Political Editor of @TheSun Sign up to our daily politics newsletter: link.thesun.co.uk/join/5pl/s…
jack.elsom@thesun.co.uk
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- Following 3,129
- Followers 12,223
- Likes 8,272
Sobering moment on @LBC as a single mum calls into Rishi Sunak to tell him rising prices means her boiler is currently off, the lights are always off, and it's sometimes so cold that she can see her own breath
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If the price of beer had risen at the same rate as gas, a pint would now be £25… sobering stat from Octopus CEO Greg Jackson on Today
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Wes Streeting: “I have just spoken over the phone with the BMA junior doctors committee, and I can announce that talks to end their industrial action will begin next week.”
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Robert Jenrick calls for everyone on the Sentencing Council to be sacked:
"The individuals on the Sentencing Council behind this two-tier guidance must be removed and replaced with people who believe in equality under the law."
BREAKING: Sentencing Council hits back at Justice Secretary's demands to abandon "two-tier" guidelines.
Lord Justice William Davis warns her threats of ministerial oversight risks the independence of the judiciary.
thesun.co.uk/news/politics/3…
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After I shouted “did you break lockdown rules Prime Minister?”, Starmer said from the podium “of course not.”
He then said on the way out the door “all rules were followed”
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Defence Secretary John Healey says quitting the ECHR would make Britain "the only nation in NATO not to be signed up to the Convention".
Think he's forgetting quite a big NATO nation not signed up... 🇺🇸
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Kemi Badenoch: “While Britain was redefining what a woman is, China was building five nuclear reactors.”
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It's kicking off in Tory WhatsApp groups...
Several MPs are fuming after CCHQ bungled their campaign literature - even getting their constituencies wrong!
Wrexham's Sarah Atherton says she's a "laughing stock" after all of her content focused on Gloucester...
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🚨EXCL: Mega row in the ERG Tory WhatsApp as Mark Francois tells MPs to support Liz Truss - but others would rather back Kemi Badenoch
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Ouch... source on Truss campaign:
"I sincerely hope no young women hoping to go into politics are watching this tonight - the only message Rishi is delivering is that he thinks shouting down and patronising women is acceptable"
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Kemi Badenoch interview with the Sunday Tel is absolutely bursting with red meat
- Obviously cut taxes
- Whitehall far too woke
- Keep a closer eye on Bank of England
- Online Harms Bill = "legislating for hurt feelings"
- Blasts 2050 Net Zero target
telegraph.co.uk/politics/202…
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BREAKING: Keir Starmer has just been bundled into a police car outside Parliament after a mob of protesters swarmed him.
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All giggles on the Labour frontbench over cops breaking up the National Conservatism conference
Community note
The Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander de Croo intervened stating the actions of Mayor Emir Kir were illegal and unconstitutional - violating both free speech and the principle of Municipal Authority. The Conseil d’État also ruled the conference should happen uninterrupted
nitter.app/alexanderdecro…
adfinternational.org/news/free-spee
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Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood slaps down the Sentencing Council over their new guidelines.
Sentencing Council has effectively opened the door to ethnic/faith minorities getting softer sentences.
It has prompted a stern rebuke from Mahmood 👇
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During the election both Starmer and Reeves consistently rejected calls to pledge the abolition of the two-child benefit cap on the grounds it was unaffordable.
Scrapping it now, while simultaneously breaking their actual manifesto promises by hiking income tax, will be a very hard sell.
I.e: How are the public finances bad enough to justify income tax rises, but good enough to justify more benefit spending?
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Peak south west London: a chap hangs his Hackett suits on the District Line handholds
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🚨New three-word slogan klaxon
Boris Johnson told Cabinet: "Crime crime crime is what we want to focus on."
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Breaking: The government's appointment of David Kogan as chair of the football regulator made THREE breaches of the Governance Code
1. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy failed to declare Kogan had donated to her leadership campaign
2. A potential conflict of interest was not discussed with Kogan at his interview
3. The Culture department failed to disclose Kogan's political activity, notably his extensive links to the Labour party
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🚨 Lord Hermer and Darren Jones have been summoned to a public hearing on the Chinese spy scandal next Tuesday.
The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy have written to both men with questions ahead of the session.
