UK politics - latest: Inflation falls as Peter Bone suspension triggers byelection for Rishi Sunak in 2024

UK inflation eased back to its lowest level for more than two years last month as falling petrol prices helped drive a bigger-than-expected fall, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of Consumer Prices Index inflation fell to 3.9 per cent in November, down from 4.6 per cent in October, and the lowest level since September 2021.

Most economists had been expecting inflation to fall to 4.3 per cent last month.

Elsewhere, Rishi Sunak will face another by-election test early next year after MP Peter Bone lost his seat in parliament in a recall petition.

The Northamptonshire MP was suspended from the Commons for six weeks in October after an inquiry found he had subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct.

Some 13.2 per cent of eligible voters – 10,505 people – in Mr Bone’s Wellingborough constituency voted for the recall petition, surpassing the 10 per cent threshold needed to trigger a by-election.

Key Points

• Falling petrol prices help drive a bigger-than-expected fall inflation

• Bone suspension triggers fresh byelection for Sunak in 2024

• Gove reveals he has co-operated with NCA probe into PPE Medpro

• Mone accuses Gove of overseeing ‘huge waste in PPE contracts’

Scottish government apologises to parliament over gender reforms

15:48 , Matt Mathers

The Scottish government has apologised to parliament after its decision not to further appeal against the Court of Session’s ruling on its gender reforms were leaked to the press.

Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said that the decision had been reported was “deeply disappointing and regrettable” and that deputy first minister Shona Robison – who was asked about the situation in a media interview on Tuesday – “responded to direct questions put to her” and did not confirm that the decision had been made.

“I would also like to apologise to you and the chamber,” she said.

Irish government to launch legal challenge against UK over NI Legacy Act

15:20 , Matt Mathers

The Irish government is to initiate a legal challenge against the UK’s Act to deal with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Ireland’s deputy premier Micheal Martin said the interstate case would argue that the provisions of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 are incompatible with the United Kingdom’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Full report:

Irish government to launch legal challenge against UK over NI Legacy Act

Sunak must ease Brexit trade friction with EU side deals, say business chiefs

15:05 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak should consider a range of side and supplementary deals with the EU to ease ongoing trade friction after Brexit, business leaders have warned.

Almost two-thirds of UK exporters say selling to the EU has become even harder in the past year, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Adam Forrest reports:

Sunak must ease Brexit trade friction with EU side deals, say business chiefs

Average UK house price was £3,000 lower in October than a year earlier

14:45 , Matt Mathers

The average house price was £3,000 lower in October than a year earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The figures were released as a separate ONS report indicated that private rental prices have been rising at a record rate.

Within London, house prices have been falling at the fastest rate since 2009, while private rental prices have been rising at their fastest pace since at least 2006.

Across the UK, property values fell by 1.2 per ce t on average in the 12 months to October 2023.

This was a steeper decline than the decrease of 0.6 per cent recorded in the 12 months to September 2023.

Annual growth in house prices has been generally slowing since July 2022, when it was 13.8 per cent

The average UK house price was £288,000 in October 2023 – £3,000 lower than 12 months earlier.

Labour taking ‘nothing for granted’ in Wellingborough

14:35 , Matt Mathers

Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth said his party was “taking nothing for granted” in Wellingborough.

On a visit to the seat he told the PA news agency: “I think it’s clear that people across Wellingborough, they want a fresh start. They know it’s time for a change.

“And after 13 years, now going on 14 years, of the Conservatives, when people are paying more in tax, they’re paying more on their mortgage thanks to decisions by the Conservative government, they are paying more on their energy bills, they’re paying more in the shops, families are struggling and they know that there can be a better way.

“They want a government that is on their side and they want an MP who is on their side. So I think it’s clear now that the country wants change. And here in Wellingborough, it’s Labour offering that change.”

But he said: “We’re taking nothing for granted and in the end the voters of Wellingborough will decide.”

Drakeford ‘optimistic’ about Labour’s election chances despite Welsh budget cuts

14:17 , Matt Mathers

Mark Drakeford is “optimistic” about the next general election for Labour – despite proposed budget cuts by the Labour-run Welsh government.

