Politics latest: Yvette Cooper says government 'reviewing' how courts interpret ECHR
Good morning!
Welcome back to the Politics Hub this Tuesday, 29 April.
Of course, it isn't any old Tuesday - it's two days before the local elections take place across the country on 1 May.
That means things are heating up in Westminster as parties face their first big test since last year's general election.
More on that in a moment, but first: the story the government hopes will grab the headlines with this morning is their changes to the rules around who can seek asylum in the UK.
Foreign nationals who have committed sex offences will be denied refugee status in a shake up of the law.
It's in an effort to improve women's safety and is also the government's attempt to look tough on immigration. We'll hear from Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, about this on Sky News shortly.
But there are questions about just how many people will actually be affected, while the Conservatives say Labour are "not serious" about tackling immigration unless they move to remove all foreign criminals and disapply the Human Rights Act.
It comes as the number of people who have arrived in the UK illegally on small boats so far this year hit 10,000 yesterday - the earliest this figure has been reached since records began in 2018.
Away from immigration, the Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap are battling to avoid being cancelled after they were filmed allegedly calling for people to kill their local MPs.
Both Kemi Badenoch and the PM's spokesperson have condemned the group, and there are calls for them to be dropped from festival line-ups.
Now, the band has responded - saying they would never incite violence and say footage is being "exploited and weaponised".
Back in London, there's a fair few things going on. Farmers are holding a protest (again) this afternoon and promise a vintage spectacle, as they call for better protections. Notable speakers will include former minister James Cleverly.
Meanwhile, the UK's largest sustainability conference, Innovation Zero, kicks off. And in Whitehall, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is meeting his Indian counterpart as trade talks between the two countries continue.
And finally, in today's game of Where's Wally, campaigning for the local election continues. You can find Kemi Badenoch in Wiltshire, Sir Ed Davey in South Cambridgeshire and the Green's Zack Polanski in Aylesbury Vale.
Coming up on Sky News shortly:
7.15am - Yvette Cooper, home secretary
8.15am - Matt Vickers, shadow Home Office minister
Stay with us for all of the latest updates in the world of Westminster Politics.
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