Rwanda bill - live: Sunak doubles down on refusal to help Afghan heroes as no guarantee of fights by spring

Rishi Sunak has doubled down on his refusal to exempt Afghan heroes who served with British forces from being deported to Rwanda.

A No 10 spokesman said on Wednesday that the government would not be making any concessions on the Rwanda bill after the House of Lords last night voted in favour of the move.

The defiant upper chamber refused to cave to ministers’ demands and sent the flagship Rwanda plan back to the Commons.

Peers are also demanding the set up of a monitoring committee to assess whether Rwanda is safe before the government sends asylum seekers there.

Downing Street also on Thursday was unable to recommit to the prime minister’s pledge to get flights to Rwanda off the ground by the spring.

The spokesman said: “I’m not going to get ahead of the bill passing, which obviously we’ve seen again last night has continued to be held up.

“We’re working at pace to ensure these flights leave as soon as possible. It’s now incumbent on the Lords to pass this Bill such that we can trigger the final planning phases and ultimately stop the boats.”

Key Points

• No 10 unable to guarantee flights by spring

• Government won’t accept plan to exempt Afghan heroes

• Shapps insists he wants to help Afghan heroes

• Lords snub calls by MPs to back down over Rwanda protections

Suspended MP Menzies loses trade envoy roles

16:00 , Matt Mathers

Suspended MP Mark Menzies has been suspended from his role as one of Rishi Sunak’s trade envoys to several South American countries.

Mr Menzies has lost his unpaid, voluntary role aimed at boosting trade with Colombia, Chile, Peru and Argentina, a No 10 spokesperson said.

Post Office staff had ‘bunker mentality’ towards press, lawyer tells inquiry

15:45 , Matt Mathers

A Post Office lawyer has said there was a “bunker mentality” among staff in relation to the media’s coverage of the Horizon IT system.

Rodric Williams, who joined the organisation as a litigation lawyer in 2012, was asked at the Horizon Inquiry on Thursday about an email sent to the Post Office by journalist Nick Wallis in 2014.

Full report:

Post Office staff had ‘bunker mentality’ towards press, lawyer tells inquiry

Scotland ditches target of reducing emission by 75% by 2030

15:22 , Matt Mathers

The Scottish government is ditching a climate change target committing it to reducing emissions by 75 per cent by 2030, the country’s net zero secretary confirmed.

Mairi McAllan told MSPs in a statement at Holyrood: “In this challenging context of cuts, UK backtracking, we accept the Climate Change Committee’s recent re-articulation that this parliament’s interim 2030 target is out of reach. We must now act to chart a course to 2045 at a pace and scale that is feasible, fair and just.

“With this in mind, I can today confirm that, working with parliament on a timetable, the Scottish government will bring forward expedited legislation to address matters raised by the Climate Change Committee, and ensure our legislative framework better reflects the reality of long-term climate policymaking.

“The narrowly drawn bill will retain our legal commitment to 2045 alongside annual reporting on progress, while introducing a target approach based on five-yearly carbon budgets.”

University chiefs to get security service Cobra briefing on hostile states

15:09 , Matt Mathers

University leaders will be briefed by the security services after a government review found their institutions were being “targeted” by hostile states, the deputy prime minister has said.

The government ordered a review of protections for higher education in its refreshed Integrated Review of foreign and security policy last year amid concerns that hostile states, and particularly China, were gaining undue influence over the sector.

Full report:

University chiefs to get security service Cobra briefing on hostile states

Starmer: Government should be focusing on stopping the boats arriving in first place

14:29 , Matt Mathers

Sir Keir Starmer has said the government’s Rwanda scheme would not work regardless of how asylum seekers travelled to the east Africa country amid reports the RAF could be used.

Asked whether he thought RAF aircraft should be used to deport asylum seekers, he told broadcasters: “I think the government should be concentrating on how they are going to stop small boats from arriving in the first place rather than wasting time and money, taxpayers’ money, on a gimmick, however they travel to Rwanda.

“There are tens of thousands of people waiting to have their claims processed and the government is talking about removing a few hundred.

“More people came in one day last week than this entire scheme will remove under its current provisions.

“It is a gimmick, it won’t work, it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. Let’s do what matters, smash the gangs that are running this trade in the first place.”

No 10 declines to recommit to getting Rwanda flights in the air by spring

13:10 , Matt Mathers

Downing Street has declined to recommit to the prime minister’s spring deadline to get deportation flights off the ground to Rwanda.

Rishi Sunak’s spokesman told reporters: “Our intention is to get this passed on Monday such that we can then set out the timetable for getting flights off as soon as possible.”

He said the timetable was initially set out in November “but obviously the bill has continued to be delayed”.

“I’m not going to get ahead of the bill passing, which obviously we’ve seen again last night has continued to be held up.

“We’re working at pace to ensure these flights leave as soon as possible. It’s now incumbent on the Lords to pass this Bill such that we can trigger the final planning phases and ultimately stop the boats.”

