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tv   BBC News Now  BBC News  November 13, 2023 2:00pm-2:31pm GMT

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we understand that the service will include hymns, including abide with me, traditionally sung before the fa cup final. jerusalem, and a rendition of how great thou art, by opera singer russell watson. just listen though as there is more applause as the cortez arrives at manchester cathedral. —— the cortege.
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well, we are watching live pictures outside manchester cathedral, for the funeral of sir bobby charlton. we can now hear from the funeral of sir bobby charlton. we can now hearfrom our correspondent, ollie foster, who is there right now.
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a very sombre moment there is the funeral cortege, the coffin of sir bobby charlton, enters manchester cathedral for a bobby charlton, enters manchester cathedralfor a private bobby charlton, enters manchester cathedral for a private ceremony. bobby charlton, enters manchester cathedralfor a private ceremony. he passed away on october 21, one of
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the most celebrated and one of the most prolific goal—scorers for manchester united and, of course, for england, sir bobby charlton, who scored 249 times for manchester united over the course of a 758 game career for them. united over the course of a 758 game careerforthem. more united over the course of a 758 game careerfor them. more than united over the course of a 758 game career for them. more than 1000 guests, including many big names in the world of football have attended this funeral, which will take place to celebrate the life of arguably one of england and certainly manchester united's greatest ever footballers. that has been bbc news coverage of sir bobby charlton's funeral. we can nowjoin london for the bbc news channel. you're watching bbc news. i'm rajini vaidyanathan live in downing street where the former prime minister david cameron has made a dramatic return to politics. he's been appointed foreign secretary as part of a major cabinet reshuffle by rishi sunak.
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he's been made a peer so he can take up the position. mr cameron says that while he has disagreed with "some individual decisions" made by sunak, he believes the pm is a strong and capable leader. mr cameron replaces james cleverly, who had been serving as foreign secretary. mr cleverly said he would continue with the conservative government's policies aimed at reducing the number of migrants arriving in small boats across the channel. mr cleverly was made home secretary this morning after suella braverman was sacked, which started the whole reshuffle. ms braverman�*sjob had been under pressure after she wrote a newspaper article last week, which was critical of the police and their handling of pro—palestinian protests. labour had accused her of "whipping up division" ahead of armistice weekend. our first report this hour is from our political correspondent iain watson. these are not library pictures — this really is david cameron in downing street today.
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he's been given a seat in the lords and a seat at rishi sunak�*s cabinet table as the new foreign secretary. when he left office seven years ago, he promised this. i will do everything i can in future to help this great country succeed. thank you very much. but remember why he resigned. he called an eu referendum, led the remain campaign and lost, so that was not a foreign policy success. and not so long ago, you wouldn't have bet on rishi sunak bringing back a former prime minister to government. remember at his party conference, he said this about recent leaders. we've had 30 years of a political system that incentivises the easy decision, not the right one. 30 years of rhetorical ambition which achieves little more than a short—term headline. in a statement, david, now lord cameron, said, "we are facing a daunting set of international challenges. though i may have disagreed
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with some individual decisions, it is clear to me that rishi sunak is a strong and capable prime minister who is showing exemplary leadership at a difficult time. "i want to help him to deliver the security and prosperity our country needs and be part of the strongest possible team that serves the united kingdom and that can be presented to the country when the general election is held." so, while those hatchets have apparently been buried, the home secretary has been axed. this follows her controversial article accusing police officers bias, which was not fully approved by number ten. but for once, suella braverman is not dominating the headlines, a fact that probably has not escaped the prime minister. and the former foreign secretary becomes the new home secretary. asked if he wanted to distance himself from some of the language she had used, this is what james cleverly said: i intend to do thisjob in the way that i feel best protects the british people,
