[News] Local elections live: PM told to 'wake up and smell the coffee' after elections - as critic calls for Johnson's return

[Wassim MH]

 

Braverman told to 'grab the shovel' and help Sunak dig out hole Suella Braverman wrote in the Daily Telegraph about her party that "the hole to dig us out is the PM’s, and it’s time for him to start shovelling". She also called for the party to take a stance further to the right of where it is now. Tobias Ellwood - a Tory MP who is much more on the One Nation side of the party - has now called for her to get on board with the PM and help his election efforts. Speaking to Sky News, Mr Ellwood says: "Why not be part of the efforts Suella Braverman? "Why not be part of the team with the prime minister that grabs the shovels as well, rather than simply commentating from the sidelines. "Let's be bit more JFK about this - you know, every one of us, as the election approaches, especially parliamentarians, should be asking ourselves, do our actions, do our comments, help demonstrate unity or distract from that core message? "Did they help win back the middle ground that's vital for electoral success - or do they push to the extreme? "Do they help retain Conservative seats, or do they help lose them? "That's the big test that we now face with just months away from the next general election."Swinney warns against rivals entering SNP leadership race By Jennifer Scott, political reporter SNP leadership hopeful John Swinney has warned rivals against entering the contest, saying it would "delay the ability for the [party] to start its rebuilding". The former deputy leader is currently the only candidate in the running to replace Humza Yousaf, who announced last week he would be stepping down as first minister after his decision to end a power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Green Party led to the collapse of his premiership. But rumours have surfaced today that SNP activist Graeme McCormick has gathered enough support to launch his own bid for the top job, and if he submits an application before Monday's midday deadline, the party would begin a three-week leadership contest. Speaking to Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Mr Swinney accepted there was a "democratic process" for any candidate with 100 signatures from 20 local SNP organisations to enter the race. However, in what appeared to be a warning to any potential rival, he added: "My bid to become SNP leader has received very, very comprehensive support within the SNP. I have sent out a message which is about unifying the SNP to strengthen our party and win Scottish independence. "I think that is necessary as the SNP is not as cohesive today as the party needs to be, and my campaign has attracted very wide support."Galloway hangs up after being challenged on views on gay relationships George Galloway, the leader of the Workers Party of Britain and Rochdale MP, ended an interview with LBC this morning when asked about comments he previously made about gay relationships. Speaking to Novara Media previously, Mr Galloway said: "I don't want my children prematurely sexualised at all, I don't want them taught that some things are normal when their parents don't believe that they're normal. "Now there's lots of things not normal, doesn't mean you have to hate something that isn't normal. But if my children are taught that there's – whatever the current vogue number is – 76 or 97 or whatever the number of purported genders that exist, I don't want my children taught that." He added that he did not want children to be taught "that gay relationships are exactly the same and as normal as a mum, a dad and kids". "I want my children to be taught that the normal thing in Britain, in society across the world, is a mother, a father and a family. "I want them to be taught that there are gay people in the world and that they must be treated with respect and affection, as I treat my own gay friends and colleagues with respect and affection but I don't want my children to be taught that these things are equal because I don't believe them to be equal." Asked about the comments by LBC, Mr Galloway claimed the station was "ambushing" him - and that they had shown a "clip of a clip" that was "edited". On its website, LBC said: "The clip played was shortened, though a longer clip was then played."Steel giant ArcelorMittal warns Gove over Kent planning verdict Exclusive by Mark Kleinman, City editor The world's second-largest steel company has warned the government that a planning verdict due this week could lead to a key division quitting the UK. Sky News has seen a letter sent by ArcelorMittal to Michael Gove, the levelling-up secretary, in which it says that a decision to allow the closure and redevelopment of part of Chatham Docks would have "seismic adverse consequences… [for] the British economy and multiple strategic industries". In the letter from Matthew Brooks, who runs ArcelorMittal's construction solutions arm in the UK, the company urges Mr Gove to issue an urgent order to allow fuller government scrutiny of the redevelopment proposals ahead of Wednesday's decision by Medway Council. "This is highly time-sensitive - calling in the application after next Wednesday will not be possible," Mr Brooks wrote. He warned that if the proposals were approved, ArcelorMittal would "regrettably be left with no alternative but to leave Chatham Docks and, more than likely, cease operations in Britain, given the lack of suitable alternative sites".

 

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