Government won’t be making concessions on Rwanda bill - No 10

13:08 , Matt Mathers

The government will not be making concessions on changes to the Rwanda bill requested by the House of Lords, Downing Street has indicated.

Peers on Wednesday again supported an exemption from removal for those who worked with the UK military or government overseas, such as Afghan interpreters.

Asked whether ministers could move on that, the prime minister’s spokesman said: “The amendment is unnecessary.

“We already have safe and legal routes for people in this category. It’s one of the most generous safe and legal routes that we have in fact.

“We are proud that we have relocated over 16,000 people to safety through the scheme so far.”

He said the amendment would “create an unnecessary and dangerous incentive for these people to travel here illegally, which is precisely what this bill is trying to avoid.”

ICYMI: Defiant Lords back Afghan heroes and refuse to pass Sunak’s plan to deport asylum seekers

12:37 , Matt Mathers

A defiant House of Lords has refused to cave to ministers and sent Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda plan back to the Commons – with two key demands.

Peers voted on Wednesday night in favour of an amendment to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill that would exempt Afghan heroes who supported UK troops overseas from being deported.

Full report:

Defiant Lords back Afghan heroes and refuse to pass Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill

MPs will consider Lords ammendments to Rwanda bill on Monday, Commons leader confirms

11:30 , Matt Mathers

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt has said MPs will consider further Lords amendments to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill on 22 April.

Further time will be made available in the Commons on 23 April if the Lords continue to make changes.

ICYMI: Home Office minister repeatedly ignores question on whether government has airline for Rwanda scheme

10:57 , Matt Mathers

Watch: Minister repeatedly ignores question on securing airline for Rwanda flights

ICYMI: Britain to hand Rwanda £50m as soon as deportation bill becomes law, Home Office confirms

09:54 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak will give Rwanda £50m as soon as his flagship deportation bill becomes law, the Home Office has admitted.

With the bill expected to gain royal assent this week, the UK will send Kigali the latest payment of cash despite no migrants having been sent to the east African nation.

Full report:

Britain to hand Rwanda £50m as soon as deportation bill becomes law, Home Office

Home Office confirms deal with Vietnam on strengthening efforts to tackle illegal migration

09:05 , Matt Mathers

The Home Office has confirmed a new deal with Vietnam to strengthen collaboration on efforts to tackle illegal migration, including through deterrence communication campaigns and intelligence-sharing.

Vietnamese nationals made up 5 per cent of small boat arrivals in the UK in 2023, up from 1 per cent in 2022 but the same proportion as in 2021, Home Office figures show.

From 2018 to the end of 2023, there were 3,356 Vietnamese small boat arrivals, putting Vietnam in the top 10 source countries.

Cleverly accuses Labour of ‘politically cynical’ effort to scupper Rwanda plan

08:50 , Matt Mathers

Home secretary James Cleverly accused Labour of a “politically cynical” effort to scupper the Rwanda scheme as peers dealt another blow to the asylum plan.

Labour said the government should stop wasting time and money on the “hare-brained scheme” which aims to send some asylum seekers on a one-way trip to Rwanda in order to deter people from crossing the English Channel in small boats.

Mr Cleverly said: “Terrified that the Rwanda scheme will work, and desperate to delay or disrupt over a hundred votes about stopping the boats, Labour have acted again to block the passage of the Rwanda Bill.

“It’s been another politically cynical effort by them, who have no alternative deterrent and no plan to tackle illegal migration, to frustrate the only solution on offer.

“We want to break the criminal people smuggling gangs and stop the boats. Labour, uncomfortable with tackling immigration, will clearly stop at nothing to stop the planes”.

Shapps insists there are already schemes in place to help Afghan heroes

08:35 , Matt Mathers

Grant Shapps insisted there are already schemes in place to help Afghan heroes come to the UK as he sought to justify the government’s refusal to accept an amendment to the Rwanda bill that would exempt people who have served with British forces being deported to the African country.

Speaking to the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme, the defence secretary said: “As defence secretary, I am immensely keen to ensure that people who supported us in Afghanistan are able to move here. That’s why we have a programme of Afghans’ ability to come here, which has already brought 16,000 people here.

When it was put to him that there were lots of other Afghan heroes who hadn’t been offered asylum, Mr Shapps added: “The way to do that is legally - not be allowing people who have come here illegally via people smugglers to then stay here.”

In full: Defiant Lords back Afghan heroes and refuse to pass Sunak’s plan to deport asylum seekers

08:13 , Matt Mathers

A defiant House of Lords has refused to cave to ministers and sent Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda plan back to the Commons – with two key demands.

Peers voted on Wednesday night in favour of an amendment to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill that would exempt Afghan heroes who supported UK troops overseas from being deported.

Full report:

Defiant Lords back Afghan heroes and refuse to pass Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill

The Rwanda bill explained: What is the controversial policy and what happens next?

