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Rishi Sunak opened his first prime minister’s questions as leader of the opposition with a joke about his inability to win. The former prime minister, who lost a leadership election to Liz Truss, several local elections, and last month’s general election by a huge landslide, sent his best wishes to Team GB athletes heading to the Paris Olympics. Mr Sunak said: “To be honest, I am probably not the first person they want to hear advice from on how to win.”The joke was met by laughter from MPs in the Commons. More

Gasps were heard in the Commons as Yvette Cooper revealed the true cost of the Tory Rwanda deal.The home secretary revealed to MPs that the controversial deportation scheme cost Britain £700 million, despite only four volunteers being sent to Kigali.Addressing MPs on Tuesday (23 July), Ms Cooper branded the policy the “most shocking waste of taxpayer money I have ever seen”.The home secretary accused the previous Conservative government of creating an “asylum Hotel California”, where people arrived in the system but never left. More

The home secretary has been accused of “running for the hills” after skipping a live TV interview on Sky News.Yvette Cooper was reportedly due to appear on Sky’s breakfast show on Wednesday (24 July), to discuss her party temporarily removing the whip from seven MPs who voted against the government on an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap.Kay Burley asked fellow presenter Wilfred Frost: “What do you think of the home secretary running for the hills this morning and not wanting to explain to us why seven MPs have had the whip removed from them for now?”Frost replied: “It sends out a pretty, strong message – and also as we know, it leaves you hanging. It’s rather disrespectful.” More

A Labour MP who had the whip suspended after voting against the government on an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap has broken her silence.Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South, was one of seven Labour MPs who had the suspended by Sir Keir Starmer, for voting against the party.Charities and unions have urged the prime minister to dump the cap, brought in nearly a decade ago.It currently affects 1.6 million children by limiting welfare payments to the first two children in most families.Discussing her decision when she appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday (24 July), Ms Sultana said: “It is a moral imperative on the Labour Party to scrap it.” More

James Cleverly paid tribute to his parents in a video announcing that he is running to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.The shadow home secretary recalled his childhood in south east London, and spoke of how his mother was a midwife in the NHS and his father started a small business.Mr Cleverly said the Conservatives needed to “re-establish our reputation as the party who, in government, helps grow the economy, helps people achieve their goals, their dreams, and their aspirations”.After losing the general election, Rishi Sunak said that he will step down as party leader once formal arrangements for selecting his successor are in place. More

Suella Braverman has been told she should be “hanging your head in shame” over the Tory party’s approach to immigration.The former home secretary, who was a guest presenter on LBC on Tuesday morning (23 July), took a call from a listener called James in Glasgow.James told her: “You should be hanging your head in shame. The Tory party has exacerbated this problem for political gain.”James also urged her to apologise for the £700 million Labour claimed she spent on the scheme.Ms Braverman asked: “What is your solution, James?“We promised and failed and for various reasons we didn’t succeed. Do you think they [Labou] are going to fix the problem?” More

James Cleverly has hinted that he will launch a Tory leadership bid.The shadow home secretary was quizzed on whether he will run for the job, as nominations for Rishi Sunak’s replacement open tomorrow (24 July).Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday (23 July), Mr Cleverly said: “Of course, I and a number of other people have thought about the future of our country, have thought about the contribution of the party and our personal contribution to those things.“Of course, I don’t think I’m alone in having given that serious thought.” More

A new MP fought back tears after recalling the death of his parents in a house fire, saying of his election to Parliament: “I hope I made you proud.”Alex Easton dabbed his eyes and was hugged by fellow MPs after delivering his first speech in the House of Commons on Monday (22 July).The independent unionist MP’s success was tinged with sadness after his mother and father died in January 2023 following a blaze at a property in the Dellmount Park area of Bangor.Alec and Ann Easton, who were aged in their 80s, were treated for injuries but both died at the scene.Speaking in the Commons on Monday (22 July), Mr Easton said their deaths “caused a lot of heartache for me”. More