Sky News Politics

‘I'd like to say it's nice to be back, but not sure that's entirely honest, but I might be accused of misleading you!’ Former Foreign Office boss Sir Philip Barton is now giving evidence to MPs on the foreign affairs committee. 🔗 trib.al/hyCW3Aj

Sir Phillip Barton tells the MPs he had been "worried" Mandelson's appointment could become a "problem". The veteran diplomat says "I was presented with a decision and told to get on with it". 🔗 trib.al/hyCW3Aj

‘I wouldn't use the word dismissive, the word I would use is uninterested’.  Sir Philip Barton says No 10 was “uninterested” in vetting for Lord Mandelson, with the focus instead on getting him to Washington in time for the inauguration. 🔗 trib.al/3WqbqfY

Sir Keir Starmer has sent a personal message to Donald Trump after a shooting took place in Washington, the chief secretary to the PM told Sky News. Darren Jones also said that security will be taken very seriously ahead of the King's visit to the U.S. trib.al/aiYmUqj

The final countdown is on! The @cathynewman Show launches on Sky News. ⏰ Watch live from 7pm tomorrow. Click the link to our livestream on YouTube here: trib.al/GEcdCkB

"It's an attack not just on an individual, but an attack on democracy." Shadow home secretary Chris Philp tells @TrevorPTweets it is 'shocking' to see the shooting in Washington take place and is 'pleased' the U.S. president is unharmed. trib.al/RERAsEU

'For the very vast majority of us, we're going to lose our seats.' Karl Turner MP, tells @MattBarbet that Keir Starmer should remain as PM, but warns: 'I'm hoping the Prime Minister can get his act together and deliver for the country, and stop messing around with daft ideas'

"What this does is it shows that the UK is lacking in terms of its security mechanisms when it comes to data." Michelle Donelan, former Secretary of State for Science, gives her thoughts on the Biobank leak. 📺 Sky 501 #PoliticsHub trib.al/ftpea6d

"When you protect the King on the chess board by losing every other piece around the king, the king becomes very exposed." While discussing the role of a leader in political parties, Lib Dem peer Baroness Olly Grender compares political leadership to playing chess. #PoliticsHub

"Fossil fuels are the problem of our current cost of living crisis", says Green party peer Baroness Bennett, who tells @MattMarbet it would be the "wrong direction" for the UK to invest in more gas. trib.al/412zwIN 📺 Sky 501 and YouTube

"We need to produce gas from the North Sea and store in the UK because that's part of our real security." BP's former chief executive Lord John Browne talks to @MattBarbet. trib.al/412zwIN 📺 Sky 501

"Skilled Whitehall operator" Sir Olly Robbins "lobbed a grenade" in his parliament appearance by mentioning Downing Street's attempt to get Matthew Doyle a diplomatic job, says James Lyons, who succeeded Doyle as No. 10's director of communications. trib.al/61UlQ1M

"It's a disgrace, it's shambolic, it's appalling and it undermines all trust in politics." Tory deputy chair Matt Vickers on the PM's decision to appoint Peter Mandelson despite his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. @MattBarbet #PoliticsHub trib.al/MyDcoq2 📺 Sky 501

The PM 'pretended he didn't know' that No. 10 tried to get Matthew Doyle, his former comms director, a diplomatic job, SNP's Stephen Flynn tells @MattBarbet. The story was mentioned by Olly Robbins in parliament. Doyle says he "never sought" a role. trib.al/MyDcoq2

The relationship between politicians and the civil service is "strained" and "getting worse", Hannah Keenan from @instituteforgov tells @MattBarbet. Sir Keir Starmer sacked a Foreign Office official for not informing him about Peter Mandelson's vetting process. #PoliticsHub

Sir Keir Starmer will "stumble on" past the May elections because Labour has no "viable alternatives", says John McDonnell MP. The situation would be different if Andy Burnham was in parliament, McDonnell says. #PoliticsHub trib.al/MyDcoq2 📺 Sky 501

Tonight on #PoliticsHub with @MattBarbet: 🔴 @johnmcdonnellMP 🔴 @StephenFlynnSNP 🔴 Hannah Keenan (@instituteforgov) 🔴 @Matt_VickersMP 🔴 @CarolineFlint 🔴 @NickFerrariLBC ⏰ 7pm 📱 trib.al/qNpFzE6 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube

Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff tells @MattBarbet that the PM's statement to the Commons made it clear that he asked enough questions of the Foreign Office about Peter Mandelson's vetting process. 🔗 trib.al/RPsIYly 📺 Sky 501

Sir Keir Starmer "rammed through" the appointment of Peter Mandelson and is "failing to take responsibility" for the decision, Reform's Zia Yusuf tells @AliFortescue, after the PM's Commons statement on the vetting process. 🔗 trib.al/RPsIYly 📺 Sky 501