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and our interests. i have had a very good conversation with the prime minister, who has made it very clear that he wants us to deliver on our promises, to stop the boats, to protect the british people, make sure everybody feels secure in their lives. rishi sunak was warned that if he sacked suella braverman he would be picking a fight with the right in his own party. his response appears to be, "bring it on," because in david cameron, he's brought back someone best known as a moderniser. now, that may well be an attempt to try to broaden the appeal of his government, but the jaw—dropping appointment is not without risk. some polling suggests that fewer than half of 2019 conservative voters have a favourable opinion of david cameron, while labour says rishi sunak can no longer claim to represent change. the country needs change. i mean, this is not change, bringing back david cameron. it is more tory psychodrama and division. it is not going to fix the fundamental problems
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facing the country. the reshuffle is continuing, therese coffey has left the cabinet. but critics have labelled the david cameron appointment a dead cat, shorthand for political destruction. for political distraction. this one is very much alive, and rishi sunak is hoping to breathe new life into his government. there was movement in the door behind us in the time that that report was playing. the former health secretary steve barclay has now been announced as the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs. of state for environment, food and ruralaffairs. if of state for environment, food and rural affairs. if you hot this morning was busy, this afternoon continues that reshuffle at pace. i am joined by our chief political correspondent, henry left them. it is one of those dog days, isn't it? steve barclay has moved from
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health to environment and rural affairs, is that of the motion? maybe slightly, but where she is listed in the cabinet he will be morejunior, but environment listed in the cabinet he will be more junior, but environment is a very important issue for the conservatives at the moment. there is a lot of unease among conservative voters and mps who get angry e—mails from voters about sewage and whether the government is doing enough, or conveying that it is doing enough, to contact sewage discharge in rivers. —— combat sewage discharge. he is becoming a bit of a cabinet troubleshooter at this point. on a day for david cameron has re—entered the government, it is a bit odd to say that someone who entered the cabinet in 2018 is a bit of a veteran, but he is. he was brexit secretary under theresa may and borisjohnson, when that was a very thorny task. he was chief executive
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-- chief —— chief secretary to the treasury, and ultimately he had the impossible task of trying to top up the government as chief of staff. that is the spurious rishi sunak will try to drop on by appointing him as secretary of environment, food and rural affairs. firm; secretary of environment, food and rural affairs-— rural affairs. any other developments - rural affairs. any other developments in - rural affairs. any other developments in the l rural affairs. any other i developments in the hour rural affairs. any other - developments in the hour i went rural affairs. any other _ developments in the hour i went for lunch? we developments in the hour i went for lunch? ~ ., , developments in the hour i went for lunch? ~ . , ., , lunch? we have seen a few people walk in. lunch? we have seen a few people walk in- as — lunch? we have seen a few people walk in. as we _ lunch? we have seen a few people walk in. as we know _ lunch? we have seen a few people walk in. as we know by _ lunch? we have seen a few people walk in. as we know by now, - lunch? we have seen a few people walk in. as we know by now, that. walk in. as we know by now, that means they will enter the cabinet if they are not already there. we saw laura trott, who was elected for the first time in 2019, currently pensions minister. i think she will be elevated right up to the cabinet, a rising star of the conservative party, and similarly richard holden, elected for the first time in 2019 as part of borisjohnson�*s line landslide —— borisjohnson�*s landslide. at the same time rishi sunak is bringing back david cameron and other experienced figures,
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jeremy hunt, michael gove, on the one hand he has them, but on the other we will have a rash of appointments from people who have been around the conservative party in parliament for a much shorter time, trying to show he has continuity and also change. find continuity and also change. and uni ? continuity and also change. and unity? well. — continuity and also change. and unity? well, that _ continuity and also change. and unity? well, that is _ continuity and also change. and unity? well, that is a _ continuity and also change. and unity? well, that is a bit - continuity and also change. and| unity? well, that is a bit harder. one of the _ unity? well, that is a bit harder. one of the interesting _ unity? well, that is a bit harder. one of the interesting thing - unity? well, that is a bit harder. one of the interesting thing is, l one of the interesting thing is, actually, is that this morning, rishi sunak still had that cabinet broadly, otherthan rishi sunak still had that cabinet broadly, other than some comings and goings, when he became prime minister over a year ago. if you remember, when he became prime minister, his central task was to be the third conservative leader within three or four months to be booted out by his own mps, so we tried to unite the party with his first—ever appointment, which is why suella braverman was home secretary. even though they backed liz truss against him, they come from a different wing of the party, in order to heal the conservative party's divide, to some degree he manage that. to another,
