Indy TV

The House of Commons erupted in laughter as Penny Mordaunt suggested that Labour’s claims about Jeremy Hunt’s ambition to abolish national insurance were fuelled by dreams “after eating a large amount of cheese.”Opposition MPs pressed the Commons Leader to explain if the “unfunded commitment of £46bn” would be paid for by tax rises for pensioners, cuts to the NHS, or an increase in Government debt.“I suspect the event the honourable gentleman might be recalling was actually a dream, perhaps after eating a large amount of cheese,” Ms Mordaunt said. More

A peer in the House of Lords has said he did not report his wife’s stolen credit card because the thief spent less than she did.With a deadpan delivery, Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate left the chamber unsure whether he was joking or not as he recalled the incident on Tuesday 19 March.The former police chief, a non-affiliated peer, said: “My wife, on one of her rare visits to London, had her credit card stolen.“And I monitored the use of the card and I have to say I didn’t report it to the police, because the thief was spending less than she was.”Peers across the Lords erupted into laughter at his comment. More

Vaughan Gething has been sworn in as the new first minister of Wales, making him the first Black leader of any European nation. In his address at the Senedd, the Welsh Labour leader said he takes this as a “matter of pride as well as a “daunting responsibility.”He described his vision for “a Wales that recognises we can celebrate our differences and take pride in all those things that draw us together and make us who we are.”Mr Gething was nominated for the role by his predecessor, Mark Drakeford, who formally resigned on Tuesday (19 March). More

Sir Keir Starmer told MPs “half of Rishi Sunak’s cabinet are lining up to replace him, amid growing reports of a Conservative leadership challenge.Sir Keir said it is no surprise the prime minister ruled out a spring general election while “half his cabinet are lining up to replace him”, during Prime Minister’s Questions today (20 March).Sir Keir added: “If they can’t bring themselves to stop the endless games and gimmicks, stop putting themselves before country, they should pack up, go home, and waste somebody else’s time.” More

Jonathan Gullis says the Conservatives will be “kicked out hard” if his fellow Tories even entertain the idea of a leadership contest.Mr Gullis said his colleagues should “shut up, and put up” before it gets worse for their party, during an interview with Sky News on Tuesday (19 March).Rishi Sunak has ruled out a May general election, but Jeremy Hunt hinted at an October election yesterday as he was questioned on the government’s spending plans. The Tories are facing dismal polling results, with some pollers claiming they would rather have Boris Johnson or Nigel Farage as a leader. More

Sir Keir Starmer told MPs he has prosecuted more people smugglers than the prime minister has had helicopter rides, adding “and that is a lot”.The heated exchange took place during a discussion on the deportation of dangerous criminals during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (20 March).Mr Sunak told MPS: “If it was up to him [Starmer] those criminals would still be out on our streets, and the truth is, if he wasn’t the Labour leader he would still want to be their lawyer.”Sir Keir responded: “I’ve prosecuted more people smugglers than he’s had helicopter rides and that’s a lot.” More

Sir Keir Starmer challenged Rishi Sunak to call a general election in a heated exchange during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today (20 March).The Labour leader told the Commons: “Violent prisoners released early because the Tories wrecked the criminal justice system, 3,500 small boats arrivals already this year because the Tories lost control of the borders, the NHS struggling to see people because the Tories broke it, millions paying more on their mortgages, a budget that hit pensioners, a £46 billion hole in his sums.“Why is the prime minister so scared to call an election?” More

A Conservative MP has said she does not want primary school children to be taught sex education or changing gender in a bid to “protect their innocence”.Andrea Jenkyns, who was education minister under Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, said she does not want young children to “learn about sex full stop”.Addressing MPs on Monday (18 March), Ms Jenkyns said: “As a mother myself of a child of primary school age, I do not want him or other children to learn about sex full stop, whether that’s straight or gay. “I also do not want to see young children at primary school to be taught about changing gender.” More