Kemi Badenoch reopens row with ‘misogynist’ David Tennant

Kemi Badenoch has reopened a row with David Tennant as she yesterday claimed his comments were “rooted in misogyny”.

Speaking at the LGBT awards last week, the Doctor Who actor launched an attack on the women and equalities minister over trans rights.

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He said that although he “did not wish ill” of Badenoch she should “shut up”.

Reopening the row on Friday night, Badenoch claimed Tennant does not know or understand her views on trans people.

“I do think David Tennant is a misogynist,” she told the Times.

“The way he framed those comments showed that he did not care about the argument on single-sex spaces for women.

“‘Shut up’ is one of the tropes that you hear them say. There’s something visceral there. I do think it’s probably rooted in misogyny.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s misogyny or not. It wouldn’t be any better if it was directed against a man.”

Badenoch added that Tennant is “living in an echo chamber” continuing to blast: “They [people like Tennant] just don’t care. They attack. They think it’s all a big game. If you want to be a politician, then stand for election.

“Don’t just get on a stage somewhere and accept an award for being a celebrity ally — that’s just such a ridiculous award — and then use that platform to create problems.

“In some ways it’s incitement. It can encourage others to carry out harmful activities. These very wealthy celebrities don’t think about that. They don’t understand the world we live in. They have bodyguards, they have all sorts of protections, whereas politicians are just like everyone else.”

Tennant is “one of the LGBTQ+ community’s most fierce allies and supporters”, according to the British LGBT Awards, and “often does red-carpet interviews while wearing pins associated with the community, with one particular Doctor Who-themed Tardis badge, designed in the colours of the Trans Pride flag, helping to raise thousands of pounds for charities”.

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Tom Tugendhat refuses to rule out Tory leadership run if Sunak quits following General Election

Tom Tugendhat refuses to rule out Tory leadership run if Sunak quits following General Election

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Tom Tugendhat has not ruled out a run at the Tory leadership if Rishi Sunak quits following the General Election.

Asked if he wanted to be leader, the security minister told Times Radio: “What I want to do is to make sure we’ve got a Conservative leader in this country and that’s why I’m supporting Rishi Sunak.

“Because the alternative with Keir Starmer, I’m afraid, is higher taxes, more regulation, worse growth and more unemployment.

“What we need to do is to make sure that Conservatives across this country win their seats and that’s exactly what I’ve been focused on.”

Pressed again on the issue of what happens after the election, he said: “Well, we’ll deal with hypotheticals in a different way.

“I mean, the reality is Rishi Sunak is the candidate, there’s only two candidates for prime minister, there’s Rishi Sunak and there’s Sir Keir Starmer.

“One of them is committed to lowering your taxes, protecting your borders and making a difference in everybody’s lives. The other, I’m afraid, is Sir Keir Starmer who is committed to raising your taxes, to making life a little bit harder for everybody and to lecturing you on how to live your life.”

BBC Question Time sinks to ‘cynical bias’ with Nigel Farage facing grilling from ‘rigged audience’

BBC branded ‘appalling’ as Question Time sinks to ‘cynical bias’ with Nigel Farage facing grilling from ‘rigged audience’BBC

BBC Question Time has been branded “appalling” after being accused of showing “cynical bias” as Nigel Farage faced a grilling from a “ripped audience” less than week before polls open on July 4.

Comments from the floor were not seemingly reflective of opinion polls on immigration, with a survey conducted earlier this year suggesting nearly nine in 10 UK parliamentary constituencies want to see net migration reduced and controls tightened.

However, Fiona Bruce suggested audience members reflected the views of the wider electorate, including Reform UK voters.

“Each of our two guests will face 30 minutes of questions from our audience who represent a mix of political sentiments, including many who are still making up their minds and supporters of both the Greens and Reform,” the veteran BBC presenter said.

Responding to Question Time’s final leaders’ special, conservative commentator Connor Tomlinson said: “This Question Time is appalling. They’ve packed out the entire audience with people shouting at Nigel Farage and calling him a racist.

“Every question is identical and tiresome If I believed Ofcom would uphold impartiality standards against the BBC, I would complain about bias.”

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​Party leaders to discuss support for veterans on Armed Forces Day

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer

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Party leaders will be on the election campaign trail on Armed Forces Day discussing defence and support for veterans.

On the campaign trail on Saturday, Mr Sunak will hail the “duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice” of servicemen and women and claim his is the only party to meet the Help for Heroes Veterans’ Pledge.

The pledge requires parties to commit to keeping the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, commissioning an independent review of the medical discharge process and ensuring veterans get the benefits and compensations they deserve.

Sunak said: “It should be the first responsibility of any Government to support those who defend us.

“It’s why it’s so important that we get defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, and also why we must continue our mission to make the UK the best country in the world to be a veteran.”

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer said: “Only the Conservatives have a clear plan to support our armed forces and secure the future of our country. Don’t vote to let Starmer put us all in danger from Downing Street.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to introduce a new armed forces commissioner and lead a “Government of service” if Labour is elected.

Sir Keir said: “Labour is deeply proud of our armed forces personnel, veterans, and their families for the contribution they make to our country.

“Theirs is the ultimate public service – and their professionalism and bravery is rightly respected across the world.”

Analysis shows Sunak has only visited five top Tory at-risk seats

Best for Britain previously advised to vote for Labour in Richmond and Northallerton to tactically vote Rishi Sunak from his seat

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Rishi Sunak has only campaigned in five of 45 constituencies where Cabinet members and other prominent Tory politicians are at risk of losing their seats, according to an analysis of his campaign route.

The Prime Minister has visited Central Devon, where a poll commissioned by Best for Britain puts Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride in second place with a margin of 6.94.

Sunak has also visited Melksham and Devizes, where Science Secretary Michelle Donelan is predicted to win with just 7.8 points between her and second place, and Suffolk Coastal, where Tory candidate Therese Coffey is expected to lose with a margin of 5.5, the poll shows.

He also visited Stoke-on-Trent North, where the poll puts Jonathan Gullis as the loser with a margin of 17.79, and his own seat of Richmond and Northallerton, where the Prime Minister is set to retake his seat with a margin of 6.89.

He has not visited the other 40 constituencies identified as of Friday.

Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, said: “Sunak’s problem is that even his own party doesn’t want him around, let alone the public.

“We need a clean break from him, his party, and the damage they have caused over the past 14 years, and the best way voters can ensure the Tories are locked out of power for at least a decade is by voting tactically.”