Rishi Sunak - live: Dominic Raab ‘bullied’ Gina Miller during ‘aggressive’ encounter

Prominent Remain campaigner Gina Miller has claimed that embattled deputy prime minister Dominic Raab bullied and demeaned her during an “aggressive” encounter in 2016.

Mr Raab, the justice secretary, is already facing a string of bullying allegations spanning different government departments throughout the past few years, all of which he denies.

In an exclusive article for The Independent, Ms Miller said she was “bullied and demeaned” by Mr Raab after he called her “stupid” and “naive” when they met at the BBC during the referendum campaign.

Mr Raab said they are “baseless and malicious claims”.

Elsewhere, prime minister Rishi Sunak has admitted his first 100 days in No 10 have been “challenging” while being interrogated by broadcasting heavyweight Piers Morgan.

The TalkTV host grilled Mr Sunak on a range of issues, from mounting Tory sleaze claims and the winter crisis in the NHS, to growing unrest in the public sector and deepening cost of living fears.

Key Points

• Rishi Sunak: I believe wholeheartedly I can turn UK mess around

• Rishi Sunak vows to ‘ratchet up’ return of Albanian migrants and start Rwanda flights

• Rishi Sunak vs Piers Morgan: 5 pitfalls and payoffs for PM from TV clash

• Dominic Raab faces claim he ‘bullied and demeaned’ leading anti-Brexit campaigner

13:24 , Matt Mathers

We’re pausing our live politics coverage for today.

Thanks for reading and join us again soon for all the latest updates from Westminster and elsewhere.

Have a good weekend when you get there.

Rishi Sunak vs Piers Morgan: 5 pitfalls and payoffs for PM from TV clash

Thursday 2 February 2023 18:40 , Emily Atkinson

Should the PM be worried about being caught out by the TalkTV host? Or can he use the interrogation to reset his image with the public? Our political correspondent Adam Forrest takes a closer look at potential pitfalls for Mr Sunak, and where he could gain some ground.

Rishi Sunak vs Piers Morgan: 5 pitfalls and payoffs for PM from TV clash

Rishi Sunak vows to ‘ratchet up’ return of Albanian migrants and start Rwanda flights

Thursday 2 February 2023 18:43 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak has pledged to “ratchet up” removals of illegal migrants from Albania and insisted the controversial policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda will go ahead.

In an interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV, the prime minister said asylum claims will be sped up to a “matter of days or weeks” and “not months or years”.

Mr Sunak warned arrivals who are deemed “inadmissible” for settlement in Britain “will not be able to stay here”.

My colleague Liam James has more:

Rishi Sunak vows to ‘ratchet up’ return of Albanian migrants and start Rwanda flights

Sunak continues to resist predecessor’s calls to send fighter jets to Kyiv

Thursday 2 February 2023 18:46 , Emily Atkinson

Ahead of his interview with Piers Morgan this evening, Rishi Sunak on Thursday continued to resist calls by former prime minister Boris Johnson to supply fighter jets to Ukraine.

Mr Johnson has used a US tour to push for the West to step up military assistance for Kyiv, dismissing arguments against the supply of sophisticated Nato aircraft.

But Downing Street said it would take years to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the RAF’s Typhoon and F-35 planes and said the current prime minister was focused on providing support that would be of use now.

“We will continue listening to the Ukrainians and consider what is right for the long term,” the spokesman said.

“But it’s helpful to understand the situation, that the fastest training programme for a new pilot is approximately 35 months.

“The current UK fast jet training programme takes five years.”

Watch: Trailer for Piers Morgan's interview with Rishi Sunak

Thursday 2 February 2023 19:00 , Emily Atkinson

Piers Morgan has promised an hour of “unmissable TV” as his interview with Rishi Sunak hits screens from 8pm.

“Is the Conservative party toast after 13 years in power?” the formidable interviewer asks in the promotional video for the anticipated show.

