UK politics – latest: Inflation falls as minister defends government over Michelle Mone PPE scandal

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Michael Gove calls for criminal case to be brought against Michelle Mone

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UK inflation eased back to its lowest level for more than two years last month as falling petrol prices helped drive a bigger-than-expected fall, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of Consumer Prices Index inflation fell to 3.9 per cent in November, down from 4.6 per cent in October, and the lowest level since September 2021.

Most economists had been expecting inflation to fall to 4.3 per cent last month.

Elsewhere, a government minister has defended the government’s PPE procurement system as he was grilled on the Michelle Mone scandal.

Asked if he looked at it as “shameful” episode, Mr Stride told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he did not want to “prejudice” the investigation by the National Crime Agency and the legal case raised by the government.

But the minister defended the government’s “fast lane” for PPE deals. “If you turn the clock back to a time this country was under inordinate pressure. We were worried and fearful about the level of PPE that we might need,” said Mr Stride.

Recommended

• Could Baroness Mone lose her title and be removed from the House of Lords?
• Michelle Mone hits back at Rishi Sunak: Ministers knew all along about my involvement with PPE firm
• Michael Gove reveals he has cooperated with criminal probe into Michelle Mone scandal

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Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen quits Laurence Fox’s Reclaim Party

Laurence Fox’s fringe Reclaim Party has lost its only MP after disgraced former Tory Andrew Bridgen quit over a “difference in direction”.

The North West Leicestershire MP insisted he still supported the “policies and values” of Reclaim after his “incredibly difficult decision” to resign.

Adam Forrest reports:

Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen quits Laurence Fox’s Reclaim Party

MP says she still supports ‘policies and values’ of former actor’s radical fringe outfit

Matt Mathers20 December 2023 11:221703068849

Cabinet minister Mel Stride wants MPs to look again at legalising assisted dying

Cabinet minister Mel Stride has said it is time for parliament to look again at whether to legalise assisted dying in the UK.

Dame Esther Rantzen has called for free vote on assisted dying, after revealing that she has registered with the Swiss Dignitas clinic over her stage four lung cancer.

Adam Forrest reports:

Cabinet minister Mel Stride wants MPs to look again at legalising assisted dying

Support for fresh look follows Esther Rantzen’s call for new vote, as he reveals joining Dignitas

Matt Mathers20 December 2023 10:401703067844

Tory minister says government was ‘absolutely right’ on PPE

Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride has defended the government’s PPE procurement system as he was grilled on the Michelle Mone scandal, Adam Forrest reports.

Asked if he looked at it as “shameful” episode, Mr Stride told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he did not want to “prejudice” the investigation by the National Crime Agency and the legal case raised by the government.

But the minister defended the government’s “fast lane” for PPE deals. “If you turn the clock back to a time this country was under inordinate pressure. We were worried and fearful about the level of PPE that we might need,” said Mr Stride.

“I think the government was absolutely right to expedite the provision of PPE. Inevitably one could look back and you can say’ We could have done things differently etc.’. But had we not expedited the provision of PPE the conversation would quite rightly be, ‘You just weren’t up to the mark.”

Mr Strike repeated Rishi Sunak’s answers on the investigation, saying the government takes it “extremely seriously”.

Matt Mathers20 December 2023 10:241703066749

Drop in inflation means interest rates could come down more quicky – cabinet minister

Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said the fall in inflation could allow the Bank of England to ease interest rates, helping homeowners struggling with mortgage costs.

He told LBC Radio: “The interesting thing is that this 3.9 per cent is a rather better number than was anticipated – many economists were thinking about 4.3 per cent.

“So it could be that this is coming down a bit faster than many had imagined.

“And I think this is really good news. I think this is a turning point. I think the economy will definitely start to benefit from this.”

He added: “A greater decrease in inflation of course means that monetary policy might be loosened a little bit more quickly than it would otherwise be – in other words, interest rates coming down.

“Those are matters for the independent Bank of England, they are not for me to predict, but if inflation comes down faster than expected, then that does take some pressure off the Bank of England in terms of keeping interest rates higher, which of course in time and in turn feeds into mortgage rates.”

