It was the good, the bad and the ugly for Rishi Sunak during the latest TV election showdown
From Rishi Sunak, we saw the good, the bad and the ugly during the latest TV election showdown with other party leaders – and a tough and unforgiving audience.
The good came when he broke his silence on the Tory betting scandal early on in his half-hour session of questions, declaring he was “incredibly angry” and vowing that any law breakers would be “booted out” of his party.
The bad followed when he struggled to defend his own policy on national service for 18-year-olds and was tetchy with an audience member who asked about Brexit.
And the ugly came at the end when the audience angrily shouted “shame!” when he launched into Reform UK-style rhetoric about the European Convention on Human Rights and attacked what he called a “foreign court”.
That sort of talk may play well with right-wing MPs and activists, but it bombed here and will have alienated those voters thinking of switching to Labour or the Liberal Democrats.
So Mr Sunak started well, got bogged down in detail in the middle and then ended badly, though he eventually did manage to land some blows on Labour on tax – as he has continued to do so throughout the election campaign.
The two takeaways from the PM’s part of this election programme will be his threat to expel betting wrongdoers and his misjudging the audience on the ECHR.
But not surprisingly, that wasn’t good enough for opposition MPs.
Rishi Sunak faced tough questions from the audience
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was challenged on a number of issues by the audience.
Immediately after the programme, Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth told Sky News Mr Sunak still has not taken any action against Tory candidates Craig Williams and Laura Saunders, who are being investigated by the Gambling Commission.
He should have suspended them immediately, as Sir Keir Starmer has demanded, Mr Ashworth said.
But despite the shouts of “shame!” from the audience on the ECHR near the end, Mr Sunak will feel that with the Tories losing votes to Nigel Farage he had to throw the Tory right and would-be Reform UK voters some red meat.
Those Tory MPs who love to hate the ECHR will no doubt have approved of Mr Sunak’s attack as far as it went – and no doubt accuse the BBC of selecting a “lefty” audience.
Before Mr Sunak, Sir Keir stumbled once again, as he did in his interview with Beth Rigby in last week’s Sky News Battle for No 10 programme in Grimsby, when asked about his support for Jeremy Corbyn.
Host Fiona Bruce repeatedly challenged Sir Keir on why he said Mr Corbyn would make a great prime minister in 2019, but the Labour leader kept dodging the question and looked shifty.
Eventually, Sir Keir said, rather lamely, that Mr Corbyn would have made a better prime minister than Boris Johnson.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer
Tories will no doubt taunt him on that claim for the rest of the campaign.
Sir Keir’s other tricky moments came when he was quizzed about his dispute with Labour MP Rosie Duffield on trans issues.
“I agree with Tony Blair,” he said. But he shunned the Canterbury MP and couldn’t bring himself to mention her name.
That was disrespectful. The Labour leader seems to have a problem with Ms Duffield. It makes him sound intolerant, which his critics would say is fair criticism.
The surprise here was a solid performance from the SNP leader John Swinney. He is less confrontational than the party’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn.
Scotland First Minister John Swinney
He has a funereal style of delivery that has previously seen him compared to an undertaker.
He could also be compared to a Church of Scotland priest reading from the prayer book, to be fair.
But he’s an old pro and a details man, as he demonstrated when answering tricky questions about the SNP performance on the NHS in Scotland and was courteous with members of the audience, even when the questions were tough.
It all began with Sir Ed Davey, who was immediately greeted with the question: “Aren’t you going to bankrupt the country?”
“No,” he replied.
Well, it would have been a shock if he’d said yes.
Read more:
Labour vows to end rental ‘bidding wars’
Green co-leader rejects Liz Truss comparison
Former Tory minister says he’ll vote Labour
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey fielding questions from the audience
The second questioner was applauded after he accused Sir Ed of breaking promises in coalition government, citing the Lib Dems’ U-turn on tuition fees.
He was also ridiculed by a member of the audience over his “horseplay” in the campaign, the stunts such as splashing around on Lake Windermere and riding on a rollercoaster at Thorpe Park in Surrey.
And inevitably, he was asked if he was proud of his record as Post Office minister during the Horizon scandal.
