UK Politics – live: Wes Streeting defends Dan Poulter after Tory MP defects to Labour over NHS concerns

Rishi Sunak refuses to answer if he will ‘have regrets’ if Tories lose election

Daniel Poulter has defected to Labour in a dramatic blow to Rishi Sunak, with the former Tory minister backing Sir Keir Starmer’s party as a “serious part of government” in which Britain “can trust”.

In his shock defection, the NHS doctor and longtime Tory claimed “Labour alone has the will and the trust to restore and reform” the health service and warned the Conservatives had become a “nationalist party of the right”.

Serving to underscore the growing divides in the Conservative Party, the departure of Mr Poulter – first elected in 2010 – was swiftly following by reports of a right-wing Tory plot dubbed “100 Days To Save Britain” to replace Mr Sunak with former leadership rival Penny Mordaunt.

Mr Sunak meanwhile is keeping the door open to a July general election, having again refused to rule out going to the country this summer when asked by Sky News.

Amid speculation that a disastrous set of local elections results next week could force his hand, the PM would not “say anything more than I’ve already said” on the date of the next election.

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Streeting says he hopes defection ‘sends a signal’ that disaffected Tories ‘welcome’ in Labour

Wes Streeting has said that he hopes Dan Poulter’s defection “sends a signal” to disaffected Tories that “they’re welcome to join us in Labour”.

“It’s a sign of both the state of the Conservative Party, but also the strength of the Labour Party, that we’re attracting someone like Dan Poulter over to the Labour benches before the general election arrives.

“I hope that sends a signal to those disaffected Conservatives who are looking for a political home that they’re welcome to join us in Labour.

“Because we want to unite our country, the challenges are so great, we’ve got to bring our country back together to tackle the state of our economy, our public services, and the threats in this really dangerous and volatile world we find ourselves.”

Andy Gregory28 April 2024 11:05

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Alex Salmond weighs in on whether Humza Yousaf will survive no confidence vote

Former first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, has given his thoughts on whether Humza Yousaf will be able to survive a no confidence vote.

My colleague Sophie Thompson reports:

Alex Salmond weighs in on whether Humza Yousaf will survive no confidence vote

Former first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, has given his thoughts on whether Humza Yousaf will be able to survive a no confidence vote. Appearing on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr Salmond noted he’s sure the SNP leader is in a “listening mood” ahead of the crucial meeting this week, as he scrambles to relieve tensions with ministers. However, it could be an uphill battle, as Mr Salmond claims “divisive issues” such as self-identification haven’t “left enough time to concentrate on the things that matter to the people of Scotland.”

Andy Gregory28 April 2024 10:57

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‘Bottling’ Sunak should ‘get on with’ general election, says Streeting

Rishi Sunak is “bottling” a general election and “should get on with it” because people are “fed up with waiting”, Labour’s Wes Streeting has said – claiming the PM “will have to be taken out of Downing Street by his fingernails”.

“I can tell you having campaigned right across the country in these local elections, the number one question that’s asked right across the country is ‘when do you think the general election is going to be?’” the shadow health secretary told Sky News.

“People are crying out for an opportunity to deliver their verdict on this government and to vote for change.

“That’s why the prime minister bottled an election earlier this year. That’s why he’s bottling it now. That’s why he will have to be taken out of Downing Street by his fingernails by the end of the year.”

Andy Gregory28 April 2024 10:56

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Tories losing West Midlands and Tees Valley at mayoral elections would ‘set vultures circling’, Sunak warned

Rishi Sunak has been warned that losses in the Tees Valley and West Midlands mayoral elections would “set the vultures circling”, with restless Tory MPs agitating for a leadership challenge.

Ben Houchen and Andy Street are the Conservatives’ most powerful figures outside of Westminster and have both built major personal brands. When their seats were last up for election in 2021, Mr Houchen won a remarkable 72 per cent of the vote, while Mr Street won with 54 per cent.

But, in a worrying sign the week before ballots open next, pollsters are recording both races close to neck and neck, with Mr Houchen slightly leading in Tees Valley, while Mr Street is slightly behind in the West Midlands race.

Chris Hopkins, director of polling company Savanta, said that if both Tory mayors lose, “the vultures really will be circling for Rishi Sunak” and “it would show how much of a drag the Conservative brand is nationally”.

“These are two figures who are essentially running campaigns as independently of the Conservative Party as possible, and the fact the races are as close as they are is testament to the strength of their personal brands.

