Politics latest: PM 'appalled' by police protest row; Truss backs Trump and Sunak to win elections (2024)

Key points
  • Liz Truss refuses to apologise for higher interest rates in Sky News interview
  • 'I want Rishi Sunak to win' - Truss
  • Adam Boulton:What Truss and Trump have in common
  • PM 'appalled' by police protest row
  • Met Police chief's resignation 'not the way forward' - Labour
  • Rishi Sunak 'not a real Conservative', Reform leader claims
  • General election date 'above my pay grade' - Sunak ally
  • Labour vows to get prisons built
  • Tap hereto subscribe to Electoral Dysfunction
  • Live reporting by Charlotte Chelsom-Pill

15:00:01

That's all for the Politics Hub today

But before you go, here are the headlines:

  • Liz Truss has refused to apologise to homeowners for higher interest rates in an interview with Sky News;
  • The former prime minister also said she had changed her mind on "problematic" net zero legislation;
  • The Metropolitan Police chief is facing calls to quit over the force's handling of a recent pro-Palestinian protest;
  • He will meet Jewish groups after the force threatened to arrest an "openly Jewish" man;
  • Labour's shadow justice secretary told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips the force have "not covered themselves in glory", but the Met chief's resignation is not "the way forward";
  • Reform UK leader Richard Tice has accused Rishi Sunak of not being a "real Conservative," telling Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips there will be a "realignment of the right";
  • A number of MPs are running the London Marathon today, including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt who is running the race for the third and "the last" time.

We'll be back from 6am with all the latest.

14:45:01

What counts as voter ID? What you need to know before local elections

People voting in local elections in England on 2 May will need to provide photo ID.

It is the second year the requirement has been in place - but in 2023,14,000 people couldn't cast their ballot because they didn't take ID to the polling booth.

There are 22 different types of ID you can use - and if you don't have any of them, you can register for a Voter Authority Certificate.

Here's everything you need to know to avoid being caught out:

14:30:01

Fastest-ever MP to run the London Marathon says he is 'inordinately proud'

We have been reporting today that there's a lengthy list of MPs taking part in the London Marathon today - with one MP running for the 18th time (see post at 11.27am).

But none so far have taken the title for fastest-ever MP to run the race from Matthew Parris.

In 1985, he ran the marathon in 2 hours, 32 minutes.

The Times columnist and former Conservative MP told Sky News he is "intensely proud, inordinately proud" at the achievement.

"I would almost think it is the thing of which I am most proud in my entire political career," he said.

"I had trained so intensely.

"Up hill, down dale - I would run into the House of Commons for a vote and run back after the vote."

He said he even got stopped by the police once running back from a vote.

"It was a better result than I could have expected, so I was very proud," he said.

14:10:01

Scottish power sharing under threat after climate target scrapped

A power-sharing agreement between the SNP and the Greens at Holyrood is under threat after the Scottish government ditched a key climate change target.

The Scottish Green Party has said a vote on the deal, to be held at a forthcoming extraordinary general meeting (EGM), would be binding.

The date of the assembly and the crunch ballot has yet to be announced.

There is unhappiness among Green Party members after the SNP announced the Scottish government was scrapping its commitment to cut emissions by 75% by 2030.

The Rainbow Greens, the party's LGBT wing, has also criticised the announcement, which came on the same day that the prescription of puberty blockers for new patients under the age of 18, at the gender identity service in Glasgow, would be paused.

The decision followed a landmark reviewof gender services for under-18s in England and Wales.

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said he would be urging members to back the power-sharing agreement so the party could "put Green values into practice" in government.

Writing on X, he said "many" members had been calling for an EGM to discuss the future of the agreement.

But Mr Harvie said: "As part of the Scottish government, we're making a difference on a far bigger scale than ever before."

Read more here:

13:50:01

Tice: 'Rishi Sunak is not a real Conservative'

In case you missed Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, we have a recap of one of the interviews on the programme.

Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, claimed Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is "not a real Conservative".