The Labour first minister of Wales, who recently said he intends to stand down in March, also said his cabinet will not raise income tax to plug funding gaps because it would likely “add to the struggles” of those on modest incomes.

Drakeford ‘optimistic’ about Labour’s election chances despite Welsh budget cuts

Patients could be forced to spend Christmas in hospital due to strikes – Atkins

14:00 , Matt Mathers

Strikes by junior doctors in England will mean that some patients will not be sent home from hospital in time to spend Christmas with their loved ones, the Health Secretary has said.

Victoria Atkins echoed concerns from leading health and patient organisations, who warned patients could be left “stranded” in wards over Christmas due to the industrial action.

Full report:

Patients could be forced to spend Christmas in hospital due to strikes – Atkins

Protest group opposed to new Sizewell nuclear plant loses appeal

13:45 , Matt Mathers

Campaigners opposed to the building of a new nuclear power plant near Sizewell in Suffolk have lost the latest stage of a legal battle with the government.

Protest group Together Against Sizewell C objects to a decision, made in 2022 by then business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, to give the development the green light.

The group had mounted a Court of Appeal challenge after losing a High Court fight earlier this year.

But three appeal judges dismissed the group’s appeal on Wednesday. Sir Keith Lindblom, Lady Justice Andrews and Lord Justice Lewis had considered arguments at a Court of Appeal hearing in London in November.

Lawyers representing the group told judges the central issue relates to whether a “development consent order” was lawful “without any assessment” of the environmental impacts of an “essential” fresh water supply.

The group had taken legal action against energy security and net zero secretary Claire Coutinho and Sizewell C Ltd.

Lawyers representing the two defendants said the appeal should be dismissed.

Pressure on Bank of England to cut interest rates after surprise inflation fall

13:26 , Matt Mathers

The Bank of England is under increasing pressure to help homeowners and cut interest rates after inflation fell to its lowest rate in two years.

Latest figures show it has slowed to 3.9 per cent, well below Rishi Sunak’s target of 5 per cent by the end of the year.

Kate Devlin reports:

Pressure on Bank of England to cut interest rates after surprise inflation fall

ICYMI: Why does Keir Starmer’s Labour consider Eddie Izzard unelectable?

13:10 , Matt Mathers

As the comedian is thwarted in her latest bid to become a Labour candidate, Sean O’Grady hopes the reason for her ongoing failure to make headway in the ugly world of politics isn’t transphobia.

Read Sean’s full piece here:

Why does Keir Starmer’s Labour consider Eddie Izzard unelectable?

ICYMI: Rishi Sunak is the one Tory who still thinks he can win

12:40 , Matt Mathers

The prime minister was determined to fight for every point when grilled by MPs, writes John Rentoul. And at the No 10 Christmas reception last night there was – perhaps – a slip of when in 2024 the election might be...

Read John’s full piece here:

Rishi Sunak is the one Tory who still thinks he can win | John Rentoul

ICYMI: By-election triggered as suspended MP Peter Bone loses his seat

12:10 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak will face another by-election test early next year after MP Peter Bone lost his seat in parliament in a recall petition.

The Northamptonshire MP was suspended from the Commons for six weeks in October after an inquiry found he had subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct.

By-election triggered as suspended MP Peter Bone loses his seat

Government sets ‘ambitious’ target to grow rail freight by 75%

11:46 , Matt Mathers

An “ambitious” target of growing rail freight by at least 75 per cent by 2050 has been set by transport secretary Mark Harper.

The cabinet minister said this will lead to economic and environmental benefits.

Full report:

Government sets ‘ambitious’ target to grow rail freight by 75%

Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen quits Laurence Fox’s Reclaim Party

11:22 , Matt Mathers

Laurence Fox’s fringe Reclaim Party has lost its only MP after disgraced former Tory Andrew Bridgen quit over a “difference in direction”.

The North West Leicestershire MP insisted he still supported the “policies and values” of Reclaim after his “incredibly difficult decision” to resign.

