Indy TV

Boris Johnson has hit out at Rishi Sunak’s smoking policy, branding his plan to phase out the sale of tobacco products ‘nuts’.Speaking at a gathering of conservatives in Ottawa on Thursday (11 April), the former prime minister said: “When I look at some of the things we’re doing now, I think they are absolutely nuts.”Mr Johnson added: “We are banning cigars, what is the point of that? The party of Winston Churchill wants to ban cigars, how mad is that? More

Listen as Victoria Atkins clashes with Nick Robinson over NHS spending during an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday 11 April.The health secretary was challenged on the Conservative Party’s promise of “unfunded tax cuts at a time that there is a crisis in the NHS”.Host Robinson took issue with chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s decision to cut 4p off national insurance at the same time that Rishi Sunak is failing to meet his promise to cut hospital waiting lists.Ms Atkins responded by suggesting that the government is “spending record amounts on the NHS”, which Mr Robinson described as a “meaningless statistic”. More

The shadow transport secretary has confirmed Labour has “no plans to resurrect HS2”.Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Thursday 11 April, Louise Haigh disputed an “unsourced and inaccurate brief” suggesting the opposition wants to keep parts of the project between Birmingham and Crewe.“We’ve got no plans to take HS2 back off the shelf,” Ms Haigh said.“There will – as a result of the government’s completely ill-thought-through plans – always be an issue with capacity north of Birmingham and we will have to address that in the future.“But we have no plans to resurrect HS2 as it stands.” More

Rishi Sunak has defended the UK’s decision not to suspend arms sales to Israel.Mr Sunak has been under mounting pressure, including from within his own party, to immediately suspend the sale of arms amid a growing chorus of opposition to the number of civilians killed.The prime minister appeared on a live LBC caller phone in on Wednesday (10 April) and defended his decision, stating “none of our closest allies” have stopped existing export licences.Mr Sunak told presenter Nick Ferrari that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu “needs to do more” to alleviate the suffering in Gaza. More

Rishi Sunak has offered an apology for wearing Adidas Samba trainers after being accused of “destroying a fashion icon”.The prime minister was shown wearing the white shoes during a recent interview in Downing Street.His fashion choice was slammed by British GQ magazine, who wrote that “in a bid to present himself as young and hip, Rishi Sunak took an eternally cool sneaker and ruined it for everyone”.“I issue a fulsome apology to the Samba community,” the PM said, responding to the backlash on LBC on Wednesday morning (10 April).“But, in my defence, I would say I have been wearing Adidas trainers including Sambas – and others, in fact – for many, many years.” More

Rishi Sunak has defended his response to William Wragg’s admission that he shared colleagues’ personal numbers with a suspected scammer.During an appearance on LBC on Wednesday morning (10 April), the prime minister was asked by a caller if he had shown “a complete lack and failure of leadership” over the Westminster honeytrap scandal.“That particular incident is being looked at by two different police forces at the moment,” Mr Sunak said.He then claimed “there are wider things happening” and “lots of bad actors around the world who are trying to cause damage to our democratic processes.” More

Rishi Sunak made an embarrassing gaffe during a live LBC phone-in on Wednesday morning (10 April), mixing up a caller’s name with a Welsh valley.The prime minister had to be corrected by host Nick Ferrari after referring to Louise from Rhondda as “Rhonda”.”Good morning Nick, good morning prime minister,” the caller said, after being introduced.”Hi, Rhonda,” Mr Sunak replied.After Mr Ferrari pointed out his awkward blunder, the PM offered a quick apology. “Sorry Louise, I missed that. Louise, hi.” More

Suella Braverman has said she “strongly rebuts” suggestions that Israel is in breach of international law.The former home secretary made the comments during an appearance on LBC on Tuesday 9 April.“I have probed and I have tested, I’ve been very near to the border in Gaza and I am convinced – and I say this as a former attorney general who dealt with matters of international law and military action – that I very strongly rebut suggestions that Israel is in breach of international law, that there’s a genocide, that there’s a forced starvation,” Ms Braverman said.She also expressed her condolences to the family and friends of the seven aid workers, including three Britons, killed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza last week. More