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Small point but:
Reeves' original letter to the PM last night said "we were not aware that a licence was necessary, and so we did not obtain the licence before letting the property out."
But the letting agent says they "offered to apply for a licence on these clients' behalf".
So if they offered to get her a licence, presumably Reeves/her husband were aware of the need to have one?
Rachel Reeves’ letting agent takes responsibility and appears to bail her out
Gareth Martin, owner of Harvey Wheeler, said: "We alert all our clients to the need for a licence. In an effort to be helpful our previous property manager offered to apply for a licence on these clients' behalf, as shown in the correspondence. That property manager suddenly resigned on the Friday before the tenancy began on the following Monday.
"Unfortunately, the lack of application was not picked up by us as we do not normally apply for licences on behalf of our clients; the onus is on them to apply. We have apologised to the owners for this oversight.
"At the time the tenancy began, all the relevant certificates were in place and if the licence had been applied for, we have no doubt it would have been granted.
"Our clients would have been under the impression that a licence had been applied for. Although it is not our responsibility to apply, we did offer to help with this.
"We deeply regret the issue caused to our clients as they would have been under the impression that a licence had been applied for."
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Labour spokesman confirms Nadia Whittome was told to delete this tweet, and is currently in talks with the party Chief Whip about what happens next.
Spox didn't deny possibility of the whip being suspended.
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Amazing from Angela Rayner talking about the protester on LBC:
"I thought I was going to do a full John Prescott at one point. Although Rachel was nearly beating me to it. She's Leeds - I've never seen her be so angry."
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Angela Rayner leads Labour conference in a moment’s silence for Israel. You could hear a pin drop in the hall.
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BREAKING: Keir Starmer admits he DID sign off the appointment of David Kogan as chairman of the football regulator - despite taking donations from him.
PM has written to the No10 ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus saying: "This was an unfortunate error for which I express my sincere regret."
Magnus replies that this was "regrettable" and welcomes his promise to launch an internal review on appointments.
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Labour MP Graham Stringer says Keir Starmer "doesn't seem to have the basic skills that most politicians have".
He tells Times Radio: "He seems to be unable to take quick reasoned decisions and explain them politically."
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Yes and ho!
💥 EXCL: Wes Streeting's new NHS consultation website has been publishing responses publicly – with users found to be slamming diversity hires, gender ideology and poor spending decisions 👇
via @spectator w/@JAHeale
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If you thought Partygate and Beergate was mad - check out the "Nokiagate" saga unfolding in the Netherlands.
For years Dutch PM Mark Rutte has been using a Nokia brick which only has room for 20 texts at a time, sparking a row about him deleting old messages
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EXCL: Labour accused of hypocrisy after raising age members can be local branch chairs, treasurers and secretaries to 18 - days after lowering voting age to 16 thesun.co.uk/news/politics/3…
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Shabana Mahmood: "Migrants suddenly deciding that they are a modern slave on the eve of their removal, having never made such a claim before, make a mockery of our laws and this country’s generosity.
"I will fight to end vexatious, last-minute claims. I will robustly defend the British public’s priorities in any court. And I will do whatever it takes to secure our border."
Punchy stuff. But talk is cheap. The past few days have been a farce and voters will rightly expect actions to match the rhetoric.
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Leading the BBC's 6 o'clock news. Shame they're not big enough to credit the Sun though. Lots of reportage about how this "emerged" tonight, as if it came drifting out of the sky rather than the hard work of our journalists...
🚨🚨🚨 EXCLUSIVE 🚨🚨🚨
A police manhunt is underway to find the Epping hotel migrant sex attacker after he was accidentally released from jail.
Hadush Kebatu was meant to be sent to an immigration detention centre but was mistakenly freed
thesun.co.uk/news/37116197/e…
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A side point: but the habit of Cabinet Ministers sending out their junior ministers to face tricky urgent questions is jarring.
Chris Ward is currently taking a battering on his first UQ outing.
A senior minister should have the guts to come to the chamber.
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EXCL: Influential Labour peer Lord Glasman comes out against the assisted dying bill.
Blue Labour founder says he "loathes" the legislation and tells his party to focus on priorities like migration and defence.
thesun.co.uk/news/politics/3…
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Peter Kyle among those tonight saying Angela Rayner has been "treated very differently" due to her "accent and background", and that a "Tory MP who was born in wealth" would not be getting such scrutiny.