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the full report:

Andy Gregory28 April 2024 10:53

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Scottish Green co-leader signals no change on Humza Yousaf confidence vote

Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, has indicated her party will not be changing its mind about supporting the upcoming motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf.

On BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Ms Slater said they would vote in favour of the motion.

She said: “I cannot imagine anything at this point that could change that position. This was a spectacular breach of trust.”

Asked if policy offers from Mr Yousaf ahead of the vote could persuade them to abstain, Ms Slater said: “[The Bute House Agreement] was based on mutual trust and respect. I do have trust and respect for many of my SNP colleagues.

“But Humza Yousaf himself has broken that and he needs to face the consequences.”

Andy Gregory28 April 2024 10:46

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Minister declines to set cap on migration

Home Office minister Chris Philp has declined to set a cap on net migration after former immigration minister Robert Jenrick called for it to be limited to the tens of thousands.

Mr Philp told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “We are committed to substantially reducing legal migration. We don’t think it’s right to have large-scale, low-skilled migration. We want a much smaller number of high-skilled migrants.”

Asked about Mr Jenrick’s call for a cap, he said: “I’m not in a position to sit here and advocate for a hard cap today.

“But what I can say is that we’re taking measures that have been enacted and are now being implemented to reduce legal migration by about 300,000 a year. That’s by significantly increasing salary thresholds. It’s by reducing the numbers of dependants who can come in with migrants.

“I think the British public do want us to control, to significantly reduce, migration, both legal migration as well as stop illegal migration.”

Andy Gregory28 April 2024 10:27

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Tory minister says he was posing ‘rhetorical question’ on Rwanda and DRC

Policing minister Chris Philp has insisted he was posing a “rhetorical question” after he appeared to ask whether Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were different countries on Question Times this week.

He told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “I was struggling a little bit to hear the question.

“When I put that point to him I was asking that as a clearly rhetorical question rather than a substantive question, as I think any fair-minded listener would conclude.”

Policing Minister Chris Philp asks if Congo is different country from Rwanda

Andy Gregory28 April 2024 10:20

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Humza Yousaf in ‘very difficult position’ ahead of no-confidence vote, says Alex Salmond

Alex Salmond said Humza Yousaf is in a “very difficult position” ahead of votes of no confidence in the coming week and could well be “in a listenening mode”.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: “Humza Yousaf wouldn’t have sacked the Greens from his cabinet or his administration unless he wanted a significant change in direction.

“Therefore, I’m sure he’s in a listening mode to listen to proposals on independence, on moving away from the identity agenda which has caused so much disruption in Scottish society.”

He continued: “Ash Regan’s conducting the negotiations, as it should be, because she’s the parliamentary leader of Alba in Holyrood. She’s found herself in a highly influential position. I think Scotland are lucky that it’s somebody like Ash Regan who’s in that position.”

Andy Gregory28 April 2024 10:17

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Sunak defends spending £75bn on defence over NHS and schools

Rishi Sunak has explained why he chose to spend £75bn on the UK’s defence, rather than use it to fund the NHS and schools.

Rishi Sunak defends spending £75 billion on defence over NHS and schools

The prime minister told Sky News of a “more dangerous world” and the need to stand up to “assertive” countries, saying: “The right thing for me to do as prime minister, given that the security of our people is my first responsibility, is to ensure that we invest to keep the country safe.

“The defence industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the UK.”

Rishi Sunak defends spending £75 billion on defence over NHS and schools

Rishi Sunak has explained why he chose to spend £75 billion on the UK’s defence, rather than use it to fund the NHS and schools. The prime minister appeared on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, where he spoke of a “more dangerous world” and the need to stand up to “assertive” countries. “The right thing for me to do as prime minister, given that the security of our people is my first responsibility, is to ensure that we invest to keep the country safe”, he said. “The defence industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the UK.”

Andy Gregory28 April 2024 10:06

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Tory poll ratings will ‘significantly improve’ closer to election, claims minister

The Tories will see their poll ratings “significantly improve” closer to a general election, Home Office minister Chris Philp has predicted.

He told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “Clearly, the opinion polls are where they are. We can all see what they currently say. But I think as we continue to deliver and get things done, the public will appreciate that.

“I think as we get closer to an election, most likely in the autumn, it becomes more of a choice rather than a sort of referendum on do you feel grumpy with the government. Clearly, at the moment, people do feel grumpy with the government.

“But as we get closer to an election, it’s not so much a referendum on grumpiness. It becomes actually a choice – who do you want to run the country?”

He said that confronted with the choice between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, “we will see our poll ratings significantly improve”.

Andy Gregory28 April 2024 10:01

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