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UK politics live: Jenrick and Badenoch face off to join Cleverly in final two of Tory leadership contest

Conservative MPs to vote this afternoon after Starmer quizzed on Sue Gray and tax rises at PMQs

Salma Ouaguira,David Maddox
Wednesday 09 October 2024 13:07
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Starmer says Falklands are British and will remain British

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Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

Sir Keir Starmer has faced a grilling from Rishi Sunak in his first PMQs since reshuffling his Downing Street leadership team, after Sue Gray’s shock exit as his chief of staff.

The Conservative leader took aim at Sir Keir’s weekend reshuffle, which saw Sue Gray ousted as chief of staff and reappointed as envoy for the nations and regions.

Mr Sunak also pushed the prime minister to give a commitment that Labour will not change the government’s fiscal rules relating to public debt and borrowing and about his pledge  not to put up National Insurance. But Sir Keir refused to clarify the situation twice.

Following a question by Sir Ed Davey, the PM also declared the Falkland Islands are “British and will remain British” after a row about his decision to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Meanwhile, Tory MPs prepare to cast their votes after Robert Jenrick warned about a potential “horse-trading” as the final voting round in the Conservative leadership race looms.

It comes as Tom Tugendhat’s elimination saw the Tory leadership contest narrow to a final three contenders, with James Cleverly receiving a significant boost in support in Tuesday’s vote.

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Campaigners welcome Angela Rayner’s bill to ban no-fault evictions

Renters’ voices are “finally starting to be heard”, a charity has said as Angela Rayner prepares to table her bill to ban “cruel” no-fault evictions.

Anti-homelessness charity Shelter said 11 million renters in England have been “ignored or shouted down” after sounding the alarm about the broken system for years.

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the full story below:

Campaigners welcome Angela Rayner’s bill to ban no-fault evictions

Anti-homelessness charity Shelter said 11 million renters in England have been ‘ignored or shouted down’ after sounding the alarm about the broken system for years

Salma Ouaguira9 October 2024 07:15

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