Adam Forrest reports:

Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen quits Laurence Fox’s Reclaim Party

Cabinet minister Mel Stride wants MPs to look again at legalising assisted dying

10:40 , Matt Mathers

Cabinet minister Mel Stride has said it is time for parliament to look again at whether to legalise assisted dying in the UK.

Dame Esther Rantzen has called for free vote on assisted dying, after revealing that she has registered with the Swiss Dignitas clinic over her stage four lung cancer.

Adam Forrest reports:

Cabinet minister Mel Stride wants MPs to look again at legalising assisted dying

Tory minister says government was ‘absolutely right’ on PPE

10:24 , Matt Mathers

Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride has defended the government’s PPE procurement system as he was grilled on the Michelle Mone scandal, Adam Forrest reports.

Asked if he looked at it as “shameful” episode, Mr Stride told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he did not want to “prejudice” the investigation by the National Crime Agency and the legal case raised by the government.

But the minister defended the government’s “fast lane” for PPE deals. “If you turn the clock back to a time this country was under inordinate pressure. We were worried and fearful about the level of PPE that we might need,” said Mr Stride.

“I think the government was absolutely right to expedite the provision of PPE. Inevitably one could look back and you can say’ We could have done things differently etc.’. But had we not expedited the provision of PPE the conversation would quite rightly be, ‘You just weren’t up to the mark.”

Mr Strike repeated Rishi Sunak’s answers on the investigation, saying the government takes it “extremely seriously”.

Drop in inflation means interest rates could come down more quicky - cabinet minister

10:05 , Matt Mathers

Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said the fall in inflation could allow the Bank of England to ease interest rates, helping homeowners struggling with mortgage costs.

He told LBC Radio: “The interesting thing is that this 3.9 per cent is a rather better number than was anticipated – many economists were thinking about 4.3 per cent.

“So it could be that this is coming down a bit faster than many had imagined.

“And I think this is really good news. I think this is a turning point. I think the economy will definitely start to benefit from this.”

He added: “A greater decrease in inflation of course means that monetary policy might be loosened a little bit more quickly than it would otherwise be – in other words, interest rates coming down.

“Those are matters for the independent Bank of England, they are not for me to predict, but if inflation comes down faster than expected, then that does take some pressure off the Bank of England in terms of keeping interest rates higher, which of course in time and in turn feeds into mortgage rates.”

Cabinet minister urges junior doctors to return to negotiations on strikes

09:50 , Matt Mathers

Cabinet minister Mel Stride urged junior doctors to come back to negotiations with the government in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Ministers have said negotiations cannot take place until the strikes are called off.

The work and pensions secretary told LBC Radio: “What the junior doctors have got to do now – they’re the ones that have walked away from the table – is to come back to the table.

“What they really should not be doing is putting people in these very difficult situations, over this very difficult period for the NHS when the pressure is that much more acute.

“They’ve walked away, we have our door wide open to continue these discussions.

“We’ve been making some progress, but they really should be coming back to the table now. It’s deeply disappointing that they’ve done what they’ve done.”

All to play for in Wellinborough byelection - cabinet minister

09:38 , Matt Mathers

A cabinet minister has said it is “all to play for” in the Wellingborough byelection despite Labour’s double-digit lead in the national polls.

Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, said the opposition’s lead was large “but it’s very thin”, adding there was no “burning passion” for Keir Starmer.

“We will be fighting for every vote”, he added. Listen to more of Mr Stride’s comments in the clip below:

Rishi Sunak considered pre-paid debit card giveaway during Covid

09:13 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak considered a radical plan to give everyone in the country a pre-paid debit card to boost spending during the Covid pandemic, new documents have revealed.

The then-chancellor mulled the idea of sending out debit cards containing taxpayer’s cash in the summer of 2020 in a bid to stimulate the struggling economy.

Adam Forrest report:

Rishi Sunak considered pre-paid debit card giveaway during Covid

When is the Wellingborough byelection?

08:51 , Matt Mathers

Parliament is now in recess for Christmas and won’t return until 8 January - the earliest date on which the writ for the Wellingborough byelection can be moved.

