Braverman’s savage attack on Sunak ahead of Rwanda deportation ruling - live

Suella Braverman launched a blistering attack on Rishi Sunak last night after being sacked as home secretary for a series of controversial and highly inflammatory remarks about homeless people and the police.

Ms Braverman accused the prime minister of “betrayal” and failing to deliver on key policy areas such as illegal migration, in an explosive letter designed to cause him maximum damage.

She also accused Mr Sunak, who she described as “weak”, of leaving the country in an “impossible position” with no “credible Plan B” just hours before a crunch court ruling on his flagship Rwanda plan.

The Supreme Court will on Wednesday decide whether or not the government’s controversial plan to send migrants to Rwanda, which has been under review for  18 months, is lawful. Ongoing legal battles have meant there have yet to be any migrants sent to the East African nation under the policy.

Key Points

• Supreme Court to rule on Rwanda plan

• Braverman accuses Sunak of ‘betrayal’ in brutal letter

• Keir Starmer to stage showdown vote with Labour’s Gaza rebels

Labour MPs ‘not given free vote’ on ceasefire

08:59 , Athena Stavrou

Shadow cabinet minister Pat McFadden stressed that Labour MPs will not be given a free vote on the SNP’s call for a ceasefire.

Pressed on what consequences there would be for shadow ministers who rebel, he told Sky News: “Like every frontbencher, I serve at the pleasure of the leader.

“Who is on the frontbench is a matter for him and the chief whip.”

According to the Daily Telegraph, Sir Keir is preparing to fire those who vote in favour of the SNP’s motion, should Sir Lindsay put it to a division.

A Labour spokesman would not confirm the reports, but said: “We’re not going to be engaging with the party political game-playing by the SNP in Parliament.”

Supreme Court Rwanda judgment expected this morning

08:38 , Athena Stavrou

The Supreme Court will deliver its judgment on whether Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda policy is lawful this morning, after Suella Braverman warned he has no credible back-up to “stop the boats”.

A ruling on whether or not the government’s controversial plan to send migrants to Rwanda, which has been under review for  18 months, is expected at around 10am.

Ongoing legal battles have meant there have yet to be any migrants sent to the East African nation under the policy.

Government to back ‘difficult decisions’ to further lower inflation

08:06 , Athena Stavrou

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said the Government would back the Bank of England’s “difficult decisions” on using interest rates to further lower inflation.

He told broadcasters: “The Government has a very important role in bringing down inflation, because we are responsible for the whole fiscal context – a year ago, markets were worried that borrowing and debt were out of control.

“We took difficult decisions to bring that borrowing and debt down.

“As a result of that, we made it easier for the Bank of England to do their job.

“But we will continue to support them with the difficult decisions that they take on interest rates, because the job is not yet done.”

Mr Hunt, who will deliver the Government’s autumn statement next week, said that although the UK is “beginning to win the battle against inflation” there was “lots more work to do”.

UK ‘turned a corner’ as inflation rates drop

07:55 , Athena Stavrou

An economist has said the latest inflation figures suggest the UK has turned a corner in it’s “battle” against inflation.

“This dramatic drop suggests that the UK has turned the corner in its battle against soaring inflation, particularly given the fall in core inflation, which indicates that underlying price pressures are also easing,” Suren Thiru, economics director at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, said.

He added that while inflation targets have been made, this is not due to Government action.

He added: “While the Prime Minister has achieved his target to halve inflation this year, this owes more to the downward pressure on prices from falling energy costs and rising interest rates than any Government action.”

Government celebration ‘cold comfort’ for working people, Lib Dem says

07:43 , Athena Stavrou

The Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Sarah Olney said the prime minister’s celebration would be “cold comfort” for “hard-working” people.

“Rishi Sunak congratulating himself over today’s figures will be cold comfort for all the hard-working people still bearing the brunt of this Conservative chaos,” she said.

“For months on end, people across the country have been watching as their pay cheque gets squeezed from all sides, draining every spare penny. From the ever-increasing cost of the weekly shop to skyrocketing mortgage payments.”

She added that it was essential that the Government use next week’s autumn statement to properly help families and pensioners.

Sunak attributes inflation figures to “hard decisions and fiscal discipline”

07:27 , Athena Stavrou

Rishi Sunak said “hard decisions and fiscal discipline” by his Government had contributed to the fall in inflation.

“Inflation works like a tax. It eats into the pound in your pocket, affecting the price of your food shop, your mortgage, the size of your pension pot,” the Prime Minister said.

“This is why halving inflation has been my number one priority.

“Getting it down has involved hard decisions and fiscal discipline.

“Official figures released this morning confirm we have halved inflation, meeting the first of the five priorities I set out at the beginning of this year.

“While it is welcome news that prices are no longer rising as quickly, we know many people are continuing to struggle, which is why we must stay the course to continue to get inflation all the way back down to 2%.”

Shadow chancellor says Government should not be ‘popping Champagne'

07:13 , Holly Evans

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Government should not be “popping Champagne corks” about the fall in the rate of inflation, with people still struggling with the cost of living.

“The fall in inflation will come as some relief for families struggling with the cost of living,” she said.

“But now is not the time for Conservative ministers to be popping champagne corks and patting themselves on the back.

“After 13 years of economic failure under the Conservatives, working people are worse off with higher mortgage bills, prices still rising in the shops and inflation twice as high as the Bank of England’s target.

