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Jeremy Hunt made a joke about Sir Keir Starmer’s weight during his heated Budget announcement in the House of Commons.The chancellor brought up comments by top Labour adviser Peter Mandelson who said Sir Keir could do to “shed a few pounds” to appeal to voters.Mr Hunt said: “I know he has been taking advice from Lord Mandelson who yesterday rather uncharitably said he needed to shed a few pounds.“Ordinary families will shed more than a few pounds if that lot gets in.”Mr Hunt then added: “If he wants to join me on my marathon training he is most welcome as well. More

Rishi Sunak dodged Sir Keir Starmer when he was asked why “mandatory national vetting standards are not already in place” for the police.The Labour leader focused on policing failures during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 6 March, in the wake of a report into Sarah Everard’s death.“Serious failures in police vetting were raised in independent reports as long ago as 2012, 2019, 2022 and 2023. That is why has been arguing for mandatory national vetting standards,” Sir Keir said, before asking why they are not already in place.Mr Sunak did not directly answer the question but said it is “vital” for public confidence that those who are not fit to wear the badge are not able to join in the first place. More

MPs burst out laughing as Labour’s Angela Eagle asked Rishi Sunak which part of his economic policing is he most proud of.During Prime Minister’s Questions today (6 March), Ms Eagle asked: “Mr Speaker, which part of his economic legacy is the prime minister proud of? “Is it presiding over the highest tax burden since the Second World War or is it delivering the slowest real wage growth since the Napoleonic War?”Ms Eagle’s question was met with laughter and cheers.Mr Sunak replied: “Mr Speaker, saving 10 million jobs in the pandemic with the furlough scheme. More

Jeremy Hunt got locked out of Downing Street ahead of his crunch Budget announcement on Wednesday (6 March).Footage showed the chancellor walking towards the infamous No.11 door, but he was left standing awkwardly in front of it.Mr Hunt was eventually let in after giving a quick knock.The chancellor’s new plan is under considerable scrutiny as he promised a 2p tax cut to national insurance in the hopes of boosting Conservative popularity, with experts questioning if Britain can even afford such a move. More

The House of Commons deputy speaker warned MPs not to get “excited” as Jeremy Hunt was jeered at the beginning of his spring Budget statement.Dame Eleanor Laing said the behaviour was “not amusing” and that the chamber needed to hear what the chancellor had to say.“I can tell who is making the noise and you simply won’t get the chance to speak later,” she warned MPs.Mr Hunt said the government was in a position to deliver “permanent tax cuts” and billed his financial statement as a “Budget for long-term growth” on Wednesday 6 March. More

Sir Keir Starmer quizzed Rishi Sunak on how women and girls can have confidence in the criminal justice system “when almost all rapists don’t see the inside of a courtroom”.Mr Starmer made his comments as he pressed the prime minister to introduce mandatory national standards for police vetting following the murder of Sarah Everard.During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (6 March), the Labour leader said: Sarah Everard’s murder should have been a watershed moment on policing reform, but the sad reality is the victims of rape who have the courage and bravery to come forward have just a 2.4 percent chance of their perpetrators being caught.” More

Jeremy Hunt says “great budgets can change history” in a new video shared by the treasury ahead of the chancellor’s spring Budget announcement today (6 March).In the footage, released on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Hunt also insists that the government is “bringing down taxes”.He said: “The economy is set for healthy growth. We’re putting more money into public services and we’re bringing down taxes. Stick to the plan.”The chancellor is widely expected to hand voters another 2p cut to national insurance contributions, in a repeat of his autumn statement. More

Ministers arrived in Downing Street on Wednesday morning (6 March) for a Cabinet meeting before Jeremy Hunt delivers his Budget to parliament.The chancellor is widely expected to unveil a 2p cut in national insurance in an attempt to shore up support for the government before a general election expected later this year.Mr Hunt, who has faced pressure from Tory MPs to ease the record-high tax burden, promised “permanent cuts in taxation” that would bring “higher growth” as he seeks to woo voters. More