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The frustration and despair of Tory MPs felt towards Rishi Sunak’s top team is revealed in leaked WhatsApp messages obtained by Sky News.

One MP called the parliamentary operation a “shitshow” and “crazy”, while another said they were “at a loss” at the handling of a crunch Monday night vote on excluding MPs arrested on suspicion of serious sexual or violent offences.

They echo comments Tory MPs have made privately to Sky News.

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There is fury today among Tory MPs after most found themselves on the losing side of a vote on a Lib Dem and Labour motion to exclude any MP arrested for a serious offence from the parliamentary estate, which would bring Westminster into line with many other workplaces.

The bulk of Tory MPs backed a different plan – to exclude MPs at the point of charge, arguing that MPs could easily become the target of vexatious complaints.

It was a free vote, which meant MPs did not have to vote on party lines.

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However, in a move that baffled Conservative MPs, when the Commons came to vote to overturn the opposition motion, the Tory whips did not put up “tellers” – vote counters – and so it could not be held, meaning the opposition motion passed.

This often happens because of disorganisation or confusion about events in the chamber, and often marks a failing of either the Tory whips or the Commons leader’s office – figures appointed by Mr Sunak.

The WhatsApps show a government minister – Anne Marie Trevelyan – summoning Tories after initially losing the Lib Dem vote: “Anyone on estate who didn’t vote on amendment O please return asap! Lost amend by one vote. Otherwise the decision is arrest Not charge.”

Other Tories – Jill Mortimer and Jack Brereton – add weight to the appeal to vote down the Lib Dem motion, as does minister Greg Hands.

Brendan Clarke-Smith calls the Lib Dem plan to exclude MPs from parliament on arrest “an attack on basic civil liberties”.

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However, Cambridgeshire MP Anthony Browne suddenly announces three minutes later: “Division off!”

There is incredulity with Pauline Latham demanding to know what has happened, adding: “This is crazy.”

Conservative MP Angela Richardson. Pic: House of Commons
Image:
Conservative MP Angela Richardson said the vote was a shitshow. Pic: House of Commons

Miriam Cates explains to colleagues there were no tellers, Angela Richardson says “what a shitshow!”, Andrea Leadsom says “A sad day”. Ms Cates says: “I am completely at a loss to understand why those of us who shouted ‘no’ were not told that there were no tellers” – indicating frustration with Mr Sunak’s parliamentary operation.

Mr Clarke-Smith says: “Angela better hope her interview goes well then. Unbelievable.” This is a reference to Angela Rayner, who is currently under police investigation and could be interviewed under caution in coming weeks. She denies all allegations and has not been arrested and Labour says this will not happen, but even if she were, she would not be excluded because the reason for arrest is unlikely to pass the serious offence test.

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The dialogue concludes with Mr Brereton saying: “We’re all going to be banned from the estate now…” and Ms Cates saying, “Watch the vexatious complaints roll in…”

One Tory said there was an “end of days vibe” in the Tory Party and the messages were evidence of a “meltdown” because the Tory whips can’t handle simple votes.

They too call it a “shitshow”.

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Trump admin advisor meeting with Federal Reserve chairman ‘regularly’

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<div>Trump admin advisor meeting with Federal Reserve chairman 'regularly'</div>

Investors are patiently waiting for interest rate cuts to fuel risk-on-asset markets amid high inflation and macroeconomic uncertainty.

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‘Whole cabinet’ recognises need to spend more on defence, minister says

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'Whole cabinet' recognises need to spend more on defence, minister says

The whole government recognises the need to spend more on defence, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, a cabinet minister has said.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that he “disagrees” with claims the prime minister is preparing to overrule the chancellor on the amount of cash being spent on the armed forces.

“The whole cabinet, the whole government, I think most people in this country recognise the pressures the world is under, recognise more will have to be spent on defence,” he said.

He added that Ms Reeves “knows more than most… defence has to be the cornerstone of our national prosperity”.

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The Sunday Times reported that Sir Keir Starmer held one-to-one meetings on Friday with the chief of the defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and the heads of the armed services, who are calling for spending to increase to a 2.65% share of the economy.

The newspaper cited a senior Treasury source saying Ms Reeves was not willing to hand over any more cash for defence this year. However, an ally of Sir Keir reportedly said he will make the final decision and is prepared to override his chancellor.

The UK’s target is 2.5%, but it is currently at around 2.3% – with no timetable for when spending might increase.

Mr Reynolds said Ms Reeves’s June spending review “will set out the roadmap towards that target”.

Asked if that could mean an increase in defence spending, he said: “We already had an increase… £3bn in the last budget… so our credentials are there. We’ll set out that roadmap in the spending review as you do for all spending.”

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Sir Keir is said to want to seize the initiative on defence spending following the news that US President Donald Trump has begun discussing a Ukraine peace deal with Russia.

Officials from Washington and Moscow will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days for peace talks, which Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he was not invited to.

Mr Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, has also said European leaders will not have a place at the negotiating table in a discussion to end the war.

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How can UK improve defence?

Rachel Ellehuus, the head of defence thinktank the Royal United Services Institute, told Sky News that with Washington shifting its focus away from Europe, all NATO members should increase defence spending and the alliance’s 2% target is not enough.

She said the issue should be treated with “urgency” and called on the UK government to “find the headroom to invest in conventional capabilities as well as innovation – to continue to invest in people, recruitment, personnel”.

It comes ahead of an emergency meeting of European leaders to discuss Ukraine, organised by French President Emmanuel Macron which Sir Keir is expected to attend in Paris on Monday.

In a statement issued on Saturday night, the prime minister spoke of a “once in a generation moment” for the UK, US and Europe to work together and warned against “divisions” within the alliance.

He also said it was clear “Europe must take on a greater role in NATO”.

Sir Keir will take messages from the meeting to Washington DC when he meets Mr Trump the following week, according to Downing Street sources.

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Texas Bitcoin reserve hearing ‘symbolic move’ for crypto — Analyst

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Texas Bitcoin reserve hearing ‘symbolic move’ for crypto — Analyst

While the hearing represents a positive step forward, the Fed’s monetary policy remains the main driver of Bitcoin’s trajectory, analysts told Cointelegraph.

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