Robert Jenrick, one of the two remaining Tory leadership candidates, has denied claims that Tory MPs mistakenly put him in the final two for the leadership ballot. He asserted that the MPs voted for the best candidates to lead the party forward and expressed gratitude for their trust. Jenrick has focused his campaign on key issues such as the NHS, immigration, and the economy. His speech and responses to questions suggest that he aims to bring an end to needless drama within the party and avoid Twitter battles, taking a subtle dig at his opponent Kemi Badenoch’s controversial and confrontational style.
Meanwhile, John Swinney has criticized Unison for planning a two-week pay strike targeting children and families in his constituency. The strikes are set to begin when schools were supposed to resume after the holidays. Swinney condemned the targeting of his constituents, suggesting that the union’s actions were unjustified.
In other news, discussions around Storm Shadow missiles being used by Ukraine in the war against Russia have heightened. Both No 10 and Nato chief Mark Rutte have indicated that the missiles alone will not ensure Ukraine’s victory in the conflict. Rutte emphasized the importance of a broader range of support to aid Ukraine in the ongoing war.
Furthermore, the government has published an employment rights bill aimed at enhancing workers’ rights in the UK, a move welcomed by trade unions. Despite criticism from some business groups, the bill has been defended by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who refuted claims that it will deter firms from hiring new workers and dismissed the concerns as similar to opposition to the introduction of the minimum wage.
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