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he realised there are some people where the wounds cannot be healed, and that is rishi sunak in part deciding, ok, well, you're not going to turf him out, he is going to make the appointments he wants to make, get some faces around the table, but the david cameron appointment will upset some on the right of the conservative party, especially coming on the same day that suella braverman has been sacked. that is worth watching, but there are members of the right of the conservative party who are never going to come round to rishi sunak anyway. going to come round to rishi sunak an a . ,, , going to come round to rishi sunak anyway. stay with us as we continue to watch the — anyway. stay with us as we continue to watch the door, _ anyway. stay with us as we continue to watch the door, but _ anyway. stay with us as we continue to watch the door, but for _ anyway. stay with us as we continue to watch the door, but for now, - to watch the door, but for now, thank you very much. i am pleased to say we are joined by... what do you make of
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david cameron's comeback was met it hasn't happened for 50 years that a former prime minister has come back to a foreign secretary. that was alec douglas—home, under ted heath. then you have to go back another 50 years to ajay balfour, who came back in 1916 as foreign secretary. it is something that only happens every 50 years. from that, you can draw the conclusion that it is pretty rare. and while we are speaking to you, some breaking news, just a pause for a second, the conservative party appointed a new party chairman, richard holden. we will discuss that in a moment. that is the breaking news. let's get back to some of the history with sir anthony seldon. you
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talk about how this is not happened for a long time. how much do you think having a former prime minister working with an existing one could be a thorn in rishi sunak�*s site? he has shown that it is not always an easy relationship to work alongside former minister, because they can always be critical of things that follow? i always be critical of things that follow? , ., , ., follow? i understand the question, and i think a _ follow? i understand the question, and i think a lot _ follow? i understand the question, and i think a lot of _ follow? i understand the question, and i think a lot of prime _ follow? i understand the question, and i think a lot of prime ministersj and i think a lot of prime ministers have not been intellectually or personally confident enough to want to appoint that. very obviously, former prime ministers, there are a lot of very serious figures, some of the most serious grown—up figures in british politics, john major, tony blair, gordon brown and david cameron, and it takes a very secure
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prime minister to want to have a former prime minister there, because most of them are very insecure. it also is a lot about david cameron, who clearly is young enough, he is much younger than many people at the tops of their own companies, he was only 44, 43 when he became pro minister, which is incredibly young. he has a lot left to offer the country. i welcome it from both conservative and labour parties, because i think we have suffered from people coming intojobs, not just the prime minister, chancellor, foreign secretary, home secretary, indeed, who are frankly not quite grown—up enough to know the serious responsibility of the job. bringing back people who have done these jobs at the very highest international level, not least at the time of war in the middle east and wore in ukraine, ithink in the middle east and wore in ukraine, i think this is a good move for all parties to follow. find
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ukraine, i think this is a good move for all parties to follow.— for all parties to follow. and so ou for all parties to follow. and so you would _ for all parties to follow. and so you would see _ for all parties to follow. and so you would see david _ for all parties to follow. and so j you would see david cameron's experience as a bonus, given that he has travelled the world and has name recognition, but there are others that would argue it is rewinding the party which has evolved and moved since his time in office? flit party which has evolved and moved since his time in office?— since his time in office? of course he carries the _ since his time in office? of course he carries the baggage, _ since his time in office? of course he carries the baggage, does - since his time in office? of course he carries the baggage, does he l since his time in office? of course i he carries the baggage, does he not, of the eu referendum, and that really annoyed a lot of leaders in europe, and he was also involved in the libya episode in 2011, which probably wasn't at all a very good thing to do. like all prime ministers, he has made mistakes, perhaps, or done things differently, but at the same time, he is known by many of the most important world leaders and their key advisers as somebody who oversaw britain for six