08:11 , Matt Mathers

Last night the House of Lords again rejected the government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

But what is the Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, when was the idea conceived and how will it work if made law?

Here’s everything we know about the plan:

The Rwanda bill explained: What is the controversial policy and what happens next?

Shapps: Government will do ‘whatever we need to’ to get flights off to Rwanda

08:07 , Matt Mathers

The government will do “whatever we need to do” to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda, Grant Shapps has said in response to the suggestion the RAF could be used for deportation flights.

Asked whether he would allow RAF aircraft to be used, the defence secretary told Sky News: “We will do whatever we need to do to make sure that we can get these flights off, whether they are charter flights or other kinds of flights.”

He added that which aircraft took asylum seekers to Rwanda was a “secondary issue”.

No Downing Street flea problem after ‘vast’ expense of new carpets, says Hunt

06:00 , Barney Davis

Jeremy Hunt tackled the flea problem Liz Truss highlighted in Downing Street by replacing the carpets at “vast” personal expense.

In her book 10 Years To Save The West, Ms Truss – who lived in the more spacious No 11 flat rather than the accommodation above No 10 – said “the place was infested with fleas”, possibly due to Boris Johnson’s dog Dilyn although “there was no conclusive evidence”.

Ms Truss said “the entire place had to be sprayed with flea killer” and “I spent several weeks itching”.

At an event in Washington DC, Mr Hunt confirmed he had taken a more drastic, and expensive, approach.

“I actually live in the flat that Liz Truss lived in and Boris Johnson lived in before that,” he said.

“She was only there for less than 50 days. I had a little bit longer, when I knew I was going to be moving in there, and I replaced all the carpets at my own expense – vast expense because it had to be a security-cleared company that did it.

“So I’m pleased to say that the Hunt family has not had the flea problem.”

The Rwanda bill explained: What is the controversial policy and what happens next?

05:00 , Barney Davis

Ministers have designed legislation to get round legal objections and say flights could take off within weeks – but a potential stumbling block remains.

Jane Dalton explains:

The Rwanda bill explained: What is the controversial policy and what happens next?

ICYMI: Rishi Sunak forces through vote for total ban on smoking for those born after 2009

04:00 , Barney Davis

Britain is on course to ban smoking for an entire generation after Rishi Sunak forced through a historic vote in the House of Commons.

The prime minister relied on Labour votes to see off opponents on his own benches, led by the former PM Liz Truss, winning by 383 votes to 67.

Full report:

Rishi Sunak forces through vote for total ban on smoking for a generation

Jeremy Hunt refuses to say ‘anything negative’ about Liz Truss

02:59 , Barney Davis

Jeremy Hunt refuses to say ‘anything negative’ about Liz Truss

Defiant Lords back Afghan heroes and refuse to pass Sunak’s plan to deport asylum seekers

02:00 , Barney Davis

A defiant House of Lords has refused to cave to ministers and sent Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda plan back to the Commons – with two key demands.

Peers voted on Wednesday night in favour of an amendment to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill that would exempt Afghan heroes who supported UK troops overseas from being deported.

They also insisted on a monitoring committee to assess whether Rwanda is safe before the government sends asylum seekers there.

Holly Bancroft and Kate Devlin report:

Defiant Lords back Afghan heroes and refuse to pass Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill

‘Billionaire prime minister smearing a working class woman,’ Starmer says

Thursday 18 April 2024 00:01 , Barney Davis

Sir Keir Starmer has accused “billionaires” Rishi Sunak and Tory peer Lord Ashcroft of “smearing a working class woman” Angela Rayner, Archie Mitchell reports.

The pair have repeatedly criticised Ms Rayner over the sale of her former council house in 2015, suggesting she may have failed to pay due capital gains tax or given false information about her address.

After Mr Sunak referenced the investigation into Ms Rayner at PMQs, Sir Keir said: “We’ve got a billionaire prime minister and a billionaire colleague both of whose families have used schemes to avoid millions of pounds in tax smearing a working class woman.”

A Tory MP is being investigated by the party following claims he misused campaign funds

Wednesday 17 April 2024 23:02 , Barney Davis

Mark Menzies is facing allegations he made a late-night call to a 78-year-old aide asking for help because he had been locked up by “bad people” demanding thousands of pounds for his release.

The Fylde MP disputes the allegations reported by The Times but the Conservative Party is looking into the claims and taking them seriously.

According to the newspaper, £14,000 given by donors for use on Tory campaign activities was transferred to Mr Menzies’ personal bank accounts and used for private medical expenses.

The MP, who is one of Rishi Sunak’s trade envoys, is also said to have called his 78-year-old former campaign manager at 3.15am one morning in December, claiming he was locked in a flat and needed £5,000 as a matter of “life and death”.

The sum, which rose to £6,500, was eventually paid by his office manager from her personal bank account and subsequently reimbursed from funds raised from donors in an account named Fylde Westminster Group, it is alleged.

