UK Politics

David Cameron’s former aide has addressed rumours of the former prime minister becoming Tory leader once again.Baroness Cavendish, who is Lord Cameron’s former director of policy, discussed the favoured Conservative candidates rumoured to replace Rishi Sunak, if he loses the next general election.In an interview with Sky’s Trevor Phillips on Sunday (March 17), Baroness Cavendish said: “My old boss David Cameron is in there who would absolutely never want to do it again, anyway.”She then praised current front-runner Kemi Badenoch, describing her as a “clearly impressive feisty character who a lot of the Conservative party like”. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA number of factions of the Conservative Party are reported to have held discussions about replacing Rishi Sunak as prime minister – and uniting around Penny Mordaunt instead.In a desperate bid to boost their dire electoral prospects, MPs on the Tory right have met with both moderates and members of Ms Mordaunt’s team this week, according to The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail.The mutinous Tories are said to have discussed replacing the prime minister in a “coronation” following a no-confidence vote, as opposed to putting their party and country through another leadership contest ahead of the looming general election, after Mr Sunak finally ruled out a May ballot.Mutinous Tories are said to have discussed replacing the prime minister in a ‘coronation’ following a no-confidence voteThey are said to be hoping that a new cabinet resignation will trigger the collapse of Mr Sunak’s premiership and usher in the party’s fourth leader since the last election – despite the fact that the recent departure of moderate-turned-hardliner Robert Jenrick from his post as immigration minister failed to inspire others to follow suit.The outlook among Tory MPs darkened this week after the Budget failed to make a dent in polling, which has recently put support for their party at a 40-year low, and as No 10 struggled to deal with the fallout from allegations that racist remarks were made by major donor Frank Hester. Mr Sunak eventually condemned the comments as “racist and wrong” after cabinet ministers broke ranks to do so.Some Tory MPs were baffled by Mr Sunak’s speech on extremism outside No 10 following George Galloway’s by-election victory, while others were exasperated by his failure to anticipate former deputy chair Lee Anderson’s defection to Reform, claimed GB News, quoting one as saying: “The sad reality is he’s just not very good at politics.”A source on the Tory right told the Telegraph: “Some Right-wing MPs met with Team Penny this week, where they expressed the view they were prepared to back her. They take the view that Penny is preferable to Rishi Sunak right now.”The source added: “Penny Mordaunt is now seen as the most likely person to stem the losses.” Ms Mordaunt, currently the leader of the House of Commons, was the last to fall to Mr Sunak and eventual victor Liz Truss in the 2021 Tory leadership race, since when her profile has been somewhat boosted by her sword-wielding role in the coronation.Penny Mordaunt carrying the sword of state at the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023 A spokesperson for Ms Mordaunt told the paper: “Penny is getting on with the job of serving the nation as leader of the House of Commons and serving her constituents in Portsmouth North.”While Ms Mordaunt has previously lacked the support of some Tory right-wingers who view her as too liberal on transgender rights, despite her protestations to the contrary, a rebel source claimed a deal was emerging in which they could support her if she “sub-contracts” the issue to them, according to the Telegraph.“The mood has shifted a long way this week,” the source said. “There is a feeling that we cannot go on as we are, and that even Penny would be better. “She would have to allow social policy to be set by others, but if you got over that hurdle, you could see the right prepared to swing behind her if it was the only way to get rid of Rishi and avoid a contest.”A former minister on the moderate wing of the party also told the paper that replacing Mr Sunak was becoming “much more likely” – and that Ms Mordaunt was the only candidate the party could unite around without a contest.The source said: “Until very recently, I thought the idea of changing leader again was ridiculous. But No 10’s handling of some recent events has been so astonishingly bad that I think it is becoming much more likely to happen.”Last week, Ms Mordaunt overtook fellow leadership favourite Kemi Badenoch to top the cabinet popularity rankings in the Conservative Home website’s regular survey of Tory members for the first time since June 2019, when she was defence secretary. More

Vaughan Gething will become the first black leader of any European country when he is sworn in as First Minister of Wales next week.Addressing Labour Party members in Cardiff on Saturday (16 March), Mr Gething said: “Today, we turn a page in the book of our nation’s history. A history we write together.“Not just because I have the honour of becoming the first black leader in any European country – but because the generational dial has jumped too.“Devolution is not something I have had to get used to or adapt to or apologise for.“Devolution – Welsh solutions to Welsh problems – that’s in my blood. It’s what I’ve always known.” More