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years, was highly regarded as a very competent prime minister, this is not a political point, that was how they regarded him, and most particularly in washington, dc, which is facing one of the most significant presidential elections everin significant presidential elections ever in the history of the united states as a country, coming up in november 2024, states as a country, coming up in november2024, it states as a country, coming up in november 2024, it is really a smart move to have somebody who has deep access in washington, dc on capitol hill and the white house, because in washington politics, name recognition is everything. frankly, they had no idea who some of these people who had become foreign secretary, or indeed prime minister, actually, who they are! sir secretary, or indeed prime minister, actually, who they are!— actually, who they are! sir anthony seldon, actually, who they are! sir anthony seldon. thank— actually, who they are! sir anthony seldon, thank you _ actually, who they are! sir anthony seldon, thank you very _ actually, who they are! sir anthony seldon, thank you very much - actually, who they are! sir anthony seldon, thank you very much for. seldon, thank you very much for sharing your insight as a historian who has written books about pretty
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much every foreign minister in living memory. joining me now is anna mikhailova, deputy political editor and columnist, the mail on sunday. ijust want i just want to get your reaction to today's events?— i just want to get your reaction to today's events? extraordinary. the bi . . est today's events? extraordinary. the biggest blinder— today's events? extraordinary. the biggest blinder has _ today's events? extraordinary. the biggest blinder has been _ today's events? extraordinary. the biggest blinder has been david - biggest blinder has been david cameron's return. i do think that rishi sunak is going to struggle to sell this as continuing to be the change candidate, because only one month ago he was distancing himself specifically for the past 30 years of government, which of course includes david cameron. we also had david cameron publicly criticising him for his flagship policy of scrapping hs2, so his interventions at the cabinet table will be interesting. what this really is is rishi sunak taking on the conservative right. you have rumours of old reshuffle last week, allies
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of old reshuffle last week, allies of suella braverman signalling that if you touch her you will have a lot of trouble on your hands, you will have resignations from other ministers, you will have rebellions, and essentially over the weekend, rishi sunak got some advice saying, her numbers don't stack up in the same way, and he has decided to take it on. now, we'rejust same way, and he has decided to take it on. now, we're just waiting to see what the right in response. let me ask about your readership, the mail on sunday, they are seen as a key conservative constituency. what you think they will be making of these developments they? weill. you think they will be making of these developments they? well, i think that some _ these developments they? well, i think that some of _ these developments they? well, i think that some of what _ these developments they? well, i think that some of what suella - think that some of what suella braverman has been saying that has really angered certainly moderate mps within her party, her comments about tents, immigration, and the
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policing of the remembrance weekend protests, were seen by a lot of our leadership, for example, as common—sense conservativism. at the conference, she got a very good reception, and she often tops the poles of popular cabinet ministers, and is seen as a leadership frontrunner for the future. but the thing about it is, she still needs the support of mps, it is not enough to have the support of the conservative membership. you actually do, if you're going to have actually do, if you're going to have a future in the party as a potential leader, orto a future in the party as a potential leader, or to return to the cabinet, you need to have the numbers in terms of mps. you need to have the numbers in terms of mp5. the question is, does she actually, or does she have a dishevelled vocal minority? d0 she actually, or does she have a dishevelled vocal minority? do you think that these _ dishevelled vocal minority? do you think that these moves _ dishevelled vocal minority? do you think that these moves are - dishevelled vocal minority? do you i