“Rishi Sunak is too out of touch and his party is too divided to help people who are worried about the cost of living.

“A Labour government’s priority would be making working people better off by boosting wages, cutting people’s bills and getting the economy growing again.”

Food prices and reduction in energy price cap helped reduce inflation rates

07:10 , Holly Evans

Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), said: “Inflation fell substantially on the month as last year’s steep rise in energy costs has been followed by a small reduction in the energy price cap this year.

“Food prices were little changed on the month, after rising this time last year, while hotel prices fell, both helping to push inflation to its lowest rate for two years.”

UK inflation drops to 4.6 per cent

07:04 , Holly Evans

The UK’s CPI index has dropped to 4.6% in October, down from 6.7% in September.

This means it has fallen to a two-year low, and means inflation has more than halved since late last year.

ICYMI: Headache for David Cameron as former aide refused entry to Georgia

07:00 , Matt Mathers

A former adviser to both Boris Johnson and David Cameron has been denied entry to Georgia where he was due to meet with officials from a pro-Western opposition party.

In a first headache for Rishi Sunak’s new foreign secretary, the ex-adviser to the former prime ministers Ben Mallet was turned away at the border by Georgian authorities.

Bel Trew and Chris Stevenson report:

Headache for David Cameron as former aide refused entry to Georgia

ICYMI: Braverman’s humiliation of Sunak has echoes of Geoffrey Howe’s deadly attack on Thatcher

06:00 , Matt Mathers

Her furious swipe at Rishi Sunak will go down in history, writes John Rentoul, but will it be a fatal blow?

Read John’s full piece here:

Braverman’s humiliation of Sunak has echoes of Geoffrey Howe’s attack on Thatcher

ICYMI: Braverman letter in full

05:00 , Matt Mathers

Suella Braverman has accused Rishi Sunak of “betrayal” over a promise to stop small boat crossings in an incendiary letter after being sacked as home secretary.

In a broadside aimed at the prime minister, she accused him of having “manifestly and repeatedly failed to deliver” on key policies, and said his “distinctive style of government means you are incapable of doing so”.

You can read the letter in full here:

Suella Braverman’s letter in full as ex-home secretary attacks Rishi Sunak

ICYMI: Bitter Braverman’s brutal revenge on Sunak the ‘failure’

04:00 , Matt Mathers

Suella Braverman has branded Rishi Sunak a failure and accused him of betraying a secret deal on small boats in a blistering attack that once again plunged the Conservatives into open warfare.

In an incendiary letter a day after she was sacked as home secretary, Ms Braverman told the prime minister he had “manifestly and repeatedly failed to deliver” on key policies.

Kate Devlin and Adam Forrest report:

Bitter Braverman’s brutal revenge on Sunak the ‘failure’

More than 50 criminal investigations begin into suspected fraud linked to Covid support schemes

03:00 , Matt Mathers

More than 50 criminal investigations have started into suspected fraud linked to Covid-19 support schemes, according to Jeremy Hunt.

The Chancellor added that a total of 80 arrests have been made so far as he responded to concerns from Labour.

Speaking at Treasury questions, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said the UK Covid-19 Inquiry is uncovering “unsavoury examples of Government mismanagement”.

Richard Wheeler reports:

More than 50 criminal investigations begin into fraud linked to Covid support schemes

ICYMI: Cameron’s return to government leaves woman shocked: ‘You are joking?’

02:00 , Matt Mathers

A woman was shocked to find out that David Cameron was back in government - when she was stopped in the street by a news reporter, Oliver Browning reports.

Paul McNamara, Channel 4’s senior political correspondent, was on the streets of Dudley, West Midlands, gauging the public opinion on Mr Cameron’s return to the cabinet.

“He’s back? What are you on about?” the shocked woman says, when told he has taken up the position of foreign secretary.

“You’re joking!” she then cries, and when the reporter tells her he isn’t, she turns her head away.

The reporter concludes their exchange by asking the woman if she’s “glad” he’s back.

“Not really, no,” she responds. Watch the clip here:

David Cameron’s return to government leaves woman shocked: ‘You are joking?’

Government blames data error for figures showing suspects trapped five years in prison without trial

01:00 , Matt Mathers

The Ministry of Justice has blamed a data error after it published figures showing that 150 suspects had been trapped in jail for more than five years while awaiting trial.

The remand population is currently at its highest in at least 50 years, and is a major driver of prison overcrowding, surging from 9,600 inmates to 16,200 in just four years as the courts backlog soared. Last year, 35 per cent of self-inflicted deaths in prisons were among those on remand.

Andy Gregory reports:

Government blames data error for figures showing five-year remand waits

Can the return of Lord Cameron of Remainville win back lost Tory voters?

00:01 , Matt Mathers

The PM has seized headlines with his surprise appointment of David Cameron as foreign secretary – but does a lurch to the centre have any hope of securing the Conservatives a fifth term, wonders John Rentoul.

Read John’s full piece here:

Can the return of Lord Cameron of Remainville win back lost Tory voters?

Sunak believes in ‘actions not words’, says No10 in response to Braverman’s resignation letter

Tuesday 14 November 2023 23:00 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak believes in “action not words” and will continue tackling small boat crossings, No 10 has said in response to a scathing resignation letter by Suella Braverman in which she accused the prime minister of “betrayal” and failing to deliver on key policy areas.

