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Rishi Sunak told farmers “I’ve got your back” during a speech at the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) annual conference on Tuesday (20 February).The Prime Minister outlined a doubling of the amount of funding going to technology and innovation schemes such as robotics, roof-top solar, and agricultural research, helping farmers to increase productivity.In the first speech by a Prime Minister to the NFU conference since 2008, Mr Sunak said: “You produce the food we need – food that is some of the best and highest quality anywhere in the world.“And that’s why I say to all of you and to Britain’s farmers, just as I did, in my very first speech in Parliament: I’ve got your back.” More

Rishi Sunak has accused Vladimir Putin of setting off an “energy and food price bomb”.The prime minister was announcing his government’s three-point plan to support British farming when he made the comments on Tuesday 20 February.“Food security is a vital part of our national security, and recent years have brought home the truth of that,” Mr Sunak said.“Putin set off not just an energy price bomb, but a food price bomb too.”The prime minister added that it is “important to strengthen food security at home” in an age of climate change and instability. More

Labour has mocked Rishi Sunak’s social media video promoting a ban on mobile phones in school with an edited version.The Prime Minister posted a video demonstrating the distraction mobile phones can have in the classroom on Monday (19 February).Just hours later, the opposition party posted their own version of the video on social media.It is captioned: “What sort of notifications could be annoying Rishi Sunak so much…”When Mr Sunak pauses to check his mobile phone, Labour’s video shows a mock-up of a screen with various notifications popping up to poke fun at him. More

Rishi Sunak was labelled “cringeworthy” after sharing a video to support the government’s “ban” on mobile phones in schools.The prime minister attempted to deliver his message about devices being distracting in the classroom – only to be stopped by his own mobile ringing.“See how frustrating that is?” Mr Sunak asked in the video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.However, his acting skills did not impress many viewers.“One of the biggest issues I deal with is cringing at you so hard I crack a tooth,” one person wrote.“Please make him stop,” another said. More

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said he is “really sorry” that there is no “good Labour candidate to vote for” in the Rochdale by-election after the party withdrew its support for Azhar Ali.The MP for Ilford North told ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Monday (19 February): “I’m not going to pretend that this has been Labour’s finest hour.“We’ve got people going to the polls in Rochdale who don’t have a good Labour candidate to vote for. I’m really sorry that’s the case – I think it’s an appalling position to be in.“But what I wouldn’t want is for Labour to stand by someone who’s peddled antisemitic conspiracy theories, and that’s why Keir’s taken this unprecedented action.” More

Gillian Keegan has defended new guidance intended to stop the use of mobile phones during the school day.Many schools already prohibit the use of devices in the classroom and the education secretary was challenged on the suggestion that the government is just “repeating guidance” when headteachers “have bigger problems on their hands”.“We do know that many schools have mobile phone bans in place but they are not consistent,” Ms Keegan said during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Monday 19 February.“It is a change.”Ms Keegan added that schools “welcome” guidance from the Department of Education. More

Labour leader Keir Starmer delivered a speech at the Scottish Labour Conference in Glasgow today (18 February), where he took the opportunity to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.”A ceasefire that lasts. That is what must happen now. The fighting must stop now,” he said, reflecting on his time at the Munich Security Conference.”Not just for now, not just for a pause, but permanently.”MPs will vote on a second SNP-led motion on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza this week. More