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      Oliver Dowden forced to deny Rishi Sunak misleading the public – as Asda boss hits out at Brexit ‘lies’

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      Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UKSign up to our Brexit email for the latest insightThe chairman of Asda hit out at Brexit “lies” as the deputy prime minister was forced to deny Rishi Sunak was misleading the public. Oliver Dowden claimed Mr Sunak was simply using “robust language” when he suggested Keir Starmer was a terrorist sympathiser earlier this week.Labour reacted with fury at the incendiary claim. Mr Dowden said Mr Sunak was highlighting the fact that when he was a lawyer Sir Keir had represented the group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which the government has proscribed.“I would say that is the use of robust language. I wouldn’t say that was the prime minister misleading,” he said, as he also denied the government lied.His claims come just weeks after Rishi Sunak was rapped by the official statistics watchdog for repeatedly claiming to have “cleared” the asylum backlog. The UK Statistics Authority told the prime minister his assertion risked eroding trust in the government.Meanwhile, Lord Rose, the boss of the retail giant, attacked what the British people were told about leaving the European Union. Following reports Brexit has cost the UK economy £140billion so far, Lord he told LBC: “The short answer is, we were lied to, we were gullible. We voted for it. And we now have to pay the consequence.”He added: “I don’t want to say I told you so, I was a very minor voice in a very difficult campaign when frankly, we were lied to. Where is the £300 million for the National Health Service? Where is the membership of Turkey to the EU, which was going to flood the EU with immigrants? Now we’ve got an immigration problem, which was caused by different things.” Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden (Stefan Rousseau/PA)The prime minister said the “the facts speak for themselves” when asked if Sir Keir Starmer is a terrorist sympathiser. Mr Dowden said he believed in “robust political discourse” but added “what I don’t believe in and have never believed in is lying or misleading people. Because in the end, I think you damage yourself and you do damage politics at large.”Asked “so you don’t think at the moment your party is doing that?”, the deputy PM replied: “No, I don’t, no.” More

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      MP fights back tears as he opens up on suicide attempt in PMQs speech

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      If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offer support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.An MP fought back tears as he shared his story of attempting suicide in 2021.Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions on Tuesday (7 February), Conservative MP Elliot Colburn became emotional as he apologised to family and friends and thanked the NHS for their care.“I felt alone, scared, and like there was no way out… But I don’t recognize that man anymore,” he said. More

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      Starmer takes jibe at Sunak as he criticises NHS waiting lists: ‘Glad he did not bet on it’

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      Sir Keir Starmer opened PMQs with a jibe at Rishi Sunak’s recent bet.The prime minister has faced criticism after betting £1,000 on being able to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda before the next election.He made the wager during an interview with Piers Morgan.“Mr Speaker, a year ago, the prime minister promised to bring NHS waiting lists down. Isn’t he glad he didn’t bet £1,000 on it?” Sir Keir asked, drawing laughter from the chamber.“At least I stand by my commitments,” Mr Sunak responded, suggesting Sir Keir is “indecisive”. More

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      Sunak faces backlash for PMQs transgender ‘joke’ as Brianna Ghey’s mother sits in gallery

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      Rishi Sunak faced backlash for making a transgender “joke” during Prime Minister’s Questions today (7 February), as Brianna Ghey’s mother watched on in the gallery.The prime minister joked that Sir Keir Starmer had changed his position on “defining a woman” following the Labour leader’s tribute to the murdered schoolgirl and her mother, Esther Ghey.Accusing Mr Starmer of “breaking every single promise he was elected on”, the Prime Minister said: “I think I have counted almost 30 in the last year. Pensions, planning, peerages, public sector pay, tuition fees, childcare, second referendums, defining a woman, although in fairness that was only 99 percent of a u-turn.”Mr Starmer replied: “Of all the weeks to say that, when Brianna’s mother is in this chamber. Shame.“Parading as a man of integrity when he’s got absolutely no responsibility.” More

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      Watch live: Health minister questioned on NHS and dental care after Sunak faces Starmer at PMQs

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      Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailWatch live as health minister Victoria Atkins was questioned on NHS funding and the state of dental care in England on Wednesday, 7 February.Under plans to boost services, dentists will be offered cash to take on new patients and given £20,000 “golden hellos” to work in communities with a lack of NHS dental care.It came after Rishi Sunak faced Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions, after sources said Downing Street is planning a general election for October.A source told The Independent that the prime minister is looking at an election in early October, rather than waiting until November as it has previously been reported, as the timing would clash with the US presidential election.Mr Sunak had previously ruled out a vote in the spring, indicating he would like to go to the polls later in 2024.He told broadcasters at a visit to a youth centre in Nottinghamshire earlier this month that his “working assumption” was that the UK would have a general election “in the second half of this year.”The Sun reported that Mr Sunak’s fears over “global insecurity” triggered by Donald Trump potentially winning the US election mean he is “moving away” from a November election. More

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      Sunak and Starmer send ‘get well’ message to King Charles after cancer diagnosis

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      Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer sent well wishes to King Charles III following his cancer diagnosis.The party leaders sent get well messages to the monarch as they spoke at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, 7 February.His Majesty, 75, has postponed all public-facing duties but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers.Charles usually has a weekly audience with Mr Sunak on Wednesday.The PM said he was thankful the King’s cancer has been “caught early”. More

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      Nadine Dorries claims David Cameron has a ‘problem with women’

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      Nadine Dorries claimed David Cameron has a “problem with women” and should talk to them like he speaks to “his pals from Eton.”Speaking to Times Radio, the former culture secretary said that, though she liked George Osborne and the foreign secretary “very much”, the pair “looked down their nose” at at MPs who “didn’t come from the right backgrounds” when she was elected in 2005.“Every time there’s an election… I want to shake [Lord] Cameron and say… you have a problem with women, talk to women like you do to everybody else, to your pals from Eton.” More

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      Ex Neighbours star Holly Valance backs Rees-Mogg for next prime minister as she slams left-wing ideology

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      Former Neighbours actress Holly Valance has backed Jacob Rees-Mogg to be the next prime minister as she hit out at “crap” left-wing political ideology.The former popstar, who is married to billionaire luxury property tycoon Nick Candy, also praised Liz Truss at the launch of her Popular Conservatism group on Tuesday (6 February).In an interview with GB News, the former model said: “The speakers were fantastic. I thought Liz [Truss] was really interesting to listen to, Jacob [Rees-Mogg] for prime minister, the MP for Ashfield [Lee Anderson] was awesome, love a northerner, straight to the point and very sensible.” More