Summary
That’s it from us. Thank you for tuning in to the liveblog today.
Rishi Sunak went on GBNews’s People’s Forum, where he fielded questions on everything from the NHS, Rwanda, trans issues and education. He spoke at length about the upcoming election, beseeching voters to stand by the conservative government and vote for him instead of Keir Starmer.
Sunak stood by the Rwanda bill, which was being debated today in the House of Lords. He said he is “absolutely” committed to getting the Rwanda bill through Parliament because “we need a deterrent”. “We need to say unequivocally that if you come to our country illegally, you cannot stay,” he said. “That is what Rwanda is about.”
Minutes before Sunak went live, the Labour party withdrew its support for its candidate in the Rochdale byelection after he accused Israel of deliberately allowing the 7 October Hamas attacks.
While Sunak fielded questions, protesters amassed outside Downing Street, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. “Rishi Sunak, shame on you. Keir Starmer, shame on you,” they chanted.
Loud chanting outside Downing Street right now.
— Taj Ali (@Taj_Ali1) February 12, 2024
'Rishi Sunak, shame on you. Keir Starmer, shame on you.' pic.twitter.com/9GcbUKeOR1
Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, whose parents-in-law were trapped in the early stages of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, has criticised both Keir Starmer and prime minister Rishi Sunak for their failure to call for a ceasefire.
David Cameron became the first Cabinet minister to explicitly criticise remarks made by Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump about Nato. Trump’s suggestion that the US would not protect Nato allies failing to spend enough on defence was “not a sensible approach”, the foreign secretary said.
GB News People’s Forum with Rishi Sunak has now finished.
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