The SNP’s Westminster leader was accused of crying “crocodile tears” over the conflict in Gaza by a fellow BBC Question Time panellist.Stephen Flynn and Times journalist Melanie Phillips clashed during Thursday’s episode (14 March) as they discussed aid entering the enclave.Ms Phillips, who lives part-time in Israel, blasted Mr Flynn’s demand for a ceasefire without Hamas releasing hostages and also claimed that she has seen pictures of “stocked” food markets in Gaza.When Mr Flynn described her claims as “outrageous” she launched into a personal attack, accusing him of “crocodile tears” and added that his “hypocrisy is epic”. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailDiane Abbott was offered the Labour whip back but refused because she would have had to undergo antisemitism training, The Independent has been told.An investigation into the long-serving black MP has been ongoing since her suspension last April following an article she wrote about Jewish people, with pressure mounting on the party over why it has been taking so long.But sources from the left and right of the Labour Party have told The Independent that the investigation is dragging on in part because of Ms Abbott’s own refusal to compromise.The revelation comes as senior Labour figures have rallied around Ms Abbott in the wake of a racism row involving the Conservative Party’s biggest donor, who said the MP made him “hate all black women” and that she should be shot.Abbott had the whip suspended last April after writing a letter suggesting Jewish people are not subjected to the same racism as some other minoritiesShadow deputy leader Angela Rayner and mother of the House Harriet Harman are among those who have said they want her allowed back into the party.Ms Abbott had the whip suspended last April after writing a letter suggesting Jewish people are not subjected to the same racism as some other minorities.She immediately apologised and said the letter published in The Observer had been an “initial draft” sent by mistake.According to sources, Ms Abbott was offered the opportunity to have the whip restored if she offered a “more fulsome” apology and took an antisemitism awareness course. One said this led to her doing a “reverse ferret” after her initial apology, and said she would not apologise or undertake the requested training.“And that is why this has been going on for 10 months and not 25 minutes,” a shadow minister told The Independent. Another MP on the left of the party added: “I don’t know why she didn’t just do it.” Ms Abbott said “key aspects” of what The Independent was told were wrong, but did not offer any more detail: “I cannot disclose details of this process because, under Labour rules, that would be another disciplinary offence.” She also repeated a claim she has made previously that the Labour investigation is “fraudulent”. In her contested letter she stated that Jewish, Irish and traveller communities have experienced “prejudice”, but added: “This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable.”Ms Abbott had added: “It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism.”Angela Rayner said on Thursday she would like to see Abbott back in the Labour Party The investigation into Ms Abbott is ongoing, with Labour refusing to explain why it is taking so long or when it will be completed.Supporters of Ms Abbott, who was elected MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington in 1987, believe the probe is being used to force her out at the next election. If her suspension remains in place when the election is called, Labour’s national executive committee will have to decide whether she can stand or to impose a new candidate.Another shadow minister told The Independent Ms Abbott was being “stubborn” and that the party was “desperate to do a deal with her”. The figure said the Labour leadership wants to bring her back into the parliamentary party as long as she agrees to “bow out gracefully” at the next general election, a compromise they believe will allow her to stand as a Labour MP “with her legacy intact”.Ms Abbott has given no indication that she intends to stand down at the next election.Pressure has been growing on Sir Keir Starmer to restore the whip after the alleged comments by the Tories’ biggest donor Frank Hester. Mr Hester, who is believed to have given the party £15m in the past year, said looking at Ms Abbott “makes you want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”, a Guardian investigation found.Labour leader Keir Starmer has dampened hopes of an imminent return to the party for Abbott Ms Rayner spoke out on Thursday in support of Ms Abbott, adding to calls from across the political spectrum: “Personally I would like to see Diane back. But the Labour Party has to follow its procedures… so it does not matter what I think.”Ms Harman has called for the investigation into the suspension to be sped up, admitting that the processes can sometimes be slow, while former shadow chancellor Ed Balls and Tony Blair’s former political secretary John McTernan called for Sir Keir to restore the whip.Ms Abbott told The Independent: “I cannot disclose details of this process because, under Labour rules, that would be another disciplinary offence. But your sources are wrong in key respects. Yet their claims also show that the investigation process is fraudulent. The Labour Party has used this sham in an effort to bully me.”She also implied on X/Twitter that she doesn’t think she will ever get the whip back, claiming Labour’s “real agenda” is to force her out.On Thursday, Sir Keir would not be drawn on whether or not Ms Abbott, who currently sits as an independent, could expect to become a Labour MP again, saying only that the 10-month investigation into her alleged antisemitic remarks was “not resolved”.The Labour leader said she was a trailblazer and described the language allegedly used by Mr Hester as “abhorrent”, but he told BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine that allowing the MP back into the party was an “entirely different issue”.“That was about allegations of antisemitism in relation to a letter… which is subject to an ongoing investigation, which is separate from me. That’s not something which I conduct.”Labour did not respond to The Independent’s request for comment. More

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the worldSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailArmed forces minister James Heappey is to leave his role in government and quit as an MP at the next general election. Mr Heappey, Tory MP for Wells in Somerset, is stepping down to prioritise his family and pursue a different career. The minister, who served in the army in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland before joining parliament, said in a letter published online that he had made a “painful decision” to stand down as a candidate in the upcoming general election.Mr Heappey served in the army before becoming an MP He continued: “I have concluded that now is the time to step away from politics, prioritise my family, and pursue a different career”. He said that he would continue to support prime minster Rishi Sunak in his leadership of the Conservative party as a minister “until such time as he wishes me to step down, and then from the backbenches” – adding: “I intend to make each of my remaining days in Westminster count”. Responding to Mr Heappey’s announcement on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, his former boss Ben Wallace said: “James, you are an outstanding minister and one of the best. “Your work on defence and support to the agenda of reform was indispensable. There is a lot to be proud of. Thank you”. Shadow armed forces minister Luke Pollard wished Mr Heappey well, saying: “James and I come from different political traditions but, as his shadow, I have always respected him as a minister. In particular I want to thank him for his support to our friends in Ukraine in resisting Putin’s illegal and brutal invasion.”LidDem’s defence spokesperson Richard Foord said the resignation was “yet another blow to Rishi Sunak’s authority”. He added: “Sunak needs to put the country out of its misery and call an election now instead of allowing this farce to drag on any longer.”Mr Heappey was made a minister by Boris Johnson in 2022 after endorsing him to be leader of the Tory party. He had been a front-runner to replace Mr Wallace as defence secretary but the job was given to Grant Shapps instead. The Times, who first broke the story, reported that Mr Heappey would be standing down from his ministerial role at the end of the month.The newspaper quoted an anonymous Tory MP who said the veteran had been on “resignation watch” after telling colleagues privately that he was unhappy about the level of defence spending. However another source told the paper that while Mr Heappey had been pushing for increased spending this didn’t have anything to do with his decision to stand down. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s recent budget contained no new money for defence despite multiple ministers publicly calling for an increase to spending. Mr Heappey adds his name to a growing list of Tory MPs to announce they are to leave Parliament, with former prime minister Theresa May and former party chairman Sir Brandon Lewis some of the most recent additions. He is the 62nd Tory MP to announce that they will not be standing at the next election. Mr Sunak on Thursday ruled out holding an election on May 2 to coincide with local elections, having previously indicated he will send the country to the polls in the latter half of 2024.Mr Heappey’s constituency of Wells currently has a Tory majority of 9,991, with the LibDems being the second most popular party. The Ministry of Defence said it would not be commenting. More

Sir Keir Starmer accused the Tories of thinking “working people don’t need culture” as he pledged a raft of measures aimed at boosting access to the arts, including a crackdown on ticket touting.However, the Labour leader warned the party would be unable to “turn on the taps straight away” if it wins power as he faced questions about whether the plans would be backed by new funding.In a speech at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in central London, Sir Keir said the “war on culture” would end with a Labour government. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailSadiq Khan has warned that new voter ID rules could prevent him from being re-elected as London mayor.In just six weeks, Londoners will head to the ballot box and vote for who they would like to see running the capital for the next four years.The latest YouGov/Mile End Institute Poll has Mr Khan with a substantial lead of 49 per cent compared to his closest rival, Conservative Susan Hall on 24 per cent.Despite the commanding lead, Mr Khan writes in The Independent that changes to the voting system to select the mayor and rules meaning you have to bring an approved form of ID to vote could scupper his chances of re-election on 2 May. In previous mayoral elections you would be able to get a first and second choice for mayor, however this time you will only get one vote.Mr Khan writes: “This means a vote for any party other than Labour only makes it more likely that Londoners end up with a Tory Mayor.”Londoners will head to the ballot box in just six weeks The London mayor also displayed concerns that new rules that mean voters have to bring photographic ID in order to cast their choice at the ballot box could also negatively impact his chances.He said: “New rules making it compulsory to have an approved form of ID – a deliberate attempt to reduce turnout – also puts the election on a knife-edge. “Analysis shows more than 900,000 Londoners – likely to include large numbers of young people and those from minority communities – might not have valid ID and will thus be barred from exercising their democratic right to vote. “At the last London Mayoral election, in 2021, I was less than five per cent ahead after the first round of voting. These are the finer margins we’ll now be dealing with.”Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall Mr Khan has urged supporters of rival progressive parties, such as the Green Party and Liberal Democrats, to back him to keep the Tories out of power in the capital.He added: “I am asking for their help so that we don’t wake up in six weeks’ time to find our city’s cherished values at serious risk with a hardline Conservative in City Hall.“I’ve always stood up for London’s open, outward-looking, pro-European and anti-racist values – as well as for climate science, women’s rights, our diversity, our LGBTQI+ community, and liberal democracy.Mr Khan went on to attack his main rival Ms Hall, claiming that she “supported a hard Brexit” and voted against his initiatives to deal with air pollution and climate change.He added: “We must protect the gains we’ve made and the modern, plural, inclusive outlook that makes London the greatest city in the world. “But to do that, I’m asking Lib Dems and Greens to lend me their votes, using their first and only choice at this election. This is the only way we can safeguard everything that makes London so special and continue building a fairer, safer and greener London for everyone.” More