Angela Rayner has intervened in the Humble Address debate. The house of cards is falling apart…
“I thank my Hon Friend for giving way and of course understand he must protect national security and the national interest. In 2022 I proposed a Humble Address seeking information about PPE, which the party opposite then resisted, but we agreed that the Public Accounts Committee could have oversight.
Given the public disgust at the sickening behaviour of Peter Mandelson and the importance of transparency. Could the ISC not have the same role now, keeping public confidence in the process?”
By demanding Intelligence and Security Select Committee oversight of documents Rayner has established that Starmer’s amendment is not good enough. Will the backbenchers follow her…
UPDATE: Labour is rapidly considering changing amendment text last minute in order to stave off inbound backbench rebellion.
Shadow national security minister Alicia Kearns told Times Radio she would have put a precondition on a China trip if she were PM:
“I would have put a precondition that I was not going to go if I was prime minister, unless Jimmy Lai was coming home with me. I would also put a precondition in the six months leading up to the visit that I wanted a reduction in hostile acts against our country. But that’s not what we saw. And actually, in contrast, what we saw was clearly the Chinese Communist Party did put a precondition, which was that the new embassy in London had to be signed off. So why is it okay for China to set preconditions and to make very clear red lines about what they require for a visit, but we go without having put any ourselves?”