According to Katy Balls from the Spectator, Rishi Sunak told Tory MPs at the 1922 Committee:

“,”elementId”:”f17cd4a2-6159-4e00-ade3-fb7e54fa8cf1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

We are in the fight of our lives.

This battle will define us, when the going got tough, when the polls were against us did we dig deep and fight or did we turn in on ourselves?’

\n

“,”elementId”:”fe7815a9-2c56-4507-8da4-acf0d71686d3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”source”:”Twitter”,”id”:”1770518676556447973″,”elementId”:”89987ba7-600d-4c4d-97aa-2803f6bf9995″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/katyballs/status/1770518676556447973″,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”html”:”

🚨 Sunak to Tory MPs tonight:

‘We are in the fight of our lives.

This battle will define us, when the going got tough, when the polls were against us did we dig deep and fight or did we turn in on ourselves?’

— Katy Balls (@katyballs) March 20, 2024

\n\n”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

John Crace thinks he knows the answer.

“,”elementId”:”be5cfde7-d72f-4082-9320-2d48c4c9ee76″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”source”:”Twitter”,”id”:”1770520191631282596″,”elementId”:”de84b648-c2c0-4fcf-bb76-70d028a8bb29″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/JohnJCrace/status/1770520191631282596″,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”html”:”

Turn in on ourselves! https://t.co/SfJwMJS4Xm

— John Crace (@JohnJCrace) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710960059000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.40 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710960242000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.44 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710960243000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.44 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.44″,”title”:”Sunak tells Tory MPs they face ‘fight of our lives’ and urges them not to turn on each other”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fb270d8f0874ddc20537a4″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The government lost the fourth vote too, by 263 votes to 233 – a majority of 30.

“,”elementId”:”6490c301-c09a-471b-932f-7bced9561b4e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

This means amendment D1 passes, saying ministers or immigrations officials should have the power under the bill to say that Rwanda is not a safe country for a particular person, or group of people.

“,”elementId”:”a7d5f365-e0d6-4954-9b4d-36a7dff40ce1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

That is the smallest opposition majority tonight.

“,”elementId”:”fee41673-debe-4d49-b0af-334ccd527db1″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:true,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710958349000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.12 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710958808000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.20 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710958601000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.16 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.16″,”title”:”Government suffers fourth Rwanda bill defeat, with peers voting to say Rwanda can be ruled unsafe for some refugees”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fb243a8f08f662b3cc0cbf”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The government has lost the third Rwanda vote in the Lords. Amendment B2 (see 5.52pm) was passed by 276 votes to 226 – a majority of 50.

“,”elementId”:”0fe7ff76-769b-40a0-a675-ee7412b1ce82″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

This says that it will be up to the independent monitoring committee to say when the Rwanda treaty has been implemented. Peers have already passed an amendment saying, until the treaty has been implemented, deportation flights cannot start.

“,”elementId”:”261f3d99-8f52-41e9-ac20-4c17655babcb”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710957626000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.00 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710957774000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.02 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710957774000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.02 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.02″,”title”:”Government suffers third defeat in Lords on Rwanda bill”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fb20548f08f662b3cc0c6b”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The government has lost the second vote in the Lords on the Rwanda bill. By 285 to 230, a majority of 55, peers voted to say Rwanda will only be considered a safe country when the provisons of the Rwanda treaty have been implemented.

“,”elementId”:”c9f1032c-1663-43f6-ab96-4632636b1476″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710956628000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”13.43 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710958725000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.18 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710956751000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”13.45 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”13.45″,”title”:”Government suffers second Rwanda bill defeat as peers vote to block deportations until treaty provisions implemented”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fb18048f0874ddc2053693″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here is the breakdown of the vote in favour of the first amendment. (See 4.55pm.)

“,”elementId”:”2170f031-cc45-41c9-8f4a-0369cbcfd32b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

For

“,”elementId”:”00c79b9c-eff2-46ea-95d7-a5b5bb99fa26″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Bishops: 4

“,”elementId”:”03b85ce5-b92e-4cce-bc54-0dc9132e30e7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Crossbenchers: 57

“,”elementId”:”824a8ae2-c6b9-4762-9f3d-e844ccf0c8e8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Labour: 128

“,”elementId”:”b683031d-bcbe-4364-ad58-5145289afe90″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Lib Dems: 71

“,”elementId”:”35869c0f-c5be-4ff8-a00c-6a7e3aa5ed32″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Others: 11

“,”elementId”:”2410ed7e-d1b7-4d5f-8d88-bd1e745b14a5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Total: 271

“,”elementId”:”28dcc231-ebe8-4227-bad5-06977d75b41c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Against

“,”elementId”:”740d57bd-550a-48da-8f1d-2a9cc61cb6d4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Conservatives: 204

“,”elementId”:”1ef7776f-60d7-4bd4-b75f-583c75a1ed9d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Crossbenchers: 16

“,”elementId”:”7316f422-30a0-4329-8d08-88459ff20612″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Others: 8

“,”elementId”:”686f94b9-c68e-42ce-81db-b3716b742130″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Total: 228

“,”elementId”:”606d73b0-c2ad-44fd-adb6-83ec94c66dd9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

And, for comparison, here are the figures when the Lords voted on an earlier version of this amendment in early March.

“,”elementId”:”04394762-2adc-4044-9e2e-878d1798f516″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

For

“,”elementId”:”18b5ca70-114c-4f14-91e7-dff04362d71a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Bishops: 4

“,”elementId”:”95ec15f2-ed6b-417a-9541-b11b57f0f178″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Conservatives: 4

“,”elementId”:”eabe6aae-61d6-41c6-9791-caf06cd6bd77″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Crossbenchers: 62

“,”elementId”:”fe4f850a-f742-4b47-a622-698839190240″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Labour: 123

“,”elementId”:”492506f6-808b-4255-8cd7-2c4281cfc688″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Lib Dems: 70

“,”elementId”:”c5f70dc0-efe1-4880-8eaf-bbec69633110″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Others: 11

“,”elementId”:”0f71cf1e-9a10-4fbc-813a-197dc5f5bd33″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Total: 274

“,”elementId”:”95960b36-8342-4386-bedd-ac1dea1ac4ed”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Against

“,”elementId”:”656b2350-8b36-4cda-ac34-4283241facf4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Conservatives: 161

“,”elementId”:”bbc9ed2d-2c6f-4790-8086-6e73b7eb1baf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Crossbenchers: 5

“,”elementId”:”8a3f64fa-221c-4ce1-8188-e6dc0d5a977d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Others: 6

“,”elementId”:”42f24e06-afed-43b0-aea9-db2ddc47985b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Total: 172

“,”elementId”:”65a6212c-61cc-41ea-84b0-580b31e08dee”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Last time the government lost by a majority of 102. Today the government lost by a majority of 43. Broadly speaking, that means the government has rustled up 59 extra votes.

“,”elementId”:”beb938a8-a260-4ec2-9658-e654773cfefe”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

These figures show that the main changes today are a big increase in the number of Tory peers turning up to vote for the government (up from 161 to 204 – and increase of 43) and a significant increase in the number of crossbenchers voting with the government (up from 5 to 16 – and increase of 11).

“,”elementId”:”f9218ad8-89c3-4741-bc62-be312ac4ae5d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

There are also four Tory peers who were willing to vote for this amendment last time (Ken Clarke, John Gummer, Viscount Hailsham and Lord Tugendhat) who did not do so this afternoon.

“,”elementId”:”d02258dd-b4ef-4128-9313-7f0d52ccc8a7″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710954500000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”13.08 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710955775000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”13.29 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710955776000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”13.29 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”13.29″,”title”:”How government cut opposition majority for ‘international law’ amendment to Rwanda bill from 102 to 43″,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fb14638f08c7a342bbabc3″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The government has lost the first vote. The Labour amendment, A1, was passed by 271 votes to 228 – a majority of 43.

“,”elementId”:”b91d9d93-ddf8-4a7f-8874-a8a5e1c4bfba”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710953571000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”12.52 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710953707000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.55 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710953707000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”12.55 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”12.55″,”title”:”Government defeated again on Rwanda bill as peers vote to say it must comply with international law”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fb0e948f08f662b3cc0b07″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Lord Stewart of Dirleton, the adocate general for Scotland, is winding up this stage of the debate for the government. He claims the opposition amendments would do “significant damage to the core purpose of the bill”.

“,”elementId”:”7576ce35-bde8-4426-a3e5-56b36a4acf98″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710952084000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”12.28 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710952322000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.32 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710952322000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”12.32 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”12.32″,”title”:”Lords amendments would do ‘significant damage’ to core purpose of Rwanda bill, minister tells peers”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fb054e8f08c7a342bbaa8a”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In the House of Lords peers are just starting their debate on the safety of Rwanda (asylum and immigration) bill. As the bill was going through the Lords for the first time, peers passed 10 amendments, all intended to strengthen safeguards for people facing deportation to Rwanda, and on Monday MPs voted them all down when the bill went back to the Commons.