The questions were tough, but he dealt with them calmly. His style was that of a fireside chat.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
With four party leaders competing this was a game of four quarters.
And this tough and unforgiving audience gave the leaders no quarter.
Prince William has shared a new picture of his wife Kate along with a personal message for her 43rd birthday.
In a post on X, he wrote: “To the most incredible wife and mother.
“The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W.”
The message featured a new black and white picture of the future queen, showing her in a gingham scarf as she smiles and tucks her hands into her jeans pockets.
The royal family’s official social media accounts shared a message reading: “Happy Birthday to The Princess of Wales!”
The message was accompanied by a photo of Kate smiling as she collected bouquets of flowers while attending church in Sandringham on Christmas Day.
The Princess of Wales is celebrating at home in Windsor with the Prince of Wales, with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis spending the day at school before a family celebration in the evening.
Over the last year Kate has undergone abdominal surgery, been diagnosed with cancer and faced chemotherapy treatment.
She spent nearly two weeks in the London Clinic after an operation on 16 January last year and was recuperating at home when she was told she had cancer and had to begin chemotherapy.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
2024: An unexpected year for Royal Family
Kate is expected to continue her gradual return to public duties this year.
After completing her treatment in September she said: “Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus.
“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.”
William described 2024 as “brutal” and probably “the hardest year” of his life. His father, the King, was also diagnosed with cancer and his treatment is expected to continue this year.
UK
Stuart Hogg: Former Scotland rugby captain given community payback and non-harassment orders for domestic abuse
Former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg has been handed a community payback order and a non-harassment order for abusing his estranged wife over the course of five years.
Hogg, 32, last year pleaded guilty to a single charge of domestic abuse of his ex-partner, Gillian Hogg, between 2019 and 2024.
The sportsman admitted shouting and swearing, tracking her movements and sending her messages which were alarming and distressing in nature.
At Selkirk Sheriff Court on Thursday, he was given a community payback order with one year of supervision and a five-year non-harassment order.
Sheriff Peter Paterson warned Hogg the sentence was an “alternative to custody”.
Hogg arriving at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Thursday. Pic: PA
Hogg leaving court. Pic: PA
A court heard how he berated Mrs Hogg for “not being fun” after going on drinking binges with his colleagues, and once sent more than 200 text messages to her in the space of a few hours which caused her to suffer a panic attack.
Hogg had been due to stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court last November, but pleaded guilty to the abuse which was said to have taken place at various locations including Hawick in the Scottish Borders and Bearsden in East Dunbartonshire.
Hogg arriving at Jedburgh Sheriff Court in December. Pic: PA
At Jedburgh Sheriff Court in December, he was initially handed the five-year non-harassment order and fined £600 for breaching bail conditions by repeatedly contacting Mrs Hogg last June.
The former Glasgow Warriors and Exeter Chiefs, who plays for French club Montpellier, now lives abroad and is said to be in the process of getting a divorce.
Stuart and Gillian Hogg in 2017. Pic: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
Prosecutor Drew Long said the couple moved to Exeter in 2019 with their three young children, who were all under three, but Hogg’s behaviour “deteriorated” as he went out partying.
Mr Long said Hogg would “shout and swear and accuse Mrs Hogg of not being fun” for not joining in drinking, and that her family “noticed a change in her”.
In 2022, Mrs Hogg went on a night out and was bombarded with text messages from the rugby player which “caught the attention of the people she was with”, the prosecutor said.
The following year, the couple moved to Hawick in the Borders, but Hogg used an app to track his wife and “questioned her whereabouts” while she was dropping the children off.
Read more from Sky News:
Sexually violent chef branded ‘extreme danger to women’ jailed
Mother of 14-year-old stabbed to death on bus ‘not surprised’ he was killed
In 2023, she decided to leave the sportsman and sought advice from a domestic abuse service.
Mr Long said in September of that year, Hogg “sent in excess of 200 texts in a few hours despite being asked to leave her alone”, which led to Mrs Hogg having a panic attack.
On 21 February 2024, police were called due to Hogg “shouting and swearing”.
He was taken into custody and thereafter placed on a bail order stipulating not to contact Mrs Hogg or to enter the family home.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said “no one should have to live in fear of a partner or former partner”.