He pointed to the high tax burden and even went as far as calling Mr Sunak a "socialist".

Read the full story below:

13:36:09

PM 'appalled' at Met Police 'openly Jewish' exchange, government source says

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is "appalled" by an exchange at a pro-Palestinian protest in which the Met Police threatened to arrest an "openly Jewish" man, a government source has told Sky News.

Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley is facing calls to resign after antisemitism campaigner Gideon Falter was threatened with arrest near the protest march in London (see post at 08.36am).

Mr Falter, the chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said Jewish Londoners cannot have confidence in the Met under Sir Mark's leadership and accused the commissioner of "victim blaming".

Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho earlier told Sky News the incident was "completely wrong" and that "what happens next" with regard to Sir Mark was a "matter for the Labour London mayor" (see post at 08.40am).

Sky News understands that Sir Mark does still retain the confidence of London mayor Sadiq Khan (see post at 11.46am).

13:30:01

Adam Boulton: What Liz Truss and Donald Trump have in common

By Adam Boulton, Sky News commentator

Liz Truss has much more in common with Donald Trump than just the first three letters of his surname.

Despite presenting themselves as "outsiders", both enjoyed substantial political careers and reached the top of their profession as prime minister of the UK and president of the United States respectively.

In both cases, their periods in power ended in ways that outraged their opponents and many in their own Conservative and Republican parties. Economic chaos brought on by her rash policies forced Truss out of office after just 49 days in 10 Downing Street.

Trumplost the 2020 election, refused to accept his defeat and praised the mob who stormed the Capitol in an attempt to keep him in the White House.

Many thought they were finished for good. But like those who had laughed at their ambitions earlier in their careers, the nay-sayers were wrong again. Both have been reprieved and continue to be respected as forces in their parties.

Read more here:

13:15:01

Podcast: Tory MP suspended | What's going on with climate targets?

Conservative MP Mark Menzies has been suspended from the parliamentary party in light of allegations he abused local Tory party funds to pay off "bad people".

Mark Menzies strongly disputes the claims which also include accusations he used campaign funds to pay his personal medical bills.

On the Conservatives' investigation into the claims, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News this week action was being taken "swiftly".

He added: "I think it is important to stress that the MP in question here denies the allegations and so on the basis of fairness and proper justice, I think it's important to mention that."

On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by political correspondent Darren McCaffrey to analyse how Westminster will cope with another scandal.

Plus, the Scottish government has come under fire for rowing back on its climate commitments.

Niall speaks to science correspondent Thomas Moore about the consequences of the government missing eight out of 12 of its annual climate commitments.

👉Listen above then tap here to follow the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts👈

12:54:04

Met chief to meet Jewish groups after force threatened to arrest 'openly Jewish' man

The head of the Met Police is to meet Jewish community leadership groups amid a row over the force threatening to arrest an "openly Jewish" man.

Sir Mark Rowley will meet representatives from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and Community Security Trust (CST).

Confirming the meeting, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said they would be discussing this "serious issue".

Sir Mark is facing calls to resign after antisemitism campaigner Gideon Falter was threatened with arrest near a pro-Palestinian march in London (see post at 08.36am).

Mr Falter, the chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said Jewish Londoners cannot have confidence in the Met under Sir Mark's leadership and accused the commissioner of "victim blaming".

Campaign Against Antisemitism have told Sky News they are not attending the meeting.

Sky News understands the meeting is expected to take place on Thursday or Friday.

12:30:02

Will Labour or the Conservatives win the next election? Latest polling from the Sky News live tracker

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about the different political parties.

With the local election campaign well under way, Labour is still sitting comfortably on a roughly 21-point lead, averaging at 43.6% in the polls, with the Tories on 23.1%.

In third is Reform UK on 12.3%, followed by the Lib Dems on 9.2%.

The Green Party stands at 6.5%, and the SNP on 3.1%.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the trackerhere.

Politics latest: PM 'appalled' by police protest row; Truss backs Trump and Sunak to win elections (2024)
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