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Sixty-three claims for pothole-related damage were made by motorists every day last year, the Liberal Democrats have said.The party has called for road maintenance budgets to be fully restored by the government, accusing the Conservatives of overseeing a “pothole pandemic” on English roads.Data from 85 local authorities in England, obtained by freedom of information requests, shows that compensation paid to motorists reached £1.77 million in 2022/23 – a slight rise on the previous year.The Lib Dems said that the number of pothole claims has grown significantly in the last year, with 23,042 in 2022/23 compared with the 13,579 recorded the previous year. More

Rishi Sunak shared a Home Alone-inspired video message filmed in No 10 for Christmas Day.In the short clip, the prime minister asks “am I the only one here?” in an empty office before parking his work and having some festive fun.He is seen bowling a ball against stacked cans of Coca-Cola, trimming the Christmas tree and pouring syrup on spaghetti while watching Elf.Larry the cat also makes an appearance.“Merry Christmas from Downing Street,” Mr Sunak wrote, sharing the video on social media website X. More

Sir Keir Starmer has delivered his annual Christmas message to Labour supporters, and is calling for ‘love and peace’ in line with the messages of the nativity story.He also took the opportunity to thank NHS, retail, and postal workers, who will continue to deliver vital services over the festive period.Churches also received a nod for helping people with nowhere to go, or those who find Christmas difficult.“Charity, humility and selflessness take centre stage in the Christmas story,” he says. “This season serves as a reminder that these qualities should be a guiding light for all of us.” More

Russia is a “real and constant threat” to Europe, Sir Keir Starmer said as he visited British troops in Estonia deployed near the border with Vladimir Putin’s nationThe UK and its allies “need to be prepared [and] need to deter” in response to Moscow’s actions, underlined by the war in Ukraine, the Labour leader urged.Sir Keir’s comments came as he and shadow defence secretary John Healey spoke with soldiers stationed in Estonia to stress his party’s commitment to Nato and thank them for their service over Christmas. More

Sir Keir Starmer visited Estonia on Thursday, 21 December, to thank British troops deployed near the Russian border for their “courage, integrity, loyalty and professionalism”.The Labour leader and shadow defence secretary John Healey are speaking to soldiers to stress Labour’s commitment to Nato and wish them a happy Christmas.Sir Keir is also expected to use the visit to warn that the West must not lose sight of Moscow’s threat to Europe.The opposition leader and Mr Healey will observe military exercises at the base before joining troops in the canteen over lunch. More

Rishi Sunak clashed with a Labour MP over his cuts to overseas aid while he was chancellor as Yemen faces the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis.”The now-prime minister slashed foreign aid from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent of gross national income in 2020.In October 2021, Mr Sunak said he expected to restore the commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on overseas aid in 2024-25.The UN says Yemen has “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis,” with “tens of thousands… living in famine-like conditions.”“When it comes to the aid budget, I don’t regret the cuts to the overall aid budget,” Mr Sunak told MPs on Tuesday (19 December). More

Jeremy Corbyn joined immigration policy protesters outside the Home Office in central London on Monday, 18 December.It came after Rishi Sunak’s Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its second reading last Tuesday, pushing forward the controversial deportation scheme.The prime minister’s new planned legislation would deem Rwanda safe in British law after the original bill was struck down as unlawful by the Supreme Court.MPs approved the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its second reading by 313 votes to 269, majority 44.”Treat [refugees] like human beings and create safe passages,” Mr Corbyn urged. More

A House of Lords introduction ceremony was interrupted by the Mission: Impossible theme tune on Monday, 18 December.Robert Douglas-Miller, who was appointed a life peer by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in order to take up his Government post as an environment minister, was about to swear the oath of allegiance to the King when the film’s song played from Lord Woodley’s phone.The Labour peer later spoke in the chamber, apologising for the interruption.“I have never been so embarrassed in all my life, I am sincerely sorry,” he added. More