United Kingdom

    Theresa May continued with a reshuffle that some have called ruthless with the announcement that Anna Soubry – a supporter during the leadership battle – was out of her position as small business minister. Ros Altmann, the pensions expert was also removed from the Department of Work and Pensions on Friday to make way for Penny Mordaunt, a Brexit supporter who was a close ally of Andrea Leadsom in the leadership contest. Mike Penning took her role at the Ministry of Defence. A further raft of appointments after 10.30pm included Brandon Lewis, a key ally during May’s leadership, becoming minister for policing, and Robert Goodwill becoming the new immigration minister. Matt Hancock and Greg Hands – two allies of George Osborne – were spared the axe. Hancock was appointed as ...

    Boris Johnson had only been promoted to head one of the great offices of state for a couple of hours before he began being trolled in public. The newly-elevated Foreign Secretary prompted much scorn and mockery from pundits when reports of his appointment broke. But one despairing protester couldn’t resist taking taking measures into their own hands in an attempt to atone for the man soon to be representing Britain on the world stage. A crafty member of the public affixed a sign apologising for the move to the fence outside his London home. It was captured by a Sky News camera crew as a journalist asked whether he should apologise for previous comments he had made about senior foreign politicians. “You’ve got a few people to apologise to? President Obama for example?” they...

    David Cameron started his first day as a former prime minister by swapping Number 10 Downing Street for one of the country's most desirable neighbourhoods. The ex-Conservative leader was pictured in a blue polo shirt and casual jacket, smart jeans and black shoes as he left for the school run on Thursday morning. He was accompanied by a heavy police presence on the tree-lined street in London's Notting Hill. He, his wife Samantha, and their children Nancy, 12, Elwen, 10, and Florence, five, are all believed to be staying at the property for the time being following his resignation on Wednesday. Mr Cameron was later pictured having a coffee with former chancellor George Osborne, his right-hand man during their time in office. They were among several members of the so-called...

    David Cameron and his family have moved into a £16.8 million house in one of London's most expensive streets in leafy Holland Park. The property has seven bedrooms, six bathrooms and three reception rooms, and belongs to Mr Cameron's good friend Sir Alan Parker, who runs the PR firm Brunswick. He bought the house for £16 million two years ago. The family arrived at the house under armed guard, according to the Evening Standard, and the house continues to have members of the Diplomatic Protection Group on watch outside. The Camerons' house in Notting Hill is currently rented out, and the sudden change in leadership means that his tenants have not had time to move out yet. It is estimated to be worth £3.6 million, and in the last five years it has grown in value by 56.1 per ...

    The Leave vote in the referendum has led to speculation that we all need new passports, but like so much else, nothing will change until we actually leave the EU. In the meantime, normal rules apply. And this summer, no doubt the usual stresses will emerge. If you have just spotted your passport has run out, and you have urgent plans to travel, HM Passport Office has some limited possibilities to help out. The best place to start is by dialling the Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000. You can apply in person for the Premium one-day service (£128), which is normally delivered four hours after your interview. Alternatively, the one-week Fast Track service (£103) may be sufficient. And if you are well organised and can allow three weeks for the renewal, the standard adult fe...

    The world of politics, diplomacy and celebrity has reacted with a mixture of amusement and horror to the news that Boris Johnson has been appointed Britain’s new foreign secretary. Johnson himself said he was “excited” to take up the new role , which will involve travelling the globe, meeting foreign leaders and representing Britain on the international stage. However, his track record when it comes to interacting with other cultures is patchy to say the least, and politicians around the world will no doubt be intrigued by the prospect of working with a man who once wrote a poem about the Turkish president having sex with a goat. In the US, the official reaction was one of carefully restrained laughter. When State Department spokesman Mark Toner heard the news, he struggle...

    Evicted from Downing Street, David Cameron may finally have the opportunity to fulfil his dream of flying a Spitfire. The former prime minister has revealed that he would “love to have had the chance” to fly one of the legendary aircraft. Interviewed for BBC History magazine, before the EU referendum that ended his leadership, Cameron chose the second world war flying ace Douglas Bader as his “history hero”. Bader lost both his legs in a flying accident in 1931, but returned to the air with artificial limbs, and was taken prisoner after baling out over France 10 years later. He was, said Cameron “competitive, unruly, foolhardy – but also brilliant, brave and hugely talented”. Bader, who was credited with 22 solo aerial victories, another four that were shared and several “...

    Fixed energy deals have increased by up to £105 in the last month, according to research by uSwitch.com. Fifteen suppliers have replaced their cheapest fixed tariffs with more expensive plans in the past month, putting up bills by an average of £38 a year. The biggest hike has come from small energy supplier Extra Energy, which has put up the cost of it’s ‘fresh fixed price tariff’ by £105. Sainsbury’s Energy - which is supplied by British Gas - has increased its fixed tariff by £94. While OVO Energy and First Utility have pushed up costs by £63 an £48, respectively. Twelve of the firms have increased prices since the EU referendum result was announced on June 23. Why prices are rising "Concerns regarding future UK energy supplies, along with market uncertainty following t...

    Theresa May with her husband Philip John May outside the Houses of Parliament before she makes a statement after Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the contest. The relatively unknown investment fund where Theresa May’s husband Philip works as a senior executive is one of the world’s largest and most powerful financial institutions, controlling $1.4 trillion (£10.5 trillion) in assets. Its portfolio also includes $20bn of shares in Amazon and Starbucks, both of which were cited by the Prime Minister-designate in her pledge to crack down on tax avoidance yesterday. Latest filings to US authorities show that Los Angeles based Capital Group owns huge stakes in a variety of companies, including investment bank JP Morgan Chase, defence giant Lockheed Martin, tobacco company Philip Mo...

    Labour MPs hoping to remove Jeremy Corbyn from office have been dealt a major blow after the party’s ruling body decided he did not need the support of colleagues to stand for the leadership again. The Labour leader’s claim that he should automatically be on the ballot was passed by a margin of just four votes – including his own – in a fraught meeting of the National Executive Committee. The decision means that Mr Corbyn will battle Angela Eagle for the leadership in a brutal summer contest that MPs fear could split the party, pitting trade unions and Left-wingers against moderates. However, there was also a boost for Labour rebels after rules that allowed anyone to vote in the leadership contest last summer by paying just £3 were ditched. Instead the price has been increa...