Lead News

Demonstrations are taking place across the UK against Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament in the run-up to Brexit. Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in cities including Manchester, Leeds, York and Belfast. Parts of central London were brought to a standstill, with people chanting: “Boris Johnson, shame on you”. A small group of counter-protesters, marching in support ...

Schools in England are being promised billions more in spending over the next three years, in an announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Next year schools will receive a £2.6bn uplift, rising to £4.8bn the following year – with schools spending £7.1bn more than at present by 2022-23. It follows a campaign by school leaders warning of worsening budget shortages. ...

Boris Johnson said the UK would leave the bloc “do or die” on 31 October – prompting some MPs to act to stop the UK leaving without an agreement. But he said the more MPs try to block a no-deal Brexit, “the more likely it is that we’ll end up in that situation”. It comes after the PM announced he ...

Next week could be MPs’ “only opportunity” to challenge a no-deal Brexit, ex-minister David Gauke has said. This follows the prime minister’s decision to suspend Parliament in September and October. The move sparked criticism from those who argue Boris Johnson is trying to prevent MPs from blocking a no-deal Brexit. Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg said their outrage was ...

A Scottish judge has retired to consider a legal attempt to block the suspension of the UK Parliament. Lord Doherty heard arguments from representatives of a cross-party group seeking an interim interdict that would halt the move by the government. Arguing for the UK government, Roddy Dunlop QC said the issue “was not a matter for the courts”. The judge ...

Parliament suspension: Readers’ questions answered Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plan to suspend Parliament in September, before recommencing just 17 days before the scheduled Brexit date, has prompted many questions from our readers. The idea of shutting down Parliament in this way – known as prorogation – has caused controversy in political circles, with critics saying it would stop MPs being ...

The government has asked the Queen to suspend Parliament just days after MPs return to work in September – and only a few weeks before the Brexit deadline. Boris Johnson said a Queen’s Speech would take place after the suspension, on 14 October, to outline his “very exciting agenda”. But it means the time MPs have to pass laws to ...

The Queen will be asked by the UK government to suspend Parliament days after MPs return to work – and a matter of weeks before the Brexit deadline. The BBC’s political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, says it will make way for Boris Johnson’s new administration to hold a Queen’s Speech – laying out the government’s future plans – on 14 October. ...

“The job of everybody in Parliament” is to deliver Brexit, the PM has said at the end of the G7 summit in France. Boris Johnson also said he was “marginally more optimistic” about striking a new Brexit deal with the EU. But he refused to be drawn on whether he would suspend Parliament to stop it preventing a no-deal exit. ...

Bournemouth beach enjoy the record-breaking temperatures It has been the hottest late August bank holiday weekend ever – with temperatures reaching 33.3C (91.94F) in west London. The Met Office confirmed the new record temperature, which was set at Heathrow. It beats the previous record of 31.5C (88.7F), set in 2001 and again at Heathrow. The hot temperatures are expected to ...