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think that these moves are potential but? —— does she have a vocal minority? i but? -- does she have a vocal minority?— but? -- does she have a vocal minori ? ~ ~ , �* , minority? i think thinking is, let's do minority? ithink thinking is, let's do something _ minority? ithink thinking is, let's do something bold, _ minority? ithink thinking is, let's do something bold, lets - minority? ithink thinking is, let's do something bold, lets have - minority? ithink thinking is, let'sj do something bold, lets have one last roll of the dice. yes, he has brought back david cameron, who had a stonking majority. he has also brought in what is seen as quite popularjunior ministers, richard popular junior ministers, richard holden's popularjunior ministers, richard holden's appointment, laura trott�*s appointment, these are younger, fresher faces, appointment, these are younger, fresherfaces, balancing the idea that he is just running with an old prime minister. the thinking is that he will get some of david cameron's electoral stardust and a fresher team, and this is what he will go into the election with. the downside is that david cameron was prime minister, obviously, before the psychodrama of brexit began, which of course he started. there will be a lot on the right of the party that will see this as a big romaine
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shift, and even a remainer plot, and thatis shift, and even a remainer plot, and that is where the fault line will be. , , , that is where the fault line will be. ,, _, be. deputy political correspondent and columnist _ be. deputy political correspondent and columnist at _ be. deputy political correspondent and columnist at the _ be. deputy political correspondent and columnist at the mail - be. deputy political correspondent and columnist at the mail on - be. deputy political correspondent i and columnist at the mail on sunday, thank you very much. it is a busy day here in downing street, and it has just been announced that vicky atkins is going to be the next health secretary, replacing steve barclay, who has now moved to environment, ruralaffairs. as barclay, who has now moved to environment, rural affairs. as we mentioned there, richard holden has replaced greg hands as the conservative party chairman. what's going on. i keep looking down on my phone, because every time i get into an interview, something else happens. to discuss this further, i'm stilljoined by our chief political correspondent. a new health secretary, vicky atkins, what
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you make of that?— you make of that? vicky atkins has been a conservative _ you make of that? vicky atkins has been a conservative mp _ you make of that? vicky atkins has been a conservative mp since i you make of that? vicky atkins has been a conservative mp since 2015| been a conservative mp since 2015 will stop i think she was the first member of the 2015 intake to become a government minister my a junior minister, that is. she was lapped on the way to the cabinet by quite a few people, most notably a certain rishi sunak, who was elected in the same year and rishi sunak, who was elected in the same yearand is rishi sunak, who was elected in the same year and is now, as prime minister, appointing her as health secretary. she's been a minister in various different departments, the home office, ministry ofjustice, and most recently she was one of jeremy hunt's ministers at the treasury. she is used a lot by the government as a media performer, they think she is very good on the airways at handling complex challenges and explaining government policy, and could there be a more complex challenge than the department of health, which will be a huge part of the general election campaign, one of course they will be needing her media skills? you can see where they fit victoria atkins there. there are a few big issues on her plate right from the off. of course, there's the strikes from the
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health service, junior doctors, consultants, although there is some sign that may be issuing towards a conclusion. nurses, ithink sign that may be issuing towards a conclusion. nurses, i think some of that has been settled. obviously, those are big policy challenges for her. then there is also waiting lists. at the start of the year, one of rishi sunak�*s five pledges was to bring waiting lists down, and they have gone up. she will have to explain to the public why that has happened and what she will do about it. it happened and what she will do about it. , ., . ., , , happened and what she will do about it. , happened and what she will do about it. it is a challenge, she is not a household _ it. it is a challenge, she is not a household name, _ it. it is a challenge, she is not a household name, and _ it. it is a challenge, she is not a household name, and i - it. it is a challenge, she is not a household name, and i expect. it. it is a challenge, she is not a i household name, and i expect most of our viewers will not have heard of her. . , our viewers will not have heard of her. ., , ., . ., ., our viewers will not have heard of her. ., ., ., ., , her. that is a challenge for many more politicians _ her. that is a challenge for many more politicians than _ her. that is a challenge for many more politicians than those i her. that is a challenge for many more politicians than those of. her. that is a challenge for many more politicians than those of usj more politicians than those of us who inhabit westminster might think. what he is trying to do with these appointments lower down the cabinet, david cameron being a different case, it's trying to create some new household names, trying to get some new faces out there who can represent the conservative party, because, and i hate to come back to it, but it is dominating thinking in there, the general election is around the corner and will probably take place by the end of 2024, and