According to a source close to Mr Menzies, the MP had met a man on an online dating website and gone to the man’s flat, before subsequently going with another man to a second address where he continued drinking. He was sick at one point and several people at the address demanded £5,000, claiming it was for cleaning up and other expenses.

Watch: Sunak says Tories have plan six times in 40 seconds

Wednesday 17 April 2024 23:00 , Barney Davis

Rishi Sunak says Tories have ‘plan’ six times in 40-second interview

Home Secretary says Labour ‘terrified’ Rwanda scheme will work

Wednesday 17 April 2024 21:41 , Barney Davis

Home secretary James Cleverly insisted that Labour are desperate to delay or disrupt Rwanda bill in a statement issued after it was sent back to the Commons again.

James Cleverly said in a statement: “Terrified that the Rwanda scheme will work, and desperate to delay or disrupt over a hundred votes about stopping the boats, Labour have acted again to block the passage of the Rwanda Bill.

“It’s been another politically cynical effort by them, who have no alternative deterrent and no plan to tackle illegal migration, to frustrate the only solution on offer.”

He added that Labour is “uncomfortable with tackling immigration” which is why the party will “clearly stop at nothing to stop the planes”.

UK seals Vietnam deal to deter illegal migration

Wednesday 17 April 2024 20:40 , Jane Dalton

The Home Office has confirmed a new deal with Vietnam to strengthen collaboration on efforts to tackle illegal migration, including through deterrence communication campaigns and intelligence-sharing.

Officials said the agreement would “continue to facilitate the process for the return of those with no right to remain in the UK” and lead to the development of a joint action plan to tackle human trafficking.

Vietnamese nationals made up 5% of small boat arrivals in the UK last year, up from 1% in 2022 but the same proportion as in 2021, Home Office figures show.

From 2018 to the end of 2023, there were 3,356 Vietnamese small boat arrivals, putting Vietnam in the top 10 source countries.

Mr Tomlinson, said: “This agreement is an important step with a valued partner to ensure we are working in lockstep to end exploitation by people-smuggling gangs, and to save lives.”

Defiant Lords back Afghan heroes and refuse to pass Sunak’s plan

Wednesday 17 April 2024 20:10 , Jane Dalton

Full report: Lords have refused to cave in to ministers and have instead sent back Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda Bill to the Commons with two key changes:

Defiant Lords back Afghan heroes and refuse to pass Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Bill

Lords insist on exemption for overseas heroes

Wednesday 17 April 2024 20:00 , Jane Dalton

The Lords have now dealt a further blow to the Rwanda legislation, again backing an exemption from removal for those who worked with the UK military or government overseas, such as Afghan interpreters.

The Lords’ insistence on the amendments - by 247 votes to 195, majority 52 - ensures a fourth round of “ping pong” over the Bill, where legislation is batted between the two Houses until agreement is reached.

The legislation will now be sent back to the Commons for MPs to consider the latest changes by peers.

Watch: Tory MP squirms refusing to say why he reported Rayner to police

Wednesday 17 April 2024 19:50 , Jane Dalton

Tory MP squirms while refusing to say why he reported Angela Rayner to police

Lords keep deadlock going in snubbing calls to back down

Wednesday 17 April 2024 19:38 , Jane Dalton

The House of Lords has snubbed ministerial calls to back down – and insisted by 245 votes to 208, majority 37, on a requirement that Rwanda cannot be treated as safe until promised protections are in place.

The fresh government setback means yet more wrangling at Westminster over the proposed law that aims to clear the way to send asylum-seekers who cross the Channel in small boats on a one-way flight to Kigali.

Minister urges peers to give in and pass Bill

Wednesday 17 April 2024 19:35 , Jane Dalton

Peers have been urged to relent in their deadlock with the government over the Safety of Rwanda Bill.

Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson said allowing the Bill to pass now would “send a clear signal that if you come to the United Kingdom illegally you will not be able to stay”.

As MPs rejected four amendments to the Bill, Mr Tomlinson said: “We have made it abundantly clear that our priority is to stop the boats, we simply cannot stand by and allow people-smugglers to control who enters our country and to see more lives being lost at sea.

“We have an obligation to the public and to those who are being exploited by criminal gangs to stop this vile trade and to protect our borders.

“Letting this Bill pass now will send a clear signal that if you come to the United Kingdom illegally you will not be able to stay.”

Rwanda deportation fears ‘will hit armed forces'

Wednesday 17 April 2024 19:10 , Jane Dalton

Britain’s armed forces will struggle to recruit local allies if the government allows Afghan veterans to be deported to Rwanda, Labour has said.

MPs and peers have urged ministers to ensure those who worked with the UK military or government overseas, such as Afghan interpreters, are exempt from removal to Rwanda under the terms of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

Shadow Home Office minister Stephen Kinnock told the Commons: “We owe a debt of honour and gratitude to the Afghans who so bravely fought alongside British troops and the idea that we might send them to Rwanda is simply unconscionable.

