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Business minister Kevin Hollinrake appeared surprised at finding out he was getting a pay rise during a live TV interview on Monday (1 April).The Tory MP appeared on Gareth Barlow’s Sky News Breakfast show when the presenter asked him about the 5.5 percent pay rise MPs have got, which comes into effect today.Appearing somewhat taken aback, Mr Hollinrake said: “I did not know we were getting a pay rise.”It comes as the UK minimum age rate increases today by 9.8 percent to £11.44 an hour, up from £10.42. More

Business minister Kevin Hollinrake claimed the Conservative Party has “almost abolished” low pay in the UK.Mr Hollinrake made his comments as an almost 10 percent rise in the UK minimum wage comes into place today (1 April).Employees aged 21 and over will now be entitled to the National Living Wage. The rate will increase by 9.8 percent to £11.44 an hour, up from £10.42.Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday, Mr Hollinrake said: “By this latest measure we have almost abolished low pay in this country.” More

Sir Keir Starmer said it was a time of “optimism and new beginnings” as he issued his Easter Sunday message.The Labour leader, who hopes to be in No 10 by the end of the year, used his message to say that people would use Easter to think about “our future and how things can change for the better”.Sir Keir said: “The Easter story is one of hope and renewal, of overcoming adversity and light prevailing over darkness.“As families and friends gather to celebrate the holiday we turn our thoughts towards new beginnings, our future and how things can change for the better.”Rishi Sunak, meanwhile, praised the work of Christians in his Easter message. More

Angela Rayner made a joke about being ginger at Labour’s local elections launch on Thursday (28 March).The Labour deputy leader was introducing Sir Keir Starmer, as she made comparisons between her and the party’s leader.Ms Rayner said: “We grew up in different ends of the country and at different times, but we endured the same insecurities and hardships so many hardworking people face.“I guess the one difference is I had to endure it as a ginger, so I have got one up there.” More

Angela Rayner has insisted she is “not losing any sleep” after it was revealed police are reviewing claims she may have broken electoral law when she lived between two council houses in Stockport.Greater Manchester Police has confirmed a detective chief inspector had been assigned to reconsider the case, just days after Ms Rayner accused the Conservative party of attempting to “smear” her.Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Thursday (28 March), Ms Rayner insisted she had done nothing wrong.She said: “I am not losing any sleep over this. The only thing I am losing sleep over is 14 years of Conservative economic chaos.” More

Rishi Sunak has spoken of the challenges of being a good father to his two children, while balancing being prime minister.Mr Sunak opened up about the struggle in an interview with former Conservative Party leader William Hague for The Times Podcast.The prime minister said: “I have two young girls who mean the world to me. Ding these jobs it’s hard to balance being a good dad and doing a good job. You’ve got to prioritise this job because it’s an important job and you are doing it on behalf of the country.” More

A Conservative MP has launched a petition to get a fish and chip shop in his town centre constituency.Steve Tuckwell, who succeeded Boris Johnson in becoming MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, is campaigning to get a chippy in Uxbridge town centre and has launched an online petition.Mr Tuckwell said: “We have a fish and chip shop in Cowley and one near St Andrew’s Park, but we don’t in Uxbridge Town Centre. That’s why I’m launching a campaign to get us a fish and chip shop in Uxbridge Town Centre, but I need your support to do it. “ More

Boris Johnson’s former adviser gave a blunt response when asked if Rishi Sunak will still be Tory leader at the next general election.Appearing on Andrew Marr’s LBC programme on Tuesday (26 Marc), Tim Montgomerie was asked if he believes Mr Sunak will still be the Conservative leader in October and November.Mr Montgomerie replied: “No.”Mr Montgomerie then claimed Mr Sunak was also questioning his popularity within the Conservatives.“He has not made his decision to go or anything, but he is not in denial about the challenges he faces personally,” Mr Montgomerie said. More