Downing Street said the prime minister was “proud to appoint a strong, united team” after Ms Braverman, sacked as home secretary in a cabinet reshuffle on Monday, accused him of being “weak” and claimed to have a “document” outlining her conditions for entering government.

Full report:

Timeline of Rwanda asylum plan as Supreme Court prepares to pass verdict

Tuesday 14 November 2023 22:08 , Matt Mathers

The Supreme Court judgment on the Government’s plans to removal asylum seekers to Rwanda comes more than 18 months after they were first announced.

Ongoing legal battles have meant there has yet to be any migrants sent to the East African nation under the policy.

Meanwhile, the Channel migrant crisis continues amid much political debate.

Here is how events leading up to the ruling from the UK’s highest court on Wednesday have unfolded since the Rwanda plan was unveiled:

Brexit ‘chaos’ has hit UK investment, says Mandelson

Tuesday 14 November 2023 22:00 , Matt Mathers

Longstanding low investment is a root cause of the UK’s “dire economic state” and the “deep malaise”, Labour grandee Peter Mandelson has warned.

In the global race to secure investment, he told parliament that the UK had “sidelined itself” – with the “chaos” since the Brexit vote inflicting damage to the nation’s international standing.

Britain’s reputation for quality of government had also been replaced by one of “political instability”, Lord Mandelson said.

Cameron comeback won’t be enough, says John Curtice

Tuesday 14 November 2023 21:30 , Alex Ross

Top polling guru Prof John Curtice says bringing David Cameron back into government won’t be enough to revive Rishi Sunak’s fortunes.

“Cameron’s return is unlikely to make much difference to the government’s popularity,” he writes in The Times.

Prof Curtice said Mr Cameron “is not especially popular — recent polling from Savanta, for example, suggests that at -21 his net favourability rating is little better than Sunak’s rating of -27”.

“However, it will be a brief respite from the reality of the political situation in which the government finds itself. It is on average almost 20 points behind Labour in the polls — no better than the position a year ago following the fall of Liz Truss.”

“History suggests that headline-generating reshuffles do not necessarily change the political climate.”

Sunak pushing back to ‘centrism’, say right-wing Tory rebels

Tuesday 14 November 2023 21:00 , Alex Ross

Senior right-wing rebels Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates have had more to say about Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle.

The co-leaders of the New Conservatives group of mainly 2019 “red wall” backbenchers said the party was going in the “wrong direction”.

“I’m afraid we’re going back into the politics of decline. Where is the energy and the spirit of change that 2019 represented? I worry that we’re going in the wrong direction now,” Mr Kruger told GB News.

The influential backbencher said the appointment of David Cameron “sends a very confusing signal to our voters” on Brexit.

Ms Cates added: “Instead of leaning back towards that realignment of 2019 voters, the combination of small ‘c’ conservatives, people from the north, people from the south, it feels like going back to kind of 2010 in an era of centrism – which isn’t really what people are crying out for now in the country.”

Dorries: Sunak is ‘quick to anger'

Tuesday 14 November 2023 20:39 , Matt Mathers

Nadine Dorries accused Rishi Sunak of being “quick to anger” as she said it was the wrong move to sack Suella Braverman.

“I don’t think it was right to sack Suella,” the former minister, MP and Boris Johnson loyalist told Sky News.

“He’s quick to anger and… that mask often slips… it’s just an irritability that you see.”

Suella Braverman’s letter is sensational – but this is no ‘Geoffrey Howe’ moment

Tuesday 14 November 2023 20:10 , Matt Mathers

Her furious swipe at Rishi Sunak will go down in history, writes John Rentoul, but will it be a fatal blow?

Read John’s full piece here:

Suella Braverman’s letter is sensational – but this is no ‘Geoffrey Howe’ moment

David Cameron announces UK sanctions against Hamas leaders on first day as foreign secretary

Tuesday 14 November 2023 19:37 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak’s government has announced sanctions against four senior Hamas leaders and two of the group’s financiers, in David Cameron’s first move as the new foreign secretary.

Lord Cameron – who has been handed a life peerage so he can join the Tory government – said he wanted to help Israel disrupt the “abhorrent” terrorist organisation.

Adam Forrest reports:

David Cameron announces UK sanctions against top Hamas leaders

Lib Dems: Braverman 'determined to drag everyone else down with her’

Tuesday 14 November 2023 18:44 , Matt Mathers

Suella Braverman is “determined to drag everyone else down with her”, the Liberal Democrats have said after the home secretary published her letter attacking Rishi Sunak,

“Suella Braverman failed at every task at hand as home secretary and now she seems determined to drag everyone else down with her,” party spokesman Alistair Carmichael said in a statement.

“While people struggle to see their GP or pay their mortgages, this Government is too busy dealing with their own infighting.

“When will this Conservative Party soap opera end?”

‘We can’t go on like this’: Scathing David Cameron meme doing rounds among Tory MPs

Tuesday 14 November 2023 18:20 , Matt Mathers

A scathing meme featuring David Cameron and the words “we can’t go on like this” is reportedly doing the rounds among Tory MPs.

‘They’ve all got it in for me'

Tuesday 14 November 2023 18:11 , Matt Mathers

Tory MP Willam Wragg has taken a pop at Braverman over her letter attacking Rishi Sunak, suggesting she is trying to blame everyone else for her departure from government.

“Infamy, infamy. They’ve all got it in for me!”, Wragg, the MP for Hazel Grove and chairman of parliament’s Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee, jokingly wrote on X.

