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Rishi Sunak has defended his interview with Elon Musk at the UK’s AI summit earlier this month, after a Labour MP criticised his “fawning welcome”.Daniel Zeichner said the “world cringed” over the prime minister’s discussion with the tech billionaire, and questioned what he has learnt from “an unelected, super-rich individual who had taken over a once successful organisation and plunged it into a death spiral.”Mr Sunak hit back by saying it was “extraordinary” that Mr Zeichner did not “understand the importance of technology sectors and companies to the growth of our economy”.“What the rest of the world saw was the UK playing a lead in defining the regulations and approach to a technology that is going to transform how we live.” More

Jeremy Hunt made a jibe at shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves during his autumn statement on Wednesday (22 November).Hunt told the Commons: “Let’s start with inflation. The shadow chancellor didn’t mention it in her conference speech. My conference speech was before hers so all she had to do was a bit of copying and pasting which I’ve heard she’s good at.”On Ms Reeves’ Labour’s conference speech, he added: “It speaks volumes that during the worst global inflation shock for a generation, it didn’t even get a mention.” More

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer suggested the Government had forgotten the NHS in unveiling five new pledges.Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said: “This week the Prime Minister unveiled the latest version of his five pledges for the country.“Let’s hope he has more success with these than the last ones – did he forget the NHS?”Rishi Sunak replied: “Just weeks after becoming prime minister, we injected record funding into the NHS and in social care. “We also unveiled the first ever long-term workforce plan in the NHS’s 75-year history.” More

Jeremy Hunt says he hopes the autumn statement’s measures will make a “really big difference” to entrepreneurs.In a social media video, the Chancellor said the statement had “110 different measures to help grow the British economy”.“I’m thinking of my own business, that I set up over 30 years ago,” the Chancellor said.“I want to help thousands of other people do what I did, and I hope today will make a really big difference.”Hunt is now heading to the House of Commons to deliver his speech. More

David Cameron was introduced to the House of Lords on Monday 20 November, following his appointment as foreign secretary.He will be known as Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, as the territorial designation for his peerage was confirmed last week.The former prime minister was elevated to the House of Lords after being appointed to cabinet by Rishi Sunak, marking a remarkable return to frontline politics seven years after he resigned in the wake of the Brexit referendum.Lord Cameron’s new title reflects his long-held ties to the Cotswold town of Chipping Norton, which lies within his former Witney constituency. More

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said there is “too much negativity” surrounding Britain’s economy, as he failed to rule out a shock income tax cut.Appearing on BBC One – Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Hunt said: “There is too much negativity about the British economy. There is a sort of defeatism. Actually, when you look at it, there’s a lot going for it. For example, the sector that is going to define all of us in the next 20 years, is the technology sector. “We have just become the third largest in the world after the United States and China. That is going to be a tremendous strength going forward for the UK.” More

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and his shadow counterpart Rachel Reeves were asked what they liked about in an awkward exchange on BBC One – Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg (19 November)Ms Kuenssberg asks: “Jeremy Hunt, what do you admire about Rachel Reeves?Mr Hunt replies: “Rachel is a survivor, she’s been in and out of the shadow cabinet and she is still here and that is a quality in politics.”Ms Reeves responds: “I have been reading he is a keen dancer, a Latin dancer. You learn new things all the time. I was watching Strictly last night and that might be something he takes up in the future.Hunt replies: “That’s never going to happen.” More

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered outside Sir Keir Starmer’s office in Camden, north London.Crowds blocked the road on Saturday (18 November) and chanted “Keir Starmer’s a waste man” and “What do we want? A ceasefire. When do we want it? Now”.Protesters held up signs saying “Stop the war on Gaza” and waved large Palestinian flags outside the Labour leader’s office.The march began outside Chalk Farm station as part of a day of national action across London and the UK. More