Politics latest: Cameron resigns as Sunak names shadow cabinet; Labour MPs assemble for group photo (2024)

Thanks for joining us for the start of the first full week of a Labour government in 14 years - and there's plenty more to come.

You can scroll through the page for today's updates, or check our 10pm post for a round-up of Monday's most significant news.

We'll be back at 6am with all the latest from Westminster.

The Conservative Party has announced a reshuffle, as former ministers and returning MPs make the transition into becoming the shadow cabinet.

Lord Cameronhas resigned from Rishi Sunak's frontbench, having been foreign secretary before Labour's victory in Thursday's election, and has now been replaced in the shadow role by his deputy Andrew Mitchell.

Also, despite clinging on to a seat in last week's vote,Richard Holdenhas quit as Tory party chairman, with Richard Fuller taking his place in the interim.

Writing in his resignation letter, Mr Holden said there needed to be a "thorough review into the general election campaign", but it would "best take place with a new set of eyes to help provide the clearest view".

You can read more from Sky News below:

Former prime minister Lord Cameron has sought to explain why he resigned from Rishi Sunak's frontbench - and it has to do with his peerage.

As the ex-foreign secretary is not an MP, he is unable to enter the Commons and face-off with the new Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Lord Cameron said that "clearly the Conservative Party in opposition will need to shadow the new Foreign Secretary from the Commons".

"So I told Rishi Sunak that I would step back."

However, the ex-PM said he is "delighted that the shadow foreign secretary role has gone to my good friend Andrew Mitchell".

We're coming to the end of the first day of the new Labour government's first full week in office.

Here's an easy catch-up on what you need to know tonight:

• Rachel Reeves has delivered her first major speech as chancellor, pledging a "planning revolution" to boost housebuilding and allow new onshore wind projects to help deliver "sustained economic growth";
• Our economics and data editor Ed Conway said while Ms Reeves' speech lacked any "big bang moment", the hard reforms she's promising could one day deliver what the UK's long struggled with.

• Sir Keir Starmer has followed up his weekend visit to Scotland with trips to Northern Ireland and Wales, as he seeks to restore "mutual respect" between Westminster and the devolved governments;
• Sir Keir's spokesperson fielded questions from journalists today - they said the prime minister was keen for close relations with France whoever ends up in power there after the country's inconclusive elections.
  

• A good relationship with France will be key to tackling the small boats crisis, which has continued today with the first migrant arrivals since the election;
• And the Conservatives have confirmed a shadow cabinet reshuffle tonight - with Lord Cameron out as shadow foreign secretary, and Richard Holden gone as Tory chairman.

That's all for now - but we'll have updates all day Tuesday.

By Mollie Malone, news correspondent

The government is expected to announce new plans to ease overcrowding in jails across England and Wales by the end of this week.

Sky News understands one of the core proposals being considered is a lowering of the automatic release point, from the 50% mark in their sentence, to 40 or 43%.

At the moment prisoners serving standard determinate sentences - those with fixed end dates - are released at the halfway point.

Once released they serve their sentence on licence. This change could mean thousands of additional inmates with earlier releases.

Sexual, violent, and terror related offenders are excluded.

'Immediate' problems - but 'no quick fix'

It comes as Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood today met with representatives from across the prison service, at the beginning of her first full week in the role.

Sky News understands Ms Mahmood was keen to emphasise her background as a barrister, experience in the sector, and the prime minister's former job as director of public prosecutions.

She expressed a desire to better embrace technology and AI to improve the efficiency of the service in the future.

Ms Mahmood spoke of the "immediate" problems in prisons, though sources say little detail was provided, as the government continues to weigh up its options.

Sky News understands there are around 700 spaces left in male prisons across England and Wales.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper today admitted there is not going to be a "quick fix" to solve overcrowding in prisons, suggesting the government is "extremely concerned" by the situation they have inherited.

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed his 411 MPs into parliament this afternoon, posing for a so-called family photograph days after a huge election win.

He says: "Fantastic to welcome all of our returning and new Labour MPs today.

"The work of change begins now."

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard are back in your podcast feeds.

On this episode, they discuss how the prime minister is tackling his first full week and his government’s approach to home and foreign affairs.

And how will the Conservative Party choose a new leader?

All that more below:

👉Tap here to follow Politics At Jack And Sam's wherever you get your podcasts👈

Email Jack and Sam: jackandsam@sky.uk

With the change of government, the Conservatives' controversial Rwanda migration scheme has been scrapped.

Rishi Sunak had pledged to get planes carrying asylum seekers off the tarmac by the spring, and then shifted his target date to July should he have won the general election.

Sir Keir Starmer is now in the top job, and has stressed the Rwanda scheme was "dead" on day one of his government.

We've now heard from the Rwandan government, which has reiterated it "upheld its side of the agreement, including with regard to finances".

Kigali said it "takes note" of the UK government's intention to "terminate" the agreement.

It added: "This partnership was initiated by the government of the UK in order to address the crisis of irregular migration affecting the UK — a problem of the UK, not Rwanda.

"Rwanda has fully upheld its side of the agreement, including with regard to finances, and remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, including providing safety, dignity, and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country."

Sir Keir Starmer heads to Washington for a NATO summit tomorrow, and we've just had confirmation his visit will include face-to-face talks with US President Joe Biden.

The White House said Mr Biden would host the new prime minister on Wednesday.

It comes after the pair spoke on the phone on Friday evening - a clip of which was released by Number 10.

We'll continue to have updates through the night right here.

And you can scroll down the page for all the latest from the Politics Hub.