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    ‘Great that Oasis are back’ says Keir Starmer amid ‘depressing’ ticket price hike

    Sir Keir Starmer suggested it was “great” that Oasis are back together, but criticised the “depressing” ticket price hike for their reunion tour.Fans were left shocked by standard tickets more than doubling from £148 to £355 on Ticketmaster over the weekend, prompting the government to pledge to look into the use of dynamic pricing in its forthcoming review of the secondary gig sales market.“It’s great that Oasis are back together, from what I’ve determined, about half of the country were queuing for tickets over the weekend,” Sir Keir said.“But it is depressing to hear of price hikes, I’m committed to putting fans at the heart of music.” More

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    Keir Starmer calls Rishi Sunak ‘prime minister’ after two months in power

    Sir Keir Starmer mistakenly called Rishi Sunak the ‘prime minister’ nine weeks after winning the election and taking the role himself.The pair clashed over the government’s decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel during the first PMQs after summer recess on Wednesday 4 September.In the House of Commons, Mr Sunak suggested the move “beggars belief” and asked Sir Keir to explain how Labour arrived at the decision.Responding to the question, he said the UK worked with their allies before suggesting “the prime minister knows the framework”.He then repeated the mistake to jeers from the benches. More

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    Sunak accuses Starmer of putting ‘highly-paid’ train drivers before vulnerable pensioners

    Rishi Sunak accused Sir Keir Starmer of putting “highly-paid” train drivers ahead of vulnerable pensioners during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 4 September.Mr Sunak suggested Sir Keir has taken money away from “low-income” pensioners to give it to “certain unionised workforces in inflation busting pay rises”.“Can the prime minister explain to Britain’s low-income pensioners, why he has taken money away from them, whilst at the same time, given more money to highly-paid train drivers?” he asked.In response, the PM pointed to the legacy left by the Conservative government, claiming Labour inherited “absolute chaos from the party opposite”. More

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    Tories turned into ‘grumpy party,’ says James Cleverly in leadership bid

    James Cleverly suggested the Conservatives have turned into the “grumpy party” as he launched his leadership bid on Monday 2 September.The former home secretary vowed to reduce migration and restore “confidence in capitalism” as he calls for party unity in what was billed as a major speech in his campaign.After delivering his address, Mr Cleverly was asked by reporters how he would draw young voters back to the Tories.“We’ve never been the nasty party, I’ve never subscribed to that, but we have turned into the grumpy party, and young people are turned off by that,” he said.“So let’s change that. Let’s be optimistic. Let’s focus on them, attract them to the party, listen to their voices and deliver on their aspirations, and that’s what I would do.” More

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    Keir Starmer spending more time removing portraits of ‘strong female leaders’ than governing, says Priti Patel

    Sir Keir Starmer has been spending more time removing portraits of “great strong conservative female leaders” rather than governing, Priti Patel said during the official launch of her Tory leadership bid on Friday, 30 August.The former home secretary’s remark came after the prime minister moved a £100,000 portrait of Margaret Thatcher in 10 Downing Street because he found it “unsettling”.Conservative MPs have described the decision as “petty” and a “vindictive” act.”If he wants a picture to replace Margaret Thatcher, he can always have this one,” Patel added. More

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    Watch: Angela Rayner dances behind DJ booth inside Ibiza nightclub

    Angela Rayner was filmed dancing behind DJ decks at an Ibiza nightclub with Fisher and Denise Van Outen.Footage posted to the TV presenter’s Instagram page showed what she described as a “surprise DJ booth rave up” with the deputy prime minister.Rayner wore a red dress as she partied with the Australian music producer, singing along to a dance remix of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.”She was filmed jumping and dancing as smoke cannons erupted at the venue. More

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    Smokers ‘heroes of the nation’, says Nigel Farage as he lights up cigarette near Downing Street pub

    Nigel Farage has branded smokers the “heroes of the nation in terms of the amount of taxation they pay”, in response to a potential cigarettes ban outside pubs.The Reform UK leader lit up a cigarette outside the Westminster Arms shortly before 6pm on Thursday (29 August), less than 400m from the Prime Minister’s official residence in Downing Street.Sir Keir Starmer earlier told reporters the loss of lives because of smoking are “preventable” and that his ministers would “take decisions” on an outdoor cigarettes ban.According to leaked Whitehall papers, ministers could extend the indoor smoking ban to beer gardens, university and hospital campuses, sports grounds, children’s play areas and small parks. More

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    Lib Dems will attempt to reverse Labour’s decision to scrap winter fuel payments, Ed Davey says

    Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey has said his party will attempt to block the government’s proposed move to end the winter fuel allowance to some pensioners, describing the move as the new administration’s “first big mistake”.Sir Ed said Labour MPs and others across the House will be “genuinely worried” about the move after correspondence with constituents.Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government is withdrawing winter fuel payments from millions of pensioner households not in receipt of benefits.The Liberal Democrat leader believes the move would “hit millions” so a vote in parliament is needed, urging the government to “think again”. More