Watch the full trailer here:

Dominic Raab faces claim he ‘bullied and demeaned’ leading anti-Brexit campaigner

Thursday 2 February 2023 19:13 , Emily Atkinson

TalkTV’s Piers Morgan, interviewing Rishi Sunak tonight, is likely to ask the prime minister exactly what he knew and when about Dominic Raab’s conduct, as his deputy PM faces an investigation into bullying allegations.

Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has the latest on this:

Dominic Raab is facing fresh allegations of bullying amid claims that he launched an “abusive attack” on a prominent anti-Brexit activist.

Remain campaigner Gina Miller said she was “bullied and demeaned” by the deputy prime minister after he called her “stupid” and “naive” during an “aggressive” encounter at the BBC in 2016.

Her claims, written in an article for The Independent, are the first on-the-record accusations of abuse against Mr Raab, who faces an official inquiry into claims that he bullied civil servants. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed Adam Tolley KC to look at claims of bullying against Mr Raab, involving up to 24 civil servants.

Read Kate’s article in full here:

Dominic Raab faces claim he ‘bullied and demeaned’ leading anti-Brexit campaigner

Scandals, sackings and U-turns: Rishi Sunak’s first 100 days in the job

Thursday 2 February 2023 19:27 , Emily Atkinson

Michael Gove proudly boasted that “boring is back” when Rishi Sunak walked through the door of No 10 in October. But his first 100 days in office have been much more eventful than anyone expected.

The prime minister has suffered from a series of scandals, some partly inherited from Boris Johnson’s time in Downing Street. There have been poor poll ratings, probes into his ministers’ conduct and some major policy climbdowns, with his authority with Tory MPs already under threat.

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest took a closer look at the sleaze problems and rebellions swirling around Mr Sunak as he tries to reset his premiership ahead of crucial local elections.

Scandals, sackings and U-turns: Rishi Sunak’s first 100 days in the job

Piers Morgan recalls Boris Johnson hiding in fridge to avoid interview ahead of Sunak stand-off

Thursday 2 February 2023 19:40 , Emily Atkinson

Piers Morgan appears to have praised Rishi Sunak for agreeing to be interviewed on tonight’s show – taking a swipe at his predecessor Boris Johnson for hiding in a fridge while a reporter attempted to speak to him.

On the eve of the 2019 general election, then-PM Johnson was joining an early morning milk round in Leeds when he was confronted by a Good Morning Britain reporter about his “promise to talk to Piers [Morgan] and Susanna [Reid]”.

“I’ll be with you in a second,” Mr Johnson replied, before famously escaping into a large fridge.

Taking to Twitter this afternoon, Mr Morgan reflected on the bizarre dodge:

What do the Dominic Raab bullying allegations mean for Rishi Sunak?

Thursday 2 February 2023 19:50 , Emily Atkinson

With Zahawi gone and perhaps soon Raab too, Sunak can demonstrate that he is his own man, and prepared to jettison figures who, in his judgement, do not live up to the ideals he declared himself committed to on his first day in No 10 – “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level”.

Read the latest from Sean O’Grady here:

Analysis: What do the Dominic Raab bullying allegations mean for Rishi Sunak?

Rishi Sunak understands public anger over ‘extraordinary’ Shell profits, No 10 says

Thursday 2 February 2023 19:55 , Emily Atkinson

Five minutes to go...

In the meantime, read Whitehall editor Kate Devlin‘s latest report:

Rishi Sunak “absolutely” understands people’s anger over Shell’s record profits at a time of soaring household energy bills, Downing Street has said.

No 10 also suggested that the oil giant should invest more of its record-breaking $40bn bonanza in the UK.

But the prime minister’s official spokesperson would not be drawn on calls for a higher windfall tax on energy firms, saying he was “not aware” of any plans to reform the levy.

Rishi Sunak understands public anger over ‘extraordinary’ Shell profits, No 10 says

Thursday 2 February 2023 19:59 , Emily Atkinson

One minute to go...

Follow along here for a live round-up of the key moments as Rishi Sunak faces Piers Morgan.

Sunak was ‘bowling with family’ when Liz Truss resiged

Thursday 2 February 2023 20:11 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak claims he was at a bowling alley with his family when he was made aware that Liz Truss was resigning as prime minister.