“But Lord Browne’s amendment is not only driven by a moral imperative, it is also underpinned by our national interest and by military logic for the simple and obvious reason that the ability of our armed forces to recruit local allies will be severely constrained if this Bill passes unamended.”

Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson earlier sought to downplay concerns, saying: “This Government recognises the commitment and responsibility that comes with combat veterans, whether our own or those who have shown courage by serving alongside.

“I repeat: we will not let them down.”

Tory minister says she will not be reading Liz Truss’s new book: ‘Not interested in that’

Wednesday 17 April 2024 18:30 , Jane Dalton

Tory minister says she will not be reading Liz Truss book: ‘Not interested in that’

MPs set up fresh fight with Lords as they reject Rwanda Bill amendments

Wednesday 17 April 2024 17:55 , Jane Dalton

In full: MPs have rejected amendments to the Rwanda Bill:

MPs set up fight with Lords as they reject amendments to Rwanda Bill

Ex-Tory minister slams ‘hypocritical’ focus on Angela Rayner’s tax affairs

Wednesday 17 April 2024 17:46 , Jane Dalton

A former Tory minister has joined high profile figures to come out in defence of deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner as police investigating claims about her former living arrangements say they are considering multiple allegations:

Ex-Tory minister slams focus on Angela Rayner’s tax affairs as ‘grotesque hypocrisy’

Watch: Nigel Farage says he will make big political decision soon

Wednesday 17 April 2024 17:05 , Jane Dalton

MPs reject protection for Afghan heroes from Rwanda deportation

Wednesday 17 April 2024 16:45 , Jane Dalton

MPs voted 302 to 244, majority 58, to reject Lords’ amendment 10D, which would exempt agents, allies and employees of the UK overseas, such as Afghans who fought alongside the British armed forces, from being removed to Rwanda.

It was the fourth amendment by peers in a row that MPs rejected.

Promise Afghan war heroes won’t be sent to Rwanda, pleads Buckland

Wednesday 17 April 2024 16:30 , Jane Dalton

Ministers should give assurances that Afghans who served alongside UK armed forces will not be deported to Rwanda, a Conservative former justice secretary has said.

Sir Robert Buckland told the Commons: “I do think that there is still a class of people who have served this country, who have been brave and have exposed themselves to danger, who have not yet been dealt with.

“Many of them are in Pakistan, and I think that it would have been helpful to have perhaps seen an amendment in lieu to deal with that point, as (the minister) did with modern day slavery, for which I thank him.”

Sir Robert also insisted that checks on ensuring Rwanda was a safe country were “not a wrecking amendment”.

The Independent has campaigned for Afghan war heroes who served alongside British forces to be given refuge in the UK.

MPs reject Lords’ effort to give UK courts power on Rwanda safety

Wednesday 17 April 2024 16:25 , Jane Dalton

MPs voted by 310 to 240, a majority of 70, to reject Lords amendment 6D. The amendment would restore the jurisdiction of domestic courts over the safety of Rwanda and enable them to intervene.

MPs reject Lords’ ‘safe country’ amendment

Wednesday 17 April 2024 16:07 , Jane Dalton

MPs have voted by 306 to 240, majority 66, to reject Lords amendment 3E, which would require that Rwanda cannot be treated as a safe country until an independent monitoring body has verified that protections contained in the treaty are fully implemented and remain in place.

MPs reject bid to ensure Rwanda Bill follows human-rights laws

Wednesday 17 April 2024 15:50 , Jane Dalton

MPs have voted by 306 to 240, a majority of 66, to reject a Lords amendment that sought to ensure the Safety of Rwanda Bill had “due regard” for international and key domestic laws, including human rights and modern slavery legislation.

No 10 refuses to consider more Rwanda Bill concessions

Wednesday 17 April 2024 15:45 , Jane Dalton

Downing Street has ruled out making concessions on its Safety of Rwanda Bill as MPs and peers prepare for another round of parliamentary ping pong.

Peers have voted for a third time to amend the legislation that will allow asylum-seekers crossing the Channel in small boats to be deported to Rwanda.

The government had been reported to be considering making some concessions to ensure the Bill’s passage, including on exemptions for Afghan nationals who assisted British forces.

But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman ruled out any such move, telling reporters: “We are not considering concessions. We believe the Bill as it stands is the right Bill and the quickest way to get flights off the ground.”

MPs are therefore likely to reject the Lords’ amendments once again, before sending the legislation back to the Upper House later on Wednesday.

It will then be up to peers to decide whether to press their changes further, with Labour saying it would back two amendments proposed by the Lords.

A party spokesman said Labour would “continue to take the position that we have so far”, including by supporting proposals to exempt Afghans who helped UK troops.

There is potential for further debate on the Bill until late on Wednesday night as the legislation passes between Parliament’s two houses if agreement is not reached.

Watch: Tory minister says she will not be reading Liz Truss's new book

Wednesday 17 April 2024 15:42 , Jane Dalton

Ex-Tory minister slams ‘hypocritical’ focus on Angela Rayner’s tax affairs as police probe multiple claims

Wednesday 17 April 2024 13:30 , Matt Mathers

A former Tory minister has joined high profile figures to come out in defence of deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner as police investigating claims about her former living arrangements say they are considering multiple allegations.

Nick Boles, who was an MP for nine years, slammed the scrutiny over the sale of Ms Rayner’s former council home and whether she avoided paying the right tax or had correctly registered at the right address.

Full report:

Ex-Tory minister slams focus on Angela Rayner’s tax affairs as ‘grotesque hypocrisy’

‘Shout a bit louder so none of us can hear’: MPs in row over Rayner house sale live on air

Wednesday 17 April 2024 13:07 , Matt Mathers

Two MPs became embroiled in a row over the investigation into Angela Rayner and the sale of her former home live on air after PMQs.

James Daly, the Conservative Party deputy chairman, was asked by senior Labour MP Chris Bryant what offences he thought Ms Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, had committed.

Greater Manchester Police launched an investigation after Mr Daly contacted them with concerns about how the force had initially responded after it emerged that Ms Rayner had not paid capital gains tax on the sale of the property.

When asked by the Labour MP what he thought Ms Rayner had done, Mr Daly said “the matter is with Greater Manchester Police - they’ve confirmed” before being interrupted by Mr Bryant.

“Shout a bit louder so none of us can hear,” Mr Daly then told Mr Bryant. “Unlike Chris, who shouts and makes all sorts of public allegations, what I want to do is - an allegation has been made to the police, the police are investigating that allegation - lets give them the time and opportunity to do that”.

It is the second time this week Mr Daly has refused to say what offences he thought Ms Rayner had committed. Read more below:

MP who made Rayner complaint refuses to say what offence he thinks she’s committed

Watch: Sunak takes aim at Rayner’s ‘tax affairs’ during fiery exchange over Liz Truss’s book at PMQs

Wednesday 17 April 2024 13:00 , Matt Mathers

Sunak takes aim at Rayner’s ‘tax affairs’ in PMQs exchange over new Liz Truss book

Sunak defends Truss’s record as foreign secretary

Wednesday 17 April 2024 12:48 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak defended his predecessor Liz Truss’s legacy as foreign secretary and its impact on “Brexit Britain”.

Labour MP Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) asked: “In the exchanges earlier we didn’t hear much of a defence from the prime minister of his predecessor, so perhaps he could tell the house what does he consider to be her greatest achievement?”

The PM replied: “While the party opposite were busy trying to take us back into the EU and reverse the referendum result, my predecessor was signing trade deals around the world, which have now meant that Brexit Britain has overtaken the Netherlands, France and Japan to become the fourth largest exporter in the world.”

Government ‘actively looking’ at reducing costs for victims accessing court transcripts

Wednesday 17 April 2024 12:46 , Matt Mathers

The government is “actively looking” at options to reduce the costs victims face when trying to access court transcripts, Rishi Sunak said.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) told the Commons: “Four years ago my constituent Juliana was drugged and raped by her then boyfriend. After his conviction Juliana was advised that reading a transcript of his trial would help her to come to terms with her experience, but when she requested that transcript she was told that she would have to pay more than £7,000.”

She claimed other victims had been quoted up to £22,000 to read transcripts, adding: “Justice should not have a price tag.”

Ms Olney said the Lib Dems would bring an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill intended to make access to transcripts free of charge, and asked: “Juliana is here in the gallery today and she asks if the Prime Minister will support that amendment. Will he look her in the eye and say yes?”

The PM replied: “We are committed to improving victims’ access to court transcripts to help them move on and rebuild their lives. We already offer a free service to families of homicide victims for example, and that is why we have already committed to a one-year pilot to help identify the current demand, inform our next steps.

“Alongside this we are actively looking at other options to immediately reduce the costs.”

Sunak tells Israeli’s Netanyahu escalation is not in ‘anyone’s interest’

Wednesday 17 April 2024 12:44 , Matt Mathers

Sunak said he spoke to Israel’s Netanyahu and discussed how Iran is “isolated on world stage” and told him “escalation is not in anyones interest”, Zoe Grunewald reports.

"I also reiterated our concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza where I welcome the statements and commitments that the Israeli government have made about significantly increasing aid into Gaza, and now we need to see those commitments delivered,” the PM said.

Sunak: SNP should stop ‘obsessing’ about independence

Wednesday 17 April 2024 12:40 , Matt Mathers

The SNP should stop “obsessing” about independence and trying to lock up JK Rowling, and instead focus on what matters to people in Scotland, the prime minister told the Commons.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn highlighted comments made by Scottish Trades Union Congress general secretary Roz Foyer on independence remaining an unresolved issue, he added: “She said ‘that can be a very dangerous place to end up in, when you are not allowing people to express their wishes in a democratic manner’.