Wragg is also vice chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory back benchers. He is among the scores of Conservative MP to have announced they won’t stand at the next election.

You can view a full list of all of those who have decided to call it a day here:

Keir Starmer to stage showdown vote with Labour’s Gaza rebels

Tuesday 14 November 2023 18:04 , Matt Mathers

Sir Keir Starmer will stage a showdown vote in parliament calling for a humanitarian pause in Gaza in a bid to force Labour rebels who want a ceasefire to back his stance.

The Labour leader’s Commons motion will criticise Israel’s conduct and mourn the “insufficient aid” getting into the Palestinian enclave – but will not support a ceasefire.

Adam Forrest reports:

Keir Starmer to stage showdown vote with Labour’s Gaza rebels

UK ‘bucking the global trend’ on illegal migrants, says Sunak

Tuesday 14 November 2023 18:00 , Adam Forrest

Rishi Sunak told cabinet this morning that the government was “bucking the global trend” by stemming the flow of illegal migrants, according to No 10.

The PM’s official spokesman said: “The prime minister highlighted significant progress made by the government to stop the boats.

“He said that the UK was bucking the global trend by significantly reducing the flow of illegal immigrants into the country while other countries continue to see their numbers rise.

“The home secretary updated cabinet ahead of the court judgments and on the wider work to curb illegal migration, including through more returns agreements, most recently with Georgia and Albania.”

The new home secretary James Cleverly outlined to cabinet some of the “possible scenarios” from the Supreme Court verdict on the Rwanda deportation policy on Wednesday – but No 10 would not say what they were, or the responses ministers have discussed.

Braverman’s letter is ‘devastating’, says Tory MP

Tuesday 14 November 2023 17:54 , Matt Mathers

Tory rightwinger and Liz Truss ally Simon Clarke has described Ms Braverman’s letter as “devastating”.

“I hope the government wins tomorrow’s Supreme Court case,” he wrote on X.

However, win or lose, how the government then proceeds will be a litmus test of whether it is serious about fixing the wholly unacceptable scale of illegal immigration, or simply talking about it. “

No 10 responds: the PM believes in ‘action not words'

Tuesday 14 November 2023 17:41 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak has vowed to continue to working to tackle small boat crossings regardless of the Supreme Court verdict on his Rwanda policy after a scathing attack from sacked home secretary Suella Braverman.

A No 10 spokeswoman said: “The prime minister was proud to appoint a strong, united team yesterday focused on delivering for the British people.

“The prime minister believes in actions not words. He is proud that this government has brought forward the toughest legislation to tackle illegal migration this country has seen and has subsequently reduced the number of boat crossings by a third this year. And whatever the outcome of the Supreme Court tomorrow, he will continue that work.

“The PM thanks the former Home Secretary for her service.”

Braverman claims to have ‘document' outling ‘deal’ with Sunak

Tuesday 14 November 2023 17:38 , Matt Mathers

In her resignation letter, Suella Braverman claims that she agreed to serve as Rishi Sunak’s home secretary on “certain conditions”.

She goes on to list four key policy areas, including reducing legal and illegal immigration, delivering the Northern Ireland protocol and safeguarding single-sex spaces.

Braverman said this was agreed in a “document with clear terms to which you agreed in October 2022 during your second leadership campaign.”

At the time of her appointment, opposition parties accused the prime minister of doing a “grubby deal” with Ms Braverman to shore up support on the right of the party - something she references in the letter.

“It is generally agreed that my support was a pivotal factor in winning the leadership contest and thus enabling you to become prime minister”, she said.

Braverman letter in full

Tuesday 14 November 2023 17:21 , Matt Mathers

As we’ve just reported, outgoing home secretary Suella Braverman has launched a scathing attack on Rishi Sunak in her resignation letter.

She accused the prime minister of “betrayal” over a promise to stop small boat crossings and a failure to deliver on other key policies.

Read the resignation letter in full here:

Suella Braverman’s letter in full as ex-home secretary attacks Rishi Sunak

Frustrations with Sunak

Tuesday 14 November 2023 17:13 , Alex Ross

Suella Braverman paints herself as a frustrated figure in her outburst at Rishi Sunak.

She writes that her attempts to “take on” key issues in her “agreement” with the PM were met with “equivocation, disregard and a lack of interest”.

She writes: “For a year, as home secretary, I have sent numerous letters to you on the key subjects contained in our agreement, made requests to discuss them with you and your team, and put forward proposals on how we might deliver these goals.

“I worked up the legal advice, policy detail and action to take on these issues. This was often met with equivocation, disregard and a lack of interest.”

UK considering air and sea routes to get aid to Gaza, says minister

Tuesday 14 November 2023 17:00 , Adam Forrest

The UK is considering using “air and maritime options” to get more aid into Gaza, including through its bases in Cyprus, Tory minister Andrew Mitchell has said.

The Foreign Office minister told the Commons the Government was considering its options for transporting aid into the war-torn Palestinian territory as he gave an update on the UK’s response to the crisis in the Middle East.

Mr Mitchell also insisted that David Cameron, the new foreign secretary, believes it is essential that MPs are able to scrutinise his work – even though they will not be able to question him regularly.

Suella Braverman posts resignation letter on X

Tuesday 14 November 2023 16:53 , Alex Ross

Hunt to deliver ‘autumn statement for growth’ next week

Tuesday 14 November 2023 16:30 , Athena Stavrou

Jeremy Hunt has said he will address labour supply issues and business investment when he delivers an “autumn statement for growth” next week.