“The whole thing came as a big surprise and the country was in a tight spot,” he tells Piers Morgan.

He admitted to “asking myself the same question on occasion” when the host asked him why he wanted to be prime minister following the market turmoil under Ms Truss.

“It was going to be a nightmare job,” Mr Sunak said, adding “It was not an easy situation. But, for me, it’s about duty. That’s how I was raised.”

Explaining his decision to make a second bid for No 10, he said: “I felt I was the best person to make a difference at that moment.”

Thursday 2 February 2023 20:13 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak tells Piers Morgan his message to the public, given the cost of living crisis, is to “have hope because I can make it better and I will make it better.”

Rishi Sunak: I believe wholeheartedly I can turn UK mess around

Thursday 2 February 2023 20:20 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak says he “wholeheartedly believes” he can turn around the mess the country is in by controlling inflation, growing the economy, cutting NHS waiting lists and stopping migrant boats.

In his first 100 days in office, he is proud of what the government has achieved, firstly taking action to stabilise the economy, he claimed, saying he was confident he will deliver on those aims.

The Sunak doctrine, he said, was about making sure people could feel proud of the UK and have peace of mind things would be better for their children and grandchildren.

Jane Dalton reports:

Rishi Sunak: I believe wholeheartedly I can turn UK mess around

Thursday 2 February 2023 20:24 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak has insisted that the government’s Rwanda migrant scheme will happen, but said ministers were working hard to get the law “absolutely right.”

The prime minister said the UK was “always going to be a compassionate country”, but not a “soft touch” on immigration.

Thursday 2 February 2023 20:37 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak has insisted he would “love to give the nurses a massive pay rise”, saying it would make his “life easier.”

The last few months have seen nurses take to the picket lines in their tens of thousands in a deepening dispute over pay and conditions.

Speaking to Piers Morgan, Mr Sunak said: “It’s the right thing for the country to stay the course” and not offer higher pay rises because of inflation.

Thursday 2 February 2023 20:43 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak insisted he can get the economy growing again “this year” as he urged people to “have hope” that things will get better.

In an interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV, the PM went through his five priorities, insisting he could get them done.

“Grow the economy, yes, I do believe over the course of this year we’ll get the economy growing again,” he said. “Reduce debt, We’ve already made some difficult decisions to ensure that that happens but we’ve got to stick to the path.”

Asked what his mantra or message to people is, Mr Sunak said: “It’s ‘have hope’. Have hope because I can make it better, and I will make it better.

“That’s what I’m working day and night to do.”

Thursday 2 February 2023 20:47 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak refused to rise to Piers Morgan’s prying questions about the jet-setting diplomacy of his predecessor Boris Johnson.

Asked if he was troubled by Mr Johnson’s visits to Ukraine and calls for more military aid, Mr Sunak insisted he had no problem with the former PM’s actions.

It’s great that we’ve got former prime ministers,” he told Mr Morgan.

Watch: Rishi Sunak ‘comfortable’ with Dominic Raab keeping job despite bullying

Thursday 2 February 2023 20:54 , Emily Atkinson

Sunak promises to publish tax return ‘shortly'

Thursday 2 February 2023 21:10 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak said he will release his tax returns “shortly” as he battles to recover from having to sack Nadhim Zahawi as Tory party chairman over his financial affairs.

In an interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV, the prime minister said: “They will be published shortly. As you know the tax filing deadline was just a few days ago. So that’s why.

“So we do the tax-filing deadlines just passed, so they’re just being prepared and they will be released shortly.”

Sunak: I’d love to give nurses a pay rise – but we can’t right now

Thursday 2 February 2023 21:25 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak has said he would love to give nurses a “massive” pay rise – but insisted the money needs to be prioritised on other areas.

NHS staff were subjected to a pay freeze during Covid, he said, but said: “I would love to give nurses a massive pay rise - who wouldn’t? It would make my life easier.”

In an interview on his first 100 days in office, he said: “It’s about choices.” A record sum was going into the NHS but more doctors and nurses and equipment were needed, he said.