“,”elementId”:”b6b36df2-214b-4fc0-a605-7ca10e900e92″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The bill is now in the “ping pong” process – where it will shuttle between the Lords and the Commson until they agree on a text.

“,”elementId”:”a435cbcf-019c-43a1-8066-cf0e8a5ac909″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

There is no real doubt about the outcome; the Lords will eventually back down, as it almost always does. Occasionally at this stage in the process it can secure a minor concession, but there seems to be little chance of that now. The government has said it wants the bill as it was originally passed.

“,”elementId”:”b9d82f68-8b9c-49f3-be85-d6e383cdb2e1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

But what is uncertain is how long peers will choose to hold up the bill. “Ping pong” can run to up to about five rounds. In theory the bill could become law this week, but government sources have indicated that if peers vote today to re-insert some of their amendments, the bill might not return to the Commons until after the Easter recess.

“,”elementId”:”9b37d42e-ba38-4da9-bf0e-6f90598354bb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Today we are expecting about seven votes on fresh amendments. Peers cannot just retable the amendments voted out by MPs, but what they can do is seek to re-insert new versions of the previous ones.

“,”elementId”:”eb1fdddf-a7d3-4eba-b29a-6927a3b17abd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Vernon Coaker, a Labour home affairs spokesperson, has finished speaking. MPs rejected a Lords amendment saying the bill should be implemented “while maintaining full compliance with domestic and international law”.

“,”elementId”:”c12c7633-5343-4d3a-a77f-eb333cdeabda”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Coaker said he had reworded this, and he proposed a new amendment saying the bill has to be implemented “having due regard for domestic and international law”.

“,”elementId”:”09867946-738a-45d0-b7ab-c181aa2d91c0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

He said this is important because, if the government wanted to oppose President Putin, on the grounds that what he was doing was against international law, and if it opposed the Houthis, on the grounds that their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea were against international law, then it should comply with international law in its own legislation.

“,”elementId”:”73e832cb-7acd-495b-899c-ef858f81f376″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710949710000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.48 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710951185000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.13 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710951185000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”12.13 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”12.13″,”title”:”Peers resume debate on Rwanda bill, with Labour making fresh bid to ensure it must comply with international law”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fafd378f0874ddc205348d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The Department of Health and Social Care has today published its tobacco and vapes bill, the legislation that will very gradually ban smoking by ensuring that children turning 15 this year or younger will never legally be able to be sold tobacco. There is a summary of the measures from the DHSC here, and the bill itself is here.

“,”elementId”:”0f868b0f-dcd8-42a9-be57-751ad5affce1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Commenting on the bill, Rishi Sunak said:

“,”elementId”:”888fd1b1-4a5d-4b99-a471-6ee7e2fd7d98″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

If we want to build a better future for our children we need to tackle the single biggest entirely preventable cause of ill health, disability and death: smoking.

\n

That is why, alongside new measures to curb the alarming rise in youth vaping, we are delivering on our commitment to create a smokefree generation and stop our kids from getting hooked on harmful cigarettes and other nicotine products.

\n

This important change will save thousands of lives and billions of pounds for our NHS, freeing up new resource than can be spent to improve outcomes for patients right across the UK.

\n

“,”elementId”:”0aea9c56-27a3-4eaf-8b39-5c7c64e79fb9″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710947639000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.13 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710948206000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.23 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710948206000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.23 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.23″,”title”:”Deparment of Health publishes bill intended to ensure future generations never smoke”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65faf5758f0874ddc20533e8″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Vaughan Gething used his first speech in the Senedd after being formally nominated as first minister of Wales to accuse the UK government of “unprecedented hostility” to devolution. He declared:

“,”elementId”:”1ae05c42-d73c-4dbf-a40b-6fe67cc47696″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

In recent years we have pushed the boundaries of what is possible with devolution. We did it, for example, to keep Wales safe [during Covid].

\n

But in that same period, we have seen unprecedented hostility towards democratic Welsh devolution from a UK government determined to undermine, frustrate and bypass the Welsh government and this Senedd.

\n

As well as leaving Wales with less say over less money, it is deeply corrosive, wasteful and undemocratic.

\n

As first minister, I look forward to standing up for Wales and for devolution in the weeks and months to come.

\n

“,”elementId”:”7fa61fdd-635b-48a4-bd13-3406c0ba5edd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Gething, who became first minister after being elected to succeed Mark Drakeford as the leader of the Welsh Labour party, said that he was relishing the chance “to cooperate for Wales with a new UK government that invests in partnership and in Wales’ future”.

“,”elementId”:”a4cee143-c826-4637-b247-19728bba4c1c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

He also said it was a matter of pride to be the first Black person to lead a European country – “but also a daunting responsibility for me – and one that I do not take lightly”. He went on:

“,”elementId”:”93b84154-d4c4-40b7-98fe-28786440847f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

Today, we can also expect the depressingly familiar pattern to emerge: abuse on social media, racist tropes disguised with polite language.

\n

People questioning my motives and, yes, they will still question or deny my nationality. Whilst others question why I’m ‘playing the race card’.

\n

To those people, I say once more – it is very easy not to care about identity when your own has never once been questioned or held you back.

\n

“,”elementId”:”73fdb460-8149-4dbe-ab45-bce4b77e17f5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Gething was elected first minster with the support of Labour MSs (members of the Senedd), as well as Jane Dodds, the Senedd’s only Liberal Democrat member.

“,”elementId”:”900517d9-9e57-4b45-8fd0-c90f1bfdc7e7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The Conservative and Plaid Cymru members voted for their respective party leaders.

“,”elementId”:”c48298b3-431d-43e2-9c09-5e853a8f19e9″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”2333″,”width”:”3500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/3500.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”2333″,”width”:”3500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1333″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”667″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”333″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”93″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/140.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”7a7111ff-ddd6-4510-a29b-c3601e213ecd”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=552f77559e5d1c58699fc2d27d72f91d”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a190ab5d582a1600b8b116386bfa8594″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=51fd61f9567e7d4ede9b4f6d10fb4be7″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=69b57763c92d94fd36bf38605cc9ebb2″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4e1cfd98b3c3aad4e8229c7d998321d0″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b25b1d6bc641b9a8d7aa44e14dc0a8e5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f50bb954e6ac745777011f42dc952fa0″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=27efe1c0e4a1489921ac2ee391798a0b”,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c5dc9302bfb43e5dae541fa6124876bf”,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1d5fa659df7e89f8902808ce0302e99f”,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a3aa0a457bc868501cdfd344941fccbd”,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d9257ba996cc0d160b3cc0aae2d30dc8″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=45e274d8fed806f7ed1f8f30785670ed”,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7cf41fe038b08e5edb7200aa3ac7de9b”,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=552f77559e5d1c58699fc2d27d72f91d”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a190ab5d582a1600b8b116386bfa8594″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=51fd61f9567e7d4ede9b4f6d10fb4be7″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=69b57763c92d94fd36bf38605cc9ebb2″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4e1cfd98b3c3aad4e8229c7d998321d0″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b25b1d6bc641b9a8d7aa44e14dc0a8e5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c93dd3bd2e0c2d9cee6ce4f32e096bf6″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fe4ab09992075adf9cf3019b5d9d11e3″,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d9af48021665d03347b597cf0b9c8b49″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=25a035f438b7fd82f9b5dace294fd286″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=552f77559e5d1c58699fc2d27d72f91d”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a190ab5d582a1600b8b116386bfa8594″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=51fd61f9567e7d4ede9b4f6d10fb4be7″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=69b57763c92d94fd36bf38605cc9ebb2″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4e1cfd98b3c3aad4e8229c7d998321d0″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b25b1d6bc641b9a8d7aa44e14dc0a8e5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=552f77559e5d1c58699fc2d27d72f91d”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a190ab5d582a1600b8b116386bfa8594″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=51fd61f9567e7d4ede9b4f6d10fb4be7″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=69b57763c92d94fd36bf38605cc9ebb2″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4e1cfd98b3c3aad4e8229c7d998321d0″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b25b1d6bc641b9a8d7aa44e14dc0a8e5″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7a637345ecc989c4e1d7d228d463d35d”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5ffe483d342e25332540841c59f65b09″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c1619113383ff39bbdc0f8f95765a1df”,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6b293b7c09c420280e173c2fbf3c00fc”,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ba3f60645827d74f93de3a172175137d”,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=97c3e8d2333ec0eab7e507c9f2741297″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=718a1f13f2de5a4f775c05d9c3672e80″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4b6c8385d4b97958f97e43d8a5891188″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e01f209669642b824c549bf11520fe6a”,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d7723a3d5e1037c3a83d71f0c66007c1″,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=70c2d0c19f9bda9af606f73d04070810″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=eb1baee48675b89ca2639784e30ef0a8″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a60aee9e5d98f26ea7082ec75e8a5b7c”,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ee26392a98c2a0ce7aa403f31dd812390309526/0_0_3500_2333/master/3500.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8aaa37cb005ea579912c3ad39c7ae775″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Vaughan Gething in the Senedd in Cardiff after being elected Welsh first minister.”,”caption”:”Vaughan Gething in the Senedd in Cardiff after being elected Welsh first minister.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Welsh Government/PA”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710945653000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.40 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710946825000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.00 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710946791000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”10.59 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”10.59″,”title”:”Gething accuses UK government of ‘unprecedented hostility’ to devolution in speech in first speech as Welsh first minister”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65faed1f8f08f662b3cc0875″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Matt Hancock, the former health secretary, has lost a bid to have a libel claim brought against him by MP Andrew Bridgen thrown out by a high court judge, PA Media reports. PA says:

“,”elementId”:”6a8f5e38-9cf6-4a62-8bd1-04395f68bada”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

Bridgen wants to “clear his name” after allegedly being accused of antisemitism in a “malicious” social media post by Hancock, the court was previously told.