The Chancellor claimed the Government is starting to “win the battle” against inflation – with new statistics expected on Wednesday – which he argued allows him to “focus on the next stage”.

Speaking on day five of the King’s Speech debate, Mr Hunt told the Commons: “As we start to win the battle against inflation, we can focus on the next stage which is growth. So next week we will see an autumn statement for growth.

“Because no business can expand without hiring additional staff, I will address labour supply issues to help fill the nearly one million vacancies we have, working with the excellent Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mel Stride).”

He added that the statement will build on the 30 hours of free childcare offer announced for all eligible children over nine months in the Spring Budget.

Sunak will come under ‘considerable pressure’ to quit ECHR, says Tory MP

Tuesday 14 November 2023 16:15 , Adam Forrest

Conservative MP Martin Vickers – a member of the Common Sense Group of Tory right-wingers – said Mr Sunak would come under “considerable pressure” to quit from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if he loses the Rwanda case.

Mr Vickers told The Independent: “There will be considerable pressure from the party to make a clean break. I hope they keep that option open – I have no problem leaving [the ECHRC].

I’m perfectly happy having my rights protected by the British courts.”The backbencher said Ms Braverman’s exit was “inevitable” – but said he “sincerely hopes” that her sacking did not mean a change in the hardline policy on Rwanda.

“There can be no rowing back – it must be possible to get the flights going.”

Sunak ‘highly unlikely’ to make it to election, claims Tory MP

Tuesday 14 November 2023 16:00 , Athena Stavrou

Rishi Sunak is “highly unlikely” to make it to the general election because he will face a right-wing uprising, a Conservative MP has claimed.

The unnamed ally of sacked home secretary Suella Braverman told the Express: “Colleagues are getting more and more angry. I think yesterday many of us were in a state of shock, now there is just fury.”

They said: “Really colleagues do not have anything to lose in trying to change leader. They are going to lose their seats anyway if they do nothing so we may as well try to see what would happen with a different leader.”

The MP added: “I think it is now highly unlikely that the prime minister will lead us into the next election.”

Despite the claim, only Andrea Jenkyns has publicly revealed that she has submitted a letter of no-confidence in Mr Sunak. It would need 53 letters to force a no-confidence, and a majority of Tory MPs would then need to vote against Mr Sunak.

David Cameron announces UK sanctions against Hamas leaders on first day as foreign secretary

Tuesday 14 November 2023 15:30 , Athena Stavrou

The UK has announced sanctions against four Hamas leaders and two of the militant group’s financiers in one of David Cameron’s first moves as Foreign Secretary.

Yahya Sinwar, Muhammed Deif, Marwan Issa, Musa Dudin, Abdelbasit Hamza and Nabil Chouman have been made subject to travel bans, asset freezes and arms embargoes that prohibit the sale of weapons to any of the individuals.

Sinwar, Deif and Issa are all senior leaders of Hamas while Dudin is a West Bank-based Hamas official and Hamza and Chouman are both financiers, the Foreign Office said.

“We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt the abhorrent activity of this terrorist organisation, working with the United States and our other allies, making it harder for them to operate and isolating them on the world stage,” former prime minister Lord Cameron said.

“The Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too. We stand in solidarity with them and will continue to support humanitarian pauses to allow significantly more lifesaving aid to reach Gaza.”

The action is co-ordinated with the US and aimed at disrupting operations even if the leaders are “pulling the strings from outside of Gaza”, the department said.

Voters back Sunak’s decision to sack Braverman

Tuesday 14 November 2023 15:14 , Adam Forrest

Rishi Sunak’s move to sack Suella Braverman as home secretary appears overwhelmingly popular.

Some 70 per cent said it was the right decision, while only 17 per cent said it was wrong, a Ipsos poll has found.

Views on David Cameron’s return are more mixed, with only 35 per cent in favour and 46 per cent against.

Sunak ‘sacrificing’ red wall seats for south, say right-wing rebels

Tuesday 14 November 2023 14:47 , Adam Forrest

Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger – who co-chair the right-wing New Conservatives grouping of 2017 and 2019 MPs – have attacked Rishi Sunak after he brought back David Cameron and sacked Suella Braverman.

“The Conservative Party now looks like it is deliberately walking away from the coalition of voters who brought us into power with a large majority in 2019,” the two MPs said.

“In political terms, it appears the leadership has decided to abandon the voters who switched to us last time, sacrificing the seats we won from Labour in 2019 in the hope of shoring up support elsewhere,” they added.

Ms Cates and Mr Kruger both want the UK to leave the Strasbourg court “whatever the outcome” on the Rwanda court case on Wednesday.

Labour’s Rachel Reeves urges Israel to ‘show restraint’ in Gaza

Tuesday 14 November 2023 14:25 , Athena Stavrou

Senior Labour figure Rachel Reeves has urged Israel to show greater “restraint” in Gaza, as the party prepares for an awkward vote on a ceasefire in parliament.

Sir Keir Starmer continues to come under pressure from Labour MPs, councillor and activists to end his refusal to back a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In the strongest remarks yet by a frontbencher, the shadow chancellor criticised Israel for failing to show enough “restraint” in its bombardment of Gaza.

