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Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride was put on the spot about NHS waiting lists as he was grilled on changes to benefits in the UK.The Tory minister was grilled on the government’s WorkWell scheme, which includes a review of payments to people with mental health conditions, when he appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday (7 May).Presenter Susana grilled Mr Stride after a woman was forced to pay for her own hip replacement as she could not wait 18 months for surgery and could not work because of the pain.Mr Stride replied: “I can’t comment on the specific example.” More

A Tory MP has suggested Labour will win the general election.Paul Scully, who is standing down at the next vote, shared a bleak outlook for Rishi Sunak’s government. “There is a scenario we can get to, if we come up with a vision and sell that vision to the country, rather than just going from crisis to crisis… that you can get to a hung parliament or reduce the losses,” he told BBC Politics on Tuesday 7 May.”My personal view, is that Labour is going to win the election.” More

Labour will fight the next election on the economy, the shadow chancellor has said as she dismissed suggestions the UK was heading for a hung parliament.In a speech in the City of London on Tuesday 7 April, Rachel Reeves said her party would use every day to “expose what the Conservatives have done to our country” and accused the government of “gaslighting” the public by claiming Britain had “turned a corner”.She said: “Instead of believing the prime minister’s claims that we’ve turned a corner, the questions people will ask ahead of the next election are simple.“Frankly, does anything in our country work better than it did when the Conservatives came into office 14 years ago?” More

The winning Tory candidate in the Tees Valley mayor election claimed he “forgot” his blue rosette as he celebrated victory on Friday 3 May.Ben Houchen has denied “trying to pretend” he was not Conservative during his mayoral election campaign, despite saying he could “absolutely” work with Sir Keir Starmer if the Labour leader becomes prime minister.“People know round here I’m a Conservative,” he told Sky News when asked about apparent efforts to distance himself from the Tory Party brand and instead run on a highly personal platform.Lord Houchen was the only candidate on stage not to wear a party rosette at the Tees Valley count, saying he “forgot” it. More

Labour’s David Skaith celebrated as he won the York and North Yorkshire mayoral election on Rishi Sunak’s doorstep.The area contains the prime minister’s own constituency of Richmond and was previously considered a Conservative stronghold.It came as another blow to Mr Sunak as the Tories were set to be hit with a humiliating defeat in this year’s local elections.Mr Skaithe was elected as the region’s first leader with 35.1 per cent of the vote, compared with the Tory candidate’s 27.3 per cent. More

Lee Anderson clashed with BBC journalist Nick Robinson today as the Reform Party was accused of taking votes away from the Conservatives in the local elections.Rishi Sunak sacked Mr Anderson from the Tory party after he refused to apologise for comments he made about London Mayor Sadiq Khan.After losing the whip, Mr Anderson became an independent before joining the Reform Party, created by Nigel Farage.In a heated debate on BBC Radio 4 Today’s programme on Friday (3 May), Mr Robinson asked Mr Anderson about Mr Farage standing in the next election. More

Rishi Sunak appeared to be optimistic despite the Conservatives suffering defeats across the country in Friday’s (3 May) local election results.Experts have warned the Tories could lose 500 seats in what could be their worst numbers in 40 years.Mr Sunak acknowledged defeats but was keen to highlight the fact his party had clung on in Harlow – though the party’s majority was cut from nine to a single seat there.“[Sir] Keir Starmer held a rally just on Wednesday saying [Harlow] was a place that he had to win to be on track to win a general election.“That hasn’t happened.” More

A Tory MP branded two BBC presenters “pathetic” as they clashed when discussing Ben Houchen’s re-election as Teeside mayor.Andrea Leadsom appeared to take offense after journalist Jo Cobrun pointed out Mr Houchen’s vote was down and that he never mentioned the Tories or Rishi Sunak on his election posters, when she appeared on Politics Live on Friday (3 May).Ms Leadsom said: “That whole discussion is absolutely pathetic from the BBC. That is pathetic. He has won and it is all credit to a mayor who has done a brilliant job.” More