Nigel Farage told senior figures in Reform UK he would need “a million a year” to cover lost earnings if he stood for parliament in the 2024 general election, sources have told the Guardian, raising further questions about why he was given £5m by a crypto billionaire.

Tory ministers gave pals “favourable treatment” when buying PPE during the pandemic as Britain’s carers were left unprotected, the Covid-19 Inquiry has found.

Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, was delivering a speech at Leeds City Hall on the day it became clear that someone was trying to snuff out her career. A story about her criminal record had been leaked to two news outlets.

New figures from The King’s Fund health thinktank show 13,000 delayed discharges each day across England, meaning almost 1 in 10 NHS beds are being taken up by people who are fit enough to leave hospital.

A British monarch is unlikely ever to use Buckingham Palace as their main home again after the King and Queen decided against moving back following its £369 million refurbishment.