You can read more below:

Labour’s Rachel Reeves urges Israel to ‘show restraint’ in Gaza

Sunak and Cleverly meet Met police chief

Tuesday 14 November 2023 13:55 , Athena Stavrou

Rishi Sunak and new home secretary James Cleverly have met Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley, as the government considers how to enhance powers to restrict some protests and crackdown on sympathy with extremism.

The PM’s official spokesman said the powers available to police to deal with protests would be kept under review to see if they need to be beefed up.

“The public rightly expect that the full force of the law is used to bear down on some of the shocking scenes of criminality we saw over the weekend, whether it was EDL protesters or those seemingly supporting Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the PM would be speaking to Sir Mark to “get a shared understanding of how to approach these protests should there be significant protests in the future

“It’s important that police have the powers they need to carry out their role and we will continue to keep that under review.”

SNP hits out at ‘absurdity’ of David Cameron’s appointment

Tuesday 14 November 2023 13:22 , Athena Stavrou

The SNP has hit out at the “absurdity” of David Cameron being Foreign Secretary while not being an MP and also called on Labour’s MPs in Scotland to back their call for a ceasefire.

SNP foreign affairs spokesman Brendan O’Hara told the Commons: “Already we see the absurdity of having a Foreign Secretary who is unable to come to speak in this chamber to elected members at a time of grave international crisis.

“There can only be a political solution to this crisis and one has to be found before the entire region is engulfed. That’s why a ceasefire is essential.”

On the SNP amendment to the King’s Speech calling for a ceasefire, he said: “I expect members from the Labour Party in Scotland to be in the lobbies with us, because without justice there can be no peace.”

David Cameron in and Suella Braverman out – ask John Rentoul anything about Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle

Tuesday 14 November 2023 13:00 , Athena Stavrou

Braverman’s The Independent’s chief political commentator John Rentoul will be taking your questions at 1pm as David Cameron makes a dramatic return to frontline politics:

Rishi Sunak’s dramatic cabinet reshuffle – ask John Rentoul anything

Ministers discuss inflation at first cabinet meeting

Tuesday 14 November 2023 12:58 , Athena Stavrou

Cabinet ministers discussed the latest inflation statistics amid hopes the Prime Minister can reach his target of halving inflation.

UK wage growth has edged back from record highs but earnings are outstripping inflation at the fastest pace for two years, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said average regular earnings, excluding bonuses, increased by 7.7% in the three months to September, down from an upwardly revised and record high of 7.9% in the previous three months.

A Cabinet readout said: “Ahead of new inflation statistics to be released tomorrow, the Chancellor said the continued progress in reducing the rate of inflation was testament to the hard work of Government in retaining fiscal discipline, not fuelling inflation through additional borrowing.

“The Prime Minister concluded by saying it was a shared privilege to be a member of Cabinet and that he was confident that the people around the table had the energy and ambition to deliver real change to benefit the public.”

Braverman tent crackdown shelved

Tuesday 14 November 2023 12:26 , Athena Stavrou

Downing Street said Suella Braverman’s plans for a crackdown on the use of tents by homeless people had been shelved.

Ms Braverman was sacked as home secretary on Monday following a series of controversial comments, including describing homelessness as a “lifestyle choice”.

The plans will not be included in the Criminal Justice Bill, No 10 indicated.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It’s not going to be introduced in the Criminal Justice Bill. I’m not aware of any plans for its introduction elsewhere.”

Ministers discuss Rwanda plan

Tuesday 14 November 2023 12:19 , Athena Stavrou

Rishi Sunak and Cabinet ministers looked ahead to Wednesday’s Supreme Court decision on the Rwanda plan.

Home Secretary James Cleverly “outlined some of the possible scenarios” of the judgment, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

A Cabinet readout said: “Ahead of the Supreme Court judgment on the Rwanda migration partnership tomorrow, the Prime Minister highlighted significant progress made by the Government to stop the boats.

Rishi Sunak and Cabinet ministers looked ahead to Wednesday’s Supreme Court decision on the Rwanda plan.

Home Secretary James Cleverly “outlined some of the possible scenarios” of the judgment, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

A Cabinet readout said: “Ahead of the Supreme Court judgment on the Rwanda migration partnership tomorrow, the Prime Minister highlighted significant progress made by the Government to stop the boats.

“He said that the UK was bucking the global trend by significantly reducing the flow of illegal immigrants into the country while other countries continue to see their numbers rise.

“Alongside this, he said we are on track to eliminate the asylum legacy backlog and were making good progress on curbing the use of hotels to house migrants.

“The Home Secretary updated Cabinet ahead of the court judgments and on the wider work to curb illegal migration, including through more returns agreements, most recently with Georgia and Albania.”

Police protest powers to be 'kept under review’

Tuesday 14 November 2023 12:14 , Athena Stavrou

As Rishi Sunak met Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the powers available to police to deal with protests would be kept under review to see if they need to be beefed up.

“The public rightly expect that the full force of the law is used to bear down on some of the shocking scenes of criminality we saw over the weekend, whether it was EDL protesters or those seemingly supporting Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation,” the spokesman said.

He added: “The Prime Minister continues to be grateful to police officers, a number of whom were injured over the weekend.

“They have an extremely difficult job to do and he was grateful to them for doing it.”

The spokesman said the Prime Minister would be speaking to Sir Mark to “get a shared understanding of how to approach these protests should there be significant protests in the future”.

“It’s important that police have the powers they need to carry out their role and we will continue to keep that under review.”