Lynne Barrie, procurator fiscal for Lothian and Borders, added: “Stuart Hogg has now been convicted and held accountable for subjecting his estranged wife to years of domestic abuse.”
Hogg made his Scotland debut in 2012 and went on to make 100 appearances for his country.
He also made two appearances for the British and Irish Lions and was made an MBE for services to the sport in last year’s New Year Honours list.
Following his guilty plea, Mrs Hogg thanked all those who had shown support.
She praised her family and friends, and also singled out those who had given her “a hi, a smile, a hug or even just a look to show they care”.
Mrs Hogg said she had thought “long and hard” about posting on Facebook, but added: “Now, it’s time to start my next chapter.
“To move on and to keep showing my kids every day that strength comes from unconditional love and support around you, and even when it hurts, love wins.”
Following the court case, Scottish Women’s Aid said coercive control – including stalking and micromanaging how women mother, where they go, what they wear and what they’re allowed to say – can be “more traumatic than a physical assault”.
Dr Marsha Scott, chief executive of the charity, added: “The sentence in this case, like so many handed down in Scotland, hardly meets the test of being proportionate when compared to the harm this man has caused.”
UK
UK weather: New ice warnings issued and runway closure causes travel delays – as temperatures set to reach -16C
The Met Office has put yellow weather warnings over snow and ice in place from this afternoon covering much of the UK.
The Met had a number of yellow warnings in place on Thursday across the country, but most were initially set to expire by 11am, with only a snow and ice alert in Scotland remaining until midnight.
But it has now updated its map to show yellow ice warnings for much of the Midlands, North West England, Eastern England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 4pm on Thursday until 10am on Friday, while the snow and ice warning for Scotland has been extended to 10am on Friday.
Met office weather warnings for Thursday Pic: Met Office
A separate yellow warning for ice is in force from 3am on Friday until 11am, covering South West England and parts of South Wales.
It comes as large swathes of the country deal with disruption caused by the freezing weather, with temperatures expected to fall as low as -16C on Thursday night both in the northeast of England and Scotland, the Met Office has said.
Manchester Airport has warned passengers of delays after temporarily closing its runways due to “significant levels of snow”.
In a statement on Thursday morning, the airport said: “Our runways are temporarily closed due to significant levels of snow, as our teams work hard to clear them as quickly as possible.”
The airport announced its runways had reopened at 10am, but warned “as a result of the earlier closure, some departures and arrivals may still experience delays”.
“The safety of our passengers remains our top priority. Thank you for your understanding and patience,” it added.
Commuters wait for a tram on a snow-covered platform in Manchester. Pic: Reuters
Snow covers a vehicle in Buxton. Pic: Reuters
The A30 in Cornwall was closed westbound between the A3047 junctions Avers and Tolvaddon on Thursday morning following a multiple vehicle collision, according to National Highways, after an amber warning for snow and ice was in place yesterday.
It said at 8.45am that emergency services were at the scene while traffic built on the roads.
Devon and Cornwall Police and Devon County Council Highways had earlier warned of roads closing and motorists being stationary for “long periods of time” in a joint statement.
Snow ploughs became stuck in queues of traffic caused by “minor incidents”, the statement added.
All of the warnings in place across the country are yellow, meaning there is a danger of injury from slips and falls and some disruption to travel expected.
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for the following regions from 4pm on Thursday to 10am on Friday:
- East Midlands
- North West England
- Northern Ireland
- Wales
- West Midlands
Get the forecast for your area
Icicles hang from the Killhope Lead Mine in Durham. Pic: PA
Other yellow warnings which covered much of the country on Thursday morning have now expired.
They included a warning for snow and ice affecting Cornwall, much of Wales and parts of northwest England until 11am, an ice warning for parts of southern England and south-east Wales until 10.30am and a fog warning for Northern Ireland until 9am.
Menston, West Yorkshire
Snow covers the Killhope Lead Mine in Durham. Pic: PA
Travel disruption to road and rail services are likely on Thursday in the warning areas, as well as the potential for accidents in icy places, the forecaster said.
As icy conditions persist, motorists are being urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted.
Car insurer RAC said it has seen the highest levels of demand for rescues in a three-day period since December 2022.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway