650,000 pensioners warned they're being dragged into paying tax this week

Over half a million state pensioners will be dragged into paying income tax for the first time this week. Around 8.5 million over-65s will pay tax on their income - up from approximately 4.9 million in 2010 - from 6 April, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Tory whip removed from Peter Bone MP

Away from the SNP conference in Aberdeen for a moment, we have had some breaking news in Westminster. A spokesperson for the Conservative Party's chief whip Simon Hart said: "Following a report by the Independent Expert Panel, the Chief Whip has removed the conservative whip from Peter Bone MP."

Conservative MP calls for inquiry into Braverman appoint.

A Conservative MP has called for a probe into the appointment of Suella Braverman as home secretary. Ms Braverman left the role on Wednesday last week after sharing government information with a backbench MP using a private email. She was put back on Tuesday this week.

Speaking to the BBC this morning, Caroline Nokes said there are "big questions hanging over this whole issue".

Sunak tells Australia's PM he is 'excited' by relationship between two nations

Rishi Sunak has told Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that he is "excited" about the relationship shared by the two countries. During a call today, the new Tory leader told Mr Albanese that free trade agreement, Aukus and the UK's potential accession to comprehensive and progressive agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership were all examples of the strength of the relationship between the two nations.

Truss to pocket almost £19k in severance pay as cost of ministers leaving office totals more than £700,000 Britain's year of political turmoil could cost the taxpayer up to £709,000 in severance payments to former ministers and whips, Sky News analysis of House of Commons library data has found.

Braverman situation needs to be 'sorted asap' - MP with oversight for spies and intelligence A Conservative MP and member of the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has called for the situation surrounding Suella Braverman being re-appointed home secretary to be "sorted asap".

He warned that MI5 needs to "have confidence" in the home secretary.

Labour renews calls for increased windfall tax after Shell doubles quarterly profits year-on-year

Labour is renewing its calls for an increased windfall tax in the energy sector after Shell's latest profits report. The energy giant reported operating profits of $9.5bn (£8.19bn) for the third quarter this year - lower than that of the three months before - but still more than double the same period in 2021.

This is a global figure rather than just the number for operations in the UK.

Braverman 'should be sacked' and a 'full inquiry' launched into her ministerial code breach, says Lammy

Home Secretary Suella Braverman should be sacked and there should be a full inquiry into her ministerial code breach, Labour's shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has said. Speaking to Sky News in the last few moments, Mr Lammy said the role of home secretary was the "most serious job you could have in our state" and an investigation into her breach was needed.

Election in Northern Ireland would make negotiations 'much more difficult'

An election in Northern Ireland would make negotiations between the parties there "much more difficult", one expert has told Sky News. If a new administration at Stormont cannot be agreed by midnight tonight, a second election this year is set to be called.

'Unwise' for government to make announcement on triple lock before 17 November, Zahawi claims

It would be "unwise" for the government to make an announcement on the pensions triple lock ahead of the autumn statement on 17 November, Nadhim Zahawi has claimed. Continuing his interview with Niall Paterson on Sky News, the Tory chairman was asked about what his colleague, Conservative MP Maria Caulfield, described as "worry" among her pension-age constituents.

Mr Zahawi said: "It would be unwise of me to pre-empt the autumn statement.

Home secretary has 'full security clearance' after previously resigning for sharing government information

Suella Braverman has "full security clearance" despite being forced out of office for sharing government information with a backbench MP. There is growing controversy around the position of the home secretary, who left her role last week before Rishi Sunak re-appointed her six days later.

Ms Braverman shared government data with a backbench MP through a personal account.

'Worry' over lack of commitment on pension triple lock from Sunak

Pensioners are "worried" about the lack of commitment from Rishi Sunak to keep the pensions triple lock, according to one Tory MP.

Mr Sunak refused to commit to the raise yesterday. Maria Caulfield told Sky News that the lack of a confirmation worries her.

"When the government doesn't confirm one way or another, the speculation mounts and vacuums are created and people start to worry. I've got pensioners who are worried," she said.

Braverman made 'multiple breaches' of ministerial code - former colleague

Suella Braverman made "multiple breaches" of the ministerial code, one of her former cabinet colleagues has claimed. Jake Berry, who was party chairman under Liz Truss before leaving as part of the Rishi Sunak reshuffle, made the allegations about the re-appointed home secretary.

'The clock is ticking': Northern Ireland leaders to attend last-ditch meeting to form a government

By David Blevins, senior Ireland correspondent The Northern Ireland Assembly has been recalled in a last-ditch effort to form a devolved government before tonight's midnight deadline.

Sunak 'came alive' during PMQs - and was far more 'confident' than his Number 10 speech, says body language expert

Earlier on Wednesday, Rishi Sunak faced Sir Keir Starmer in his first Prime Minister's Questions. Darren Stanton, a body language expert, says the new prime minister "came alive" in the Commons - and was far more "animated" than his "lacklustre" speech outside of Number 10.

Sunak doesn't commit to triple lock on state pensions - after Truss promised to stand by it

Rishi Sunak has failed to commit to the triple lock on state pensions - after Liz Truss promised to stand by it earlier in October. The triple lock is a government policy which ensures people's pensions are not impacted by gradual rises in the cost of living over time.

In practice, it means that the state pension must rise by whichever of the following three things is highest:

- Average earnings

Sunak will 'shortly' appoint new ethics adviser - a role that has been empty since June

Rishi Sunak has confirmed he will appoint a new independent ethics adviser, filling a gap left by Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Downing Street said on Wednesday that the new PM will soon appoint a new independent adviser on ministerial interests.

Lord Geidt, the previous adviser on ministers' interests, quit in June and had not been replaced when Boris Johnson resigned.

Tories can't be trusted on fracking, say Labour

Labour has said the Tories cannot be trusted on fracking, after Downing Street confirmed that Rishi Sunak has reinstated his party's original ban. Shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said: "Last week Rishi Sunak voted against Labour's fracking ban, but this week his spokespeople tell us he is in favour of the temporary moratorium on fracking in the Conservative manifesto.

Labour wants substantive response to concerns raised over Braverman re-appointment

Labour wants a substantive response from the government over its calls for clarity on how Suella Braverman was re-appointed home secretary. Ms Braverman was given her job back yesterday, having been forced to resign last week for sharing government data to a backbench MP through a private email address.

Labour has called for an inquiry from the Cabinet Office over the matter.

Black hole in government finances could be smaller than previously thought

The black hole in public finances the government is seeking to fill could be smaller than previously thought. Bloomberg has reported that the government will need to fill a gap of around £35bn over a number of years in the Autumn statement - a figure our deputy political editor Sam Coates has been told is broadly correct.

'Come back to us when Labour's had a Jewish PM, woman PM and Asian PM': Javid hits back at criticism of lack of women in cabinet Former home secretary Sajid Javid has responded to criticism about the number of women in Rishi Sunak's cabinet by drawing attention to the party's diversity.