Matt Mathers20 December 2023 10:051703065849

Cabinet minister urges junior doctors to return to negotiations on strikes

Cabinet minister Mel Stride urged junior doctors to come back to negotiations with the government in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Ministers have said negotiations cannot take place until the strikes are called off.

The work and pensions secretary told LBC Radio: “What the junior doctors have got to do now – they’re the ones that have walked away from the table – is to come back to the table.

“What they really should not be doing is putting people in these very difficult situations, over this very difficult period for the NHS when the pressure is that much more acute.

“They’ve walked away, we have our door wide open to continue these discussions.

“We’ve been making some progress, but they really should be coming back to the table now. It’s deeply disappointing that they’ve done what they’ve done.”

Matt Mathers20 December 2023 09:501703065116

All to play for in Wellinborough byelection – cabinet minister

A cabinet minister has said it is “all to play for” in the Wellingborough byelection despite Labour’s double-digit lead in the national polls.

Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, said the opposition’s lead was large “but it’s very thin”, adding there was no “burning passion” for Keir Starmer.

“We will be fighting for every vote”, he added. Listen to more of Mr Stride’s comments in the clip below:

Matt Mathers20 December 2023 09:381703063625

Rishi Sunak considered pre-paid debit card giveaway during Covid

Rishi Sunak considered a radical plan to give everyone in the country a pre-paid debit card to boost spending during the Covid pandemic, new documents have revealed.

The then-chancellor mulled the idea of sending out debit cards containing taxpayer’s cash in the summer of 2020 in a bid to stimulate the struggling economy.

Adam Forrest report:

Rishi Sunak considered pre-paid debit card giveaway during Covid

Sunak thought about sending out millions of cash-laden cards in post – but was warned of ‘significant risk’ of theft

Matt Mathers20 December 2023 09:131703062291

When is the Wellingborough byelection?

Parliament is now in recess for Christmas and won’t return until 8 January – the earliest date on which the writ for the Wellingborough byelection can be moved.

The byelection timetable is between 21 and 27 working days from the issuing of the writ.

If the Conservatives, who control the timing of the contest because it was their MP who vacated the seat, decide to go as early as possible, the election could be held on 8 February, Politico reports.

Peter Bone, who was ousted in a recall petition, won an 18,540 majority for the Tories at the 2019 election. Labour’s candidate came second with 13,737 votes (26.5 per cent) compared to Mr Bone’s 32,27 (62.2 per cent) on a turnout of 64.3 per cent.

Mr Bone first won the seat from Labour in 2005 with a majority of 687.

Matt Mathers20 December 2023 08:511703060449

Penny Mordaunt has revealed that a series of Covid-related WhatsApp messages with Boris Johnson have mysteriously vanished from her phone.

The cabinet minister said the conversations were wiped from her phone without her knowing why, in bombshell written evidence given to the Covid inquiry.

Adam Forrest reports:

Boris Johnson’s messages vanished from my phone, says Penny Mordaunt

Tory minister reveals her Covid-era exchanges with ex-PM disappeared without explanation

Matt Mathers20 December 2023 08:201703059549

Lawyer apologises for claiming Michelle Mone not linked to PPE firm

One of Michelle Mone’s lawyers has made an “unqualified apology” for claiming the entrepreneur and peer was not connected to the PPE firm that struck £200m Covid contracts.

Jonathan Coad had said that “any suggestion of an association” between Baroness Mone and the PPE Medpro would be “inaccurate”, “misleading” and “defamatory”.

Mr Coad has now told The Guardian: “I neither knew nor had any reason to believe that my client was not telling me the truth and wrote to your title in good faith … My client was also a member of the House of Lords and had therefore been deemed trustworthy by the state. I was therefore entitled to start with the assumption that she would not mislead me.

“To the extent that I unintentionally misled your colleagues and title, I offer my unqualified apology. I am a devout Christian, and hold to the values of truth and integrity as faithfully as I can.”

Matt Mathers20 December 2023 08:05NewerOlder✕

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