Suella Braverman says illegal immigration ‘out of control’ as she urges peers not to block bill

Latest updates: House of Lords debates second reading of illegal migration bill as ministers say public wants to control migration

In recent PMQs Rishi Sunak has been using ‘culture war’ issues against Keir Starmer, for example saying two weeks ago that Starmer’s record on women is “questionable at best”. Labour used to act paralysed in the face of these attacks (it was as if they were not entirely sure what to say), but now they are a bit more confident responding, in part because they have concluded this line of attack is a sign of weakness.

Starmer made this point to his shadow cabinet yesterday. In a briefing issued in advance, Labour said he thinks “the Tories have made a big strategic blunder in believing that ‘woke’ issues are more salient to voters than the cost of living and the NHS”. Starmer told his team:

The NHS trumps ‘woke’ every day of the week.

I don’t think these are niche issues that should be avoided. I think they are issues that people would expect their prime minister and their politicians to have a view on and to address and that’s what I’m doing …

When it comes to the issue of women’s rights, I do think that it’s important… making sure that we protect women’s safety and women’s rights is important, whilst also of course, having compassion and tolerance and understanding for those who are questioning their gender.

The people of this area have been failed by an out of touch SNP MP and have been left without a voice at Westminster. My campaign will champion the people here – so that together we can deliver the change this community badly needs.

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