Sunak meeting Met Police commissioner following protest controversy

Tuesday 14 November 2023 12:12 , Athena Stavrou

Rishi Sunak is meeting Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley in Downing Street, following last Saturday’s unrest around the Cenotaph and the pro-Palestinian demonstration in central London.

Downing Street said the pair were meeting to discuss the protests last weekend.

It comes after Suella Braverman was sacked as Home Secretary after she branded pro-Palestinian protesters “hate marchers” and accused the police of bias for letting the rally go ahead on Armistice Day.

Rishi Sunak smiles and jokes in first cabinet meeting since reshuffle

Tuesday 14 November 2023 12:04 , Athena Stavrou

Rishi Sunak laughed as he opened his first cabinet meeting since his bombshell reshuffle.

He welcomed both old and new faces before expanding on his plans for his new “united team:.

The prime minister said: “A warm welcome to those for whom it’s their first Cabinet and also a welcome to those for whom it may not be their first time.”

Lord Cameron was attending his first Cabinet since quitting as prime minister in 2016.

Mr Sunak added: “Our purpose is nothing less than to make the long-term decisions that are going to change our country for the better.

“I know that this strong and united team is going to deliver that change for everybody.”

Iain Duncan Smith questions foreign secretary David Cameron's links to China

Tuesday 14 November 2023 11:38 , Athena Stavrou

Sir Iain Duncan Smith questioned Lord David Cameron‘s appointment by Rishi Sunak as foreign secretary as “it appears he’s being paid by the Chinese government to promote certain things.”

Speaking to GB News on Monday, the Conservative party leader said he had “concerns” about Lord Cameron, before recalling how he was sanctioned by China in 2021 for what it said were “lies and disinformation” about alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Under Lord Cameron’s leadership there was a “golden era” of UK-China cooperation, something Mr Sunak described as “naive” last year following growing tensions with Beijing.

Cameron ‘symbolises politics of yesterday’, says Kwasi Kwarteng

Tuesday 14 November 2023 11:21 , Adam Forrest

Former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has said “time will tell” if Rishi Sunak’s decision to sack Suella Braverman was a mistake.

Mr Kwarteng also said David Cameron symbolises “the politics of yesterday”.

“I think the gamble is that somehow David will give gravity and heft and statesmanship. I understand that and I think he’s a capable man,” the man behind Liz Truss’ disastrous mini-Budget told GB News.

“But it is odd, having said that you’re the change candidate after 13 years of failed politics to bring someone back who was a prime minister 11 years ago … David Cameron symbolises the politics that was very much of yesterday.”

He added: “David has to say very early on that he accepts Brexit because otherwise the suspicion is that somehow he’s going to be close to the EU. He’s got to do a speech or say something to signal that he’s accepted Brexit.”

Can the return of Lord Cameron of Remainville win back lost Tory voters?

Tuesday 14 November 2023 11:01 , Athena Stavrou

The PM has seized headlines with his surprise appointment of David Cameron as foreign secretary - but does a lurch to the centre have any hope of securing the Conservatives a fifth term?

John Rentoul reports:

Can the return of Lord Cameron of Remainville win back lost Tory voters?

Sunak stresses ‘united team’ at first meeting of new Cabinet

Tuesday 14 November 2023 10:39 , Athena Stavrou

Rishi Sunak hailed his “strong and united team” at his first Cabinet meeting following the dramatic reshuffle that saw Lord David Cameron appointed Foreign Secretary and Suella Braverman sacked.

The reshuffle is designed to prepare the Tories for the next general election, but it has also risked inflaming the rift in the Conservative Party.

Former minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns submitted a furious letter of no confidence in Mr Sunak to the Tory backbench 1922 Committee as a result of the decision.

Surrounded by a new-look Cabine Mr Sunak promised “big, bold decisions that will drive change”.

He said: “Our purpose is nothing less than to make the long-term decisions that are going to change our country for the better.

“I know that this strong and united team is going to deliver that change for everybody.”

David Cameron leaves Downing Street after first meeting of Rishi Sunak’s new cabinet

Tuesday 14 November 2023 10:34 , Athena Stavrou

Lord David Cameron has left Downing Street after his first Cabinet meeting as foreign minister.

Downing Street announces changes to Whip

Tuesday 14 November 2023 10:27 , Athena Stavrou

Downing Street has announced a series of changes in the Whips’ Office.

Stuart Anderson, Dame Amanda Milling, Joy Morrissey and Mike Wood were made Government whips while Aaron Bell, Mark Fletcher, Mark Jenkinson and Suzanne Webb became assistant whips.

Sunak’s five priorities ‘not the limit of ambitions'

Tuesday 14 November 2023 10:15 , Athena Stavrou

Rishi Sunak stressed that meeting the five priorities he had set was “not the limit of our ambitions”.

The Prime Minister told Cabinet: “We want to build a better future for our children and for our grandchildren.

“That is what this team is going to do, whether it’s navigating the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, demonstrating we will stand up for our values and provide security for everyone here at home, but also to make the big, bold decisions that will drive change – a new approach to infrastructure spending, ushering in a generation of children that will grow up smoke-free, reforms to how we approach net zero to save families thousands of pounds and radically reforming our education system.”

Pictures: First meeting of new Cabinet

Tuesday 14 November 2023 10:04 , Athena Stavrou

Members of Rishi Sunak’s new Cabinet met for the first time in Downing Street this morning.