The byelection timetable is between 21 and 27 working days from the issuing of the writ.

If the Conservatives, who control the timing of the contest because it was their MP who vacated the seat, decide to go as early as possible, the election could be held on 8 February, Politico reports.

Peter Bone, who was ousted in a recall petition, won an 18,540 majority for the Tories at the 2019 election. Labour’s candidate came second with 13,737 votes (26.5 per cent) compared to Mr Bone’s 32,27 (62.2 per cent) on a turnout of 64.3 per cent.

Mr Bone first won the seat from Labour in 2005 with a majority of 687.

08:20 , Matt Mathers

Penny Mordaunt has revealed that a series of Covid-related WhatsApp messages with Boris Johnson have mysteriously vanished from her phone.

The cabinet minister said the conversations were wiped from her phone without her knowing why, in bombshell written evidence given to the Covid inquiry.

Adam Forrest reports:

Boris Johnson’s messages vanished from my phone, says Penny Mordaunt

Lawyer apologises for claiming Michelle Mone not linked to PPE firm

08:05 , Matt Mathers

One of Michelle Mone’s lawyers has made an “unqualified apology” for claiming the entrepreneur and peer was not connected to the PPE firm that struck £200m Covid contracts.

Jonathan Coad had said that “any suggestion of an association” between Baroness Mone and the PPE Medpro would be “inaccurate”, “misleading” and “defamatory”.

Mr Coad has now told The Guardian: “I neither knew nor had any reason to believe that my client was not telling me the truth and wrote to your title in good faith … My client was also a member of the House of Lords and had therefore been deemed trustworthy by the state. I was therefore entitled to start with the assumption that she would not mislead me.

“To the extent that I unintentionally misled your colleagues and title, I offer my unqualified apology. I am a devout Christian, and hold to the values of truth and integrity as faithfully as I can.”

ICYMI: By-election triggered as suspended MP Peter Bone loses his seat

07:55 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak will face another by-election test early next year after MP Peter Bone lost his seat in parliament in a recall petition.

The Northamptonshire MP was suspended from the Commons for six weeks in October after an inquiry found he had subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct.

Andy Gregory reports:

By-election triggered as suspended MP Peter Bone loses his seat

No general election until PPE scandal discussed, says Farage

07:40 , Matt Mathers

Nigel Farage has said the Covid inquiry needs to discuss procurement of PPE before a general election can be held, Adam Forrest reports.

He said it was unacceptable that PPE deals would not get scrutinised by the inquiry until the spring of 2025.

“I believe the Covid inquiry must discuss procurement. They must get Michelle Mone, must get Michael Gove, must get everybody involved to be held publicly to account,” Farage told GB News.

He added: “We cannot have a general election that takes place before we understand why these huge sums of money were wasted.”

Inflation eases back sharply to 3.9% in November

07:25 , Matt Mathers

UK inflation eased back to its lowest level for more than two years last month as falling petrol prices helped drive a bigger-than-expected fall, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of Consumer Prices Index inflation fell to 3.9 per cent in November, down from 4.6 per cent in October, and the lowest level since September 2021.

Most economists had been expecting inflation to fall to 4.3 per cent last month.

Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, said: “Inflation eased again to its lowest annual rate for over two years, but prices remain substantially above what they were before the invasion of Ukraine.

“The biggest driver for this month’s fall was a decrease in fuel prices after an increase at the same time last year.

“Food prices also pulled down inflation, as they rose much more slowly than this time last year.

“There was also a price drop for a range of household goods and the cost of second-hand cars.”

Opinion | The Michelle Mone interview was the worst PR comeback since Prince Andrew

07:01 , Andy Gregory

In his column about Michelle Mone’s BBC interview, our associate editor Sean O’Grady writes:

I’m not sure who’s advising Baroness (Michelle) Mone and her hubby Doug Barrowman these days.

Hannah Ingram-Moore maybe, who, during a catastrophic interview earlier this year with Piers Morgan, destroyed the charitable foundation set up in the name of Captain Sir Tom Moore, her dear old dad and national treasure?