\n

The MP for North West Leicestershire is bringing a libel case against Hancock over a January 2023 tweet that followed Bridgen posting a comment about Covid-19 vaccines.

\n

A judge was told that, on 11 January, Bridgen shared a link to an article “concerning data about deaths and other adverse reactions linked to Covid vaccines”, and stated: “As one consultant cardiologist said to me, this is the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.”

\n

Hours later, Hancock wrote on Twitter – now known as X – that “disgusting and dangerous antisemitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories spouted by a sitting MP this morning are unacceptable and have absolutely no place in our society”.

\n

Bridgen believes “every person reading the tweet knew it was about me”, that it was “seriously defamatory and untrue” and intended to cause “grievous harm” to his reputation, the court was told.

\n

At a preliminary hearing in London earlier this month, Hancock’s lawyers argued the claim against him should be thrown out as it did not have “a realistic prospect of success” and because of the “lack of a properly articulated case”.

\n

In a ruling today, Mrs Justice Steyn “struck out” certain parts of Bridgen’s case but did not dismiss the whole claim, instead giving the Independent MP the opportunity to make amendments and “remedy the deficiencies”.

\n

“,”elementId”:”87de7778-b2b9-4bd5-8a1e-feec3ed42930″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710943519000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”10.05 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710943656000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”10.07 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710943656000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”10.07 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”10.07″,”title”:”Matt Hancock loses bid to have libel case brought against him by Andrew Bridgen struck out”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65faea9f8f0874ddc205330d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Rishi Sunak will urge Tory MPs to “pull together” when he addresses them at the 1922 Committee later this afternoon.

“,”elementId”:”3019695c-7438-4fac-9996-41d30ad76427″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Asked at the post-PMQs lobby briefing what Sunak would be saying to his backbenchers, the PM’s press secretary replied:

“,”elementId”:”024aae7b-9dd9-47df-a2c9-3a424bca6142″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

He will be talking about the local elections and I’m sure they will be talking about that we have got to pull together to make sure Labour don’t do what they have done to Britain, what they have done to Birmingham.

\n

As the PM said, [there have been] eye-watering tax rises, bins uncollected, massive cuts to the arts in Birmingham – it is truly … worse than in the 1970s under Labour leadership there.

\n

So he will be talking about that.

\n

“,”elementId”:”0f1b419d-0a03-4619-b143-340c572d91a5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Asked if Sunak was concerned about disunity in the part, the press secretary replied:

“,”elementId”:”329b9530-0172-4299-906f-dc169a900358″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

He wants everyone going into these local elections taking about the Labour party’s poor record in Birmingham, Wales and London, and that will be the focus of the Conservatives as we go into these important local elections.

\n

“,”elementId”:”20299ea5-ebce-4ece-914c-0d62efcc02a8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The press secretary refused to say whether Sunak had spoken to Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the Commons, about she was being lined up as a unity candidate to replace him, saying she did not want to “get into private discussions between colleagues”

“,”elementId”:”39f87bee-0fce-4038-bf00-353eba2afc56″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The press secretary also refused to say whether Sunak was disappointed that Mordaunt did not issue a public statement denying the reports.

“,”elementId”:”2214615d-d8ec-434b-b1c8-210633f80d8e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

At the Labour post-PMQs briefing, asked about the PM’s attack on Labour-run Birmingham council (see 12.15pm), a spokesperson for Keir Starmer said Tory-run councils were facing similar problems.

“,”elementId”:”145aabe6-29ba-498a-9f35-64677f73eae9″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710942879000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”09.54 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710943406000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”10.03 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710943406000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”10.03 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”10.03″,”title”:”Sunak to urge Tory MPs at 1922 Committee to ‘pull together’ and to attack Labour over its record in Birmingham”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fae4678f08c7a342bba862″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Reform UK has dropped a general election candidate after the exposure of a range of racist comments on her social media feed, including comments calling for the deportation of black British born public figures.

The latest controversy over one of the party’s candidates comes as the director general of the BBC, Tim Davie, clashed at a Commons committee with a Labour MP who said that the broadcaster had been forced into a “grovelling apology” for calling Reform “far-right.” (See 10.54am.)

Reform UK told the Guardian on Wednesday that it had acted to remove Ginny H Ball as its Rutland and Stamford candidate for the general election after the exposure of a range of comments on her social media feed, including comments calling for the deportation of black British born public figures.

“,”elementId”:”bf8215de-1a07-44ba-9594-f874b59ec2f0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

A series of tweets by Ball were highlighted on X on Tuesday night, including one in which her account suggested that Shola Mos-Shogbamimu should be deported.

“,”elementId”:”3edfb3de-85cf-4628-95ef-2168d23fdf23″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

After Paulette Hamilton was elected Birmingham’s first black MP, Ball’s account tweeted “Staggered it is still called The black country …. or perhaps not”?

“,”elementId”:”861e0a04-a11f-4ad3-b172-3d06f0329e81″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

A Reform UK spokesperson said that the party had acted after aspects of her social media were brought to the party’s attention late on Tuesday. Ball’s account on X was protected on Wednesday and her biography on X no longer described her as a Reform UK candidate.

“,”elementId”:”a08747d3-6e35-4396-84f8-e3ce9a9f0256″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710941287000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”09.28 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710941824000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”09.37 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710941824000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”09.37 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”09.37″,”title”:”Reform UK drops general election candidate over racist comments on X”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Ben Quinn”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/11/14/Ben_Quinn.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d7db834a96f161acdbfd6547d3606faa”,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/11/14/Ben_Quinn.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=297a1d09bee05d7004e7a46737ffc547″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fada648f08c7a342bba7c4″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

For all the media chatter about a possible Tory leadership challenge, the majority view in the parliamentary party seems to be that, although they are heading for a massive defeat, there is no evidence a new leader would do much better and so on balance it is best to leave things as they are. The local election results may change that calculation, but it is hard to imagine anything else doing so before May, and that PMQs won’t alter Sunak’s position, for better or worse. He was underwhelming, but no worse than usual.

“,”elementId”:”0e0d48ec-be98-4055-9922-b80644ea74fb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In fact, the whole session was a bit routine. That was the last PMQs for a month, because the Commons rises for the Easter recess on Tuesday and does not return until Monday 15 April, and that may explain why Keir Stamer decided to open with all-encompassing soundbite that summarised Labour’s case well.

“,”elementId”:”51ef299b-696e-422c-999a-532cc545441f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

Violent prisoners released early because the Tories wrecked the criminal justice system, 3,500 small boats arrivals already this year because the Tories lost control of the borders, the NHS struggling to see people because the Tories broke it, millions paying more on their mortgages, a budget that hit pensioners, a £46bn hole in his sums. Why is the prime minister so scared to call an election?

\n

“,”elementId”:”5b263bea-e774-4649-9032-69e7754c6e2f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The cleverest question of the day came from the SNP’s Stephen Flynn, who found a zinger that managed to skewer the Conservative and Labour (the SNP’s main threat in Scotland). He asked Sunak:

“,”elementId”:”0e09654a-9370-4423-8cdd-d7e90a1bd595″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

With his backbenchers looking for a unity candidate to replace him, which of the now numerous born-again Thatcherites on the Labour frontbench does he believe best fits the bill?

\n

“,”elementId”:”8101b99d-dce4-4b19-9147-fa894a1b551a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Even Sunak found this funny.

“,”elementId”:”6598b3a7-b706-43f0-8211-e783d0e71bee”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

As for the Sunak/Starmer exchanges, there were two features of particular interest.

“,”elementId”:”a2147db7-09c1-4868-be00-4991fde6cb70″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

First, Sunak is struggling badly with attack material to use against Starmer. He seems to have given up claiming Labour is committed to a £28bn annual green investment plan (Starmer ditched this earlier this year, but for a bit CCHQ tried to claim it was still a runner), and at various moments Sunak tried Labour not being ready for an election (even though they probably are), Labour not having plans (even they do, or at least as many plans as an opposition party), or Labour wanting to put up taxes (even though they say they don’t). Sunak ended up focusing mostly on the claim that Labour is on the side of the people smugglers, that it is soft on crime, and that Starmer as a lawyer once acted in a human rights case for Hizb ut-Tahrir. Does any of this register with anyone who isn’t already a tribal Tory? It does not feel like it, and Starmer’s retort about this being “nonsense” seemed apposite.

“,”elementId”:”3558b579-66d0-47d1-84de-df91d35ed80c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Second, this exchange provided yet further evidence that the Rwanda policy, which was supposed to be an election-winning wedge issue for the Tories, increasingly resembles a policy albatross. Starmer won the exchanges on this quite comfortably and the Labour arguments seem to be landing with voters. I covered some for the Savanta polling in the Telegraph earlier (see 9.36am and 9.46am), but some of the most striking figures were those showing that since January there has been a sharp drop in the number of people who think the policy will cut small boat numbers. Even Tory supporters are increasingly gloomy about its prospects.

“,”elementId”:”32f5d1ec-a234-43f7-8b71-b908ed96f0c0″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”1618″,”width”:”1086″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/1086.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”1618″,”width”:”1086″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1000″,”width”:”671″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/671.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”500″,”width”:”336″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/336.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”bd34f08d-7d28-45b3-97b5-85323d383929″,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6782568d6a174ab1eae308fe5a50f92e”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ccdae2cec21e7a8b9dfdf4bb5caa6394″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=94c9f1bc7fc073404543c87260e79829″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=dc165f749c14dbf385a7269e9adb8dac”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9f126213c557e0dbda1fc710ddea3600″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9296c4561f2f0e12d8fc418abb70437f”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d2f388b15b8717802f171a9c449e171d”,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9d43b32d4b978c77d5eb24f4d979e06d”,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cd1af4cbcdf5ce9d46a9d877b2daa726″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3ef5ea5edf9934a60eb06141dfead65b”,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b74e51ace26e724c4c48791b39a86cec”,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=93f67edd2dd9bfba88d1cd5e3131bd9a”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2202d16ed839485723107a0efc883ed5″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8f08a6006377f573a12a92e0556626f0″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6782568d6a174ab1eae308fe5a50f92e”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ccdae2cec21e7a8b9dfdf4bb5caa6394″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=94c9f1bc7fc073404543c87260e79829″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=dc165f749c14dbf385a7269e9adb8dac”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9f126213c557e0dbda1fc710ddea3600″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9296c4561f2f0e12d8fc418abb70437f”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=10b049c8348bd5a2d93f8c691264e66f”,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=70b6c398ae3b70781e1f96917bfad57b”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1438d3547b0392f7f333ce7abbba3faa”,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6f30a8079b44cc16cb7c57f387b44e33″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6782568d6a174ab1eae308fe5a50f92e”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ccdae2cec21e7a8b9dfdf4bb5caa6394″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=94c9f1bc7fc073404543c87260e79829″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=dc165f749c14dbf385a7269e9adb8dac”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9f126213c557e0dbda1fc710ddea3600″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9296c4561f2f0e12d8fc418abb70437f”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6782568d6a174ab1eae308fe5a50f92e”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ccdae2cec21e7a8b9dfdf4bb5caa6394″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=94c9f1bc7fc073404543c87260e79829″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=dc165f749c14dbf385a7269e9adb8dac”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9f126213c557e0dbda1fc710ddea3600″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9296c4561f2f0e12d8fc418abb70437f”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ff893a6e5df038e96b506778f9596b39″,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4f47b257388bd51dba8757bd11d80b97″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2f8d867d4ab444abb194c81420afb405″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3e45eda584c5de2e87bd005ec6cc3392″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=94346cefaff1f44de20f8295a009a038″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5dd47abfe4717325bc8ce8fde4044f88″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a1824e9340d1cbb0c6f81d476df2ff1b”,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0672e8973c9254aef3dd4f68e75a700f”,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=206d294f86af5de0ea3d04d32d548de2″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=525153ea1c446ed29c22e543d3a61c98″,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c350571de316947bb53d11b642be2bf6″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=61c0206753844b37936635511f18fffe”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=60a45d94963a01b5b0ebef39038cc5e1″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5335a6332105c0e9760a6a4eb9a1050028a209bc/0_0_1086_1618/master/1086.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e0577f3d12d2646dcefe68fc1582e2e2″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Savanta polling”,”caption”:”Savanta polling”,”credit”:”Photograph: Telegraph”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710938724000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.45 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710940776000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”09.19 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710940777000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”09.19 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”09.19″,”title”:”PMQs – snap verdict”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fad59e8f08f662b3cc0711″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Liam Fox (Con) says tomorrow is world’s Down’s syndrome day. He says abortion for Down’s syndrome is allowed up to 40 weeks. Will the PM back changing this so that it is in line with the normal abortion limit?

“,”elementId”:”58eabd8b-2bcc-4325-a3f8-6a3bca4e1599″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Sunak says when parliament legislated for abortion, it said doctors should be able to make decisions in difficult cases. He says votes on these issues have always been conscience matters.

“,”elementId”:”3e901fca-e9ec-4085-9e8f-2d65da459466″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

UPDATE: Fox said:

“,”elementId”:”a977122a-b421-4c31-a857-74aa5d9103a7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

While the time limit on abortion in the UK is 24 weeks’ gestation, for Down’s syndrome, due to an anomaly in the law, it is 40 weeks up to full term, something that many members may not understand.

\n

With cross-party support I will be tabling an amendment to the criminal justice bill to equalise the time limit in line with our disability and equality legislation.

\n

Surely we cannot accept in the 21st century that people with Down’s syndrome are second-class citizens in our country.

\n

Will the prime minister support the change?

\n

“,”elementId”:”28970b1b-3519-4d62-89a8-9b883f3ca605″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

And Sunak replied:

“,”elementId”:”d8b8cd97-456b-4d94-acb7-2e21de9f80fe”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

As he knows, when the grounds for abortion were amended, parliament agreed that doctors were best placed to make those difficult decisions with women and their families.

\n

Also, as he knows, it has been longstanding convention that it would be for parliament to decide whether to make any changes to the law on abortion and these issues have always been treated as an individual matter of conscience.

\n

“,”elementId”:”76e60a83-ee0f-422b-b43e-3aec2e28da7d”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710937502000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.25 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710944031000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”10.13 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710937745000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.29 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.29″,”title”:”Sunak urged to back move to ‘equalise’ abortion time limit for Down’s syndrome”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fad4de8f08f662b3cc0704″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Mark Hendrick (Lab) asks if the PM agrees with the EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, who said Israel was using starvation as a tool of war.

“,”elementId”:”75a69979-2dc0-42bb-b7a6-df72c5a6bd83″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Sunak says the status quo is unsustainable, and that Israel should be allowing more aid into Gaza.

“,”elementId”:”7ce07c49-c5c9-4ff6-a484-622f0b4fde77″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

UPDATE: Hendrick said:

“,”elementId”:”9adc7345-690e-40b6-b4e7-c51e432c6046″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

The EU foreign policy high representative Josep Borrell said on Monday that Israel is provoking famine in Gaza and using starvation as a weapon of war. President Biden has said that there should be no attack on Rafah without a plan to ensure the safety of more than one million people living there.

\n

Does the prime minister agree with High Representative Borrell and President Biden? Because I do and we need a ceasefire. If he does agree, would he say so here in the chamber today?

\n

“,”elementId”:”3cb1f7f2-d16f-4f60-8e32-64e5df4d87c2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

And Sunak replied:

“,”elementId”:”bab0821e-ec39-4f23-87b2-85aebe34802e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

The findings from the IPC [Integrated Food Security Phase Classification] are gravely concerning. It is clear that the status quo is unsustainable and we need urgent action now to avoid a famine.

\n

The UK is doing all it can to get more aid in and prevent a worsening crisis: 2,000 tonnes of UK-funded food aid, including flour and hot meals, is being distributed by the World Food Programme in Gaza today as we speak, enough to feed more than 275,000 people, and we will continue to do everything we can to alleviate the suffering that people are experiencing.

\n

“,”elementId”:”db8086e6-db19-490b-b00b-cabf971ad52b”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710937310000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.21 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710942568000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”09.49 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710937499000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.24 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.24″,”title”:”Sunak says situation in Gaza ‘unsustainable’ and urgent action needed to avoid famine”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fad11f8f0894ceb2fe4b23″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Starmer says Sunak does not even personally believe in the Rwanda policy. How has he spent £600m on a gimmick to deport just 300 people?

“,”elementId”:”4e9b5fb4-980c-4c0d-a1e5-cc453cc26759″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Sunak says Labour voted against his plan. He say 900 criminals have been arrested thanks to the government’s new people smuggling laws. If Starmer was not Labour leader, he would want to be their lawyer.

“,”elementId”:”77552d23-9885-48eb-9967-a04dd562b92f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

UPDATE: Starmer said:

“,”elementId”:”4ef4b4b3-b2bd-4954-87ae-ddd9b172f2ab”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

The Rwanda gimmick is going to cost the taxpayer £2m for every one of the 300 people that they deport.

\n

I know the prime minister likes to spend a lot on jet-setting but that’s some plane ticket. It’s the cost of Tory chaos and it’s working people who are paying the price.

\n

We know the prime minister himself thought it wouldn’t work. If the people selling this gimmick don’t believe in it, why should the country?

\n

“,”elementId”:”f9cb0576-2044-4e48-b4bb-737db15ef657″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Starmer was referring to this leak about Sunak’s doubts about the Rwanda policy.

“,”elementId”:”5df6b269-806b-495b-9100-684d4cb53fce”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Rishi Sunak had doubts about Rwanda scheme as chancellor, report says”,”elementId”:”14ea51e0-967a-46ae-ad20-5692add6e35e”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/06/rishi-sunak-had-doubts-about-rwanda-scheme-as-chancellor-reports-say”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710936351000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.05 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710942290000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”09.44 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710936445000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.07 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.07″,”title”:”Starmer claims Sunak personally didn’t believe Rwanda deportation policy would work”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65facd368f0894ceb2fe4aeb”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

PMQs starts in 10 minutes.

“,”elementId”:”f0c2c51f-a013-4ce8-8c77-7d69fd722933″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”2886″,”width”:”4500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/4500.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”2886″,”width”:”4500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1283″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”641″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”321″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”90″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/140.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”58e8c180-8eb0-4579-8e62-d4d7e25bbc91″,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=811018f13b2a1e3e293317ddec547ae3″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d280720e7066eac50300cfd85c76a243″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b7f461e3b30b99f272885946c3e0bcc5″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f3b816bda2ec502e0a0485382c406ddb”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7f6bbc01d6602e485fd2f3f91a853e81″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=054364b81c5e0b475b57b342036967e7″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=347dd6f42336ad718ea6eaa5e634f8d0″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e95c3cb5495a5fa28ccfc5ef7c176b53″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ba384381cca63930d191491a26aec30f”,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=67fc667fe2a7a4459107cd3ff5a88211″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4003a0ffddb838fd95b67254119385e5″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=18b50fa95e7500b18cc450ea1efcd070″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=40ce53de207f9d979cf61e9462c74640″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=aaa5028b7312776f93112a207fbe40ce”,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=811018f13b2a1e3e293317ddec547ae3″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d280720e7066eac50300cfd85c76a243″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b7f461e3b30b99f272885946c3e0bcc5″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f3b816bda2ec502e0a0485382c406ddb”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7f6bbc01d6602e485fd2f3f91a853e81″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=054364b81c5e0b475b57b342036967e7″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=25de3d8c7ab05bffec5dca357e8a0639″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b5536c82089375f8c07ee454baed8fe8″,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=93df282b3fd89b94377cd0262dc92e8b”,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d5fbd36db6080117cd9a6bd69ab3de1f”,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=811018f13b2a1e3e293317ddec547ae3″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d280720e7066eac50300cfd85c76a243″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b7f461e3b30b99f272885946c3e0bcc5″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f3b816bda2ec502e0a0485382c406ddb”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7f6bbc01d6602e485fd2f3f91a853e81″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=054364b81c5e0b475b57b342036967e7″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=811018f13b2a1e3e293317ddec547ae3″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d280720e7066eac50300cfd85c76a243″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b7f461e3b30b99f272885946c3e0bcc5″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f3b816bda2ec502e0a0485382c406ddb”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7f6bbc01d6602e485fd2f3f91a853e81″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=054364b81c5e0b475b57b342036967e7″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4f76f137f452a7875e1d4172f4b377ad”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=78401800f50195fe94b1ac9bab2000d5″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=51110c3b92b317efbc57f9b5da41e06b”,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7afdfa837387cd508756cd671e5045d9″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fed303c0dc28c477527fb83045591506″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6c4fde84a36141cf71c5ceb5ef704540″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=942e4659538f915f568461467dca602f”,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=31f4706e35ac0dfecd118c13d5ef52bd”,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=395ab63f1c787f796625e449a69fc734″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=019c05c0e26cc1be27bbd999aafb742e”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=30dedfd04ee22b7ddb64ba7ef95d1345″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=375d0b8d4f4e2beab25e10484526837d”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3aaac54a81921c021514d44a19f6e874″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/709cc519858c801d20aae31751818ca5c1d0b3c9/0_0_4500_2886/master/4500.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0504856b043de474b6444362677dbcc3″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Rishi Sunak leaving No 10 ahead of PMQs.”,”caption”:”Rishi Sunak leaving No 10 ahead of PMQs.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Anthony Harvey/REX/Shutterstock”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710935350000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.49 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710935409000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.50 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710935409000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.50 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.50″,”title”:”Rishi Sunak faces Keir Starmer at PMQs”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fac7448f0894ceb2fe4a9d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

After PMQs, at about 12.30pm, a Treasury minister will be in the Commons to answer an urgent question tabled by Labour about the decision announced by HM Revenue and Customs yesterday to close its tax self-assessment helpline for six months a year.

“,”elementId”:”7b37f6d3-fe58-46f9-a58c-e499d4273690″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The decision caused an outcry. But the minister responding to the UQ should have an easy time because this morning HMRC has announced that it has changed its mind.

“,”elementId”:”584cf980-e5ee-423d-b084-4c44a4732ff0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In a letter to the Commons Treasury committee, Jim Harra, the HMRC chief executive, said:

“,”elementId”:”a37c10f9-adee-40ba-89c8-8d431aa5a7a0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

Following feedback from concerned stakeholders, the changes to the self-assessment, VAT and PAYE helplines that were announced will be halted while HMRC engages with stakeholders about how to ensure all taxpayers’ needs are met as HMRC shifts more people to online self-service in the longer term.

\n

Our helpline and webchat advisers will always be there for those taxpayers who need support because they are vulnerable, digitally excluded or have complex affairs.

\n

“,”elementId”:”ffab0433-e1fc-4060-95ac-b030766a53d6″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710933828000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”07.23 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710934243000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.30 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710934244000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.30 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.30″,”title”:”HMRC halts plan to close tax self-assessment helpline”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fabb8b8f086c822f2141d3″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Tim Davie, the director general of the BBC, has defended the corporation’s decision to remove a line in a report describing Reform UK as “far-right”.

“,”elementId”:”2b048261-b76c-4bcf-b98a-e82fc82a0823″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Speaking at the Commons culture committee this morning, Davie said: “I don’t think far-right is the right label, full stop.”

“,”elementId”:”cae63acc-a510-4e93-975e-d932520c0d5b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

But he insisted that the BBC had not caved in to pressure from Reform UK. He said the report published at the weekend using that description did attract “a few complaints”, but he said the BBC decided for itself whether the wording was fair, and decided to remove it.

“,”elementId”:”40521075-5894-4907-ac62-ead769645dac”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Davie was responding to a question from Labour’s Rupa Huq, who asked about a report yesterday saying that the BBC had apologised to Reform UK for using the term.

“,”elementId”:”431fce6d-2108-4c0c-b463-68690ffc0fa5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Davie said:

“,”elementId”:”2aa7a4c6-a269-41a0-a5c6-3643bceabbaf”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

My personal view is you’ve got to be a bit careful with far-left, far-right, with parties that carry quite a lot of support.

\n

“,”elementId”:”44eb0543-16b6-4cfa-9029-f1e1731bf24d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

When Huq said some of the statements from Reform UK candidates were “quite alarming”, and asked Davie where he would place them on the spectrum, Davie replied:

“,”elementId”:”b80422be-d56a-428c-8604-547cb46d3a46″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

With respect, if we judged our labels by individual quotes from members, I think that would be an interesting strategy in itself.

\n

They are clearly a party on the right of politics. I just think, if you get into far-left or far-right descriptors, and you behave fairly in this, you end up in the wrong territory.

\n

“,”elementId”:”e3d8e53e-f9bd-497c-8d1d-fa39567fd2e9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Asked later how he would describe Reform UK, represented by Lee Anderson in the Commons, and the Workers Party of Britain, represented by George Galloway, Davie said he would just say they were respectively they were on the right and the left of politics.

“,”elementId”:”f93a0f4e-5de8-4b85-a68f-ef6df79832a2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Yesterday Richard Tice, the Reform UK leader, said it was defamatory to call his party far-right and he suggested he might take legal action to stop other news organisations using the labels. But in fact, under English defamation law, political parties cannot sue for libel.

“,”elementId”:”36c29436-f513-4b58-8043-f012c6db0ae5″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”694″,”width”:”1248″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/1248.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”694″,”width”:”1248″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”556″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/1000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”278″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/500.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”78″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/140.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”ca795630-02cd-4134-b0c8-641523de14fc”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5726ec911c2e97238590eaf87cbbb633″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d1aa17343616bfacdb405592af9f88a6″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=05621eed8cf737c0e97a60e5ed162623″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2f3430bb4c898a64a5b8c4944d80e19e”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4ecfb933e763c353c2a2411114481d67″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=39b4495f6f75ba678def0a7a8b9038b9″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5b56cd0dedfe3423c029c208d02a0ad9″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ead46c6adba9cac17b2f2b2045bcf366″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f229fee1ef80c801d879f85079cdd8a9″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f2427e2c39b8b8537da5ea74d19dae7a”,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9739f0043dcb7d8bea8add6bb9e19152″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1e6f2799b0828a1b7a900d8bc4a1999a”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0d4ee307363c34e1b0b03b4d0f85b440″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=51af026d117a2b6571e637842dc7476e”,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5726ec911c2e97238590eaf87cbbb633″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d1aa17343616bfacdb405592af9f88a6″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=05621eed8cf737c0e97a60e5ed162623″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2f3430bb4c898a64a5b8c4944d80e19e”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4ecfb933e763c353c2a2411114481d67″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=39b4495f6f75ba678def0a7a8b9038b9″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d063c7be6be015644ae7050ac5d32628″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2e1127c198f7f49ae3549f88a478c23e”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8b60631519570cabbd078c16309cbf01″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=43621534adfcfcb4f3869a7310374ee3″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5726ec911c2e97238590eaf87cbbb633″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d1aa17343616bfacdb405592af9f88a6″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=05621eed8cf737c0e97a60e5ed162623″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2f3430bb4c898a64a5b8c4944d80e19e”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4ecfb933e763c353c2a2411114481d67″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=39b4495f6f75ba678def0a7a8b9038b9″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5726ec911c2e97238590eaf87cbbb633″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d1aa17343616bfacdb405592af9f88a6″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=05621eed8cf737c0e97a60e5ed162623″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2f3430bb4c898a64a5b8c4944d80e19e”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4ecfb933e763c353c2a2411114481d67″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=39b4495f6f75ba678def0a7a8b9038b9″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ba7ae66b166e32266ebc6ce574ac9cd9″,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=46a78c958ca9221a437cb48599a1f9a3″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c2e54c20ef801f4023f6b3da88d223e6″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fb4b26ae7a9556a6b0deee061fb1f37f”,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2a232eb35ac55db9fd0abbf5ae92bef6″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=77a880723fa81f7a0952737e381f0bbf”,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6c5e60e9c6c329fb91fa47292e91f03f”,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ed534f30bfb2936f5cea23365964c302″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fd63042c8ce932effc8c43f41e36f694″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b29ac207005671a6edf3163b70299335″,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8bacccc114287db4ad94498b616945be”,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3b45edd07a6e64c7344d5210ba30d22f”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1dc15fcad3ee8db09f8299bcd53e1695″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cb34c39712c8c9d2e41144df8487df93811df46/0_0_1248_694/master/1248.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6faa3110b5455e6bcf1367cbfe1c048b”,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Tim Davie giving evidence to Commons culture committee”,”caption”:”Tim Davie giving evidence to Commons culture committee”,”credit”:”Photograph: Parliament TV”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710930827000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”06.33 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710932073000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”06.54 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710932073000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”06.54 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”06.54″,”title”:”BBC’s director general Tim Davie defends decision to remove line from report calling Reform UK ‘far-right'”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fab3378f086c822f214199″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Businesses are implementing equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives without an evidence base, a new report says. As PA Media reports, the independent Inclusion at Work Panel, appointed by business secretary Kemi Badenoch, spoke to more than 100 people in 55 organisations and reviewed the latest research into how employers make decisions about EDI policies and practices in the UK. PA says:

“,”elementId”:”67b8b6bd-d236-482b-bb2c-6b54a644ba0d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

In a report published today, the panel said many employers want “do to the right thing”, but are introducing measures without the support of evidence.

\n

It said that some of those they spoke to cited examples of what “good” practices might look like, but the collection of robust data was “rare” and measurable impact was “scarce”.

\n

“The evidence suggests that many organisations’ D&I approaches are driven by pre-existing notions, assumptions, and pressures rather than empirical evidence,” the report noted.

\n

It highlighted cases where D&I initiatives were found to be counterproductive or unlawful, such as a Ministry of Defence review finding that pressure on the Royal Air Force (RAF) to meet targets for women and ethnic minorities led to unlawful positive discrimination against white men.

\n

It also found that employers face barriers such as a lack of accessible data on EDI measures as well as broad or subjective definitions of terms like “inclusion”.

\n

“,”elementId”:”b0670f77-9676-4e5b-b946-139c664f2df8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In a statement on the report, Badenoch said:

“,”elementId”:”13a06c7e-179c-4d42-9745-aa441f772c5c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

Discussions around diversity and inclusion at work are often bogged down by performative gestures. This government wants to ensure employers are doing EDI [equality, diversity and inclusion] in a way that doesn’t undermine meritocracy and aligns with our equality laws.

\n

This report by the Inclusion at Work Panel is a powerful new tool for organisations. It lays out the evidence for good and bad EDI practice and can empower employers to make fairer, more effective EDI decisions that represent proper value for money.

\n

I sincerely hope that businesses will take time to read this report so that it becomes an important step in helping them achieve more inclusive and productive workplaces.

\n

“,”elementId”:”1007ed2e-f393-4e25-977e-e6ff4c9f6ca1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The Telegraph has splashed on the story.

“,”elementId”:”04641dfe-99e0-4b2e-8cf5-be3ca6d1c3ec”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”source”:”Twitter”,”id”:”1770213832293503391″,”elementId”:”e3f7cc28-5b88-4475-b8fc-cd6401f4b194″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/sgfmann/status/1770213832293503391″,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”html”:”

The Daily Telegraph: Diversity drive has backfired,
warns Badenoch #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/rX2I15XnGB

— George Mann (@sgfmann) March 19, 2024

\n\n”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710928695000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.58 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710929672000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”06.14 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710929672000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”06.14 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”06.14″,”title”:”Badenoch says report shows firms wasting time on ‘performative’ and ineffective equality and diversity measures”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fab2a78f08aeac39b674a9″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The government has brought adult social care in England “to its knees” with years of uneven funding and a “woefully insufficient plan” to fill thousands of staff vacancies, MPs have said in a damning report on a system that provides long-term care for 835,000 people. Robert Booth and Emily Dugan have the story here.

“,”elementId”:”893a91b9-ee8a-463d-98b8-664656939925″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Government has brought adult social care in England ‘to its knees’, MPs say”,”elementId”:”d4cbda76-bd4d-427d-876a-7103d50594de”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/20/government-has-brought-adult-social-care-in-england-to-its-knees-mps-say”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

And here is the report from the public accounts committee.

“,”elementId”:”370335fc-ef6d-4ffa-90a0-34cebd0fb28a”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710928551000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.55 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710928651000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.57 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710928651000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.57 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.57″,”title”:”Government has brought adult social care in England ‘to its knees’, MPs say”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fab0d18f08986efb4588b0″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Boris Johnson did not seek permission from the post-ministerial jobs watchdog before taking a role as a consultant to a hedge fund, on whose behalf he met the Venezuelan president, Henry Dyer reports.

“,”elementId”:”75595c39-664a-4cd8-b2b8-05f2e6385fb4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Boris Johnson did not consult watchdog over paid role with hedge fund”,”elementId”:”7aa8b927-756b-4f0d-8616-3237ec042892″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/20/boris-johnson-uk-talks-venezuela-president-hedge-fund-nicolas-maduro”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710928081000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.48 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710928117000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.48 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710928117000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.48 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.48″,”title”:”Boris Johnson did not consult watchdog over paid role with hedge fund”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”},{“id”:”65fa9c7f8f089bc1b3fe9612″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Good morning. Hands up who’s heard of John Robert Clynes? He was leader of the Labour party at the time of the 1922 general election and, according to a new history of Labour in opposition, he is the only leader of the party ever to be defeated in a leadership challenge. That is extraordinary when you consider that, at least since the 1970s, Conservative leaders normally haven’t resigned at a time of their own choosing and, even if they have not all been forced out after a leadership contest, at least the last three quit because they knew defeat after a leadership challenge was otherwise inevitable.

“,”elementId”:”569e990b-62a0-43f4-aff3-3328418b2c82″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

(Why the difference? Short answer, Labour doesn’t have a 1922 Committee, and its leadership rules are different.)

“,”elementId”:”6396cbc6-abfe-468a-8f93-0ac5c6cece06″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

All of this helps to explain why today is a tricky day for Rishi Sunak; as Conservative party leader, you are permanently on probation, and today he has a tricky “performance appraisal” with his employer – the aforementioned 1922 Committee. He has also got PMQs, another form of performance review.

“,”elementId”:”2f7997fc-c24f-4cef-9169-c7a4f14ceb83″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Last week Lee Anderson defected, and No 10 did not handle the Frank Hester controversy well, leading to leadership challenge chatter reaching perhaps the 7 out of 10 point on the crisis index. But it is not all bad news; today inflation has hit a two and a half year low.

“,”elementId”:”48980299-1c8a-4366-b96a-a7979ccf546f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”UK inflation falls to 3.4% in February to lowest level for two and a half years”,”elementId”:”098e59f4-5bc1-4ae3-ad89-61bbd3fc1280″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/20/uk-inflation-rate-falls-february-consumer-prices-index-cpi”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Ahead of his meeting with the 1922 Committee, Sunak has published an article in the Daily Mail restating his commitment to abolish employees’ national insurance. He says:

“,”elementId”:”c9d2ad0d-2672-43b2-bf62-9be06373aaf4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

We are well and truly on the path to sustainably lower taxes.