Jane Dalton reports:

Sunak: I’d love to give nurses a pay rise - but we can’t right now

Gina Miller ‘I was bullied and demeaned by Dominic Raab'

Thursday 2 February 2023 21:40 , Emily Atkinson

In an article written for The Independent, Remain campaigner Gina Miller claims Dominic Raab launched an “abusive attack” on her – calling her “stupid” and “naive” during an “aggressive” encounter at the BBC in 2016.

I thought we would have a robust but reasonable conversation about the merits of the case. How wrong I was, she writes.

I was bullied and demeaned by Dominic Raab | Gina Miller

Watch: Rishi Sunak claims he 'would love' to give nurses 'massive pay rise'

Thursday 2 February 2023 21:55 , Emily Atkinson

Thursday 2 February 2023 22:17 , Katy Clifton

Thanks for following our live updates, we are pausing our coverage for the night but you can check out the key takeaways from Rishi Sunak’s interview below:

The 5 key takeaways from Rishi Sunak’s interview with Piers Morgan

Dominic Raab faces claim he ‘bullied and demeaned’ leading anti-Brexit campaigner

07:32 , Matt Mathers

Dominic Raab is facing fresh allegations of bullying amid claims that he launched an “abusive attack” on a prominent anti-Brexit activist.

Remain campaigner Gina Miller said she was “bullied and demeaned” by the deputy prime minister after he called her “stupid” and “naive” during an “aggressive” encounter at the BBC in 2016.

Her claims, written in an article for The Independent, are the first on-the-record accusations of abuse against Mr Raab, who faces an official inquiry into allegations that he bullied civil servants.

Our Whitehall and politics editor Kate Devlin reports:

Dominic Raab faces claims he ‘bullied and demeaned’ leading anti-Brexit campaigner

The 5 key takeaways from Rishi Sunak’s interview with Piers Morgan

07:57 , Matt Mathers

You might have seen that Rishi Sunak was grilled by Piers Morgan last night on his first 100 days as prime minister.

The pair discussed Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, strikes and the NHS among other topics.

Didn’t get to watch it? My colleague Joe Sommerlad has taken a look at some of the main takeaways from the interview:

The 5 key takeaways from Rishi Sunak’s interview with Piers Morgan

Truss to urge tougher China stance in Tokyo

08:21 , Matt Mathers

Former British prime minister Liz Truss will join the former leaders of Australia and Belgium at a conference in Tokyo later this month to call for a tougher international approach to China.

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an international group of lawmakers concerned about how democratic countries approach Beijing, said Friday that Truss will speak alongside former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison at the 17 Feb event in the Japanese Diet.

Former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt, who is also a European Parliament lawmaker, will attend as well.

Sylvia Hui reports:

Ex-UK leader Truss to urge tougher China stance in Tokyo

Oil and gas giants ‘laughing all the way to the bank'

08:49 , Matt Mathers

Oil and gas giants are “laughing all the way to the bank,” a shadow minister has said as he called for the government to tighten a “loophole” in its windfall tax.

Stephen Kinnock, the shadow minister for immigration, made the comments after Shell announced record annual record profits of $39.9bn (£32.2bn) in 2022, which he described as the “windfalls of war.”

More comments below:

Boris Johnson is a ‘coward’ for not coming on my show - Fox News host Tucker Carlson

09:24 , Matt Mathers

Fox News host Tucker Carlson has accused Boris Johnson of being a “coward” after the former prime minister turned down an invite to appear on his show.

Mr Johnson visited the US earlier in the week and spoke at the Atlantic Council. He also visited the US Congress and met with Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate minority leader.

My colleague Sravasti Dasgupta reports:

Tucker Carlson calls Boris Johnson a ‘coward’ after ex-British PM scorned GOP

Suspend Raab until bullying probe is complete - Labour

09:41 , Matt Mathers

Dominic Raab should be suspended until the investigation into bullying claims against him has concluded, Labour has said.

Stephen Kinnock, the shadow minister for immigration, called on prime minister Rishi Sunak to temporarily remove his deputy and justice minister to “protect” civil servants working in his department.

