Politics latest: 'I'm not going to get involved in a fight' - Nigel Farage speaks out after leaving conference following police arrival (2024)

As we've been reporting, the Belgian police were instructed by a local mayor to shut down the National Conservatism Conference where Reform UK's honorary president Nigel Farage and former home secretary Suella Braverman were speaking.

We've just had some reaction from Downing Street, with a spokesperson labelling the attempt "extremely disturbing".

Number 10 said: "The prime minister is a strong supporter and advocator for free speech, and he believes that should be fundamental to any democracy.

"Speaking more broadly to the principle of such events, he is very clear that cancelling events or preventing attendance and no-platforming speakers is damaging to free speech and to democracy as a result.

"He is very clear that free debate and the exchange of views is vital, even where you disagree."

However, the spokesperson also said they were not aware of any plans to raise the issue with the Belgian government.

Our flagship weeknight politics showPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgewill be live on Sky News from 7pm.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

Sophy will be joined by public health minister Dame Andrea Leadsom to discuss the government's proposed smoking ban currently being debated by MPs in the Commons.

She will also hear from Labour's shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth on his party's pledge to protect family finances, as well as the votes in parliament on the Rwanda bill and the proposed smoking ban.

On Sophy's panel tonight are:

• Mercy Muroki, former government advisor on gender policy;
  
• Andrew Fisher, former head of policy for Jeremy Corbyn.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

Former health secretary Sir Sajid Javid has risen to speak in the debate on the government's bill to progressively ban smoking.

He opens by talking about his experience of being appointed health secretary during the COVID pandemic, and says: "I would argue that we still face a public health emergency in this country."

Sir Sajid explains that he commissioned a review of smoking while in government, and declares he is "proud that he has led us to this legislation today".

He says that "making smoking obsolete is the right mission for us to deliver on, especially given this government's commitment in 2019 for a smoke-free Britain".

He lists the negative health impacts of tobacco on an individual, and argues it is "only right that we take robust action to protect future generations from these harmful products".

Citing the report from the smoking review he commissioned, he rejects the argument that smoking is a "personal choice", saying: "The reality is that nicotine is a highly addictive drug that corrodes personal agency."

"Can we honestly say that this drug enhances personal liberty and freedom? It's a nonsense argument.

"Anyone who makes that argument - they're choosing to stand up for big tobacco against the interests of their constituents, and to erode someone's personal liberty and to remove their freedom to choose by... giving them access to drugs."

Sir Sajid describes the legislation as "world-leading" and "backed by clinical evidence, supported by a strong moral cause".

He concludes: "It is the right approach for public health, it is the right approach for our country, and more than worthy of the support of this whole House."

Former prime minister Liz Truss is making a rare Commons intervention to speak against the government's legislation to ban smoking.

She says she is not opposing the bill "because I love smoking", but rather "because I am very concerned that this policy being put forward is emblematic of a technocratic establishment in this country that wants to limit people's freedom".

The 49-day PM says the "instinct of this establishment" is that "they, that the government, are better at making decisions for people than people themselves".

Ms Truss says: "I think the whole idea that we can protect adults from themselves is hugely problematic, and it effectively infantilises people."

The same is true of restrictions on sugar, alcohol, and meat, she says, which she blames on a "group of people who want to push an agenda which is about limiting people's personal freedom".

She lists a number of issues raised by her constituents on the doorsteps, and says: "Not a single voter has said to me, 'my big concern is adults smoking'."

Ms Truss goes on to vent her anger at the Labour Party for speaking so long in the chamber that she was unable to speak in favour of herPrivate Member's Bill to ban puberty-blockers for under-18s last month (more on that here).

"These are the same people who are saying that, in the future, we should be banning cigarettes for 30-year-olds, and yet they won't vote to ban puberty-blockers and cross-sex hormones for the under-18s," she says.

Ms Truss calls on the government to legislate to implement the recommendations of the Cass Report, rather than passing what she calls "a virtue-signalling piece of legislation about protecting adults from themselves".

In a message to Tory MPs directly, she says: "If people want to vote for finger-wagging, nannying control freaks, there are plenty of them to choose from on the benches opposite."

But people who want "freedom" vote Tory, she says.

Concluding her speech, she asks that MPs "don't just follow the instructions of the health lobby", as well as "officials and civil servants".

