News

Sir Keir Starmer has denied reports he would retain the Rwanda scheme if elected.The Labour leader told Sky News he does not believe in the scheme and criticised Rishi Sunak’s government for “losing control of the borders”.“I don’t think it will work, I know we have to stop the boats and I want to get going with our plan on day one,” Sir Keir said.“I’m absolutely determined to tackle this problem, because the government has lost control of the borders. What I’m not going to do is flog a dead horse.” More

The moment immigration enforcement removed migrants from homes for deportation to Rwanda was filmed on video released by the Home Office on Wednesday, 1 May.A series of operations were carried out this week with more due to take place soon, the Home Office said.It has not been confirmed how many people were detained or where they were taken into custody.Footage shows authorities raiding homes and removing people before detaining them in a vehicle.It comes after Rishi Sunak’s controversial Safety of Rwanda Act became law last week. More

Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told off MPs for behaving like teenagers during a heated Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (1 May).Sir Lindsay told members to “stop banging on furniture” and said “We are not in the sixth form now” as he threatened to remove them from the Commons over their inappropriate behaviour.Sir Lindsay’s comments came as Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer faced each other in the Commons ahead of local elections in 107 local authorities across England tomorrow (2 May). More

Theresa May has ruled out a David Cameron-style return to politics once she steps down at the next election.Speaking at a Chatham House event on Tuesday (30 April), Mrs May was asked by an audience member whether she would consider a return to frontline politics.She replied: “I set up a global commission on modern slavery and human trafficking last October.“I have just spent a day in New York at the United Nations talking about that global commission with some of my fellow commissioners and it is taking more time than I expected.“That is why I am stepping down from Parliament, so I think I am going to have plenty to do.” More

Sir Keir Starmer issued a defiant statement to deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner as police continue to investigate her living arrangements and tax affairs.Sir Keir insisted he doesn’t need to read Ms Rayner’s two homes scandal legal advice because he believes she’s done nothing wrong.During an interview with Good Morning Britain on Tuesday (30 April), Sir Keir said: “Do you believe Angela Rayner about where she says she was living? The answer to that question for me, is yes.” More

Stephen Flynn has ruled himself out of the race to replace Humza Yousaf as Scotland’s first minister.Mr Yousaf admitted “politics can be a brutal business” as he announced his resignation just four days after tearing up the powersharing agreement the SNP had with the Scottish Greens.The collapse of that deal had seen him facing two votes of no confidence in the Scottish Parliament.Speaking on Monday evening (29 April), the SNP’s Westminster leader ruled himself out of the race to replace Mr Yousaf.“I won’t be a candidate for leadership,” Mr Flynn told The News Agents podcast, before throwing his support behind John Swinney. More

Rishi Sunak joked he had “seen enough Snickers bars for a while” after being surrounded by confectionary at a warehouse.The prime minister visited a DHL distribution centre at the London Gateway port in Essex on Monday 29 April, when he sat down to chat with staff after being shown around the enormous facility by a young apprentice.“I have to ask, if you’re surrounded by chocolate all day long, does it make you want it more or less?” Mr Sunak asked.“For the first five minutes, I was like ‘God, I really want a Snickers bar or something’. Then by the end of it, I think maybe I’ve seen enough Snickers bars for a while.” More

A Conservative MP made a tearful call in the House of Commons to support those who suffer from anxiety.People suffering from depression or anxiety could lose access to sickness benefits as part of the government’s major welfare reforms.The plans, which will be consulted on over the coming months, also include proposals to “move away from a fixed cash benefit system” meaning people with some conditions will no longer receive regular payments but rather improved access to treatment if their condition does not involve extra costs.“Before I was elected, I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder,” Ruth Edwards told colleagues on Monday 29 April.“I was extremely ill with it and I couldn’t work for several months.” More