First minister says SNP MP who defected to Tories ‘probably never believed’ in Scottish independence – as it happened

Dr Lisa Cameron, who has quit SNP for the Tories. Photograph: Richard Townshend/UK Parliament/PA

4.20pm BST

Afternoon summary

• Humza Yousaf has urged Lisa Cameron, the Scottish National party politician who has defected to the Conservatives, to do the “honourable thing” and resign as an MP.

• The number of people waiting longer than 18 months for NHS treatment in England is growing, figures show, despite ministers vowing to have eliminated such long waits six months ago.

• Rishi Sunak’s reversals on key climate policies have damaged the UK’s ability to meet its carbon-cutting goals and will keep energy bills high for millions of households, with the effect of “making net zero considerably harder to achieve”, the UK’s climate watchdog has warned.

• Steve Barclay, the health secretary, has expressed alarm at the number of children who vape tripling in three years, as ministers took the first step towards banning candy-coloured disposable versions of the product.

• Judges have been told to delay the sentencing of convicted criminals currently on bail – including rapists and burglars – because prisons are full, the Guardian understands.

Keir Starmer says goodbye to Rabbi Eli Levin after visiting the South Hampstead synagogue in London today. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Updated at 4.28pm BST

4.13pm BST

Here are two, apparently contradictory, takes on the conference season.

This is from an analysis by Beth Rigby, political editor at Sky News.

Labour sources tell me Sir Keir’s speech has had “unusual levels of cut-through”, helped by the glitter bombing and his reaction to it – which I’m told focus groups say showed he had “character” and was a leader who was “composed and calm”.

“The backdrop to all of this is a lack of trust in all politicians,” explained one Labour figure. “Delivery is hard in opposition but they are aware of how much Keir has changed the party in a short space of time and that gives an increasingly strong reason to believe.”

And this is from from James Johnson, a pollster who used to work in No 10 for Theresa May.

New @timesradio focus group of undecided voters:

- All dislike ‘weak’ Keir Starmer and prefer Sunak to him
- All think Sunak had the better conference season
- But… every single one of them said they would now vote Labour if pushed

Why? ‘It’s time for change’.

Focus group on…

New @timesradio focus group of undecided voters:

- All dislike ‘weak’ Keir Starmer and prefer Sunak to him
- All think Sunak had the better conference season
- But... every single one of them said they would now vote Labour if pushed

Why? 'It’s time for change'.

Focus group on…

— James Johnson (@jamesjohnson252) October 12, 2023

This might seem strange until you remember that undecided voters are largely people who voted Conservative in 2019. There are relatively few Labour voters from four years ago who are still unsure how to vote this time.

Updated at 4.15pm BST