Or maybe Lady Mone was recently at a perfectly normal shooting party and bumped into his former royal highness the Duke of York, a chap always ready with a few useful tips about getting out of a fix.

Whoever is at the ignoble lady’s elbow these days isn’t serving her interests terribly well.

You can read his thinking in full here:

Michelle Mone interview was the worst PR comeback since Prince Andrew | Sean O’Grady

Watch: Michelle Mone admits she could benefit from £60m PPE contract

06:02 , Andy Gregory

Michelle Mone questions why government is taking action against PPE Medpro

05:01 , Andy Gregory

Issuing a further defence of herself on Tuesday, Michelle Mone questioned why the government has chosen to litigate against PPE Medpro.

Nadine Dorries wades into Michelle Mone row:

04:00 , Andy Gregory

Nadine Dorries has waded into the row over Michelle Mone’s peerage, calling on her to quit the House of Lords.

The former culture secretary, who quit as an MP in protest at her own failure to secure a peerage, said the biggest question about Baroness Mone was “why she was made a peer at all”.

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

Dorries lashes out at Michelle Mone: ‘Why was she made a peer in the first place?’

Full report: Michael Gove reveals he has cooperated with criminal probe into Michelle Mone scandal

02:59 , Andy Gregory

Cabinet minister Michael Gove has revealed that he has being cooperating with the National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into the scandal surrounding Baroness Michelle Mone’s firm PPE Medpro.

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest has the full report here:

Michael Gove reveals he has cooperated with criminal probe into Michelle Mone scandal

Politics Explained | Would Baroness Mone lose her title if removed from the House of Lords?

01:52 , Andy Gregory

Not necessarily, writes our associate editor Sean O’Grady.

Nowadays, membership of the upper house, ie taking part in making laws and debates, isn’t synonymous with carrying a title.

Most of the holders of the historic hereditary peerages, for example, no longer vote in the Lords, but are still viscounts, dukes, earls and so on.

However, everyone voting in the Lords – aside from Church of England bishops – carries some sort of a title.

Could Baroness Mone lose her title and be removed from the House of Lords?

Watch: Deputy PM 'doesn't accept' Michelle Mone's claim she was 'scapegoat' in PPE scandal

00:51 , Andy Gregory

What has sparked the current row?

Tuesday 19 December 2023 23:58 , Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent

The ongoing row erupted last week after Michelle Mone, who has repeatedly denied that she had profited from the deal, admitted publicly that she stood to benefit from £60m in profit over a PPE contract signed at the height of the Covid crisis.

The Ultimo bra tycoon, who was made a peer by then Conservative prime minister Lord Cameron in 2015, said in a BBC interview on Sunday that she was “sorry” for denying her links to PPE Medpro, a consortium led by her husband which was awarded government contracts worth more than £200m to supply PPE after she recommended it to ministers.

Michelle Mone is not a Conservative peer, says Michael Gove

Tuesday 19 December 2023 23:22 , Andy Gregory

Michelle Mone, made a Conservative peer by David Cameron in 2015, has been on a leave of absence from the House of Lords and therefore without the Tory whip since December 2022.

However, the Lords still categorises her as a Tory peer, although there have been reports that she is no longer a member of the party.

Asked if she should have whip stripped, Michael Gove claimed: “My understanding, and I’m not expert, is that she is not a Conservative peer. My understanding is that she is not a member of a Conservative body.”

Michelle Mone faces calls to be barred from House of Lords

Tuesday 19 December 2023 22:41 , Andy Gregory

Sir Keir Starmer has said Lady Mone should be expelled from the Lords, as he urged Tory ministers to “come clean” about the scandal that he described as a “shocking disgrace”.

He added: “I think this is a shocking disgrace from top to bottom. And, as every day goes past, there are more questions that need to be answered. The government needs to come clean.”

He followed Tory peer and energy efficiency minister Lord Callanan who said Baroness Mone should be removed from the House of Lords or quit, adding: “I would hope that she would not be coming back”.

