Indy TV

The first flight carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda will leave in 10 to 12 weeks, Rishi Sunak has today said (22 April).The prime minister said “enough is enough” as he said MPs and peers would sit through the night if necessary to get the Safety of Rwanda Bill through Parliament.At a Downing Street press conference he blamed Labour opposition to the scheme for the delays, but vowed: “We will start the flights and we will stop the boats.”The prime minister said an airfield was on standby and charter flights had been booked to take asylum seekers on the one-way trip to Rwanda.Mr Sunak said: “No ifs, no buts. These flights are going to Rwanda.” More

Rishi Sunak said he had confidence in Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley after a London officer described an antisemitism campaigner as “openly Jewish”.Gideon Falter was threatened with arrest and told his presence was “antagonising” protesters yards away from him.In a press conference on Monday, 22 April, the prime minister pledged support for the commissioner but said he needed to rebuild “confidence and trust” with the Jewish community.The force initially apologised for the incident, but then apologised for its apology after suggesting opponents of pro-Palestine marches “must know that their presence is provocative”.Suella Braverman has called for Sir Mark to resign. More

Suella Braverman and Mishal Husain clashed during a BBC Radio 4 interview listeners branded a “car-crash” as the MP admitted she had not seen the full video in which an antisemitism campaigner was described as “openly Jewish” by the Metropolitan Police.The pair discussed footage in which Gideon Falter was threatened with arrest and told his presence was “antagonising” protesters yards away in London.Ms Braverman called for Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to resign after the exchange.When Ms Husain proposed that Ms Braverman’s comments were based on “incomplete information,” the politician responded: “I’m basing what I’m saying on six months of information… The police have chosen a side.” More

Suella Braverman has called for Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to resign after an officer referred to antisemitism campaigner Gideon Falter as “openly Jewish,” threatened him with arrest, and said his presence was “antagonising” protesters.The force initially apologised for the incident, but then apologised for its apology after suggesting opponents of pro-Palestine marches “must know that their presence is provocative”.Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Monday, 22 April: “These marches have reached a threshold whereby they are unmanageable… and hateful to a large degree.“Sir Mark… I think he should go. The home secretary, the prime minister need to show leadership here.” More

The mayor of London celebrated Eid on Saturday 20 April by watching comedians and musicians in Trafalgar Square.Sadiq Khan taunted former US president Donald Trump as he addressed crowds from the stage in central London.It was the 19th annual Eid in the Square festival marking the end of Ramadan, Islam’s holy month of fasting.Mr Khan told cheering onlookers: “I’m going to take a selfie and I’m going to send it to a good friend of mine, Donald Trump.“I’m going to say listen, ‘bruv’, this is how we run in London – I’m going to show him that our diversity is a strength not a weakness.” More

Post Office legal chief Rodric Williams has been accused of “lying” after failing to admit that the organisation feared an Alan Bates victory would lead to a “cascade of criminal appeals”.Mr Williams, who is currently head of legal in the Post Office’s dispute resolution and brand team, was being questioned over his previous role as a litigation lawyer during the Horizon scandal.He told the probe he was “truly sorry” for being associated with the “greatest miscarriage of justice we’ve seen” but was also accused of “lying” during his questioning on Friday 19 April. More

Rishi Sunak donned a red apron and goggles as he got to work cutting keys on a visit to Timpsons following his pledge to end the UK’s “sick note culture”.The prime minister today (19 April) announced a new “moral mission” to reform the welfare system, as he warned the number of economically inactive young people in Britain was a “tragedy”.But he was forced to deny his plans lacked compassion and were about saving money, as he faced accusations of “hostile rhetoric” and a “full-on assault on disabled people”. More

Grant Shapps clashed with Sky News host Sky Burley as he was quizzed over the latest sleaze scandal to hit the Conservatives.Mark Menzies is the latest Tory MP to have his whip suspended.Mr Menzies is alleged to have used thousands of pounds given by donors to fund medical expenses and to have made a late-night call to a 78-year-old aide asking for help because he had been locked up by “bad people” demanding money for his release.Ms Burley asked Mr Shapps on Thursday (18 April): “Eight independent MPs, former Tories… what’s that saying about your party and the state of British politics?”Mr Shapps appeared to smirk and replied: “I thought I was on to talk about two wars.“Do you think it’s funny?”, Ms Burley asked. More