\n

We started that journey in the autumn with a 2p cut to national insurance worth £450 for the average worker on £35,400 a year. And the Chancellor cut taxes again in this month’s budget which now means that 27 million employees will get an average tax cut of around £900 a year.

\n

We did this because I believe in the fundamental dignity of work. When people work hard, they should be rewarded, not taxed more. It’s not right that income from work is taxed twice, while all other income is only taxed once. This is why I have cut national insurance, the second tax on work, by a third in the last six months. And it is why my long-term plan, ultimately, is to cut it to zero.

\n

“,”elementId”:”14827aa7-1ab7-4783-a131-00347b44d7c4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

But there is bad news for Sunak in the Daily Telegraph. It has published polling from Savanta suggesting more than a third of Conservative voters (37%) want someone else to lead the party into the next election. Only 45% say Sunak should stay in post until polling day.

“,”elementId”:”e00acfcc-7ddd-4dd0-ab5c-d236b4dfa67e”},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”704″,”width”:”1068″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/1068.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”704″,”width”:”1068″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”659″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/1000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”330″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/500.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”92″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/140.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”a79a4acf-7c9a-4207-80cc-1e66569dc64e”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fd7e5fe85505e4b23e8a56ccc8fa66e1″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5d90962df3b5cf08987917273ecf8fbd”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=712e49dc13ad247f36250b76ec2a9842″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5af5c62eb3b88bc3c9b041ef39c65b00″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=98127664ff143d30c96af7ab36377961″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=243e6e7ba286847df4218a42aec37efe”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=003c1d43aaa367eddde9bee56931158e”,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0de8c1bae068424022f3f828bf2ff626″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d1a8b96e7a5451a190e56ca2a8db935e”,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b0616324a4733d843b0532adc5cccf8f”,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a2ff03ae26c5b6907e20d2136a94d975″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2554251a5fef58f60b35d1177bc6a2dc”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=46e68cd53e60cf3ab8dc8ae03f8448f7″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c1c18c4dbeedcd7f5a7d73bf8d079518″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fd7e5fe85505e4b23e8a56ccc8fa66e1″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5d90962df3b5cf08987917273ecf8fbd”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=712e49dc13ad247f36250b76ec2a9842″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5af5c62eb3b88bc3c9b041ef39c65b00″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=98127664ff143d30c96af7ab36377961″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=243e6e7ba286847df4218a42aec37efe”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2363cc579739a8dbf350a369a406524b”,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b33f803cf84e68cdea569848dde6876d”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8ebbb5f56c5be1ba2f1609db74e03c83″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ae4106d87c2c750aff046a39d5fd8e86″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fd7e5fe85505e4b23e8a56ccc8fa66e1″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5d90962df3b5cf08987917273ecf8fbd”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=712e49dc13ad247f36250b76ec2a9842″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5af5c62eb3b88bc3c9b041ef39c65b00″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=98127664ff143d30c96af7ab36377961″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=243e6e7ba286847df4218a42aec37efe”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fd7e5fe85505e4b23e8a56ccc8fa66e1″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5d90962df3b5cf08987917273ecf8fbd”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=712e49dc13ad247f36250b76ec2a9842″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5af5c62eb3b88bc3c9b041ef39c65b00″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=98127664ff143d30c96af7ab36377961″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=243e6e7ba286847df4218a42aec37efe”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2880eb1a57d9d95c66ce83482833064e”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9fabe6db7b40c504852f45b3c3c70460″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0857ac263e4882ea5a8149ca933b5e97″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6cad49cfcc7b6c65dd4853ab803b257e”,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=825ae8dbabfa6798d324424bebc9fbf3″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=95fa2b910ffbcd5719464322e395b425″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e39a0c39ad7a1c6fb51808b834c12507″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4c1f28251b0ff85fb72dfbfadd389932″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=511978ca4a83a0a72707301d4930f868″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=09aa785c6674fc3198c1969b030040ba”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3ad8a34c80fc0b6d46d22a3a3ccdbced”,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=66774e60bcb416cb14a76e4e752cfb28″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ba0f6d70d9a535e3deaabba48b0ff914″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/737101915fe7ecd73fc0a1b6cc916ead915f2a97/0_0_1068_704/master/1068.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=49b083c641408b971099a4a398d35130″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Savanta polling”,”caption”:”Savanta polling”,”credit”:”Photograph: Telegraph”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The book about Labour in opposition is Keeping the Red Flag Flying: The Labour Party in Opposition since 1922 by Mark Garnett, Gavin Hyman, and Richard Johnson. It’s out next month and, on the basis of what I’ve read so far, it’s a very good read if you’re interested in Labour history.

“,”elementId”:”73cb289b-2a58-45c7-900e-720cc05d82d0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here is the agenda for the day.

“,”elementId”:”33f45b01-290e-40cd-8800-b43a79e91d2b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

9.40am: Ed Davey launches the Lib Dems’ local election campaign.

“,”elementId”:”6eee0bb6-1b29-4544-9df9-807f36c194b9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

10am: Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, gives evidence to the Commons culture committee.

“,”elementId”:”e48fb4df-1730-4ba3-9a3a-a12237f8dba8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

12pm: Rishi Sunak faces Keir Starmer at PMQs.

“,”elementId”:”a7072bde-91cc-45d9-9278-afc3e65b96bc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Afternoon: Vaughan Gething is due to be nominated in the Senedd at Wales’s next first minister.

“,”elementId”:”6b9de683-63f6-4068-b4c4-c68fb346d537″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Afternoon: Peers vote on amendments to the safety of Rwanda (asylum and immigration) bill that would reintroduce safeguards originally passsed by the House of Lords, but removed from the bill by MPs on Monday.

“,”elementId”:”286a7040-6998-43a1-bf19-d37d5f477b61″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

5pm: Sunak addresses Conservative MPs at the 1922 Committee.

“,”elementId”:”1ab7e610-22b5-4367-8a39-1b410f29c58f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

If you want to contact me, do use the “send us a message” feature. You’ll see it just below the byline – on the left of the screen, if you are reading on a laptop or a desktop. This is for people who want to message me directly. I find it very useful when people message to point out errors (even typos – no mistake is too small to correct). Often I find your questions very interesting, too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either in the comments below the line; privately (if you leave an email address and that seems more appropriate); or in the main blog, if I think it is a topic of wide interest.

“,”elementId”:”04c2f866-b3c0-49aa-8207-f22ed9024cd8″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1710927399000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.36 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1710929781000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”06.16 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1710927399000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.36 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.36″,”title”:”Rishi Sunak to face PMQs and 1922 Committee as poll suggests third of Tory voters want different leader”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Wed 20 Mar 2024 14.50 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Wed 20 Mar 2024 05.36 EDT”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

Key events

Andrew Sparrow

Aubrey Allegretti from the Times has more from Rishi Sunak’s meeting with the 1922 Committee.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the PM

As @SamCoatesSky picked up on, Jake Berry challenged the PM over briefings against him over the weekend that the former party chair alleged came from No 10.

Berry said he was loyal and had not put in a letter of no confident but demanded…

— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the PM

As @SamCoatesSky picked up on, Jake Berry challenged the PM over briefings against him over the weekend that the former party chair alleged came from No 10.

Berry said he was loyal and had not put in a letter of no confident but demanded…

— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) March 20, 2024

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the PM

As @SamCoatesSky picked up on, Jake Berry challenged the PM over briefings against him over the weekend that the former party chair alleged came from No 10.

Berry said he was loyal and had not put in a letter of no confident but demanded…

That’s all from me for tonight. Nadeem Badshah is taking over now.

Sunak tells Tory MPs they face ‘fight of our lives’ and urges them not to turn on each other

According to Katy Balls from the Spectator, Rishi Sunak told Tory MPs at the 1922 Committee:

We are in the fight of our lives.

This battle will define us, when the going got tough, when the polls were against us did we dig deep and fight or did we turn in on ourselves?’

🚨 Sunak to Tory MPs tonight:

‘We are in the fight of our lives.

This battle will define us, when the going got tough, when the polls were against us did we dig deep and fight or did we turn in on ourselves?’

— Katy Balls (@katyballs) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

🚨 Sunak to Tory MPs tonight:

‘We are in the fight of our lives.

This battle will define us, when the going got tough, when the polls were against us did we dig deep and fight or did we turn in on ourselves?’

— Katy Balls (@katyballs) March 20, 2024

John Crace thinks he knows the answer.

Turn in on ourselves! https://t.co/SfJwMJS4Xm

— John Crace (@JohnJCrace) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

Ken Clarke, the Tory former chancellor who has been a strong opponent of the Rwanda bill (despite originally supporting the Rwanda policy), is the only Conservative who has voted with the opposition tonight. He voted against the government on amendment B1 (see 5.45pm) and amendment B2 (see 6.02pm).

