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    ‘No Pimm’s with Penny’: Mordaunt dismisses leadership bid rumours amid local elections

    Penny Mordaunt has dispelled rumours of a leadership bid and pledged to stand by prime minister Rishi Sunak following local elections.During Business Questions in the House of Commons on Thursday 2 May, Ms Mordaunt also said she thinks something will “crop up” before a general election to turn the tide of public opinion in favour of the Conservatives.She has been one of several senior Tories at the focus of party leadership rumours, compounded this week by reports of a plot to oust Mr Sunak. More

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    Sadiq Khan and his dog arrive at polling station as London mayor casts vote in local election

    Current Mayor of London and Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan arrived with his wife Saadiya Khan and their dog to cast his vote at the local elections on Thursday (2 May).Mr Khan arrived early at the polling station at St Alban’s Church in south London, as he also cast his vote in the London Mayoral election.Voters head to the polls today in a series of local elections seen as the final test of public opinion before Rishi Sunak goes to the country later this year.A total of 11 mayoral contests are also taking place, including for the London mayoralty between frontrunners, Labour incumbent Mr Khan and Tory challenger Susan Hall. More

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    Watch: Keir Starmer arrives at polling station to cast vote in local and London Mayoral election

    Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria arrived at a polling station to cast their votes in the local and London Mayoral elections today.Voters head to the polls on Thursday (2 May) in a series of local elections seen as the final test of public opinion before Rishi Sunak goes to the country later this year.A total of 11 mayoral contests are also taking place, including for the London mayoralty between frontrunners, Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan and Tory challenger Susan Hall.Sir Keir arrived to vote in his Holborn and St Pancras constituency early on Thursday. More

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    Watch: Conservative London Mayor candidate Susan Hall casts vote in local election

    Conservative London Mayor candidate Susan Hall arrived early to cast her vote in the local elections on Thursday (2 May).Ms Hall. dressed in a purple jacket, arrived at Hatch End Lawn Tennis Club to cast her vote earlier today.Voters head to the polls on Thursday in a series of local elections seen as the final test of public opinion before Rishi Sunak goes to the country later this year.A total of 11 mayoral contests are also taking place, including for the London mayoralty between frontrunners, Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan and Tory challenger Ms Hall. More

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    Jeremy Hunt responds to Lee Anderson claims Rishi Sunak treated him badly by suspending him from Tories

    Jeremy Hunt has responded to former Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson’s claims that Rishi Sunak “treated him badly” by suspending him from the party.The prime minister suspended Mr Anderson from the party in February, following a racist rant he made about Sadiq Khan on GB News.Appearing on ITV show Peston on Wednesday (1 May), Mr Hunt was quizzed about what happened.He said: “Lee Anderson made his choice, and he has chosen to leave the Conservative Party.“I think it is very sad that he did that.” More

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    Keir Starmer reveals moment he considered quitting as Labour leader

    Sir Keir Starmer has revealed the moment he considered quitting as Labour leader.Sir Keir admitted he thought of stepping down as leader after Labour lost both the Hartlepool by-election and council seats in 2021.In an interview with Sky News on Wednesday (1 May), he said: “It really hit me because my job was to turn around the party and take us from defeat to success and losing hurts in politics.“It was a very very low moment.”Sir Keir added: “I did [consider quitting] because I didn’t feel that I should be bigger than the party and that if i couldn’t bring about the change then there should be a change.” More

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    Starmer denies reports he would retain Rwanda scheme if Labour elected

    Sir Keir Starmer has denied reports he would retain the Rwanda scheme if elected.The Labour leader told Sky News he does not believe in the scheme and criticised Rishi Sunak’s government for “losing control of the borders”.“I don’t think it will work, I know we have to stop the boats and I want to get going with our plan on day one,” Sir Keir said.“I’m absolutely determined to tackle this problem, because the government has lost control of the borders. What I’m not going to do is flog a dead horse.” More

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    Moment first migrants to be deported to Rwanda detained during Home Office raid

    The moment immigration enforcement removed migrants from homes for deportation to Rwanda was filmed on video released by the Home Office on Wednesday, 1 May.A series of operations were carried out this week with more due to take place soon, the Home Office said.It has not been confirmed how many people were detained or where they were taken into custody.Footage shows authorities raiding homes and removing people before detaining them in a vehicle.It comes after Rishi Sunak’s controversial Safety of Rwanda Act became law last week. More