Revealed: Tory MP allegedly demanded campaign cash to pay ‘bad people’

thetimes.co.uk/article/28f948…

Rishi Sunak goes on the offensive against Liz Truss at PMQs as he's pressed over her memoirs:

'Everyone knows that two years ago I wasn't afraid to warn about what her economic policies would lead to even if it wasn't what people wanted to hear at the time. I was right'

It's…

Kemi Badenoch says Rishi Sunak's plan to ban the sale of cigarettes will undermine principle of equality under law - adults born a day apart will be treated differently

How many more Tory MPs will come out against the ban this evening?

Keir Starmer welcomes RIshi Sunak's call for restraint

He says there can be no doubt that Iran's attack this weekend 'has left the world a more dangerous place'

He says it must be 'wholly condemned by all'. But he adds that a full-scale conflict in the Middle East is a path…

Rishi Sunak says that Iran is intent on sowing chaos and destabilising the Middle East

But he adds: 'We want to see calmer heads prevail'

He says he will speak to Netanyahu shortly to express solidarity and discuss how to prevent further escalation. 'All sides need to show…

Is Rishi Sunak going long on general election, as expected?

Tories have just opened accreditation for party conference in Birmingham for Sept 29 -Oct 2

It could easily be scrapped if Tories decide to go early, but it tallies with suggestions he wants November election

Rough…

Striking how confident Labour is as poll lead over Tories remains

Wes Streeting suggests that a Labour victory is a certainty as he calls for a post-election cross-party consensus on social care

'Whether or not the Conservative party will be in a reasonable state to have a…

Since Politico's explosive scoop earlier this week that MPs and political staffers had been hit by a Westminster sexting scandal, 17 people have been identified as having been targeted.

There is at least one other person: Me

thetimes.co.uk/article/honeyt…

Times weekend read:

* Rishi Sunak said to ‘get down’ from time to time about daunting scale of task ahead and need buoying up by those around him

* Growing disconnect between No 10 & departments. Officials say No 10 gets obsessed with minor details & has knee jerk responses to…

Exc - Britain looks set to approve continued armed sales to Israel

The FCDO legal advice *pre-dates* the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza this week.

Legal advice goes to Kemi Badenoch, who makes the final decision on exports licences.

William Wragg will not be stripped of the whip over involvement in honeytrap sexting scandal

Ministers and colleagues - including victims - are sympathetic

Wragg told Aubrey Allegretti that he handed over personal phone numbers of colleagues to a man he met on Grindr after…

'He confessed to having met somebody on an app, exchanged some photos...then been sort of asked to provide MPs phone numbers, which he felt obliged to do.'

Aubrey Allegretti explains how MP William Wragg admitted to having leaked several MPs numbers on Grindr.

Big exclusive from Aubrey Allegretti

William Wragg, a senior Tory MP, has admitted involvement in a honeytrap sexting scandal targeting a minister and fellow MPs

Wragg said he handed over personal phone numbers to a person he met on Grindr. Those colleagues were sent…

Exclusive:

Senior Conservative MP William Wragg has admitted his involvement in a ‘honeytrap’ sexting scandal targeting a minster and fellow MPs.

The Times approached Wragg after speaking to victims who believed he was involved.

Wragg told me he was “so sorry” for providing…

Excited to be joining the Westminster team at The Times and The Sunday Times in the run up to the general election, joining the incredible Lara Spirit on the flagship Red Box newsletter after Easter recess. Do get in touch with stories, DMs open or on max.kendixThe Times and The Sunday Times.co.uk

Michael Gove admits to showing 'moral cowardice' by failing to be upfront with David Cameron about role in Brexit referendum campaign

George Osborne asked Gove on his Political Currency podcast if he 'deceived' Cameron by claiming he would not play a prominent role

Gove said…

BREAKING:

Tories on course for a worse result at general election than John Major's defeat in 1997, new Yougov MRP poll finds

Labour poised to take 403 seats, Tories reduced to 155. Starmer expected to get 154 majority

The result is *worse* for the Tories than the last MRP…

Excl: Companies will not face an outright ban on contacting employees outside work hours as Labour acknowledges “arguably softer but more practicable” policies on workers’ rights will be needed if Labour wins the next general election.

thetimes.co.uk/article/fe1403…

Exclusive from Geri Scott

Labour should give default British citizenship to millions of EU citizens in UK to assuage fears migrants do not contribute to economy, think tank with close links to party says

Labour Together suggests 3.7m EU citizens granted settled status…