Indy TV

Andy Burnham has urged Rishi Sunak to avoid scrapping HS2, warning that the decision would leave the north of England with “Victorian infrastructure”.Speaking on Monday morning (25 September), the mayor of Greater Manchester questioned why those living in the region are treated as “second-class citizens”.“We need new north-south rail lines and we need new east-west rail lines, London has never been forced to choose between those two things,” Mr Burnham said.“London gets everything. Why should we always be forced to choose? Why should the public here always be treated as second-class citizens?” More

It’s been over three years since the UK officially left the European Union however France and Germany have recently drafted plans for an “four-tier Europe” with one tier that could include “even the UK”. News of these proposals came after Sir Keir Starmer held talks in Paris with President Emmanuel Macron but Labour have been dropped previously by voters who don’t want a closer relationship with the rest of the continent.John Rentoul, The Independent’s chief political commentator, answers your questions on what the proposal is and how it could reopen Brexit arguments. More

Larry the Cat “doesn’t get on” with Rishi Sunak’s dog, his wife Akshata Murty has revealed in her first interview.The chief mouser to the Cabinet Office has had some “heated exchanges” with the family’s labrador Nova, who has had “mixed emotions” about living at 10 Downing Street.”Larry’s come out on top,” the businesswoman said.Despite the tensions between the animals, Ms Murty told the Sky Kids FYI show that she felt “honoured” to live in the prime minister’s official residence. More

Sadiq Khan took aim at Rishi Sunak for “dithering” on climate action as the prime minister announced changes to net zero policy.The Mayor of London spoke at the UN climate summit in New York on Wednesday 20 September after the prime minister held a press conference back home.“The situation that confronts us today is grave, it’s nothing short of self-harm on a planetary scale,” Mr Khan said.“It’s easy to get angry at the delay and dither from some quarters and I know businesses and millions of people feel let down by news from my own country, that our prime minister is now backtracking on the UK’s climate commitments.” More

Rishi Sunak has denied he is “watering down” targets as he announced changes to climate change commitments aimed at reaching net zero by 2050.The prime minister held a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday 20 September, where he announced that the 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars will be pushed back until 2035.Despite the roll back on net zero policy, Mr Sunak said it is “absolutely wrong” to describe his changes as watering down targets.“Our targets remain, our commitment to net zero and the Paris and Cop agreements that we signed remains.” More

Suella Braverman dismissed the “expert” opinion of Lord Zac Goldsmith as she defended Rishi Sunak’s plans to roll back some of Britain’s key climate pledges.The Conservative peer and former climate and environment minister told BBC Newsnight that it would be a “moment of shame” for the prime minister to weaken green commitments.”[Lord Goldsmith] is an expert in this field but I disagree,” the home secretary told LBC.”I think we need to take into account the current economic climate, we need to take into account the cost of living challenges, we need to make sure this is sustainable and affordable,” Ms Braverman added. More

James Cleverly refused to comment on whether he raised the case of a parliamentary researcher being arrested for allegedly spying for China when he visited the country in August.Speaking to Laura Kuennsberg on Sunday (17 September), the foreign secretary said: “On intelligence and security matters we do not comment.”“You can keep asking and I keep giving the same answer,” Mr Cleverly added.The researcher was arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing in March.He has denied the allegations in a statement released through his lawyers, saying that he had spent his career trying to “educate others” about the “threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party”. More

Sir Keir Starmer has responded to Penny Mordaunt calling him “beach Ken with no balls” during a Commons business statement this week.The leader of the House of Commons was responding to the Labour leader calling Rishi Sunak “inaction man” over his record in government.Speaking to Sky News on Sunday (17 September) Sir Keir said: “When a government has completely run out of energy and ideas… they go down this rabbit hole of ridiculous insults.”The comment was “water off a duck’s back,” he added. More