Watch: Michael Gove reveals he has co-operated with NCA probe

Tuesday 19 December 2023 21:58 , Andy Gregory

Starmer piles pressure on Gove to answer ‘serious questions'

Tuesday 19 December 2023 21:29 , Adam Forrest, Political Correspondent

Sir Keir Starmer has piled pressure on Michael Gove and others in government to answer “serious questions” about what they knew – including who started the conversations with Michelle Mone in the first place.

Labour has urged Mr Gove to make a statement in the Commons – while the Liberal Democrats have called for a Cabinet Office probe into the issue.

Michelle Mone says there were 1,000 pieces of correspondence with government on PPE

Tuesday 19 December 2023 20:59 , Adam Forrest, Political Correspondent

Defending herself again today, Michelle Mone accused the Cabinet Office of “using us to hide their own shocking failures on PPE!”

A spokesperson for Lady Mone told Sky News that there were over 1,000 pieces of correspondence between her, Mr Gove, the Cabinet Office and the health department about the procurement of PPE.

What proceedings is PPE Medpro facing?

Tuesday 19 December 2023 20:32 , Adam Forrest, Political Correspondent

The government issued breach of contract proceedings last December against PPE Medpro over the 2020 deal on the supply of sterile gowns. The firm is defending the legal action.

The company is also being investigated by the NCA for suspected criminal offences in the procurement of PPE contracts.

Michelle Mone hits out at Lord Bethell’s ‘mysterious messages'

Tuesday 19 December 2023 20:13 , Andy Gregory

Baroness Mone has insisted that Mr Gove and other ministers knew “all about” her involvement with a PPE firm “from the very beginning”.

And today, she hit out at ex-health minister Lord Bethell after he accused her of being dishonest about her assertion – mocking him for “mysteriously” discovering messages from October 2020, after the Tory peer claimed to have lost many messages from that period after breaking and changing his phone.

But he fired back that her assertions were not true:

Watch: Lying to press over PPE contract was ‘not a crime’ says Michelle Mone

Tuesday 19 December 2023 19:56 , Andy Gregory

Michelle Mone accuses Michael Gove of overseeing ‘huge waste in PPE contracts'

Tuesday 19 December 2023 19:43 , Andy Gregory

Michelle Mone has accused Michael Gove of overseeing “huge waste in PPE contracts” as she hit out against the government on Monday.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Gove said: “If there are further questions to ask about PPE procurement, and I believe the government has a strong record, then I’m more than happy to do so with the Covid inquiry.”

Gove rows back on claims he wants criminal case ‘brought as quickly as possible'

Tuesday 19 December 2023 19:40 , Adam Forrest, Political Correspondent

Michael Gove told reporters on Tuesday that he wanted to see a criminal case “being brought” against Baroness Michelle Mone “as quickly as possible”.

But the levelling up secretary’s aide later said he had “misspoke” – insisting that the minister had only meant to say that he hoped the NCA would conclude its inquiries soon.

Michael Gove reveals he has ‘co-operated’ with NCA probe into PPE Medpro

Tuesday 19 December 2023 19:39 , Andy Gregory

Cabinet minister Michael Gove has revealed that he has being cooperating with the National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into the scandal surrounding Baroness Michelle Mone’s firm PPE Medpro.

Baroness Mone has insisted that Mr Gove and other ministers knew “all about” her involvement with a PPE firm “from the very beginning” – as she continues to lash out at Rishi Sunak’s government.

Asked about Lady Mone, Mr Gove said: “There is a National Crime Agency investigation going on. I’ve cooperated with that inquiry, because I want to ensure that it reaches its conclusion quickly, that justice can be served.”

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest has the full report on today’s developments so far:

Michael Gove reveals he has cooperated with criminal probe into Michelle Mone scandal

Tuesday 19 December 2023 19:37 , Andy Gregory

Good evening, we’ll be using this blog to provide the latest updates on the PPE procurement scandal, after under-fire peer Michelle Mone accused Michael Gove of overseeing “huge waste in PPE contracts”.