Tell that to Boris Johnson, Nadhim Zahawi, Owen Patterson and all the Tories who were rightly scrutinised during the previous government.
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Great story from @ed_southgate, who has pics of the state David Lammy left his taxi following *that* journey at the centre of a row...
"A sandwich packet, plastic fork and a discarded coffee cup can all be seen in the photo."
thesun.co.uk/news/34968465/l…
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Intrepid Sun reporter @thomasgodfreyuk on what was supposed to be the second "one-in, one-out" deportation flight to France this morning....
Except the migrants never made it on board because of last minute challenges.
thesun.co.uk/news/36721651/s…
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On the BBC World At One, Sarah Montague says when they asked Downing Street for a government minister to appear on today’s programme, they “put forward” Jonathan Ashworth, the ex-MP now heading the Labour Together think tank.
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He’s the endorsement they both wanted… and now Ben Wallace finally declares for Liz Truss in an interview with @MrHarryCole in tomorrow’s @TheSun.
And he does it with a stinging attack on Rishi Sunak 💥👇
thesun.co.uk/news/19352711/b…
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Ex Tory Chair @nadhimzahawi tells the #BritishKebabAwards: “Four weeks ago I was dealing with the donors. Now I’m dealing with the doners.”
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The Home Office has successfully deported half of Fleet Street to France - which they might see as a victory at this rate....
Intrepid Sun reporter @thomasgodfreyuk on what was supposed to be the second "one-in, one-out" deportation flight to France this morning....
Except the migrants never made it on board because of last minute challenges.
thesun.co.uk/news/36721651/s…
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The whole “Britain isn’t broken” thing would carry more weight if Starmer hadn’t constantly said the exact opposite as recently as a year ago.
Within days of becoming PM he declared Britain “broke and broken”.
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DWP has just published its impact assessment of means-testing Winter Fuel Payments - and it's pretty striking.
An extra 100,000 more pensioners in relative poverty by 2027, after housing costs. 👇
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The cock-up is even more of a headache as these are the party's "80/20" seats - i.e target constituencies they want to defend at the next election.
CCHQ is paying to have tens of thousands of leaflets distributed in these marginals.
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Virginia Crosbie - the MP for Ynys Mon - has neighbouring Aberconwy on her literature.
Jane Stevenson doesn't have her freepost address on hers...
MPs saying they asked to see drafts but didn't. Deputy Chair Matt Vickers trying to calm people...
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This is nice - Rachel Reeves has just donated to Jeremy Hunt's marathon run.
justgiving.com/page/jeremy-h…
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BREAKING: Clerk of the House is OPPOSED to the Speaker’s decision to allow a vote on the Labour amendment
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But defiant Badenoch has no plans to drop out yet
thesun.co.uk/news/19205882/k…
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Immensely chuffed and honoured to be the new Political Editor of The Sun.
Massive shoes to fill from the legend @MrHarryCole, who has truly been the best boss.
Onwards and upwards with @ryansabey @kateferguson4 @hoffman_noa @martinabettt @SophiaSleigh!
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Many in the Labour tribe are tonight furious with Andy Burnham’s jockeying for the leadership on the eve of conference.
Consensus seems to be that in the short term Burnham has overplayed his hand by undermining the PM so brazenly - despite speaking to real challenges the government faces on lack of direction.
Even Cabinet Ministers who like Burnham are baffled by his approach. One says: “What the f*** does he think he’s doing?”
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EXCL: Communities Secretary Steve Reed writes to Tower Hamlets authority saying he is "appalled" some of their councillors are standing for election in Bangladesh.
He says: "I am particularly disappointed that Tower Hamlets councillors would consider doing so while the Council is on a significant improvement journey."
thesun.co.uk/news/37267768/b…
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Westminster Council bans Greggs from selling sausage rolls past 11pm - over fears they cause "crime and disorder"
What a story from @RachaelBurford
standard.co.uk/news/london/g…
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And this in a nutshell explains why Starmer will not back down despite the howls of anger from some Labour left-wingers...
While Keir Starmer's warning that the UK risked 'becoming an island of strangers' without changes to immigration law has sparked controversy, Britons tend to agree with his sentiment and language
Agree with sentiment: 53%
Disagree with sentiment: 27%
Language okay: 50%
Language not okay: 30%
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A small point but the fact David Lammy went out suit shopping this morning, having been told the night before that another sex offender had been mistakenly released, is probably not the best excuse
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So much to unpack with this Lammy statement:
“My officials have been working through the night” - so clearly he was aware of the mistaken release at PMQs.
“The public deserve answers” - which he refused to give in the Commons chamber.
“I have already brought in the strongest checks ever” - which clearly are still not working.
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The PM’s words are correct - and this decision by the police is chilling.
But he is not a mere commentator - he is the prime minister.
So the question is: what will he actually DO?
This is the wrong decision.
We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.
The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.
bbc.co.uk/sport/football/art…
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EXCL: A foreign national has had his UK visa revoked for sympathising with Hamas
thesun.co.uk/news/politics/2…
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EXCL: Prices for resale concert tickets will be capped under Labour to stop greedy touts ripping off fans.
Keir Starmer will announce the policy package tomorrow.
Details still being fleshed, but assumption is a cap of just 10% above the original price.
thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/26…
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"As I was saying before I was interrupted...", says Michael Gove as he addresses DLUHC staff for the first time since returning.
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You cannot get married until you are 18 in England as of 2023. The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act increased the legal age from 16.
That Angela Rayner does not appear to know this is a bit worrying...
Angela Rayner writes for @TheTimes:
"Nobody expected much of me when I become a young mum at 16. I was suddenly faced with serious responsibilities for putting food on the table, paying my bills and giving my son Ryan the best possible start in life.
"With support, I rose to the challenge. I got a job, I paid taxes, I supported my son. But my story isn’t unique. There are many other 16-year-olds across this country who are working hard every day, paying their taxes, caring for relatives and contributing to our society.
"By law, they can get married and serve our country in the armed forces — but, unlike their peers in Scotland and Wales, 16-year-olds in England and Northern Ireland can’t vote. Why not?"
thetimes.com/uk/politics/art…
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EXCL: David Lammy broke the law when he went fishing with JD Vance at Chevening- because he did not have a rod licence.
The Foreign Secretary has now dobbed himself in to the environment watchdog and is liable for a fine.
thesun.co.uk/news/politics/3…
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Tim Loughton asks Suella Braverman, hypothetically what would happen if he established a group called "Just Stop Just Stop Oil" and glued himself outside the homes of eco zealots.
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Former Attorney General Jeremy Wright appears to flummox minister Chris Ward with this killer question:
Why did the deputy national security adviser feel it was important to include the economic opportunities presented by China, when that was not the question he was being asked?
Ward says Matthew Collins was merely providing the "context" of the government's position.
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Blimey Ed Davey's had his coffee this morning:
“The Prime Minister famously said he was going to “f” business - the least he could do is to deliver a decent f-ing speech.”
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Sky News reporting that Keir Starmer "got a bigger applause" from NHS staff than Rishi Sunak when he walked into Westminster Abbey...
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Kemi Badenoch says between 5-10% of civil servants “are very, very bad. You know, should be in prison bad.”
She lists leaking official secrets, undermining their ministers and agitating.
😬😬😬
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As if Keir Starmer’s week could not get any worse, the only person he sacked entirely from government at the recent reshuffle is now giving him a thinly-veiled public kicking as his new deputy leader. When it rains…
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NEW: Shabana Mahmood warns the Sentencing Council she will legislate to overrule them "if necessary"
thesun.co.uk/news/politics/3…
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I think we've just reached peak Ed Davey.
Sky News is reporting live from his latest stunt - a bungee jump.
The ticker along the bottom says: "Lib Dems announce boost for bereavement payments".
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Gray's appointment looks in serious doubt, as set out by Jeremy Quinn:
"The rules state that approval must be obtained prior to a job offer being announced. The Cabinet Office has not as yet been informed that the relevant notification to Acoba has been made."
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Buses minister Richard Holden is responding to the HS2 UQ instead of rail minister Huw Merriman.
Some might say a rail replacement bus service...
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Lisa Nandy today said that when she discovered David Kogan had donated to her leadership campaign, she immediately acted to put the details into the public domain.
To be clear, the first time this conflict of interest came to light was when Kogan fessed up at select committee. 👇
NEW: Incoming Football Regulator chair David Kogan reveals he donated to the leadership campaigns of both Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy.
So the current PM and Culture Secretary...
Kogan tells MPs: "That hasn't been discovered by the press and I'm happy to declare it now."
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Probably Kemi Badenoch's best PMQs yet. Punchy take-down of Labour's economic record so far.
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BREAKING: Rachel Reeves is BACK under scrutiny by the No10 ethics adviser after new emails have “come to light”.
After the case was initially closed incredibly quickly, the PM’s spokesman now says: “Following a review of emails sent and received by the Chancellor's husband, new information has come to light. This has now been passed to the Prime Minister and his independent adviser.”
PM still has “full confidence” in the Chancellor.
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On blanket mandatory vaccination, Sajid Javid says he'll "never support them in this country"
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Christian Wakeford MP defects to Labour with a stinging letter to Boris Johnson heaping praise on Keir Starmer
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🚨🚨🚨Neither Wendy Morton nor Craig Whittaker are resigning.
Steve Baker tells me he has seen the deputy chief whip tonight, who reassured him neither are quitting tonight.
thesun.co.uk/news/20143730/l…
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NEW: Spotlight on Starmer re Post Office.
In the Commons, Justice Minister Mike Freer confirms the CPS can take over a private prosecution, and "may end or discontinue a prosecution if it does not believe it should brought in the first place."
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NEW: Robert Jenrick promises to fight the new sentencing guidelines in the courts.
He has hired a KC to get the ball rolling on a Judicial Review.
thesun.co.uk/news/politics/3…
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It’s only just gone 6am and Labour’s Jon Ashworth is giving the travelling Lobby pack a Sergeant Major style pep talk.
“Look lively!”, he barks. “If Rishi Sunak had his way you’d all be doing your National Service!”
Not sure how old he thinks we are…
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As backdrops go, this has to be up there. Starmer currently addressing BAE employees with a few military jets in tow.
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Beyond chuffed to be @TheSun's new Chief Political Correspondent! Looking forward to getting stuck into the role with our superb team. 🗞️
📣🗞️
Congratulations to @JackElsom who is @TheSun’s new Chief Political Correspondent
Delighted @martinabettt will be coming over to our Lobby team shortly — joining @hoffman_noa in stepping up as our new Political Correspondents.
Busy day for it! 👑
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That he still feels the need to do all this speaks to just how little impact the Lib Dems have had over the past year. A total failure to use their impressive class of 2024 in any meaningful way.
Lib Dems leader Ed Davey has arrived at the party's conference in Bournemouth - holding a mace and flanked by a marching band.
Sky's @amandaakass says the 'joyful' moment is intended to set the Lib Dems apart from 'divisive politics'.
trib.al/kdXA2Dr
📺 Sky 501
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HS2 might NOT run to central London after it was revealed Rishi Sunak’s conference pledge relies on unconfirmed private sector cash.
Just yesterday the PM promised that the line would run from Birmingham to a new station at Euston.
thesun.co.uk/news/politics/2…
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For the second time in as many weeks, Sir Keir Starmer is forced to reprimand one of his Cabinet Ministers over ethics.
PM says that while Lisa Nandy is "a person of integrity" her actions were "not entirely up to the standard expected".
Breaking: The government's appointment of David Kogan as chair of the football regulator made THREE breaches of the Governance Code
1. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy failed to declare Kogan had donated to her leadership campaign
2. A potential conflict of interest was not discussed with Kogan at his interview
3. The Culture department failed to disclose Kogan's political activity, notably his extensive links to the Labour party
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EXCL: Labour’s Wellingborough by-election candidate once called for a ban on nuclear weapons, open borders and public ownership of the banks thesun.co.uk/news/25847053/g…
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Peter Kyle hits back: "People won't know the name Graham Stringer, but he's been around for a very long time and been critical of every Labour leader".
That'll calm things down...
Labour MP Graham Stringer says Keir Starmer "doesn't seem to have the basic skills that most politicians have".
He tells Times Radio: "He seems to be unable to take quick reasoned decisions and explain them politically."
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Downing Street can’t say whether David Lammy knew about the mistakenly released prisoner when he five times refused to say so at DPMQs 🤯
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