Emily Thornberry found herself squirming on Question Time last night when asked about Labour’s stance on the government’s plans to house asylum seekers in barracks. Even after multiple questions from Fiona Bruce, the Shadow Attorney General couldn’t clarify Labour’s position:

FB: Do Labour support or object to the idea of using barracks to house asylum seekers?

ET: *huffs* I mean, I think that, as I say, I think that it’s not actually – what I- what I object to with the use of barracks is that it’s going to be used as an add on to the hotels. So it’s not a solution to the hotels

FB: So in principle, you don’t have a problem with asylum seekers being housed in barracks?

ET: I don’t have a problem with people being treated humanely…

Guido does have sympathy for Thornberry and the rest of the Labour Party. Pretending to be tough on immigration is difficult for a party full of leftie London lawyers.

In the early hours of this morning, Kemi Badenoch announced the UK had joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – a large Indo-Pacific trading bloc including Canada, Japan, Australia and Mexico. The move is intended to boost trade and strengthen UK influence in the context of an increasingly present Chinese threat. It will boost the UK economy by a stonking £1.8 billion – and that’s only set to grow.

In her video announcement, Kemi Badenoch thanked other trade ministers who had worked on the deal. Guido notes that Kemi failed to mention one Trade Secretary in post over the course of the 21-month negotiating period. A certain Liz Truss…

In a statement released this morning, the Prime Minister welcomed the move:

“We are at our heart an open and free-trading nation, and this deal demonstrates the real economic benefits of our post-Brexit freedoms. As part of CPTPP, the UK is now in a prime position in the global economy to seize opportunities for new jobs, growth and innovation.”

Guido struggles to find much to dislike about the deal. Though the remain-obsessed establishment will no doubt find something to charge against – “pro-trade” Labour have already raised concerns “including on consumer safety, food safety, data protection and environmental protections”. It’s been a good 24 hours for Kemi, who also won re-selection last night. Crack open the sake.

Guido’s just come across this clip of Tory MP Jonathan Gullis – then known simply as Mr Gullis – explaining the ins and outs of politics, philosophy and enterprise to his outgoing students at Blackfen School for Girls in 2015…

Beyond just providing tampons in male toilets, Welsh Labour seem intent on further strengthening the Senedd’s safe space credentials. Jenny Rathbone yesterday called for a ban on GB News from the estate:

“On a wider issue, GB News, which has been found in breach of Ofcom guidelines around COVID vaccines, has many items broadcasting disinformation or hateful views, and it’s currently broadcast on our internal televisions. I just wondered if any thought had been given to whether it was appropriate for an organisation that might continue to disseminate disinformation to be broadcast through our systems to our staff and Members.”

If Jenny really wanted to stamp out harmful language, perhaps she should start closer to home…

Speaking to Beth Rigby on Sky News, David Lammy got defensive when pressed about his outside earnings. The Shadow Foreign Secretary is Labour’s top earner, and had a robust response when pressed by Beth over a potential crackdown:

“I don’t think- no-one’s complaining about those hours. No-one is suggesting I’m in the pocket or LBC or anyone else”.

Lammy then begrudgingly accepted that, if parliament does rule against MPs having second jobs, “I will have to live with that like everyone else”. His £243,800 outside earnings would be a tough hole to plug amidst a cost of living crisis…

In the interview, Lammy also defended outside earnings on the basis they went to fund his staffing costs. If Lammy has also received donations for this he would have to declare it on his register of interests. There is no record of any such donations…