He said Mr Raab could then be reinstated to his posts if the probe, being conducted by barrister Adam Tolley KC, clears the deputy PM of wrongdoing.

The justice secretary is facing multiple allegations of bullying across different government departments in recent years, all of which he denies.

Train worker strikes could last 6 or 7 years - union boss

10:00 , Matt Mathers

Strike action by rail workers could last for six or seven years, a union boss has claimed.

Mick Whelan, secretary general of ASLEF, said rail workers were in the dispute for the “long haul”.

He was asked by LBC host Nick Ferrari how much they could put up with financially because staff don’t get paid for the days they take industrial action.

You can watch the exchange below:

Simon Case ‘was told of Dominic Raab bullying claims before Sunak made him minister’

10:15 , Matt Mathers

Cabinet secretary Simon Case knew about bullying allegations against Dominic Raab before his reappointment as justice secretary, it has been claimed.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak is under renewed pressure over the appointment of Mr Raab as his deputy prime minister months after the first complaints were made.

My colleague Thomas Kingsley reports:

Simon Case ‘was told of Dominic Raab bullying claims before Sunak made him minister’

Nadine Dorries: 11 of the former culture secretary’s gaffes and controversies

11:08 , Matt Mathers

Never one to shy away from the limelight, Boris Johnson will make an appearance on TalkTV tonight in an interview with Nadine Dorries.

The interview is being broadcast at 8pm - just 24 hours after Mr Johnson’s successor as prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had a chat with Piers Morgan on the same channel.

Ms Dorries, the MP for Mid Bedfordshire and former culture secretary, is one of Mr Johnson’s biggest supporters and stayed loyal to him during the dying days of his premiership.

She makes her TV host debut tonight when the interview goes out. Here, my colleague Joe Sommerland takes a look at 11 of her biggest gaffes as an MP:

11 of Nadine Dorries’s gaffes and controversies

What do the Dominic Raab bullying allegations mean for Rishi Sunak and the government?

11:48 , Matt Mathers

Less than a week after he sacked Nadhim Zahawi, Rishi Sunak is coming under pressure to take action against Dominic Raab, who is facing multiple allegations of bullying, which he denies.

The prime minister previously said that he was not aware of any formal complaints against Mr Raab when he appointed him as his deputy and justice secretary, although fresh reports today question that account.

How is the investigation into Mr Raab likely to end, and what does it mean for the PM and his government? Sean O’Grady, our associate editor, takes a look:

Analysis: What do the Dominic Raab bullying allegations mean for Rishi Sunak?

Is the future really set for the Conservative Party?

12:20 , Matt Mathers

Established parties have been wiped out in Britain before, and in France, Israel and Canada recently – it could happen again, writes John Rentoul.

Read John’s full piece here:

Is the future really set for the Conservative Party? | John Rentoul

On the Piers Morgan show, Rishi Sunak turned into a public school Forrest Gump

13:00 , Matt Mathers

The prime minister had looked never more like the head boy of Winchester College going through the motions of his Oxbridge interview, says Tom Peck, in his political sketch.

You can read he article in full here:

On Piers Morgan, Rishi Sunak was a public school Forrest Gump | Tom Peck

DUP reiterates it will not re-enter Stormont until Brexit protocol replaced

13:20 , Matt Mathers

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has restated his position to the Irish foreign minister that his party will not re-enter the Stormont assembly until the Northern Ireland protocol is replaced.

He said: "Over eighteen months ago we outlined the parameters for the way forward. We set our tests and those continue to be our yardstick for measuring any deal between the EU and UK.

"There will be no restoration of the Northern Ireland executive until the protocol is replaced with arrangements that unionists, as well as nationalists, can support. Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market must be restored and our constitutional arrangements must be respected.

"We are seeking the restoration of democratic decision-making to the assembly, replacing the democratic deficit created by the protocol.

"Why should anyone want to deny the people of Northern Ireland, through their democratically elected representatives, a say or a vote on vast swathes of the laws governing our economy and which affect the people of Northern Ireland so directly?"