Former prime minister David Cameron returned to the Cabinet table for the first time since 2016 - this time as foreign secretary.

Sunak welcomes familiar faces at first meeting of new Cabinet

Tuesday 14 November 2023 09:57 , Athena Stavrou

Rishi Sunak has welcomed both old and new faces at the first meeting of the new Cabinet at Downing Street this morning.

The prime minister said: “A warm welcome to those for whom it’s their first Cabinet and also a welcome to those for whom it may not be their first time.”

Lord Cameron was attending his first Cabinet since quitting as prime minister in 2016.

Mr Sunak added: “Our purpose is nothing less than to make the long-term decisions that are going to change our country for the better.

“I know that this strong and united team is going to deliver that change for everybody.”

He noted it was an “important week”, with inflation figures and the Supreme Court’s Rwanda ruling expected on Wednesday and the Chancellor’s autumn statement next Wednesday.

“Across all of that I’m confident that we can demonstrate to the country that we are making progress on the priorities that I set out at the beginning of the year – to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and to stop the boats.”

Rishi Sunak opens first meeting of new Cabinet

Tuesday 14 November 2023 09:45 , Athena Stavrou

Rishi Sunak has said his new-look Cabinet would make the “big, bold decisions that will drive change”.

Opening the first meeting of his top team since the changes which saw Lord David Cameron return to government, the Prime Minister said: “Looking around this table, I know that we have an energetic and enthusiastic team that is going to deliver for the country.

“So, let’s get to work.”

Tory chair praises new minister for ‘common sense’ Esther McVey

Tuesday 14 November 2023 09:43 , Athena Stavrou

The new Tory chairman Richard Holden praised “plain-speaking” right-winger Esther McVey after she was appointed “common sense” minister in the Cabinet Office.

Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said that Ms McVey was a “plain-speaking northerner from Merseyside, I think she’s a great addition to the broad team.

“What Suella..,” Mr Holden said accidentally.

Today presenter Nick Robinson asked him if that was a Freudian slip.

Continuing, Mr Holden said: “What Esther is going to be doing is bringing that extra dimension to it … What you see is a broad church, Conservative party with a common goal, united together in what it is deciding to put forward to the country. Esther is part of that.”

David Cameron arrives at Downing Street

Tuesday 14 November 2023 09:20 , Athena Stavrou

Lord David Cameron has arrived at Downing Street for the first meeting of Rishi Sunak’s new-look Cabinet.

The Foreign Secretary walked inside No 10 at 9.10am, accompanied by minister of state for development and Africa Andrew Mitchell.

The former prime minister laughed after a Downing Street photographer asked him if he missed being “shouted at in the street”.

Ministers begin to arrive at Downing Street for first meeting

Tuesday 14 November 2023 09:15 , Athena Stavrou

James Cleverly has arrived at Downing Street for the first meeting of Rishi Sunak’s new-look Cabinet.

The Home Secretary walked inside No 10 at 9am.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott was the first minister to walk through the doors of No 10 at around 8.30am.

Live: Rishi Sunak's Cabinet meet for first time after reshuffle

Tuesday 14 November 2023 09:12 , Athena Stavrou

Watch live from Downing Street as Rishi Sunak’s cabinet meets for the first time after Monday’s reshuffle:

Sunak showed ‘bad manners’ in sacking Braverman, says Rees-Mogg

Tuesday 14 November 2023 08:55 , Adam Forrest

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg told Radio 4’s The World Tonight it was a “mistake” to sack Suella Braverman and accused the Prime Minister of ‘bad manners’ given the way she was sacked over the phone rather than face-to-face.

“I think the problem for the prime minister was that what Suella Braverman was saying was actually very popular … to lose a senior minister to fire a senior minister … because he [Mr Sunak] is a bit sensitive about the language that is used is not wise.”

Rees-Mogg was downbeat on the chances of Rishi Sunak overriding the European Court of Human Rights if the government loses the Rwanda case because the new home secretary James Cleverly has made clear he is opposed to such a radical move.

“I think it almost doesn’t matter what the Supreme Court rules now because the power to override the section 39 injunction for want of a better word has to be exercised by the Home Secretary.

The law provides for that.

“So the injunction will remain in place regardless of what our own courts rule. Now, I’d be delighted to be proved wrong, but I think it is made the Rwanda solution much, much, less likely to occur.”

David Cameron in and Suella Braverman out – ask John Rentoul anything about Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle

Tuesday 14 November 2023 08:42 , Athena Stavrou

The Independent’s chief political commentator John Rentoul will be taking your questions as David Cameron makes a dramatic return to frontline politics:

Rishi Sunak’s dramatic cabinet reshuffle – ask John Rentoul anything

Labour shadow chancellor criticises set-up of the House of Lords

Tuesday 14 November 2023 08:21 , Athena Stavrou

Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has criticised the set-up of the House of Lords.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the current configuration is “totally unjustifiable” and

“I think that the current set-up of the House of Lords is totally unjustifiable,” she said.

“850 and rising members of the House of Lords, a couple of hundred more than we have in the House of Commons.

“Non-elected, unaccountable, I don’t think that stacks up in the 21st century.”

She added that a Labour government would reform the Lords.

“For me, that would start with getting rid of the hereditary peers, which cannot be justified,” she said.

“We want a second chamber that represents the nations and the regions of the United Kingdom.”