"I think it's a very, very dangerous precedent that we start saying some adults can have the freedom to smoke, and some can't," she says, labelling it "fundamentally un-conservative".

People voting in local elections in England on 2 May will need to provide photo ID.

It is the second year the requirement has been in place - but in 2023,14,000 people couldn't cast their ballot because they didn't take ID to the polling booth.

There are 22 different types of ID you can use - and if you don't have any of them, you can register for a Voter Authority Certificate.

Here's everything you need to know to avoid being caught out:

In the last few minutes, we've had an update from our political correspondent Darren McCaffreyon the situation in Brussels.

A little earlier, the local mayor sent police to shut down the National Conservatism Conference where Reform UK's honorary president Nigel Farage and former home secretary Suella Braverman were speaking.

Darren describes the current situation at the conference as "rather extraordinary", saying there are around a dozen police officers "effectively blocking people entering the building".

He adds that if he were to leave, he would not be allowed back in.

"They're effectively trying to strangle the conference, if you like, by ensuring that the delegates that are in here, when they leave they won't be allowed to return," he says.

Darren explains the local mayor has concerns around public order and "the people who are at the event".

But he goes on: "The conference is still taking place - there are dozens of people behind me, there are people inside the hall. Speeches are continuing.

"And the organisers have suggested that tomorrow they will find another venue in Brussels to carry on this conference."

But he continues: "The big question is what happens tomorrow. Victor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary - an EU leader who comes to Brussels quite regularly - is due to address delegates tomorrow."

It is unclear what exactly what will happen, he says, and adds that it is currently, quite literally, "somewhat of a stalemate".

Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, is now responding to his Conservative counterpart's statement on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

The legislation would raise the minimum age for buying cigarettes every year to gradually phase out smoking.

It would effectively ban anyone born after 2009 from ever buying cigarettes, and restrict vape flavours and child-friendly packaging.

In votes expected later today, it is thought Rishi Sunak could face a significant rebellion of backbench MPs.

Labour, on the other hand, have backed the bill.

Referring to this, Mr Streeting joked: "We are only too happy to defend the health secretary against the siren voices of big tobacco we see gathered around our former prime minister in the corner of the chamber."

This is likely referring to Liz Truss, who has openly described the proposal as "profoundly unconservative".

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins is on her feet in the Commons, where she is introducing the debate on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

"There is no liberty in addiction", she says, responding to arguments by Conservatives that the legislation will simply increase criminality of cigarette sales.

She said:: "I understand the argument, the concern that we are banning things, I totally understand the concerns of fellow Conservatives, we are not in the habit of banning things, we do not like that and so we will only bring these powers in when we are convinced, following a no-doubt robust debate with the intellectual self-confidence that we have to have such debates on this side of the House, we come to the conclusion that there is no liberty in addiction.

"Nicotine robs people of their freedom to choose.

"The vast majority of smokers start when they are young, and three quarters say that if they could turn back the clock they would not have started.

"That is why through this bill we are creating a smoke-free generation that will guarantee that no one who is turning 15 or younger this year will ever be legally sold tobacco, saving them from the misery of repeated attempts to give up, making our economy more productive and building an NHS that delivers faster, simpler and fairer care.

"I would argue it is our responsibility, indeed our duty, to protect the next generation and this is what this bill will do."

Over a year ago, Rishi Sunak made five pledges for voters to judge him on.

The prime minister met his promise to halve inflation by the end of 2023.

But with the general election approaching, how is Mr Sunak doing on delivering his other promises?

You can see the progress for yourself below:

Over to the Commons, where MPs have gathered for the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

The legislation would raise the minimum age for buying cigarettes every year to gradually phase out smoking.

It will effectively ban anyone born after 2009 from ever buying cigarettes, and restrict vape flavours and child-friendly packaging.

This was one of three key policies announced by Rishi Sunak in his speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester last year.

However, it has provoked criticism from the likes of former prime minister Liz Truss, who described the proposals as "profoundly unconservative".

Boris Johnson has said the policy is "absolutely nuts".

A free vote is expected among Tory MPs this afternoon, and it has been widely reported that a backbench rebellion is expected.

However, the legislation has been backed by Labour.

We'll have any significant updates in the Politics Hub.