All news by author: Ashley Cowburn

1337
Tories are failing as 104 schools can't reopen because buildings are crumbling
Government insists parents will hear from the schools directly, but last night furious mums and dads hit out at the prospect of children facing days of disruption
1167
Rishi Sunak told to stop cull of rail ticket offices in major demo outside No10
Hundreds of campaigners took the fight to the PM’s doorstep as they joined a rally outside Downing Street. They marched through Westminster from the Department for Transport to No10
580
Nadine Dorries book on Boris Johnson's 'political assassination' hit by delay
Publisher HarperCollins said the 'small delay' is needed to 'allow for the high volume of material' the ex-Tory MP consulted, 'and the required legal process needed to share her story'
951
One in four teachers forced to bring in food into schools to help hungry kids
Drawing on responses from over 9,000 teachers, the charity FareShare said teachers across England 'feel they have no choice but to step in to help hungry children'
960
Quater of tax credit claimants told to move to UC had benefits stopped
According to a new analysis, 28% of claimants required to switch to Universal Credit between November 2022 and March this year did not do so - and their benefits were stopped
899
Lucy Letby inquiry handed powers to compel witnesses to give evidence
After criticism from victims' families, the Health Secretary Steve Barclay announced on Wednesday the probe will be upgraded to a statutory inquiry, 'giving it legal powers to compel witnesses'
524
Nadine Dorries formally quits as a Tory MP - by getting a new weird 'job'
The former Tory Cabinet Minister and close ally of Boris Johnson first declared she was quitting almost 12 weeks ago. On Tuesday she ended weeks of mystery over her position with news of her 'new job'
746
Date set for major gender reform legal battle between UK and Scottish government
The showdown at Scotland's supreme civil court comes amid a major constitutional row over the PM's 'nuclear' decision to block changes making it easier for people to change gender
718
Petition demanding 'absentee' Tory MP Nadine Dorries finally quits hits 75,000
Almost 10 weeks to the day the former Culture Secretary announced she was stepping down with 'immediate effect', mystery still surrounds when she will formally resign
755
Scottish by-election key 'stepping stone' in path towards a Labour majority
Labour is seeking to overturn the SNP's 5,320 majority at the by-election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West - a seat that has repeatedly switched allegiances since 2010
510
Spending on supply teachers surges by 50% amid 'dangerous exodus'
Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson accused the Tories of creating a 'perfect storm' in the teaching workforce, saying 'teachers old and new are leaving and with too few replacing them'
1006
Prince of Polyester who gave £2million to Tories has business links with Russia
Amit Lohia, whose business interests include a Russian textiles plant, boosted the Conservatives' coffers with the huge sum in March - the second largest donation of the year
723
Peer who fled Nazis says PM should sack Lee Anderson after asylum seeker rant
Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs, who fled the Nazis as a child as part of the Kindertransport, said the comments from the Conservatives' Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson were 'unworthy' of a politician
863
Tories refuse to disclose cost of failed legal fight with Covid Inquiry
Labour demanded Rishi Sunak’s government 'come clean about the shameful waste' of public money blown on the attempt to block the unredacted release of the ex-PM's messages
985
'Huge' ULEZ expansion will give drivers £2,000 grants to scrap polluting cars
Sadiq Khan has faced major political pressure over the scheme - designed to clean up London's air - in the wake Labour's narrow defeat in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election last month
988
London renter threatened with £500-a-month hike describes 'nightmare' toll
The comments came as the London Mayor Sadiq Khan said average rents in the capital could surge beyond an eye-watering £2,700 next year - piling further pressure on cash-strapped renters
986
Rishi Sunak jets to California - where previous PMs spent their holidays
The mega-rich Prime Minister and wife Akshata Murty are taking their two daughters to Disneyland for a summer break, leaving Deputy PM Oliver Dowden at the helm in No10 for just over a week
884
Labour warns hundreds of criminals could dodge jail due to lack of prison cells
The latest Ministry of Justice data shows 86,602 men and women were in prison in England at the end of July. The figure is just 971 short of the 'usable operational capacity'
1447
Bungling Rishi Sunak humiliated by heckler's withering put-down as he pours pint
Another man shouted at the teetotal Tory leader 'Prime Minister, it's not Coca Cola' as Mr Sunak toured a London beer festival to highlight a shake-up in alcohol duties
1199
Tory chairman said it was a 'MYTH' more gas production would cut prices
The social media post was unearthed as Rishi Sunak claimed the approval of 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences would provide 'cheaper energy' for Brits
627
PM to jet abroad with family - after aborting last Spanish holiday 15 hours in
The Prime Minister's press secretary said he will continue to receive 'daily updates' while his Deputy Oliver Dowden will be at the 'helm' for just over a week from Thursday
1015
Nearly 1 in 4 sea swimmers put off taking a dip due to sewage discharge
Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said sewage dumping by water companies is 'ruining the British beach holiday' as 43% says there are now less likely to visit the seaside
1244
Tory in-fighting erupts as ex-Cabinet minister says delay 2030 petrol car ban
Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel backed calls from over 40 Tory MPs and peers over the weekend calling on Rishi Sunak to push back the deadline on polluting cars
1026
Even Tory Transport Secretary's aide says rail plans are wrong
The Tory MP Simon Jupp said in a letter the closures should not be 'used as an excuse to cut staffing hours and resources' and told a major train company to 're-think' proposals
980
Tory-led councils lose High Court bid to stop Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan plans to expand the Ulez zone to cover the whole of the capital from August 29 to boost air quality