Trailer for Piers Morgan's interview with Rishi Sunak
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Rishi Sunak is facing gruelling stand-off with Piers Morgan, as the broadcasting heavyweight interrogates the PM on his 100th day in charge at No 10.
The TalkTV host is expected to grill the prime minister on a range of issues, from mounting Tory sleaze claims and the winter crisis in the NHS, to growing unrest in the public sector and deepening cost of living fears.
Mr Sunak is under pressure to say exactly what he knew and when about Dominic Raab’s conduct, as his deputy PM faces an investigation into bullying allegations.
It comes after Remain campaigner Gina Miller claimed, in an article written for The Independent, that Mr Raab had launched an “abusive attack” on her – calling her “stupid” and “naive” during an “aggressive” encounter at the BBC in 2016.
The PM also faces unrelenting scrutiny over his handling of the health service, with one poll finding that 85 per cent of voters saying the government was managing the NHS “badly”.
The interview will air at 8pm as part of the series Piers Morgan Uncensored.
Follow along here for a live round-up of the key moments as Rishi Sunak faces Piers Morgan.
Rishi Sunak understands public anger over ‘extraordinary’ Shell profits, No 10 says
In the meantime, read Whitehall editor Kate Devlin‘s latest report:
Rishi Sunak “absolutely” understands people’s anger over Shell’s record profits at a time of soaring household energy bills, Downing Street has said.
No 10 also suggested that the oil giant should invest more of its record-breaking $40bn bonanza in the UK.
But the prime minister’s official spokesperson would not be drawn on calls for a higher windfall tax on energy firms, saying he was “not aware” of any plans to reform the levy.
Shell should invest more of the money in the UK, Downing Street suggest
What do the Dominic Raab bullying allegations mean for Rishi Sunak?
With Zahawi gone and perhaps soon Raab too, Sunak can demonstrate that he is his own man, and prepared to jettison figures who, in his judgement, do not live up to the ideals he declared himself committed to on his first day in No 10 – “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level”.
Read the latest from Sean O’Grady here:
If a prime minister knows about certain sensitive issues concerning an MP, but appoints them anyway, it can reflect badly on their judgement, writes Sean O’Grady
Piers Morgan recalls Boris Johnson hiding in fridge to avoid interview ahead of Sunak stand-off
Piers Morgan appears to have praised Rishi Sunak for agreeing to be interviewed on tonight’s show – taking a swipe at his predecessor Boris Johnson for hiding in a fridge while a reporter attempted to speak to him.
On the eve of the 2019 general election, then-PM Johnson was joining an early morning milk round in Leeds when he was confronted by a Good Morning Britain reporter about his “promise to talk to Piers [Morgan] and Susanna [Reid]”.
“I’ll be with you in a second,” Mr Johnson replied, before famously escaping into a large fridge.
Taking to Twitter this afternoon, Mr Morgan reflected on the bizarre dodge:
Scandals, sackings and U-turns: Rishi Sunak’s first 100 days in the job
Michael Gove proudly boasted that “boring is back” when Rishi Sunak walked through the door of No 10 in October. But his first 100 days in office have been much more eventful than anyone expected.
The prime minister has suffered from a series of scandals, some partly inherited from Boris Johnson’s time in Downing Street. There have been poor poll ratings, probes into his ministers’ conduct and some major policy climbdowns, with his authority with Tory MPs already under threat.
Our political correspondent Adam Forrest took a closer look at the sleaze problems and rebellions swirling around Mr Sunak as he tries to reset his premiership ahead of crucial local elections.
PM feeling the pressure over probes, policy rebellions and ever-present ex-PM Boris Johnson
Dominic Raab faces claim he ‘bullied and demeaned’ leading anti-Brexit campaigner
TalkTV’s Piers Morgan, interviewing Rishi Sunak tonight, is likely to ask the prime minister exactly what he knew and when about Dominic Raab’s conduct, as his deputy PM faces an investigation into bullying allegations.
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has the latest on this:
Remain campaigner Gina Miller said she was “bullied and demeaned” by the deputy prime minister after he called her “stupid” and “naive” during an “aggressive” encounter at the BBC in 2016.
Read Kate’s article in full here:
The deputy prime minister said the claims are ‘baseless and malicious’
Watch: Trailer for Piers Morgan's interview with Rishi Sunak
Piers Morgan has promised an hour of “unmissable TV” as his interview with Rishi Sunak hits screens from 8pm.
“Is the Conservative party toast after 13 years in power?” the formidable interviewer asks in the promotional video for the anticipated show.
Watch the full trailer here:
Trailer for Piers Morgan's interview with Rishi Sunak
Sunak continues to resist predecessor’s calls to send fighter jets to Kyiv
Ahead of his interview with Piers Morgan this evening, Rishi Sunak on Thursday continued to resist calls by former prime minister Boris Johnson to supply fighter jets to Ukraine.
Mr Johnson has used a US tour to push for the West to step up military assistance for Kyiv, dismissing arguments against the supply of sophisticated Nato aircraft.
But Downing Street said it would take years to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the RAF’s Typhoon and F-35 planes and said the current prime minister was focused on providing support that would be of use now.
“We will continue listening to the Ukrainians and consider what is right for the long term,” the spokesman said.
“But it’s helpful to understand the situation, that the fastest training programme for a new pilot is approximately 35 months.
“The current UK fast jet training programme takes five years.”
Rishi Sunak vows to ‘ratchet up’ return of Albanian migrants and start Rwanda flights
In an interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV, the prime minister said asylum claims will be sped up to a “matter of days or weeks” and “not months or years”.
Mr Sunak warned arrivals who are deemed “inadmissible” for settlement in Britain “will not be able to stay here”.
My colleague Liam James has more:
Prime minister pledges tougher stance on immigration in Piers Morgan interview
Rishi Sunak vs Piers Morgan: 5 pitfalls and payoffs for PM from TV clash
Should the PM be worried about being caught out by the TalkTV host? Or can he use the interrogation to reset his image with the public? Our political correspondent Adam Forrest takes a closer look at potential pitfalls for Mr Sunak, and where he could gain some ground.
Prime minister goes up against TV motormouth at 8pm tonight