BBC Laura Kuenssberg putting words into Kemi Badenochs mouth

Is that really his nickname or does it only exist in your head? It has always been the parliamentary norm that MPs receive offers of hospitality and gifts, and just as much the norm that some of these offers are accepted. We can argue about the merits of the system but it is unreasonable and partisan to single out Starmer for criticism here, particularly when he is clearly attempting to be transparent about what he is offered and what is accepted. 

The WFA cut is quite right in principle.  A significant proportion of our pensioners simply don’t need it so why should we be expected to provide it to them? I certainly don’t need it nor do any of my pension age mates, some of whom still have six figure incomes, so why should any of us receive it?  The only mistake is that the qualifying ceiling has been set too low and there is a brutal cliff edge that is very unfair to those whose income is just above that ceiling. I understand, given that Labour uncovered a £22 billion current year fiscal black hole that the Tories had been keeping under wraps, that unpalatable choices and lose/lose decisions had to be made about what remains of the current year spending plans, and that these have to be introduced quickly and that they are therefore likely to be unrefined and clunky, but even so, as this plan stands, it still needs softening around the edges. There has already been a bit of this and I am pretty sure that we shall see something more substantial announced in next month’s budget. Let’s see what happens. 

Can I ask, as you seem to be so worried about what this might mean for some of our poorer pensioners, were you equally as concerned about the plight of struggling families and our vulnerable fellow citizens resulting from the austerity measures introduced over the last 14 years of Tory government or does your social conscience only kick in selectively?