“So may I ask the prime minister, does he welcome the fulsome, wholehearted, and warm support of the Labour Party in denying the people of Scotland that opportunity to have a say over their own future.”

Rishi Sunak replied: “We did have a democratic vote on that topic.

“But what I would suggest to the SNP is that rather than obsessing about independence and indeed wasting time cracking down on free speech and trying to lock up JK Rowling, he should focus on what the people in Scotland actually care about – schools, hospitals, jobs, and our new tax cuts.”

Starmer asks Sunak to set out how he will pay for plan to abolish NI contributions

Wednesday 17 April 2024 12:33 , Matt Mathers

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated calls for prime minister Rishi Sunak to cost a £46 billion plan to end national insurance.

Sir Keir told the Commons: “(He) is not denying the £46 billion promise to scrap national insurance.

“ He is refusing to say where the money will come from and we’ve been trying for months to get to the bottom of this. So, now’s his chance. No more spin, no more waffle, no more diversion, I know that will be difficult.

“He can either – this is the choice – he can either cut state pension or the NHS that national insurance funds, that’s route one. Or he can put up income tax, which one is it?”

Sunak responded: “We’ve just cut taxes by £900 for a typical worker, we’ve delivered the biggest tax cut for businesses since the 1980s, but while we’re cutting taxes Labour is already putting them up.

“In Wales putting up taxes right now for small businesses, in Birmingham putting up council tax by 21 per cent, in London his mayor has put up taxes by 70 per cent and this is just a glimpse of what they’d do if they got in power, a few weeks ago he finally admitted it to The Sun, what did he say he would do? I quote, he said ‘we would put up taxes’.

“It’s always the same, higher taxes and working people paying the price.”

Starmer: Tories obsessed with ‘wild, unfunded tax cuts'

Wednesday 17 April 2024 12:25 , Matt Mathers

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said the Conservatives’ “obsession with wild, unfunded tax cuts” crashed the economy.

He said during PMQs: “I appreciate the prime minister having the stomach to say it out loud, but everyone knows it’s the Tory Party’s obsession with wild, unfunded tax cuts that crashed the economy. We know it, he knows it, they know it and the whole country is living it.

“So, when is he finally going to learn the lesson from his predecessors’ mistakes and explain where the money is coming from for his own completely unfunded £46 billion promise to scrap national insurance?”

Prime minister Rishi Sunak replied: “When my predecessor was running for leader, to use his words, I did have the stomach to argue out loud about her economic policies and the conviction to say that they were wrong not once, but twice.

“He tried to make his predecessor prime minister, despite him opposing Nato and Trident, ignoring antisemitism and siding with our enemies. It’s clear what he did, he put his own interest ahead of Britain’s.”

Sunak: I ‘repeatedly warned’ Truss what economic policies would lead to

Wednesday 17 April 2024 12:19 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak said he “repeatedly warned” about what Liz Truss’s “economic policies would lead to”, Zoe Grunewald reports.

The prime minister has said he "wasn’t afraid to repeatedly" about what the mini budget of his predecessor Liz Truss would "lead to" even "if it wasn’t what people wanted to hear at the time".

Mr Sunak was responding to questions from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer about Ms Truss’ new book. The prime minister added: "I was right then. But I’m also right now when I say that his economic policies would be a disaster for Britain."

Rishi Sunak refuses to rule out NHS and state pension cuts to fund tax bung

Wednesday 17 April 2024 12:17 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak has refused to rule out cuts to the NHS and state pensions to fund a £46bn national insurance giveaway, Archie Mitchell reports.

The prime minister has promised to abolish national insurance contributions in the long run, describing it as a “double tax” on work.

But Labour has repeatedly warned the cut would need to be funded by cuts to state pensions or the NHS, which the levy funds.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer twice asked Mr Sunak to rule out cuts to the NHS or state pensions to pay for what he called the “unfunded tax cut”.

“This is genuinely extraordinary, two chances to rule out cuts to state pensions and cuts to the NHS to fund his promise,” Sir Keir said.

He added: “This matters to millions of people who want to know what is going to happen to the NHS and their pensions.”

Starmer pokes fun at Liz Truss book

Wednesday 17 April 2024 12:05 , Matt Mathers

Starmer uses his first question to poke fun at former PM Liz Truss, who has been promoting her book this week.

He points out that Truss described her premiership as the happiest period in her life.

He asks Sunak if he has met anyone with a mortgage who agrees with that.

Wednesday 17 April 2024 11:57 , Matt Mathers

Starmer and Sunak will clash at PMQs in a few minutes.

We’ll have all the action as it happens.

Stay tuned for all the latest updates. Watch it live here.