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he needs more people who can carry his message in that election campaign. that is running like a stick of rock through this reshuffle.— stick of rock through this reshuffle. . . ., ., reshuffle. steve barclay, no longer health secretary, _ reshuffle. steve barclay, no longer health secretary, has _ reshuffle. steve barclay, no longer health secretary, has moved i reshuffle. steve barclay, no longer health secretary, has moved to i health secretary, has moved to environment and rural affairs. there are challenges and natural as well? absolutely. conservative mps are being told every day over e—mail that a big concern for them is sewage. that is a huge concern for conservative mps, and steve barclay�*s conservative mps, and steve ba rclay�*s lead conservative mps, and steve barclay�*s lead assessor as environment secretary was therese coffey, and there is a view that she wasn't doing enough. it was believed that she did not do enough to scale back —— enough to say to the public that she understood the skill of the problem. we will see what he brings to death row, the department for the
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environment, food and rural affairs,...— environment, food and rural affairs,... ., , ., , affairs,... what side of the party to steve barclay and... site on? the important — steve barclay and... site on? the important thing — steve barclay and... site on? tue: important thing to know is that they both backed rishi sunakfor the leadership first time around, when he stood against liz truss. suella braverman backed in the second time around, and it was a pivotal moment. that would suggest they are slightly on the left of the conservative party, though it is important to remember that all of this has been scrambled a bit by brexit. rishi sunak, by the standards of the conservative party of 2010 on brexit and other issues, immigration, i think is on what used to be the right of the conservative party. it is all a bit complicated now. it works on different levels. certainly, they are soon act
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loyalists, and i think that is interesting development. —— sunak loyalists. initially, he had people in his cabinet that were more loyal to liz truss. therese coffey was a key organiser in liz truss's leadership campaign, and was her deputy prime minister. keeping her own was an important way of showing that he wanted liz truss's people in the tent, now that is less of a priority. t the tent, now that is less of a riori . ., . ., priority. i general election campaign _ priority. i general election campaign could _ priority. i general election campaign could come i priority. i general election campaign could come as l priority. i general election i campaign could come as early as priority. i general election _ campaign could come as early as the spring, but his work to be next october. they have a new party chairman, which is a key role when it comes to an election year. greg hands is out, richard holden is in? quite a brutal and swift demise for greg hands. we don't know if he's going anywhere else yet. i've not seen anything saying he has been sacked from government altogether, but he wasn't party chairman at the start of rishi sunak�*s... are you
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going to cut waiting lists, miss atkins? ,, �* ., atkins? she didn't even turn round for ou, atkins? she didn't even turn round for you. henry- _ atkins? she didn't even turn round for you, henry. they _ atkins? she didn't even turn round for you, henry. they have - atkins? she didn't even turn round for you, henry. they have it, i atkins? she didn't even turn round for you, henry. they have it, the l for you, henry. they have it, the new secretary of state for health. ignite the person who will become a household name, as we have been discussing! household name, as we have been discussinu! , ., , household name, as we have been discussing!— discussing! pretty fast demise for gre: discussing! pretty fast demise for greg hands. _ discussing! pretty fast demise for greg hands, because _ discussing! pretty fast demise for greg hands, because he - discussing! pretty fast demise for greg hands, because he wasn't. discussing! pretty fast demise for i greg hands, because he wasn't rishi sunak�*s first pick for party chairman. that was nadhim zahawi. was that only in february that he was brought down? bud was that only in february that he was brought down? and crucially, there has been _ was brought down? and crucially, there has been quite _ was brought down? and crucially, there has been quite a _ was brought down? and crucially, there has been quite a lot - was brought down? and crucially, there has been quite a lot of i was brought down? and crucially, | there has been quite a lot of really humiliating, brutal by—election defeats for the conservative party in that time, most recently in tamworth and mid bedfordshire, practically unprecedented swings to the labour party, and i think there was uneasily conservative party, and clearly greg hands was not completely responsible, they may not even majority responsible. there were certainly conservative mps and
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ministers who felt that, is conservative headquarters firing

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