News

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

Rishi Sunak is “not interested in pursuing a deal with Ireland on returning asylum seekers to the UK.Downing Street has said the UK government has said it will not take back those who cross into Ireland until EU asylum rules change.The UK prime minister told ITV News: “We’re not interested in that. We’re not going to accept returns from the EU via Ireland when the EU doesn’t accept returns back to France where illegal migrants are coming from.”It comes after Ireland announced legislation to return a rising number of asylum seekers crossing from Northern Ireland. More

Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride appeared to suggest some people who were labelled as having “serious mental health conditions” were simply struggling with the “ups and downs of life” during a live interview on Monday (29 April).Mr Stride’s comments come after prime minister Rishi Sunak announced a clampdown on “sicknote culture” last week, with changes to the way people are signed off sick.Mr Stride told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We all have challenges in our life“Work being right at the centre of people’s lives is something that is really good for mental health.” More

John Swinney has said that he is giving “very active consideration” to being SNP leader after Humza Yousaf announced his resignation on Monday, 29 April.The first minister’s statement came after days of political turmoil following his decision to end the Scottish government’s powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens last week.Mr Yousaf quit his position in an emotional speech to avoid being ousted by his opposition in a vote of no confidence.Former deputy first minister Mr Swinney said his decision would be based on doing “the right thing by his family and his party.” More