Boost for Rishi Sunak before local elections as poll suggests Tories could win two key mayoral contests – UK politics live
Polling puts Ben Houchen on course to win in Tees Valley with Andy Street just ahead of Labour’s Richard Parker in West MidlandsThe number of foreign care workers applying for a visa to come to the UK fell by a quarter in six months, PA Media reports. PA says:Health and care visa applications covering 153,500 people were made from October 2023 to March 2024, comprising 40,800 main applicants and 112,700 dependants, provisional Home Office data shows.This is down 25% from 205,800 people in the six months from April to September 2023, comprising 88,800 main applicants and 117,000 dependants, according to PA news agency analysis of the figures.I’m delighted that the Scottish Conservative motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf achieved its purpose by forcing him to resign.While, on a personal level, I wish him well for the future, he was a disaster as first Minister and it’s in Scotland’s interests that he goes. Continue reading...

Polling puts Ben Houchen on course to win in Tees Valley with Andy Street just ahead of Labour’s Richard Parker in West Midlands
The number of foreign care workers applying for a visa to come to the UK fell by a quarter in six months, PA Media reports. PA says:
Health and care visa applications covering 153,500 people were made from October 2023 to March 2024, comprising 40,800 main applicants and 112,700 dependants, provisional Home Office data shows.
This is down 25% from 205,800 people in the six months from April to September 2023, comprising 88,800 main applicants and 117,000 dependants, according to PA news agency analysis of the figures.
I’m delighted that the Scottish Conservative motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf achieved its purpose by forcing him to resign.
While, on a personal level, I wish him well for the future, he was a disaster as first Minister and it’s in Scotland’s interests that he goes. Continue reading...