The View from Westminster

͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌      ͏ ‌     

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas A major rebellion against Rishi Sunak's Safety of Rwanda Bill turned out to be little more than a minor uprising, and a day later, it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.  Mr Sunak opened prime minister's questions with a broad grin to cheers from the Tory back benches, wishing the Speaker and House of Commons staff a merry Christmas and a happy new year.  He was branded a "nativity donkey" by Sir Keir Starmer and savaged by shadow minister Chris Bryant, but the PM emerged largely unscathed from the session.  Having survived his last PMQs of the year, more troubling for Mr Sunak than the Labour leader's jibes was a YouGov poll showing he is now more unpopular than Boris Johnson was when he was forced to quit as PM.  And having made "growing the economy" one of his five key pledges in January, Mr Sunak faced a blow as the Office for National Statistics said it shrank by 0.3 per cent in October.   Quiz question  What was the name of the last bill to be voted down at its second reading under Margaret Thatcher in 1986? Answer at the bottom of today's email Daily briefing Tory rebels won't kill our Rwanda bill, home secretary insists James Cleverly says government 'willing to listen', as Tory right threatens to 'kill the bill' after Christmas Keir Starmer mocks Tory party 'meltdown' at fiery PMQs 'Come on, come on. Who was it who said he's a really bad politician?' Lineker tweets mocking Tory MPs likely broke social media guidelines, says new BBC chair The presenter's posts looked to have breached the rules 'on the face of it', Samir Shah told MPs Most commented Articles driving the biggest conversations UK economy shrank faster than expected in October, new data reveals Cop28 has pledged billions in climate change funds – but it barely scratches the surface What else do you need to know today? ● Rishi Sunak's popularity among grassroots Tories has crashed to a record low, as a major study revealed he is now faring worse than Liz Truss with the wider electorate ● An asylum seeker thought to have taken his own life on board the Bibby Stockholm barge was heard "screaming, shouting and punching walls" before being found dead ● The first minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has announced he is standing down as the country's Labour leader – triggering a surprise winter contest to find his successor Reading list ● The Times's Alice Thomson argues Britain should clamp down on overseas students - as universities become too dependent on their cash (Paywall) ● Rafael Behr thinks Rishi Sunak is a fool to think he can placate right-wing Tories who he says would rather act "beyond the reproach of domestic courts, populated by lefty lawyers of questionable patriotism" ● The Independent's Sean O'Grady says the hardline ERG and the "five families" of Tory rebels have had their day ● FT Alphaville's Robin Wigglesworth pleads with Rishi Sunak to avoid jinxing Britain's GDP growth with any more "victory-claiming videos" (Paywall) Inside the bubble Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for tomorrow New foreign secretary Lord Cameron will face his first grilling by MPs since his return to frontline politics. The former prime minister will appear for a delayed session in front of the European Scrutiny Committee, chaired by senior Tory MP Sir Bill Cash. Questions, which will be about a wide range of aspects of the UK-EU relationship, will begin at 3.00pm.  The upper chamber will debate proposals to loan the Elgin Marbles to Greece from 12.30pm - just days after Rishi Sunak's snub to the Greek PM amid a row over the sculptures. Heavy hitters in the debate, tabled by Lord Lexden, include former Brexit minister Lord Frost and former shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti.  A transport minister will take questions on a range of topics in the Commons from 9.30am, followed by a business statement from Penny Mordaunt. Leader of the House Ms Mordaunt will then take questions from MPs. Quotation of the Day "Never to leave to tomorrow the difference that we can make today." Mark Drakeford, Welsh first minister. Quiz answer: The Shops Bill - it would have deregulated Sunday shopping in England and Wales. The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Join the conversation or follow us Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter.   To unsubscribe from The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our privacy notice and cookie policy