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Rishi Sunak has accused Sir Keir Starmer of being “another leftie lawyer” trying to stop action against small boat crossings in their latest Prime Minister’s Questions clash.

Less than 24 hours after the government revealed its new Illegal Migration Bill, the prime minister insisted Labour fails to acknowledge there is a global migration problem and the new plans have been introduced “to ensure that this remains a compassionate and generous country”.

The bill ensures small boat crossings will be halted, Mr Sunak said, and insisted it will be done “fairly and legally” – despite accusations it will break international asylum laws.

When Sir Keir, the former chief prosecutor, accused the Tory government of causing the number of migrants arriving in small boats to increase, Mr Sunak replied: “He’s just another leftie lawyer standing in our way.”

The quip was a repetition of an email sent to Conservative supporters from Home Secretary Suella Braverman on Tuesday, which has also prompted a call for an official apology from the head of the civil servants union.

In the letter, it said the government had to bring in a law to stop small boat crossings after “an activist blob of left-wing lawyers, civil servants and the Labour Party blocked us”.

Sir Keir dismissed the accusation as “nonsense” as he accused the new bill of failing to tackle the issue of thousands of asylum seekers being housed in hotels – costing the taxpayer millions.

“Because of his mess, there are thousands of people who can’t claim asylum and can’t be processed,” the Labour leader said.

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What is in the Illegal Migration Bill?

“After 13 years, small boat crossings, higher than ever claims unprocessed.

“The taxpayer paying for hotel rooms, criminals running all the way laughing to the bank, and an asylum system utterly broken on his watch.

“This is their fifth prime minister, the sixth immigration plan, the seventh home secretary.

“And after all this time, all they offer is the same old gimmicks and empty promises.”

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Is the Illegal Migration Bill legal?

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‘How many have been processed?’

The Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn accused the new bill of failing to protect women who have been sex trafficked to the UK.

But Mr Sunak insisted the bill will mean the government can “target our resources and our compassion on the world’s most vulnerable people”.

Moving away from the Illegal Migration Bill, Mr Sunak said he has asked the Department for Education to “ensure that schools are not teaching inappropriate or contested content in RHSE” after being asked about sexualised child sex education.

He said the department will be bringing forward a review on relationships, sex and health education statutory guidance, with a consultation starting “as soon as possible”.

The PM was asked about the issue by Tory MP Miriam Cates who said: “Graphic lessons on oral sex, how to choke your partner safely and 72 genders.

“This is what passes for relationships and sex education in British schools.

“Across the country, children are being subjected to lessons that are age-inappropriate, extreme, sexualising and inaccurate, often using resources from unregulated organisations that are actively campaigning to undermine parents.

“This is not a victory for equality. It is a catastrophe for childhood.”

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Boy, 14, stabbed to death on bus in Woolwich, southeast London

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Boy, 14, stabbed to death on bus in Woolwich, southeast London

A 14-year-old boy has been stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich, in southeast London.

Police were called around 2.30pm to reports of a stabbing on a bus on Woolwich Church Road near the junction with the A205 South Circular Road.

A boy who police said had received stab wounds was treated by paramedics, but he died at the scene shortly after they arrived.

Officers have launched an investigation into the incident.

No arrests have been made so far but police are appealing for witnesses of the incident on the 472 bus.

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A cordon and road closures were in place as of shortly before 5pm.

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Liverpool hospital declares critical incident over ‘exceptionally high’ demand on A&E amid rising flu cases

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Liverpool hospital declares critical incident over 'exceptionally high' demand on A&E amid rising flu cases

The Royal Liverpool University Hospital has declared a critical incident due to “exceptionally high” demand on A&E and patients being admitted to wards.

The hospital said there had been a spike in people with flu and respiratory illnesses going to emergency departments in recent weeks.

The number of people in England’s hospital with flu quadrupled in the last month, according to NHS data.

A spokesperson for the hospital said it had a “comprehensive plan in place” and was “taking all the necessary actions to manage the challenging circumstances”.

“We are working with partner organisations to ensure those that are medically fit can leave hospital safely and at the earliest opportunity,” they added.

The hospital warned some people would experience delays as it prioritises the sickest patients.

People whose case isn’t an emergency are being asked to see their GP, pharmacy or walk-in centre – or call the 111 service for advice.

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The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is in the city centre and is the biggest hospital in Merseyside and Cheshire.

Declaring a critical incident can happen when a hospital is experiencing exceptional demand, or sometimes if there is a serious problem with staffing levels.

It indicates it can’t function as normal and allows it to take extra measures to protect patients, such as prioritising the most unwell people and getting support from other agencies.

It could last hours, a few days, or weeks if necessary.

A critical incident was also declared on Friday by the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board.

It said it had seen almost four times as many inpatients compared with last year and urged people with flu to avoid going to A&E.

Read more from Sky News:
England cricket chiefs reject call for boycott of Afghanistan game

Plaza says death of filmmaker husband ‘unimaginable tragedy’

There have been warnings this winter of a so-called “quad-demic”– with flu, vomiting bug norovirus, COVID and RSV circulating at the same time.

The NHS provides vaccinations against three of the four; flu, COVID-19 and RSV (a common cause of chest infection in babies).

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Zendaya and Tom Holland engagement rumours swirl after Golden Globes

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Zendaya and Tom Holland engagement rumours swirl after Golden Globes

Zendaya and Tom Holland are rumoured to be engaged after the 28-year-old actress appeared at the Golden Globes wearing a massive diamond ring on her left ring finger.

They met after working together on 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming and confirmed their relationship in 2021.

Sky News has contacted representatives for Zendaya and Holland for comment.

Zendaya and Tom Holland pose for photographers at the photo call for the film ''Spider-Man: No Way Home''.
Pic:Invision/AP
Image:
Zendaya and Tom Holland pose for photographers at the photo call for the film ”Spider-Man: No Way Home”. Pic: Invision/AP

Zendaya chatted to journalists on the Globes red carpet, where she was nominated for best actress in a musical or comedy for her role in the romantic sports drama Challengers.

Despite being pipped to the prize by Demi Moore, who won for her role in body horror The Substance, there was plenty of buzz around Zendaya’s large diamond ring, which was clearly visible throughout the show.

A Los Angeles Times reporter appeared to ask Zendaya about it, holding up her own engagement ring and pointing to it. Zendaya responded by showing her left-hand ring.

Zendaya arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes.
Pic: Invision/AP
Image:
Zendaya arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes. Pic: Invision/AP

The reporter then asked if the actor was engaged and “she kept showing her ring, smiled coyly and shrugged her shoulders mysteriously”.

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Holland, who is also 28, wasn’t at Sunday’s Globes.

Zendaya arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes.
Pic:Invision/AP
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Zendaya arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes. Pic: Invision/AP

Zendaya wore an orange Louis Vuitton ball gown, and diamond jewellery from Bulgari – for which she’s an ambassador – on the Globes red carpet.

But while the Dune star’s other jewellery items were listed in a press release, there was no mention of the ring on her left finger.

Zendaya, who rose to fame after her breakout role in Disney sitcom Shake It Up, became a household star after starring in Euphoria.

Tom Holland, who is the son of British actor/comedian Dominic Holland, won a role in Billy Elliot The Musical as a child, and has gone on to achieve global fame playing Spider-Man in six Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.

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