Right-wing National Conservatism Conference to resume after being shut down by Brussels police

Wednesday 17 April 2024 11:55 , Matt Mathers

The right-wing National Conservatism Conference will be free to meet today for its second day of programming without further interference from the police, the Belgium high court has ruled.

The Conseil d’État, the highest court in Belgium relating to issues of public administration, said the conference should be allowed to resume today after it was closed down by the police on Tuesday following an order by the local mayor.

Full report:

National Conservatism Conference to resume after being shut down by Brussels police

How did your MP vote on government’s smoking ban?

Wednesday 17 April 2024 11:45 , Matt Mathers

MPs voted 383 to 67, majority 316, to give the Tobacco and Vapes Bill a second reading.

The prime minister relied on Labour votes to see off opponents on his own benches, led by the former PM Liz Truss.

Here’s how all MPs voted:

How did my MP vote on the smoking bill?

Fears interest rate cuts will be delayed after inflation falls less than expected

Wednesday 17 April 2024 11:34 , Matt Mathers

UK inflation slowed less than expected in March, leading economists and traders to be cautious about possible interest rate cuts in the summer.

The figures released by the ONS on Wednesday morning showed that inflation was 3.2 per cent in March, slightly higher than the 3.1 per cent predicted by economists.

Full report:

UK inflation falls less than expected to 3.2% in March

Sunak and Starmer to face off at PMQs

Wednesday 17 April 2024 11:24 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are set to clash at the first session of PMQs since MPs returned to parliament following the Easter break.

The prime minister and Labour leader face off after the government’s smoking ban for those born after 2009 cleared its first hurdle and as the Rwanda bill returns to the Commons.

We’ll bring you live updates from the session - you’ll also be able to watch it live on our YouTube channel (link to follow).

The hounding of Angela Rayner is an outrageous declaration of class war

Wednesday 17 April 2024 11:17 , Matt Mathers

Labour’s deputy leader is northern, working class and a strong woman – so obviously Tories and the Conservative press are out to bring her down ahead of a general election where she will be a major asset on the doorstep, says John Rentoul.

Read John’s piece in full here.

Minister confident Rwanda flights will take off in spring

Wednesday 17 April 2024 10:57 , Matt Mathers

Ministers are confident deportation flights to Rwanda will take off this spring, despite the legislation underpinning the plan remaining in parliamentary deadlock.

Treasury minister Laura Trott said there were “many definitions of spring” when pressed about a timeline for getting planes off the runway.

Ms Trott told Sky News: “We will be ready for flights to take off in the spring when the legislation passes.”

She added: “I think there are lots of definitions of spring but we are hoping to get them up and running as quickly as possible.”

Watch: Nigel Farage says ‘big political decision’ to be announced when quizzed on joining Conservative Party

Wednesday 17 April 2024 10:44 , Matt Mathers

Nigel Farage said he is going to make a big political decision within the “next few weeks” after he was quizzed on whether he would join the Conservative Party.

Mr Farage was quizzed on his political future after Liz Truss said she would like to see him “join the party”.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday (17 April), Ed Balls quizzed Mr Farage about his future plans.

He said: “In terms of what i may or may not do, I simply haven’t decided, but I notice Reform is getting stronger.

“I’m going to make a big decision about this within the next few weeks.”

Watch the clip here.

Rees-Mogg criticises ‘absurd’ smoking ban

Wednesday 17 April 2024 10:40 , Matt Mathers

Jacob Rees-Mogg has criticised the government’s “absurd” smoking ban, saying it will do nothing to help his party’s prospects at the general election.

The former business secretary was one of 165 Tory MPs who either abstained or voted against the ban last night in the House of Commons.

“The Conservative Party has an electoral mountain to climb. If we want to overturn the Labour lead in the opinion polls, we need to start pursuing conservative policies and show a sense of proportion,” he told GB News.

“How many voters will switch back to the Tories because of this complex and impractical ban, aggressively pushed by the people who gave us endless lockdowns?”

Rwanda stand-off continues as peers inflict fresh defeats on asylum policy

Wednesday 17 April 2024 10:36 , Matt Mathers

The parliamentary “ping-pong” over prime minister Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda scheme will continue on Wednesday after peers gave the controversial policy a fresh beating.

Despite MPs overturning previous changes by the House of Lords, the unelected chamber on Tuesday again pressed demands for revisions to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, prolonging the parliamentary wrangling.

However, the bill is still expected to become law by the end of the week - potentially being cleared in the Commons tonight

Full report:

Rwanda stand-off continues as peers inflict fresh defeats on asylum policy

In full: Manchester police chief suggests multiple allegations made against Rayner

Wednesday 17 April 2024 10:31 , Matt Mathers

Police investigating Angela Rayner have suggested there are multiple allegations which may extend beyond her housing arrangements.

Greater Manchester Police had previously announced they are investigating the Labour deputy leader over the sale of her council house in Stockport and whether she broke electoral law by giving false information of her address during the 2010s.

Full report:

Manchester police chief suggests multiple allegations made against Rayner