Peers are now debating three more amendments to the Rwanda bill.

One, E1, tabled by Labour’s Ruth Lister, would say that age assessments tests on unaccompanied children should be carried out by local authorities, applying the balance of probabilities burden of proof.

Another, G1, tabled by Lady Butler-Sloss, a former lord justice of appeal, would exempt victims of modern slavery from deportation to Rwanda.

And the third, H1, tabled by Des Browne, a Labour former defence secretary, would exempt people from deportation if they have assisted British troops.

The government is opposing all three amendments.

Government suffers fourth Rwanda bill defeat, with peers voting to say Rwanda can be ruled unsafe for some refugees

The government lost the fourth vote too, by 263 votes to 233 – a majority of 30.

This means amendment D1 passes, saying ministers or immigrations officials should have the power under the bill to say that Rwanda is not a safe country for a particular person, or group of people.

That is the smallest opposition majority tonight.

In the Lords peers are now voting on amendment D1 – an amendment tabled by Labour’s Shami Chakrabarti that would allow ministers or immigrations officials to say that Rwanda is not a safe country for a particular person, or group of people.

Government suffers third defeat in Lords on Rwanda bill

The government has lost the third Rwanda vote in the Lords. Amendment B2 (see 5.52pm) was passed by 276 votes to 226 – a majority of 50.

This says that it will be up to the independent monitoring committee to say when the Rwanda treaty has been implemented. Peers have already passed an amendment saying, until the treaty has been implemented, deportation flights cannot start.

Rishi Sunak seemed to make a reasonably good impression at the 1922 Committee, according to journalists who have been speaking to Tory MPs who heard him.

From the Times’ Aubrey Allegretti

Lots of frontbenchers have been positive about Sunak’s performance so far. But a backbencher says: “Pep talk fine. Rest very flat but will get him through to 2 May.”

— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

Lots of frontbenchers have been positive about Sunak’s performance so far. But a backbencher says: “Pep talk fine. Rest very flat but will get him through to 2 May.”

— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) March 20, 2024

Lots of frontbenchers have been positive about Sunak’s performance so far. But a backbencher says: “Pep talk fine. Rest very flat but will get him through to 2 May.”

Lots of Sunak loyalists asking questions.

“Everyone speaking said the minority causing trouble just need to shut the fuck up,” was one MP’s pithy explanation.

Liam Fox stood up and pointed out to colleagues that no Tory elected in 1997 went on to be PM. Ie that anyone thinking an electoral defeat soon would help their own personal leadership ambitions should be very careful.

Someone jokingly raised a point of order and Theresa May pointed out she was returned in 1997.

Cue gushing tributes from the PM to May…

From Newsnight’s Nicholas Watt

Very positive response from Tory MPs as they leave 1922 after Rishi Sunak appearance. “Brilliant”. “He pulled it round”

— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

Very positive response from Tory MPs as they leave 1922 after Rishi Sunak appearance. “Brilliant”. “He pulled it round”

— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) March 20, 2024

Very positive response from Tory MPs as they leave 1922 after Rishi Sunak appearance. “Brilliant”. “He pulled it round”

From Bloomberg’s Kitty Donaldson

NEW via @PronouncedAlva & me

Rishi Sunak told the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories that the “small number” of rebels in his party were making him “angry”

Sunak described as “fired up” by witnesses

— Kitty Donaldson (@kitty_donaldson) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

NEW via @PronouncedAlva & me

Rishi Sunak told the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories that the “small number” of rebels in his party were making him “angry”

Sunak described as “fired up” by witnesses

— Kitty Donaldson (@kitty_donaldson) March 20, 2024

Rishi Sunak told the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories that the “small number” of rebels in his party were making him “angry”

Sunak described as “fired up” by witnesses

In the Lords peers are now voting on amendment B2, a supplementary amendment to the one passed just now saying Rwanda will only be considered a safe country when the provisions of the Rwanda treaty have been implemented.

Amendment B2 says it will be up to the independent monitoring committee to say when the treaty has been implemented.

Government suffers second Rwanda bill defeat as peers vote to block deportations until treaty provisions implemented

The government has lost the second vote in the Lords on the Rwanda bill. By 285 to 230, a majority of 55, peers voted to say Rwanda will only be considered a safe country when the provisons of the Rwanda treaty have been implemented.

Here are some more tweets from journalists who have been doorstepping the 1922 Committee.

All agree, essentially, that it is hard to find any group of people as insincere as Tory MPs loudly expressing support for their leader.

From Peter Walker

Rishi Sunak has just arrived at a meeting of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers to a tumultuous and lengthy banging on the desks in the committee room. Going by my usual PMQs metric that the louder the shouts from MPs the more worried they actually are, he’s in trouble.

— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

Rishi Sunak has just arrived at a meeting of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers to a tumultuous and lengthy banging on the desks in the committee room. Going by my usual PMQs metric that the louder the shouts from MPs the more worried they actually are, he’s in trouble.

— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) March 20, 2024

From Kevin Schofield from Politics Home

Very loud – some might over the top – banging of desks and cheering as Rishi Sunak enters the 1922 Committee.

— Kevin Schofield (@KevinASchofield) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

Very loud – some might over the top – banging of desks and cheering as Rishi Sunak enters the 1922 Committee.

— Kevin Schofield (@KevinASchofield) March 20, 2024

From Aubrey Allegretti from the Times

Rishi Sunak enters the 1922 Committee to thunderous desk banging – longer than 30 seconds. But as one MP remarked to me earlier: “The louder the banging, the more trouble they’re in.” Cabinet ministers also in the room, not just backbenchers..,

— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

Rishi Sunak enters the 1922 Committee to thunderous desk banging – longer than 30 seconds. But as one MP remarked to me earlier: “The louder the banging, the more trouble they’re in.” Cabinet ministers also in the room, not just backbenchers..,

— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) March 20, 2024

After much banging of desks and cheering when Sunak entered, the PM joked MPs were all so pleased because there would be a one-line whip next week.

— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

After much banging of desks and cheering when Sunak entered, the PM joked MPs were all so pleased because there would be a one-line whip next week.

— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) March 20, 2024

From Adam Bienkov from Byline Times

As with other recently-junked Conservative leaders, the volume and sheer length of desk-banging greeting Rishi Sunak’s arrival at the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs just now appears to be in indirect relation to his actual support in the party

— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

As with other recently-junked Conservative leaders, the volume and sheer length of desk-banging greeting Rishi Sunak’s arrival at the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs just now appears to be in indirect relation to his actual support in the party

— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) March 20, 2024

In the Lords peers are now voting on Lord Hope’s amendment B1, which says Rwanda will be regarded as a safe country “when the arrangements provided for in the Rwanda treaty have been fully implemented and for as long as they to continue to be so”.

How government cut opposition majority for ‘international law’ amendment to Rwanda bill from 102 to 43

Here is the breakdown of the vote in favour of the first amendment. (See 4.55pm.)

For

Bishops: 4

Crossbenchers: 57

Labour: 128

Lib Dems: 71

Others: 11

Total: 271

Against

Conservatives: 204

Crossbenchers: 16

Others: 8

Total: 228

And, for comparison, here are the figures when the Lords voted on an earlier version of this amendment in early March.

For

Bishops: 4

Conservatives: 4

Crossbenchers: 62

Labour: 123

Lib Dems: 70

Others: 11

Total: 274

Against

Conservatives: 161

Crossbenchers: 5

Others: 6

Total: 172

Last time the government lost by a majority of 102. Today the government lost by a majority of 43. Broadly speaking, that means the government has rustled up 59 extra votes.

These figures show that the main changes today are a big increase in the number of Tory peers turning up to vote for the government (up from 161 to 204 – and increase of 43) and a significant increase in the number of crossbenchers voting with the government (up from 5 to 16 – and increase of 11).

There are also four Tory peers who were willing to vote for this amendment last time (Ken Clarke, John Gummer, Viscount Hailsham and Lord Tugendhat) who did not do so this afternoon.

Meanwhile, in another room in the Houses of Parliament, Rishi Sunak is addressing the Conservative 1922 Committee.

David Wilcock from MailOnline says Sunak received the traditional table-banging welcome.

Rishi Sunak in with Tory backbenchers at 1922 committee. The usual banging of tables audible through the panelled walls of the committee corridor.

— David Wilcock (@DavidTWilcock) March 20, 2024

\n\n”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

Rishi Sunak in with Tory backbenchers at 1922 committee. The usual banging of tables audible through the panelled walls of the committee corridor.

— David Wilcock (@DavidTWilcock) March 20, 2024

In the House of Lords peers are now debating amendments saying the provisions in the Rwanda bill should only come into force when it has been established that Rwanda has complied with the terms of its treaty with the UK, which should reform the way it handles asylum cases.

Lord Hope of Craighead, a former deputy president of the supreme court, who has tabled these amendments, says he is not questioning the good faith of the Rwandan government.

He says he just wants to ensure the treaty is implemented.