Jonathan Gullis, the new deputy chair of the Conservative Party, faced questions on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge after latest figures showed a record number of migrants crossed the Channel in the first three months of this year.
Wednesday 27 March 2024 20:26, UK
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Greater Manchester Police has said it is “reassessing” its decision not to investigate allegations made against Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner over her living arrangements after receiving a complaint.
The Labour MP has come under the spotlight in recent weeks over the sale of an ex-council house she previously owned in Stockport, having been accused of avoiding capital gains tax – something she has denied.
But Ms Rayner has also faced scrutiny over claims that in 2010, she may have lived primarily at her then-husband’s address, despite registering to vote under her own – which could be a breach of electoral rules.
She told journalists earlier this month that there was “never a question of deceitfulness” or “conspiracy” with regards to her living arrangements, as she outlined her “difficult” family situation at the time.
But Tory MP James Daly asked police to investigate whether she had given false information or broken election rules.
Initially, Greater Manchester Police looked into the claims and said there was no evidence of an offence being committed.
However, in a fresh statement released on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the force said: “We have received a complaint regarding our decision not to investigate an allegation and are in the process of reassessing this decision.
“The complainant will be updated with the outcome of the reassessment in due course.”
Read more from our political reporter Jennifer Scott below:
As things wrap up, panel member Lord Ed Vaizey reveals he was having a drink at the Garrick Club before arriving for the Politics Hub tonight.
The club has come to fore recently due to its membership being publicised, and women not being allowed to join.
But Lord Vaizey says he is no longer a member – but that’s because he had to give it up years ago as he could not afford it.
He then lets slip that the membership list was the main topic of discussion there tonight.
James Schneider, who was an adviser to Jeremy Corbyn, says he has never been to the club – and Sophy hasn’t either.
Lord Vaizey wonders if he could nominate Sophy to be the first woman member, but then jokes that he will be blackballed for having revealed what was being spoken about.
And with that, the show finishes.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s ambition – laid out in January 2023 – to end the leasehold system appears to have been gutted.
A leasehold is where someone pays a figure on a level with the sale price of a property, but actually just rents the property from a landlord for a period of 99 years or such – and they can be left liable to paying extra charges.
Kwajo Tweneboa, an affordable housing campaigner, says he believes Mr Gove will be “disappointed” in the turn of events.
Mr Gove said he wanted to end the system – which dates back hundreds of years – before the election, but it seems only a watered-down version is going to be passed.
Mr Tweneboa says: “I’m not here to pour glitter on any sort of politician, any MP or anything, but from my meetings with [Mr Gove], I do believe that he wants to create changes, whether it comes to the Renters’ Reform bill, Social Housing Regulation Bill, but also Leasehold reform too.
“So if it is the case where it is being watered down in the way that’s being suggested, I do believe he will be disappointed.
“I think perhaps he’s going to have to take a firmer stance.
“Ultimately, we need reform to be as strong as possible.”
Mr Tweneboa says pressure needs to be applied “equally” to whoever the next government is – Labour or Conservative.
Sophy’s panel discuss why people are increasingly unhappy with the NHS.
Former Corbyn adviser James Schneider says the health service is one of “probably the most civilised things about our country”.
But he says the past 30 years of “under-funding, part-privatisation and various botched attempts to reorganise it” have left people dissatisfied.
Ex-Tory minister Lord Vaizey says he has always been in favour of NHS reform – and that he doesn’t see any problems with a private company delivering an NHS service.
He advocates for private companies to be given “simple operations – cataracts, knee replacements, that kind of thing” on a free-at-use basis to bring down waiting lists – as was the case under New Labour.
Our City editor Mark Kleinman has some breaking news tonight about Thames Water.
He has heard that shareholders seem to be unwilling to stump up funds of up to £3bn to secure the utility’s future.
Mark stresses to Sophy the company is not on the brink of collapse – but this is a major headache for the company as it has massive debts.
“This will raise fresh questions about whether Thames Water can survive as a solvent, independent company or whether it will have to be nationalised temporarily by the government,” Mark says.
“Now, that would be a huge political headache for Rishi Sunak’s administration, because it would come just months before the general election.
“It would ultimately cost taxpayers billions of pounds.”
Read Mark’s story below…
Over a year ago, Rishi Sunak made five pledges for voters to judge him on.
The prime minister met his pledge to halve inflation by the end of 2023.
However, as evidenced by the latest figures on small boat crossings (see 11.20 post), he is faring less well with his other pledges.
With the general election approaching, how is Mr Sunak doing on delivering on his promises?
You can see the progress for yourself below.
Sophy asks our panel why Rishi Sunak pledged to stop the boats when he could not do it.
Former Conservative minister Lord Vaizey says, that while he disagrees with Sophy’s thesis, he agrees that it was a “mistake” to make the pledge.
There’s nothing wrong with a politician making a promise, Lord Vaizey says, but the prime minister has driven “himself into a cul-de-sac”.
James Schneider, a former Labour adviser in the Corbyn period, says he is not sure what the current Labour Party’s policy on the issue is.
He says the opposition seem to be “duck for cover and let the government make a mess of it”.
Mr Schneider says the row has the “intricate detail” of the Brexit debate, but it can’t be voted on in such a way.
Mr Gullis sets out why he is different from former deputy chair Lee Anderson, who has defected to Reform UK.
Mr Anderson was a Labour councillor before he joined the Conservatives.
Mr Gullis says: “I’ve been a member of the Conservative Party since I was 18 years old.
“I’ve been an association officer, a councillor, and now a member of parliament.
“I’ve obviously been out with my members and across other members and across the country delivering leaflets, knocking on doors.
“I’m proud of the Conservative Party and what we’ve done and what we’ve delivered.”
He says he “will go into battle” for Mr Sunak.
“I’ll tell you something about Rishi that not many people know.
“My son went into hospital last year, and he was really struggling to breathe, and I only told one whip because I left the chamber and dashed in the car to get back up here to Stoke-on-Trent.
“Ten o’clock that night, Rishi texted me to ask how my child was doing. He checked in again at 7am the next morning and 10pm the next evening, and he did that day in, day out for five days in a row until my child was back home.
“That shows you the measure of the man, that shows you the decency, the humility, the caring nature he has for his colleagues as well as the country as a whole.”
Jonathan Gullis is the newly minted deputy chair of the Conservative Party, and is speaking to the Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge.
He has taken up the role after Lee Anderson, a former deputy chair, defected to Reform UK.
Speaking about the record numbers of people who have crossed the Channel this year, Mr Gullis blames “pesky peers” – who are “predominantly Labour” – for blocking the Safety of Rwanda Bill.
Sophy puts it to Mr Gullis that he “blocked” the bill as well – as he abstained from voting for it previously.
“Sophy, there’s a very clear difference here between saying that you want something to work, you believe in Rwanda, as I do,” he says.
“And I want Rwanda to work as well, as I do, as the prime minister does.
“But obviously I had, with that particular bill, a couple of amendments that I wanted to see be adopted.
“They weren’t adopted – I was true to my word.
“I said that I was going to not block the bill, unlike the Labour Party, who continue to block it at every turn, every corner.”
Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live now on Sky News.
The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis – bringing the audience into the corridors of power.
Sophy will be joined by Jonathan Gullis, a Tory MP and a newly minted deputy party chair.
Also on the show is Kwajo Tweneboa, a housing and social issues campaigner.
On Sophy’s panel tonight are:
Watch Politics Hub from Monday to Thursday on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on the Sky News website and app or on YouTube.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
