13 h. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Lucy the Leader rabbits away snippily. Can No 10 not find someone better?

Where was Sir Keir Starmer? It used to be customary for PMs, on their return from summits, to hasten to the Commons to make a statement.

Politics

31 h. ago Mrs Rayner's tone was markedly less fiery. A tigress tamed. A curry taken down from vindaloo to korma: QUENTIN LETTS on Prime Minister's Questions

With Sir Keir Starmer still not back from foreign jaunts - for so unexciting a man to have such wanderlust is psychologically intriguing - it fell to Angela Rayner to do the honours at PMQs.

Politics

55 h. ago WESTMINSTER SKETCH by QUENTIN LETTS: With his heavies, the ambassador proved adept at finger

Seyed Ali Mousavi, Iranian ambassador to the Court of St James's, swept into the foreign affairs committee. MPs wanted to hear his country's side of its war with Israel.

Politics

3 d. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Blimey, Kemi went for it. And a black woman saying anti

With Sir Keir Starmer on one of his foreign jaunts - it feels a bad time to be abroad - Kemi Badenoch seized the moment.

Politics

5 d. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Let Dad know you love him (even if he does blow his nose loudly, obsesses about stacking the dishwasher in a certain way, and wears awful holiday shorts)

This Father's Day, if you have given or received a card, what does it depict? A foaming tankard? A sports car, wheel barrow, tie, rugby ball? Pictured: A young Quentin Letts with his father Richard

Politics

7 d. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Mrs Badenoch was perkier than usual. Does she finally glimpse hope?

Mrs Badenoch can be a dull performer. This time she was perkier. Maybe it was because she could say wonkish things and know that the audience would follow.

Politics

8 d. ago QUENTIN LETTS: One Labour MP sat with pen poised to write down all the Chancellor's thrilling announcements. It was soon lowered

Save perhaps in those first days after the general election, Rachel Reeves's Chancellorship has yet to have its time of pomp. QUENTIN LETTS asks: Will it ever?

Politics

1 week ago QUENTIN LETTS: Criticising Red China is a moreish activity. You try some and before long hanker for another plateful

China's vice-premier He Lifeng, a big yam, is in London and spent his morning with Rachel Reeves.

Politics

2 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Pop! Mount Kemi blew her top like Etna ... vulcanologists in Geneva may have picked up a blip on their seismographs

Mount Etna erupted this week. Kemi Badenoch did something similar at PMQs. Blew her top. Pop!

Politics

2 w. ago When Yvette Cooper speaks it all feels so formulaic, it conveys nothing: QUENTIN LETTS

Yesterday Yvette Cooper arrived at the home affairs select committee for what was expected to be a showdown.

Politics

2 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: My friends in France say their country's ban on smoking in public will be ignored with a Gallic shrug. Will we be as defiant when it happens here?

Can this really be la belle France, which gave us such classic images as the young Brigitte Bardot smoking a cigar and Audrey Hepburn holding a cigarette holder as long as a magician's wand?

Politics

4 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Castration! The Secretary of State was desperate to depict herself as a toughie, so she aimed below the belt

QUENTIN LETTS: Shabana Mahmood was eager to discuss castration. The Justice Secretary had just announced an unprecedented dilution of criminal sentences.

Politics

4 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: What a day for the Chancellor to be away... she's in a scrap with Rayner, then PM does the dirty!

Where was the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves ? Her customary position next to Sir Keir was occupied by Yvette Cooper, radiating all her customary gaiety.

Politics