Nigel Benbow 🇬🇧

I’ve written to the people of Clacton because they don’t deserve to be used by Nigel Farage to distract from his £5mn problems. This by-election is fake and he knows it. He disrespects his own constituents, demanding they exonerate him before the facts have been established👇

Just heartbreaking to hear the news about Rod Liddle. I don’t have the words to express how sad this is. For journalism, for his readers and most of all his friends and family. Had missed his column and hearing his voice on the radio. Thought he was on a break. Rest in peace, Rod. You will be very much missed.

Yesterday Cabinet ministers were joking about letting criminals out of jail early. Today we learn that the vile thugs who killed PC Andrew Harper are eligible for early release under Labour. Burnham has already said he doesn’t think rapists and paedophiles should be out early. I sincerely hope that extends to the killers of emergency workers. My heart goes out to PC Harper’s family. There is no justification for this.

Andy Burnham has become Prime Minister before telling Britain his plans for government. Now he faces a clear choice: cut welfare and grow the economy, or more Labour tax hikes, more welfare and more decline. Do the right thing and Conservatives will support it. Here's why 👇

I wish Andy Burnham every success as Prime Minister. But it is my job to hold him to account. Every announcement he makes should be properly funded. We cannot borrow more money and the tax burden is already too high, so the only answer is spending cuts. I will work with him in the national interest to find savings from the benefits bill. If we reach agreement, my Conservative MPs will vote for those cuts in Parliament. That's the way to get Britain working.

In the last few hours alone Andy Burnham’s Government has talked about: Cutting energy bills Lifting the personal tax allowance Nationalising Thames Water The biggest council house programme since the War Giving mayors more funding Creating a new National Care Service More overseas aid Cutting student loan repayments More employment support Ending homelessness These are billions of pounds of spending commitments and that's on top of raising defence spending to 3%. Where’s the money coming from? There’s been no serious explanation at all of how they will be funded. I am very concerned the Prime Minister is making a lot of promises without giving the country an explanation about how we can afford them. We cannot borrow even more - we are paying more in debt interest than we do on defence. The answer can’t be tax rises either. The tax burden is already far too high, and families and businesses shouldn’t face even higher bills. The only answer is to cut spending. Andy Burnham should be in Parliament explaining what his actual plans are and how he is going to pay for them.

As Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer led his party to a landslide, after a historic defeat. I fully intend to do the same.