All news by author: Dan Bloom

An 'angry' Unite rep blasted 'insulting' Health Secretary Steve Barclay for offering no deal after talks lasting an hour - despite Rishi Sunak and Downing Street hinting a cash offer could be on the table

Here are all the strike dates currently planned or being balloted on for major unions including railways, paramedics, DVSA driving tests, DVLA, NHS nurses, junior doctors, teachers, firefighters and DWP

The idea was said to have been one of three put forward by officials in the Business Department in a leaked email. A No10 source denied it had ever been considered by Downing Street

Rishi Sunak appeared to finally open the door to nurses getting more money this year - but a union chief slapped him down for misrepresenting talks 'on almost every level'

Everyone in England would eventually be banned from buying cigarettes under the plan, which was presented to Tory ministers last year - and will be looked at by Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting

The announcement will come almost a year after a consultation into banning some of the most commonly littered single-use plastics - with polystyrene cups also hit

Justice Minister Mike Freer, who wears a stab vest to meet constituents after threats, says his husband is worried about him standing again as an MP in 2024

Labour's leader said 233,000 more NHS patients could have been seen in nine months through using spare capacity - as he was confronted with his own scrapped pledge

The millionaire Prime Minister claimed it was not 'relevant' and told people to stop 'bandying around' claims 300 are dying a week - as a nurse goes home and cries every night

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said he's ready for 'constructive' talks - but only for 2023/24, and there should be 'productivity and efficiency opportunities' for an NHS on its knees

One expert said the government could face 'legal challenge on a number of grounds', while another branded Rishi Sunak's crackdown on striking workers 'completely mad'

The Lib Dems branded the target a 'broken promise' as forces rush to close a gap of nearly 5,000 officers in the final six months of the scheme. The Home Office insists it's all on track

Lord John Hutton, who was Defence Secretary under Gordon Brown, said admitting to killing 25 people was a 'very serious mistake' and 'it's just inappropriate and wrong'

PM Rishi Sunak swerved questions on what his 'minimum service levels' for striking staff will mean in the health service - including if workers could be sacked

After weeks of threats, Rishi Sunak has now confirmed he'll bring a 'minimum service levels' law to Parliament in the coming weeks to ban some workers from walking out

Rishi Sunak's government has confirmed the sale pushed by his predecessor will not go ahead - and Channel 4 will remain in public ownership where it has been for the last 40 years

The Labour leader said a Take Back Control Bill would be one of his first acts in government, as he stood in front of machinery vowing to 'roll up our sleeves' in a major New Year speech

Guidance already suggests masking up in 'crowded and enclosed spaces' in winter, when 'there are a lot of respiratory viruses circulating'. But it's voluntary, and sources suggest it would stay that way

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme for businesses and charities will finally be announced next week by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt - and he's warned it will be seriously stripped back

Rishi Sunak tried to reboot the ailing Tory government today with a speech in east London - promising 'no tricks, no ambiguity'. Yet his five promises for 2023 sound pretty vague...

The ex-PM had plotted revenge on Channel 4 by selling it off after 40 years of public ownership - but the sale now looks set to be ditched, according to a leaked letter from his Culture Secretary

Travellers to England from China will be offered two Covid tests, but the second will be voluntary and not require people to isolate if it comes back positive

From strikes and the cost of living to local elections and Tory revolts, we look at the landmines waiting for Rishi Sunak - as many believe his days are numbered