK government’s “levelling up” plan. From day one, part of the vision has been to expand mayoral devolution – giving more powers to regional combined authorities, rather than just being ruled by Whitehall.

"Is Boris going to pay £1,600 for the string of parties held at Whitehall?"

Amanda Martindale, from Stanley in County Durham, is "infuriated" about having paid the fine, given the recent revelations about the string of lockdown-flouting parties in Whitehall

So-called missions to improve people’s lot nationwide require local knowledge and local powers to be fulfilled, says Miatta Fahnbulleh, chief executive of the New Economics Foundation

Jane Hutt, Welsh Minister for Social Justice, said there was ‘little hope’ coming from Whitehall as the cost-of-living crisis deepens.

Excessive drinking ‘not appropriate in professional workplace’, finds former landlady Sue Gray

Police probe ‘bring your own booze’ party in No 10 garden attended by Boris Johnson.

Boris Johnson will make an urgent statement at 3.30pm after the publication of the inquiry

The Prime Minister is expected to apologise to the Commons again

Top civil servant Sue Gray has handed her report to Boris Johnson after a slew of booze-ups in Downing Street and Whitehall - but it is shorn of key details