News

Liz Truss claims “wokery” is being spread in schools and universities across the country.The former prime minister was speaking after a launch rally of the new faction – dubbed the PopCons in Westminster – in central London on Tuesday (6 February).The group aims to pile pressure on the Prime Minister to cut taxes, to adopt hardline policies on immigration and leave the European Convention on Human Rights.In an interview with GB News, Ms Truss was asked about the new grassroots movement.She said: “We’re seeing the spreading of wokery, of left-wing ideas. PopCon is about combatting that.” More

Britain is full of people who don’t want to admit they’re Tories, Liz Truss told the launch rally of the new Popular Conservatism (PopCon) movement on Tuesday, 6 February.Speaking in central London, the short-lived former prime minister said: “Britain is full of secret Conservatives – people who agree with us but don’t want to admit it because they think it’s not acceptable in their place of work, it’s not acceptable at their school.”Ms Truss also hit out at Rishi Sunak’s government for failing to take on “left-wing extremists” she claimed had gained control of UK institutions. More

A Tory MP has claimed there is a “direct link” between drill music and young people carrying knives.Nickie Aiken urged the government to look at record labels that produce music “celebrating gang culture”.Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 6 February, the Cities of London and Westminster MP said: “There has got to be a direct link to young people feeling encultured that it’s the right thing to do to carry a knife and perhaps be willing to use it.”Ms Aiken also pushed the government to “look at more flexible legislation around the words of blades” rather than being specific about particular products. More

Humza Yousaf opened up about how he did not move from his sofa for 24 hours as he was almost in a “state of breakdown” when his first marriage ended.The Scottish First Minister spoke to The Rest is Politics podcast with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart about how his mental health suffered when he was transport minister and his first marriage, to SNP activist Gail Lythgoe, broke down.Mr Yousaf said he feared his career would be impacted if he opened up to colleagues about the breakdown.“For a whole 24 hours I did not move – didn’t get up to drink water, didn’t get up to go to the toilet, didn’t eat anything,” Mr Yousaf added. More

Rishi Sunak defended accepting a £1000 bet from Piers Morgan on being able to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda before the next election.Mr Morgan told Mr Sunak he would bet “£1,000 to a refugee charity” that he wouldn’t deport anyone to the African country before the election, before the prime minister shook his hand.Mr Sunak has faced heavy criticism for the bet, with the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn describing it as “depraved.”The PM told BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday (6 February) he was taken “by surprise” by the offer, but did not say it was a mistake to have shaken Mr Morgan’s hand. More

A “naked” nature campaigner has attended a meeting with the government wearing only silhouettes of swifts as part of a campaign to help the birds.Hannah Bourne-Taylor was accompanied by Tory peer and ex-minister Zac Goldsmith for the meeting in Westminster to urge the government to mandate “swift bricks” in new homes and extensions.The nest boxes – hollow bricks with an entry hole – provide nesting opportunities in buildings for the migratory birds, who are red listed due to concerns over their conservation status. More

Rishi Sunak has revealed he shared a joke with England manager Gareth Southgate about having “tough jobs”.The prime minister spoke about the challenges of his role during an interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV.“I was very lucky to meet Gareth Southgate and the England football team a little while ago,” Mr Sunak revealed.“He and I were joking about who has the toughest job. I would say he has a tough job too. He’s doing a great job, an incredible job.”The full interview is due to be shown on Piers Morgan Uncensored on Monday 5 February at 8pm on TalkTV. More

Michelle O’Neill has said that the all-female team leading the new Northern Ireland powersharing executive should show young women that they can achieve anything.The Sinn Fein vice president has made history as Northern Ireland’s first-ever nationalist First Minister.Ms O’Neill spoke of her pride that her family were at Stormont to see her appointment, and her hope that she and DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly will be able to form a close relationship.”I think that speaks volumes to young women out there that they can achieve anything they set their minds to,” she said. More