The comments made by Mark Spencer, the Minister of State for Food, on Sky News on 31 October 2022.
INTERVIEWER
[Asked about danger of personal mobile phones being listened into and secrets overheard]
MARK SPENCER
We all talk on personal phones don’t we? I ring my wife and maybe there’s some little man in China listening to my conversations between me and my wife. You just have to be careful about what information you use on which phone.
The comments made by Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, in conversation with Christopher Hope on 4 October 2022.
CHRISTOPHER HOPE
[Asked how Braverman felt about stopping other people arriving her given her own heritage as her parents were from Mauritius and Kenya]
SUELLA BRAVERMAN
I have no qualms about that. Absolutely. Again, this is a kind of a common argument trotted out by the left that, you know, because of the colour of my skin and my heritage I have to think a certain way and I can’t declare certain truths.
CHRISTOPHER HOPE
[Asked if she annoyed the left]
SUELLA BRAVERMAN
I hope I annoy them, that would be my delight if I was annoying the left. But no, I disagree with that. My parents came here through safe and legal routes. My mother was recruited by the NHS and my dad came here because he was effectively kicked out of Kenya in the 1960s, but they came here legitimately. That was the policy of the government, they came here, they integrated, they loved this country from afar as children of empire. They don’t, by the way, have any qualms about extolling the virtues of the British Empire. It was the British Empire that brought infrastructure, the legal system, the civil service, the military to countries like Mauritius and Kenya. My parents are so proud. On my Mum’s side, I think it’s her great uncle and auntie, fought with the allies in World War Two and were so proud of that. So I think, you know, children of empire, there’s obviously a mixed picture and obviously there are bad things about empire.
CHRISTOPHER HOPE
[Mentioned that history was complex]
SUELLA BRAVERMAN
History is complex and nuanced, and I’m not going to apologise for empire. I’m not going to apologise for our past history.
CHRISTOPHER HOPE
[Asked if we should be proud of empire]
SUELLA BRAVERMAN
I am proud of the British Empire, yes.
The comments made by Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, speaking on Sophy Ridge on Sunday on 30 October 2022.
We take security issues incredibly seriously, that’s why I have to be cautious in responding to the point that you’ve understandably made about Liz’s [Liz Truss, former Prime Minister] phone. It’s because we take them seriously that we have strict protocols in place that govern how information should be shared and with whom it should be shared.
Suella is a first rate front rank politician and she acknowledged that she made a mistake had been made. She is working hard in order to ensure that our borders can be made more secure and that policing is more effective. She’s a valued member of the Cabinet and someone whom I admire.
The comments made by Jake Berry, the outgoing Chair of the Conservative Party, on Piers Morgan Uncensored on 26 October 2022.
INTERVIEWER:
[Was it right that Suella Braverman came back to the Cabinet?]
JAKE BERRY:
Six days is a long time in politics. It’s for the new Prime Minister and he must be free to appoint whoever he wants. However, what I would say is from my own knowledge, there were multiple breaches of the ministerial code
INTERVIEWER:
[Multiple?]
JAKE BERRY:
Multiple breaches of ministerial code. It was sent from a private email address to another Member of Parliament, she then sought to copy in that individual’s wife and accidentally sent it to a staffer in Parliament. To me, that seems a really serious breach and especially when it was documents relating to cybersecurity as I believe that seems a really serious breach. The cabinet secretary had his say at the time, I doubt he’s changed his mind in the last six days, but that’s a matter for the new Prime Minister
INTERVIEWER:
[Did she hold her hands up to it?]
JAKE BERRY:
I wasn’t at the meeting, but as I understand it the evidence was put to her and she accepted the evidence rather than the other way around.
The comments made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on 29 October 2022.
This government’s overriding priority is to protect consumers and last night’s sale will bring vital reassurance and energy security to consumers across the country at a time when they need it most.
This is a fresh start and means Bulb’s 1.5 million customers can rest easy, knowing they have a new energy home in Octopus.
Moving forward, I intend to do everything in my power to ensure our energy system provides secure and affordable energy for all.
The comments made by Chris Heaton-Harris, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on 28 October 2022.
I am extremely disappointed that the Executive has not reformed.
The people of Northern Ireland deserve a fully-functioning devolved government.
Today Stormont could be taking decisions to ease the challenges people face. Instead, the legal duty to act falls to me as Secretary of State.
I will be providing an update on this.
The comments made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on Twitter on 28 October 2022.
Brilliant news that Centrica PLC’s gas storage site has reopened for this winter, increasing the UK’s gas storage capacity by 50%.
This additional capacity strengthens UK energy security and means we can stand up to Putin’s manipulation of global gas supplies.
The comments made by Jacob Rees-Mogg, the MP for North East Somerset, on Twitter on 28 October 2022.
The Prime Minister is right not to go to COP. The cost of living won’t be solved in Sharm el Sheikh where each hotel room for the conference is £2,000 a night.
The comments made by Nadine Dorries, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, on Twitter on 28 October 2022.
For balance, my friend…The Prime Minister is WRONG not to go to COP. Global warming is the biggest crisis facing our planet and net zero creates many 1000s of jobs which is good for the economy. COP in Glasgow was most successful ever… but don’t expect media to report that.
The comments made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 27 October 2022.
Great call with Justin Trudeau. As close friends and free market democracies the UK and Canada have a vital role in promoting economic growth and stability, as well as ensuring Ukraine is supported unequivocally.